sandraleecleary

I’m home again for a month then off with the girlfriends for our annual birthday get away. We get together every October because most of the group has a birthday in October. Only two of us in November, one in August, and one in March. Who cares, we get away and enjoy each other’s company. We craft, sew, laugh, cry, eat, and just have a fun time. What could be better.

Our last jaunt, hubby and me, took us off to the Pacific Northwest. My favorite place in the whole wide world! The mountains, lakes, and rivers. If you’ve never see the Bitterroot mountains in Montana I highly suggest going. Lake Coeur d’Alene is beautiful anytime of the year.

Hubbs and I met in Spokane and married in Coeur d’Alene so it holds a special place in our hearts. We did a lot of reminiscing this time. Revisited all the old places where we slipped away to be alone. The restaurants, parks, and rivers for picnics. It was wonderful. Oh yes, even after thirty years, the fire is still there.

We were able to visit with my brother for a couple of days and taste the fruits of his labor nestled in his back yard. My little brother, the master gardener. I’m very proud of him.

Our daughter graduated as a medical assistant so we were able to be there for her graduation also. An added benefit. Her two children were able to be there too, so there was an added perk. We hadn’t seen them in a couple of years.  We’ve been blessed.

So, like I said, next trip for me is October. Next trip with hubby, November. My feet are itching already. No—wait—-I have to get my rewrites finished. Katie is so close…….. Better get to work!

Until then………………………….

I’ve been busy this last week and the time went by so fast I didn’t get a chance to post anything to my blog. My apologies. Well I could have I guess, but my ole body was a draggin’ when I got home each night from the conference.

Let me tell you about some of it, of course, there isn’t enough space to tell you everything. My biggest, most important thing, what I really, really wanted answers on, was DNA. There it is again, DNA!

I have to have it pounded into my head, go over it again and again, before I get the jest of it. But then, of course, I will never know the whole kit and kaboodle of DNA. But, I was able to figure out some of it.

With the diagrams the instructors displayed I was able to figure out what and how the mutations are given to your descendants, how they are passed down. My 1% of Native American blood wasn’t passed down to any of my children. Guess it stopped with me.

It’s interesting how each one of my children’s DNA differs, but is the same. I’ve had my DNA done, along with two daughters, and one son. From Ancestry our Great Britain percentage goes like this:  Mine is 29%, son: 60%, daughter #1– 16%, daughter #2– 79%.

Ireland: Mine 18%, son: 8%, daughter #1– 23%, daughter #2– 2%.  And so on. Now mind you the children also have half of their fathers DNA. That is a factor also.

There three main companies to have your DNA processed through: Family Tree DNA, Ancestry, and 23andme. I’ve had mine done by Family Tree and Ancestry. Right now the cost of any one of these is $99. Not a bad price to see where your blood line comes from.

I’m still stuck, but getting closer, on finding my biological father. After ten years and lots and lots of matches I have it down to two names. Both names share the same great, great, grandparents (Kinsel and Mattocks). So it still goes to one name, Mattocks (Mattox, Maddox, Mattix), the shared gggrandparents. When tracing your ancestors you really have to check various spellings of the surname.

Happy hunting

Until then……………………………..

Yes, folks, I am home again. But, only for a couple of weeks and then I will be going to visit my daughter, who is graduating in Washington state. That will be a short trip. Then again, all my trips have been short, just a lot of them!

My other daughter, who lives here, her three children and Granny (me) left for the Mall of America in Minneapolis, MN. I’ve always wanted to go there, just never got the chance. Her children love the roller coasters and the call of the carnival rides. We teamed up and off we went.

It took us one pretty full day of travel, leaving at six o’clock in the morning and arriving at about two in the afternoon. Checked into the hotel and then by five we were at the mall. Of course we had to check it out and get a bite to eat before the next day. After all, we had to plan our strategy for the day, didn’t we? Had dinner at Bubba Gumps where we celebrated the one granddaughter’s birthday. Closed the mall that night.

