As the golden river of life gently flows on…
Family history is a living breathing life that is passed on one generation to another…often filled with colorful memories and traditions of family heritage.
Memorial Weekend is a time of gratitude for those who fought to protect our freedom and to protect our American life.
It’s a time of reflection…a time to honor those who went before us, who made our life better with hard work and sacrifice.
The last few years I began sorting boxes and memories of almost a hundred years stored in our home…each box took me back, like a historical time machine.
When I was 34, Mom gave me a big box of letters written by her parents when they were courting in the late 1890’s. Writing was the only way they had to stay in touch and that is what they did. Their letters and love notes are full of young love, sweet tender words that speak to your heart…priceless. I hope to put them into a book someday, as they tell of a time in America we could not imagine…and they share a sweet story of love.
Our house was built by my Norwegian Grandfather for his mother, my Great Grandmother Anne Marie, who was still living in Norway. The house is what I call a typical craftsman farm house built in 1920 and a mansion then, as it has about 3800′.
I have always loved living here…the old house to me is a peaceful sanctuary…it speaks deeply to my heart of family honor and love. I have been asked many times what is it like to live in the house you grew up in?
For one thing, after WB and I were married and living here, I knew exactly where to put things:) I can predict the weather and tell you what the sky means…I know the neighbors by their exhaust…and I cherish every memory that I carry from growing up here with my parents…and moving here with my husband WB…and we are yet making “our” memories:)
When we pulled the carpet up off the old wood floors, there was worn stenciling on the floors…the foot paths were very evident and I could see and feel where my ancestors walked!
I spent a few weeks on my hind end scooting along the floors, pulling the carpet nails out before we refinished it, with a box of kleenex and lots of tears. It was profound to know that your family, walked right there!
This is home to me…a small place on this vast earth where I walk in the footprints of those who went before me…this is home.
I give thanks to God for my family and especially my Great Grandmother, my Grandparents and my parents…my family and my heritage.
May you be blessed with good memories and good stuff this Memorial Day!
HRCG is over and out with Ellie and WB!
Hot Rod Cowgirl 
Jun 15, 2015 @ 15:22:09
I am not spending $100. to find out the videos & pix are unretrievable…..
I have my memories…that is something.
(((hugs))) Sherri-Ellen
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Jun 20, 2015 @ 11:22:17
((((Huggggzzzz))))
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Jun 06, 2015 @ 11:53:28
Mee too HRCG!! There are 3 short videos of Nylablue on that hard drive *sighs*
So I will keep it & maybe someday have enough $$$ to get Bruce to try to retrieve things.
Tessa is working perfectly & I am getting caught up…hurrah for that!!
Wishing all of you a great sunny weekend!!
(((hugs))) Sherri-Ellen & Siddhartha Henry =^,.^=
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Jun 14, 2015 @ 18:04:47
I am so sad to hear that you may or may not have the videos of Nylablue:( I’m with you as we both cherish our memories of our special girls and how we miss their tender hearts….such loves they both were:) Sending you (((((big hugs)))))
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Jun 04, 2015 @ 10:13:30
No transfer could be done so the photos’ are in the hard drive. I DO have the heard drive if I ever get the $$ to get Bruce to TRY to retrieve the photos’. It costs $60. an hour…& no guarantee of actual retrieval…
I am just going to have to work with what I have now….
We are not ‘officially’ online until the weekend so I can get used to Tessa & how to operate her 😉
Hope all is well there.
Kisses to Ellie & Melody & a {{hug}} to you HRCG.
Sherri-Ellen & Siddhartha Henry ❤ ❤
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Jun 06, 2015 @ 07:58:29
So sorry to hear about the jump drive….I have one that is locked up like yours too and it is a pain! I am hoping Tessa will give you smooth sailing ahead:) Hugs and Love HRCG:)
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Jun 03, 2015 @ 17:52:19
Hi HRCG! I am still working off a friend’s P for now>>>unfortunately Princess’ hard drive is so messed up there was no data retrieval…I actually was given her hard drive & if I ever have extra $$$ I can have Bruce try to retrieve it if possible.
Kyle is working on Tessa my new Think Pad & I hope to be online by Friday!
Purrince Siddhartha Henry sends his love to all as do I…
(((HUGS))) Sherri-Ellen & Siddhartha Henry ❤
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Jun 03, 2015 @ 20:58:03
Praying that all is transferred and saved:) Hugs all around to you both and that means ok Purrince here I come to play with you:):):)
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Jun 01, 2015 @ 12:52:17
😉 Your prayer worked HRCG!! Well not on Princess the Compaq laptop>>she is done.
However the young lady Kyle had a Think Pad all set up for me to look at when I got there today! It is perfect for what I need. He is doing data retrieval & photo uploading & going to put Malware etc on also.
TESSA should be ready by Friday! Just @ neighbor’s doing replies so I am not swamped too badly by then.
The ‘littul Purrince’ sends hiss ~~head rubss~~ an **purrss** to you an Ellie Belle also.
{{{HUGS)}}} an thank you for the prayer,
Sherri-Ellen 🙂
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Jun 02, 2015 @ 06:07:14
That is sooooo awesome!!! Truly cool:) Ellie Belle and I send you huggies and snuggles to the Purrince:)
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May 26, 2015 @ 18:37:13
Wonderful post, as always and stunning pictures. Hope your holiday was joyful.
