Freedom ~ On the Open Water

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 30 (BOATS)

Looking through old photos for last week's prompt I found this gem.

I was in grade 7, and spent the May long weekend with a friend on their boat. 

This was my first time driving a boat.

No license was required in those days so my friend and I were permitted to drive the boat all weekend. 

I have no idea if I was any good at it, but I wasn't fearful. 

Fear of being responsible for vehicles in motion arrived sometime in my 20s.

We have a boat, but I never drive it because I don't have the required Canadian Boat License.

I suspect that is my excuse because I am afraid of being responsible for a moving object on the open water. 

Writing my blog this week reminded me that I had started to do the course to earn my boat license a few years ago.

I wondered if I would be allowed to finish it, or if my registration had expired. 

First I had to find the website I had enrolled via. 

Then I had to use the forgot username and password functions. 

Then I discovered I began this course 2 years ago. 

I had completed 60% before abandoning it. 

Did I let fear distract me?  

Looking at the picture I remember the freedom I felt driving that boat. 

If you look closely you can see I was chewing bubble gum & had just popped a bubble. 

I made a commitment to myself to finish the licensing course I started 2 years ago. 

I would like to re-discover the joy that I felt in that photo. 

I'm not sure if I will be allowed to just pick up where I had stopped, but my account has permitted me to just click next.

We shall see if I can just proceed to the end.

It might be I will need to pay again when I attempt the exam. 

We shall see if I am successful in earning my Canadian Boat License.

When your past motivates you for the present!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Nature Abounds For Young Naturalists ~ Natural High

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 30 (IN THE NEWS)

A few weeks ago I wrote about our children growing up to enjoy the great outdoors. 

For this week's prompt IN THE NEWS I share a couple of newspaper articles showing some of that foundation.

The first article is from THE GRAND FORKS GAZETTE in Grand Forks, BC, Canada published on January 31st 2004 when our boys were 6 & 10

Our Maple Tree In Grand Forks

The second article is from THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS in Chilliwack, BC, Canada published on September 30th 2006 when our boys were 9 & 13

Our Walnut Tree In Chilliwack

We had originally joined the Young Naturalists' Club when we lived in a rural area of Langley in 2002 & 2003. When we returned to Grand Forks our boys were saddened to find no YNC in the area. Having ran programs for children & youth as part of my working life I knew I had the skills necessary to start the program in the Kootenay Boundary area. When we moved to Chilliwack later the local program was seeking a leader, and I agreed to take it over. 

I continued to lead the program until our boys developed other interests, and I could no longer justify the volunteer hours needed for the Young Naturalists. 

For a long time after stepping down as leader I really missed it. 

Reminiscing about the fun times while raising our children!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Photos:

Grand Forks Gazette
Chilliwack Progress

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Softball ~ Joining the Team

Recently we traveled across Canada to visit our adult kids. 

We had the best time. 

They cleared their schedules to spend time with us. 

My husband and I take this as a parenting win. 

Our 2 sons and their girls enjoy spending time with us. 

What an amazing gift that is.

When our oldest invited us to join their softball game we were unsure. 

I was never very good at softball, and my husband hasn't played for almost 40 years. 

Our oldest said it didn't matter. 

He explained their team is inclusive of all abilities. 

Dad decided to join the team for the night. 

Mom decided to be the official photographer. 

We were told the walk was pretty short which turned out to be true for regular city walkers, but for the old folks it wasn't actually true. 

There was some whining of 'are we there yet' - I didn't even apologize. 

It was payback for those childhood road trips!

On the way we collected teammates. 

One explained that when our son first invited her to join the team she replied they didn't want her because she was always picked last in school. She said he replied that they wanted her for sure. She said that in all the time they have played she always gets her turn in all the positions & everyone cheers her on. She said she love getting out and playing softball even though she still not very good. She LOVES that she is a part of the team. 

This mama bear was so proud listening to how our child is making a difference in the world one ball team at a time. 

Being inducted to the team

Learning the rules & what it means to be on 'dick deck'

Our son - the pitcher

Look at that reach

Our daughter-in-law 

Third Baseman - Chris, Short Stop - our oldest

Is it beer time yet?

Evidence that you can still play after a 40 year absence

The feeling you get when you spend time with your kids, and you know they honestly want to hang out with you is amazing - knowing it's not out of obligation! 

We had such a GREAT time with our kids & wished they didn't live so far away!!!

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Axle Tourniquet ~ Still In Use 220 Years After Dr. Joseph Strong Filed His Patent

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2021: Week 30 (HEALTH)

"In 1801, a patent was issued to a Joseph Strong of Pennsylvania for his invention of the axle tourniquet. By using a ratchet and key apparatus connected to the belt of the tourniquet, a surgeon was able to exert greater and more precise pressure.

Strong's first model sold for $4, which was a large sum but understandable when its several hand-made parts needed to work together smoothly under considerable tension.7 "

7. "Dr. Strong's Account of his Axle Tourniquet, in a Letter addressed to the Editor of the Philadelphia Medical Museum," Philadelphia Medical Museum, vol. 1 (1804-5), 311-317.

In 1801 my 5th cousin X6 removed filed a patent for the Axle Tourniquet. He sold them for $4.00 each. I'm pretty sure he would be delighted to know they are still in use in the year 2021. 

220 years later they look a little different. 

And they sell for a lot less. Today's $40.00 is considerably cheaper than 1801's $4.00. 