The next morning we opened the mall and we closed it. They rode everything more than once. Zip line only once. Very long line. The food court took up one whole floor where each one of us had something different, Philly Cheesesteak, McDonalds, and Panda Express.

Now it was Granny’s day. There was a few sighs, rolling of the eyes, but by the end of the day they said they really enjoyed Granny’s day. I wanted to go the town where I was born and ask questions. Yes, I’m a genealogist, and I have to ask questions. But, in my home town sits the Hormel Plant, SPAM Museum. The kids got to can their own cans of spam. Couldn’t get them away it.

Fourth day we left at 0 dark thirty again and ended up in Kansas City with full flights going everywhere. No seats for us, except going to Atlanta. We took it. Spent the night, had dinner at P.F. Chang’s, kids got to go to a small carnival (have to tire them out somehow), Barnes and Nobel (got to keep them reading) then back to our room. WHEW! Full day again.

Finally able to catch flight out on fifth day and got home in the afternoon. Tired, but glad to be home. Dogs were glad to see Mommy. Yea.

Now to play catch up and get ready for next trip. So much to do. I got my manuscript back and now it’s time to fix my boo boo’s and get it ready to send to publisher.

Until then…………………………………..

Watch for it…………………………………….

What can I say, it’s summer. I want to travel. I stayed home the whole month of Jun, didn’t I? I’m trying to make up for lost time!

I just returned from Chicago. I saw parts of Chicago I had no idea was there. We got lost on our way to the hotel. There are sub levels under the buildings where we were staying. There was a level for the service men to deliver their wares. Then there were streets, and I don’t know what all. I went from our hotel, underground where there were shops, then out to the next hotel! I felt like I just came in from living like a hermit!

I walked the Miracle Mile, several times. My feet still hurt! But I got in my exercise. I might even have lost a pound or two. I’ll have to check that out!

If you were looking for something special and didn’t find it in downtown Chicago, then I don’t know what to tell you. Bloomingdales, Macys, Nordstrom’s, Ann Taylor, and the list goes on and on. I found what I was looking for. New shoes, new dress, pants, and a blouse. Then when I put it in my suitcase to come home…..well you know how that goes. I just knew I’d break the zipper!

Hubby and I took the boat tour on the Chicago River and out alone the shoreline after dark. Beautiful is all I can say. What a skyline with all the lights lite up. I’m wondering what it looks like at Christmas. Another trip, oh no, that would mean s-n-o-w.

I made it to the Newberry Library (Chicago’s Research Library)  just three blocks off Michigan Ave. Very limited hours so if you plan on going to do any genealogy research, check their hours. The reading room is only open Tue – Fri 9 am. to 5 p.m. Everyone there is very helpful. And they have a LOT of information. I spent only a couple of hours, but could have stayed so much longer. I did find a tidbit on the Black Hawk War. Another person’s perspective on it so for 40 cents I was able to get a copy of the page. Now I can compare with what I already have.  All in all, if you are working on genealogy and going to Chicago, I highly recommend checking the library out.

Now I’m checking my bucket list and see where I want to go next.

Until then………………………………….

My mother with Junior Waverly 1942 in Minnesota.

From as far back as I can remember, and yes, I can remember things that happened when I was four, but I remember people telling me he isn’t my father. I’m not unique, but when it happens to you, it’s personal.

Sounds confusing doesn’t it. When my hubby and I visited Chugwater, WY this last week it brought back things, tidbits, my mother said out of the clear blue sky. This one about Chugwater was a story about when I was born. Not long after my birth in 1942 she packed up and made the trip to Chugwater. She wanted to stay with her mother who had recently moved there. When she arrived her mother greeted her at the door and told her she had to go back to Minnesota; she didn’t have room for her, she was living with a man. I can only imagine the shock to my mother when she heard that, but she turned around and went back to Minnesota, me in tow.

Fast forward a couple of years, because I remember this one. We were visiting my grandmother (my mother’s mother) in Vancouver, WA. My little brother, who is four years younger than myself, was lying on the bed and I was sitting beside him. My dad’s picture sat on the night stand beside the bed. When grandma came into the room I pointed to the picture and said that’s my daddy. Grandma yelled at me and told me no he wasn’t and I shouldn’t be calling him my daddy. I remember just looking at her, I didn’t understand. I do remember my mother coming in and telling her mother not to say things like that. This incident faded into the dark realms of my mind. Tucked away, only to bring out and re-examine many years later.

