RAIN!

I almost forgot to mention, we had about 15 minutes of rain today! WOOT! Now the mosquitoes are making a come back... little annoying jerks.

Geneology takes a nap now

Good lord! It's overwhelming... I can only take it in small doses, don't see how the heck people like Mr. Scott and Katarina do this sort of thing often. Dates and names and places all meld together in a huge jumbled-up international stew in my brain.

I wonder what people will do years from now when they try to research this sort of stuff? The last time I answered a census was back in the 80's and Jim was so freakin' paranoid of the gummit I don't think he told the census taker the truth.

I'm putting this to rest for a spell, at least until the certificates I ordered from the state of NY come in. I don't even remember who's I ordered?!

Grandma Belin's German Drop: Part 1

Descendants of Johann Michael Rudolph

1ST GENERATION
1 Johann Michael Rudolph b: Bef. 1700 in Germany

2ND GENERATION
2 Eva Catharina Rudloph b: Abt. 1716 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg
  +Johann Georg Volz b: Abt. 1710 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg m: 03 May 1735 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg

3RD GENERATION
3 Georg Adam Volz b: 31 Mar 1736 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg
3 Georg Melchior Volz b: 17 Jul 1738 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg
3 Georg Friedrich Volz b: 03 Dec 1740 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg d: 31 May 1750 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg
3 George Volz b: 06 May 1742 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg
  +Johanna Christiana Rudolph b: 03 Jan 1742 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg m: Bef. 1774 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg

4TH GENERATION
4 Johanna Christiana Volz b: 15 Dec 1775 in Evangelisch, Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg d: 13 Jan 1848 in Germany
 +Georg Friedrich Lindoerfer b: 29 Apr 1770 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg m: 01 May 1797 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg d: 18 Mar 1844 in Germany

5TH GENERATION
5 Johann Friedrich Lindoerfer b: 10 Jun 1799 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg d: 10 Jul 1838
 +Sibylla Kolb b: 19 Mar 1799 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg m: 18 Sep 1821 in Evangelisch, Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg

6TH GENERATION
6 Wilhelm Lindoerfer b: 29 Oct 1836 in Boeckingen, Neckarkreis, Wuerttemberg d: Bet. 1910 - 1920 in New Jersey
 +Catherine Unknown b: Jun 1839 in Hessen, Germany m: 1858 in New York d: Bet. 1905 - 1910 in New York

7TH GENERATION
7 Conrad Lindoerfer b: Abt. 1859 in New York
7 Louise Lindoerfer b: Feb 1862 in New York
 +Frederick Augustus Lowe b: Sep 1857 in Rhine, Bavaria, Germany m: 1881 in New York

8TH GENERATION
8 Mary A. Lowe b: Aug 1882 in New York
 +George Wellington Brewster b: 07 May 1880 in Manhattan, NY m: 28 Nov 1905 in Manhattan, NY

9TH GENERATION
9 Dorothy L. Brewster b: 03 March 1908 in New York
   +Herbert Julius Belin b: 09 Jun 1903 in New York

Grandma Belin's Irish drop: Part 1

Aye! So it's the McCluskey Clan ye got rooning in yer veins fer now.

1ST GENERATION
1 BERNARD MCCLUSKEY b: Abt. 1802 in Ireland d: Aft. 1876
  Residence: 1870 Manhattan - NY Ward 19 District 20, NY, NY
  +Unknown m: Abt. 1824 in Ireland d: Bef. 1870

2ND GENERATION
2 LUKE MCCLUSKEY b: Abt. 1825 in Ireland
    Occupation: 1870 Hod Carrier
    Residence: 1870 Manhattan - NY Ward 19 District 20, NY, NY
      +Sarah Unknown b: Abt. 1829 in Ireland m: Abt. 1849
2 Felix McCluskey b: Abt. 1828 in Ireland
    Occupation: 1870 Blacksmith
    Residence: 1870 Manhattan - NY Ward 19 District 20, NY, NY
      +Jane Unknown b: Abt. 1830 in Ireland m: Abt. 1850

3RD GENERATION
3 James McCluskey b: Abt. 1850 in Ireland
    Occupation: 1870 Cab Driver
    Residence: 1880 Weston, Middlesex, MA
3 Bridget McCluskey b: Abt. 1852 in New York
3 Mary McCluskey b: Abt. 1855 in New York
3 ELIZABETH F. MCCLUSKEY b: Abt. 1858 in New York
    +William C. Brewster b: Abt. 1859 in Manhattan, NY m: 12 May 1879 in Manhattan
3 Susan McCluskey b: Abt. 1861 in New York