My husband is a Paramedic in the province of British Columbia, Canada. He has never used an Axle Tourniquet in the 28 years he has worked on Ambulance. He tells me they are occasionally used. Every ambulance in the province of British Columbia has one available. Likely they are in use worldwide. 

This is an incredible legacy for Dr. Joseph Strong to have left behind. 

My 5th cousin X6 removed via my mother's maternal line:

Joseph Strong, Doctor

BIRTH 10 MAR 1770 • Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut, USA

DEATH 24 APR 1812 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia Co., Pennsylvania, USA

married to

Rebecca Young

BIRTH 5 MAY 1779 • Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

DEATH 8 JUN 1862 • Piqua, Miami County, Ohio, USA

They had 8 children.

Lucy Strong

BIRTH 17 SEP 1797

DEATH 27 AUG 1860

Joseph Strong

BIRTH 26 JAN 1799

DEATH 1857

Peter Young Strong

BIRTH 28 APR 1801

DEATH Unknown

Eleanor Strong

BIRTH ABT. 1802

DEATH 9 JUL 1863

William Strong

BIRTH 12 DEC 1804

DEATH 8 SEP 1805

William Young Strong

BIRTH 26 JUN 1806 • Pennsylvania

DEATH 23 MAR 1866 • Miami County, Ohio, USA

Rebecca Strong

BIRTH 25 SEP 1808

DEATH Unknown

Lavinia Strong

BIRTH 19 AUG 1810

DEATH Unknown

There are people alive today because the device created by Dr. Joseph Strong was available to stop a life threatening bleed. 

When your relative leaves a legacy!!!

Cause ... 




You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

This is why I search - 

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Medical Supplies, Discovering Lewis & Clark, Retrieved July 30th 2021 from
http://www.lewis-clark.org/article/2560

Joseph Strong, M.D., Yale, 1788, Army Surgeon, Inventor, Practitioner of Physic, Barr, Lockwood. Retrieved July 30th 2021 from 
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/8228846.pdf

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

________________________________________________________________

Not So Easy ~ The Pie Strike

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 30 (EASY)


This week's prompt of easy had me thinking about the discovery of famous folks in MY BRAMBLE BUSH FAMILY TREE that resulted in finding well researched family history that I could tap into. 


When I visited the Generations Cafe I saw the prompt with a picture of pie beside it, and my plans took a delicious turn.


I started thinking about the strawberry rhubarb pie my grandma made when I was young. I loved her pie, but the best part was when she would give us stalks of rhubarb and bowls of sugar to snack on while she made the pie. 

This got me to thinking about where food fits in our family history. How many family & personal memories are connected to food.


My mother gave me her handwritten recipe book from when she was first married to my father. She wanted me to have the recipe book because it had dad's granny's scone recipe in it. My paternal grandmother was born in Scotland. I believe the recipe below is her mother's recipe.

Mom's handwritten recipe book front cover, circa 1967

Mom's handwritten recipe book scone ingredients, circa 1967

Mom's handwritten recipe book scone instructions, circa 1967

As I looked through the recipe book I was flooded with memories about my mom, and the food she prepared. My mom died almost 4 1/2 years ago. I still think about her almost everyday. My mom was a fantastic cook. My parents were divorced when I was 8. One of the things my dad remembers fondly about my mom was her cooking. When dad comes for dinner I often cook the recipes my mom used to make. 


As I went through the pages of the recipe book I was surprised to find only one pie recipe which is rhubarb meringue. Mom was famous for her pies, but rhubarb meringue was never cooked by her to the best of my recollection.


Mom and my step dad lived in a small recreation community by the water. They had a large circle of friends. Mom's pies were loved by all, and she was always asked to bring pie to their gatherings. 


Every time I hear the story of the PIE STRIKE I giggle. 


They had a get together and someone besides mom brought a pie. My step dad ate a piece, and casually mentioned that it was as good as mom's. With a twinkle in her eye mom declared a pie strike. 


Dad had no idea what was about to begin. For the first few weeks he was amused by the strike. 


As the weeks went on he became less amused. Dad had a sweet tooth, and those famous strawberry rhubarb pies I mentioned earlier were made by his mom. Dad grew up on a farm in Ontario, and pie was a regular part of his childhood. Until the PIE STRIKE pie had been a regular part of his life as an adult too. 


Initially there wasn't too much of a crisis because mom always had a few unbaked pies in the freezer. Baking an already prepared pie was within dad's kitchen skills, but mom's crust was the best I have ever eaten so once those frozen pies were gone there was no more pie. 


As the weeks progressed, and mom started taking things other than pies to the local gatherings their friends started missing her pies. 


At some point an intervention was planned. 


One of the single guys (who really missed mom's pies) arranged to visit with the intent to mediate an end to the PIE STRIKE. He arrived with a 6 pack of beer, sat at the table, asked them to sit across from each other with him in the middle, and explained that everyone was tired of the PIE STRIKE so he was there to assist with negotiations. 


He first asked mom what happened explaining that dad would get his turn. Mom explained that dad had eaten the other person's pie and said it was as good as mom's. He then asked dad to explain. Dad said that what mom said was exactly right. 


The mediator looked dad in the eye and said "Man are you f**kin crazy? Why would you do that? You had all the delicious pie you could ever want, and you blew it with a single piece of pie you could never get more of. Now none of the rest of us get pie either. You gotta fix this!" 


It was clear that the mediator had chosen sides.  

The PIE STRIKE was averted.

Memories, family history and comfort food!

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!