Four years later, New Cumberland, PA, (dad was in the military) and my own mother tells me my daddy, who was sitting next to her, wasn’t my daddy. I started arguing with her saying yes he is. But, then, my mother clamed up. Would not utter another word about my dad. I remember my dad saying “Ann, you shouldn’t have said that.” Mom was stone faced and ignored him. Another memory to tuck away and bring out later. Another piece of the puzzle.

Seven years and this time in San Bernardino, CA. Mom and Dad took a trip to Minnesota before he was to ship out to Germany. Grandma came to stay with us and keep and eye out, keep us in line. By this time I had two brothers and two sisters, all younger than myself. I wanted to go for a ride with my boyfriend and grandma said I couldn’t. That I was no good like my mother. Now where did that come from? She kept telling me that. I couldn’t wait till my mother got home and ask her what was grandma talking about. And you guessed it. She said to drop it, she didn’t have any idea what bee got in grandma’s bonnet. Still another memory.

This story goes on for another forty years before I found out my mother had an affair and she had a child from that affair. She was married at the time but her husband was away during WWII. That child was me. I found this out from her divorce papers. Puzzle piece #1.

I really like this one of my mother. About 1941.

From pictures in her albums to names, and more names, the puzzle gets bigger. I’ve been working on it for ten years. I AM closer, but still not there. When I find one piece to the puzzle I start looking for the other. It may take another ten years, but the puzzle will be put together. I will keep you posted.

Until then……………………………..

What a great vacation for only five days. We put over a thousand miles on the rental car, a few stiff muscles from sitting, but had a great time.

Hubby and I started off in Cheyenne, WY for the rodeo, the granddaddy of them all! The biggest outdoor arena in the states. We watched the Native American dances of the Lakota Arapaho tribes.

These were the women dancers. Their dresses were very colorful and pretty.

The San Antonio, TX rodeo starts off with a gigantic cowboy breakfast, feeding thousands breakfast tacos, biscuits and gravy and all the piping hot coffee you can drink. The Cheyenne, WY rodeo feeds thousands also, a pancake breakfast on Mon, Wed, and Fri. I was impressed as they were mixing bags of pancake mix in a cement mixer and flipping pancakes to the volunteers on their trays, then relaying the hot food to the many other volunteers serving. They had the routine down pat! They also supplied all the hot coffee you could drink.

Of course we had to check out all the vendors, and as usual, buying food items, like dipping mixes and soups that you just add water to. Our yearly supply until the next rodeo.

From Cheyenne we drove back to Colorado. I remembered my great, great, grandfather’s son, Thomas, settled in Laramier County, so we set out to find their burial spot. Thank you goes out to the Greeley, Weld County Library genealogy department. The two ladies there found the cemetery, of which, of course, we were in the wrong county. But, they also found one of his son’s WWII papers.

And, another thank you goes to the caretaker of the cemetery who walked us right to their graves!

From Loveland we decided to drive to Estes Park. Neither one of us had ever been there, so road trip! I’m here to tell you, if you plan to stay overnight in Estes Park make sure you have a room before you go. Summer time is very crowded, but yes, we were able to find one room. A motel ONE as my hubby describes it. Double bed, very basic. Real basic. But it was a bed. We’ll have to redo that trip, but plan ahead!

There were a couple of special trips we took, but that is another story. So will try to get caught up for now and come back to tell you of our Chugwater and Golden trip.

Until then………………

My momma always said if your feet itched, you were probably getting ready to take a trip. An old wives’ tale? Probably, but being a military family, you were sure to move every two years whether you wanted to or not.

So, here it is, one whole month and my feet are itching to get on the road. So many places to go, and so much to see and do. There’s genealogy, cemeteries to visit, libraries to prowl, plus dig through court house records. My kind of fun! AND I would like to meet the cousins I’ve found through DNA. We’ve become friends via e-mails.