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May 26, 2015 @ 20:43:56
Thank you much:) We had a good weekend, good weather helped with that:) I hope your weekend was happy and blessed:)
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May 26, 2015 @ 03:00:01
Hope your Memorial Day weekend was wonderful….you certainly have a house full of memories – old and new in which to enjoy it…..your “oh so beautiful” landscapes full of the richness of nature are a beautiful backdrop to the life you lead !
Pam and Sam
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May 26, 2015 @ 20:42:08
Hi Pam and Sam:) Always makes my day to hear from you both…thank you for your kind words, and your support…sending you hugs and warm Sammie kitty loves:)
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May 26, 2015 @ 00:04:58
What a beautiful remembrance post and lovely pictures. Hope you had a wonderful day. Pawkisses 🙂 ❤
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May 26, 2015 @ 20:39:57
Thank you so much for your sweet words…we did have a good weekend. Hoping you did too:) Hugs and kitty loves:)
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May 25, 2015 @ 17:25:53
*wiping tears from my eyes*
What a moving & touching post HRCG!!!!
Your family history is wonderful….utterly beautiful. To live in your childhood home is wonderful also. I go by my childhood home here sometimes & a rush of memories come flooding back. Unfortunately I have no one to pass the history on to. I am the last of both lines…I try not to think about it….
Thank you for sharing your life so generously!!
Oh & the black & white photo of you with Parents(?) made me laugh; I had the SAME glasses at that age…in fact looking at your photo I thought I was looking at myself, hahahaha…
{{{HUGS}}} Sherri-Ellen
P.S.: Happy Memorial Day too!
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May 26, 2015 @ 20:54:04
You are so sweet and thank you gf for your special words:) I am giggling again in thinking of those silly glasses….I had two things on my list of when I grow up….number one was contact lens and number two was growing my hair out so Mom would quit making me have pixie haircuts! Love you and sending warm hugs to a my special friend:)
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May 28, 2015 @ 08:38:04
Those cat’s eye glasses were so popular & so ugly!!! I disliked them intensely!
I wore glasses until I was 17 & then only for reading…..that came back to bite me as I had to get Bi-focals @ 40. Been wearing glasses ever since….it is what it is….
I had an original ‘Beatle’ haircut….they used to call it ‘pixie’ I called it soupbowl cut!!!!
Once I turned 11 I told my Ma I would take care of my own hair & I let it grow, grow, grow!!!!!!!
Still have long hair to this day…never going back to the ‘pixie’ cut again!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHA!!!
(((hugs))) Sherri-Ellen :0
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May 28, 2015 @ 19:42:03
Ohhhh I know and I did not care for them either! I wore glasses, eventually coke bottles from the time I was a year and a half all the way through turning 16…once I had contacts I was sold on no glasses….now I wear readers and have a slight progressive lens…had lasik 15 years ago but due to age I need readers and then some:) Its funny about your hair as I was 11 too when I said “Mom, I will learn to care for my hair ok, no more pixies”…and I did and have…my hair today is shorter due to getting it healthy again. It was below my shoulders and I had a few inches taken off so now it is shoulder length. It was down to my waist until I turned 45 and I had lost my Dad and found out the same week that my Mom was in kidney failure…I never told my hubby or my Mom, I just came home one night with short hair…I felt so old and was terribly sad to loose my Dad and then facing the facts that I would also loose Mom…I have been growing it out ever since….
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May 31, 2015 @ 10:44:25
Hey HRCG: I am going to be offline until I can either get laptop fixed or buy a new one. Sorry about this. Not sure how long I will be out of the loop!! Hope all is well there. (Using neighbor’s PC) to let everyone know I’ll be offline! Bye for now.
{{{HUGS}}} Sheri-Ellen
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May 31, 2015 @ 13:02:29
Ohhhhhhh darn Sheri-Ellen I will miss you super lots! I am sorry that you have to mess around with your laptop, such a huge pain! I have been there and it is frustrating to wait and see what they find out….but I also know you have to do this.. We will pray that God gives the tech divine wisdom and you will be good as knew super fast….I’m praying God, please heal Sheri-Ellen’s laptop, give the tech the ability to see what needs to be fixed etc. And if by chance you have a new computor in store for Sheri-Ellen, please reveal it:)
Big Hugggiesss to you my friend and to Purrince Sidhartha Henry;;;;
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May 25, 2015 @ 08:43:12
Awww beautiful Post today,Happy Memorial Day,xx Rachel and Speedy
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May 25, 2015 @ 12:46:50
Thank you both:) Wishing you a beautiful day with sunshine:)
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May 25, 2015 @ 05:00:59
Wonderful post!
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May 25, 2015 @ 12:45:50
Thank you much:)
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May 25, 2015 @ 03:45:11
This is a moving and beautiful post~
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May 25, 2015 @ 12:45:28
Thank you for your kind words:)
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May 25, 2015 @ 01:29:18
I just love blogging. I get to take a peek into other’s lives and their adventures. It’s good to see people happy with their life whether it’s growing up in the wide open spaces surrounded by nature or the sea village of Tacloban, Philippines where the people have only each other and a few very simple possessions. They’re all happy! What a shame our troubled neighborhoods can learn to be happy or grateful for what they have instead of unhappy for what they don’t have. Have a great holiday weekend and thanks for posting. – Bob
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May 25, 2015 @ 12:44:23
Thank you much…wishing you a great holiday too!
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