4TH GENERATION
4 George Wellington Brewster b: 07 May 1880 in Manhattan, NY
    +Mary A. Lowe b: Aug 1882 in NY m: 28 Nov 1905 in Manhattan, NY

5TH GENERATION
5 Dorothy L. Brewster
    +Herbert Julius Alan Belin

Another entry for Dad and Cheryl

This entry is based on research coming from many people, about Grandma Belin's (Dorothy Brewster) paternal ancestry. There is a researcher who has pretty much connected the line all the way back to the Mayflower, but there are some weak links she is trying to connect via a Brewster DNA project that requires Brewster males giving DNA samples to confirm her hypothesis.

Grandma told me her family name went back to the Mayflower but she could not remember the name (she gave me two she thought possibilities)

1 William Brewster b: Abt. 1774 in NY m: Bef. 1794 in Orange County, NY d: Aft. 1824 in NY
.. +Sarah Mapes b: 1774 in Orange County, NY d: 1824 in NY

2 John Van Cortlandt Brewster b: 26 Dec 1812 in New York d: Aft. 1880
.. +Frances Rebecca Potter b: 26 Mar 1808 in New York m: Abt. 1835 in New York d: 28 Nov 1858 in Highland Mills, Orange County, NY

3 William Wellington Brewster b: 15 Jul 1836 in Monroe, Orange County, New York d: 07 Apr 1906 in Monroe, Orange County, New York. Married Anna McConnell @1858 NY
.. +Anna Belle Clinton McConnell b: Jun 1835 in Belfast, Ireland m: Abt. 1858 in NY

Notes for William Wellington Brewster:

Family Narrative:
Olive Ann Smith (Bull) Nozell: "Mrs. Theodore Clark (Anna Belle Mack, granddaughter of Wm. W. Brewster. Wm. W. Brewster had a business in N.Y.C. my grandmother Anna Belle McConnell worked for him before their marriage. Anna Belle McConnell b. Belfast Ireland dau. of Wm. & Fanny (Clinton) McConnell, she was m. in N.Y.C. The family came back to Monroe. Her grandfather worked for Parrott Foundry at Arden, N.Y. Her grandfather was b. in Monroe, N.Y. The house stood close to the road, close to St. Patricks Church in Highland Mills, N.Y. In 1916 was known as Wheelman's Rest--where homemade root beer was sold. This house was torn down about 1960. William W. & Anna Belle (McConnell) Brewster had 2 children: William--at the time of his father's death his address was unknown. He was later located near Ridgewood [Bergen Co.], N.J. According to Mrs. Anna Belle (Mack) Clark, her Uncle m. Elizabeth, had the following children & perhaps more: (BREWSTER) George, Belle, Marion, Walter, Gertrude, Elsie, Irving. The last time Mrs. Clark saw Uncle William's children, which was some time back, they were living in Allendale. All were m. There is in Monroe a Mrs. Johnson, related to the late Mrs. John McGimpsey, who knows all the children--says Mrs. Clark.

More About William Wellington Brewster:
Burial: 1906, Calvery Cemetery, Brooklyn, Kings, NY
Residence 1: 1880, Manhattan, NY
Occupation 1: 1880, Manuacturer of Ladies Underwear
Residence 2: 1900, Monroe, Orange County, NY
Occupation 2: 1900, Landlord

4 William C. Brewster b: Abt. 1859 in Manhattan, NY
.. +Elizabeth F. McCluskey b: Abt. 1858 in New York m: 12 May 1879 in Manhattan, NY

5 George Wellington Brewster b: 07 May 1880 in Manhattan, NY. Married Mary Lowe 28 Nov 1905, Manhattan, NY (Source: NY City Marriages, Lowe Mary A Nov 28 1905 Manhattan Cert # 26227 .)
.. +Mary A. Lowe b: Aug 1882 in New York m: 28 Nov 1905 in Manhattan, NY

More About George Wellington Brewster:
Occupation: Bet. 1910 - 1920, Policeman, Bronx, NY
Residence: Bet. 1910 - 1920, Washington Ave, Bronx, NY

More About Mary A. Lowe:
Occupation: 1900, School Teacher

Children of Mary Lowe and George Brewster are:

i. Laura M. Brewster, b. 1906, NY; m. RALPH WILBUR ( ? ), 19 Jan 1928, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York; b. 1904, PA.