Now back to writing. My dear “Katie” is on the editor’s desk. I’m still working on my last chapter. I know how I want it to end, but putting things on paper takes a wee bit more work. Like conversations and making sure my scenes are done correctly. Sometimes I get the cart before the horse and I have my character in the house when they should be outside. I’m go grateful for my writing group that helps me each week weeding out those boo boos. Of course, when I get “Katie” back from the editor there will be more work for me, fixing errors she finds.

Just to refresh your memory, or in case you don’t know about Katie. She’s a seven year old Sauk Indian girl who survived the Black Hawk War in 1832.

I guess I could start a bucket list and that way I’d have it in front of me. Then I could check off each adventure as I go. Where shall I start? Hershey, PA, no, let’s go to the Mall of America’s. Both places I could do research too! Then there’s Seattle, South Dakota, Omaha, and Wisconsin. Again, I could do research there too. Let’s face it, my family were gypsies. At least I think so the way they criss crossed America!

Writing first. Still have a devotional to do.

Until then……………………

As of yesterday I’ve narrowed it down to Kinsel for the DNA match. I think I’ve thoroughly gone through every Mattocks from Daniel G. Mattocks who married Elizabeth Hayes. There maybe a couple I haven’t been able to figure out who married who, and what were the names of children.

Now on to the Mattocks who married Kinsel. I already have a pretty good spread sheet on children, marriages, and so forth. But I need to knuckle down and peel it apart even more. Like an orange peel the outside then take off each stringy white stuff before you get to the succulent fruit.

I’m off to do that very thing now. Will keep you posted. Hopefully I’m closer to finding my biological father. It’s been quite a puzzle to put together.

Until then……………………….

Looks like it might be coming together. The book is finishing up, just a few more chapters to go. Three quarters are being edited. Yea! I’m getting excited.

Now on to the big stumbling block. DNA. I have mounds of papers sitting on my desk from the research I’ve done on two families. Now to put it on a board so I can see what it really looks like. You know put it out there like the detectives do, maybe on a white board. Use my bulletin board with post it notes so I can move them around.

I have two second/third cousins so I will start with them. That’s the Mattocks/Mattix/Mattox line. They share the fourth great grandparents. I should share the same great grandparent. Then I have two fourth/fifth cousin who share that same great grandparent. And now I’ve found another cousin, fifth to eighth cousin that shares that great, great, great grandparent. Could be I have something here. This is the closest I’ve come to in finding my biological father.

So I’m off to work on the book then I will work on the DNA.

Until then……………………

I knew I couldn’t take a break on genealogy/DNA. My mind is always thinking. The who, what, where, and when. I watch too many cops and robbers shows. It’s the blood hound in me. I will find my man aka person.

This morning at breakfast with the girls I showed them my stack (no kidding) of papers clipped together that I’d been researching. I have a common last name (Mattocks) with two third cousins and two fourth cousins on Ancestry DNA. They all have the same great, great, grandparents, Daniel and Prudence Mattocks. The two third cousins even go further and have the same great, grandparents of Daniel and Cordellia Mattocks. The fourth cousins have Daniel’s brother Peter as their great, grandparent. WHEW!

So, here is what I’ve done. I’ve taken Daniel and Prudence and wrote the names of their children, birthdates, death, marriage, and their children. Then, I’ve taken the children who they married and their children and who they married. You see where I’m going here.

They started out in New Jersey, went to Pennsylvania, then on to Iowa. From Iowa some branched out to Minnesota, California, and Idaho. A few stayed in Pennsylvania. I’m tracing the ones who went to Iowa and Minnesota.

I’m looking for a male born around 1919 or 1920 who went to Austin, Minnesota. So far no such luck. I will keep looking. A white board like the police have so I can write it down and follow the dots, people, would be nice. Maybe stickies all over my office wall.

I could wait until a second cousin pops up on my DNA so it would be easier, maybe. Guess I’ll go check my DNA and see if someone new has come up. Will keep you posted.

Until then…………………