6 ii. DOROTHY L. BREWSTER, b. 03 Mar 1908, NY; d. 06 Jul 2000; 10 Oct 1923, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York (Source: NY City Marriages, Cert # 14390 .)
..+m. Herbert Julius Belin, b. 09 Jun 1903, New York; d. 18 Aug 1964, Swartswood Lake, NJ.

Notes for DOROTHY L. BREWSTER:
In 1930 there was a Dorothy Brewster, age 18, student nurse, at the Brooklyn Maternity Hospital, St. John's Place, Brooklyn, NY

iii. Anna Brewster (twin), b. 19 Jan 1914, NY.
Family narrative:
Michael-Ann Belin: Around 1999 I spoke over the telephone with Anna's caretaker. Anna was residing in Long Island back around 1999. The caretaker said Anna had a daughter who she would ask to contact me, she never did.
iv. Louise Brewster (twin), b. 19 Jan 1914, NY; d. Jul 1982, 48203 Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan.
v. George Wellington Brewster, Jr., b. 27 Sep 1917, NY; d. Dec 1978, Palisades Park, Bergen, New Jersey.

Hope on the horizon

Well not many people come to this blog so I'm not afraid to mention this here. You may or may not know the difficulties G and I have had at work, for the last 8+ years its been a miserably depressing downward spiral to the point where G and I are the only two full-time employees left. The last cut took out our graphics fellow, and cut the gal who handles customer service and all the accounting (after the CEO left) from full-time to 2 days a week (both effective immediately). I asked for a 50% pay cut at the time because it just didn't feel right having the other people sacrificing so much and me not having to sacrifice at all.

Now the company has enough money to get us through to the launch of the next release of our software in the beginning of August, which is pretty much up to G and I as far as the programming and user interface goes. We rely on one of our 2 bosses to update the content the software delivers. That part is not really happening at all. I have mentioned to the bosses that not having all the content updated is like selling online dictionaries, where purchasing customers discover after the sale, that their dictionary only goes to "F" but includes a little footnote that the rest of the content will become available as soon as we get it written.

In my heart I don't think our customers are going to appreciate this at all. I think it will be the final end-end (not the "end" that has been ongoing for the last 8+ years... the REAL end.)

Despite all the time that we have had to adjust to the idea, the END has not been something easy to face for either G or me.

But the two of us just got a little inspiration, a glimmer of hope, something that makes us feel as though we may have an element of control in what happens to us in the future.

It started with Gordy's new iPhone that he got for Father's day. Anyone who knows G, knows what a major Apple fan he is. The new iPhone has been the first gadget to absolutely exceed all his expectations. I could go on forever telling you about all the great functionality and applications this little device offers, but I'll let you read about all that somewhere else, as it is taking me WAAAAAY too long to get to the point.

G and I have decided to develop some iPhone applications ourselves. Starting with something I have been involved in over the past few years, doing bird counts—like the Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, Cornell & Audubon's Great Backyard Bird Count, or random survey counts for areas trying to get protected wildlife-area status.

We are excited because everything we know about software development and user interfaces we will be able to put to use.

We have created a new company, "Willow Software Foundry" (Gordy picked the name) and I picked up the domains and started a webpage for our first software application: "iBirdCount" and it's partnering desktop application "iBirdJournal." The logos are just in the sketchy stages right now. As soon as our DBA gets complete and we finalize the specs, I'm ready to get the trademarks and copyrights taken care of. You can see the page here: iBirdCount.com.

At 9:52 am - 92° already.

I hate to moan and groan about this so much, but i guess getting older just makes me less and less tolerant of the heat and more entitled to saying it sucks.

Good news is that we have the highest percent chance of rain this evening we have had since all this nasty heat kicked in - 30%!

I could try to look on the bright side of this and think about how the mosquito population has dwindled with the lack of rain.

On to other "news."

I started the compost pile again. This time around I am going to include newspaper from the bird cages and paper towels. I picked up one small bucket with a handle for all the food scraps to go into (and pledged to take the scraps out everyday without fail). Also got a slightly larger bucket to place just outside the backdoor in the event that life gets stressed and crazy and for whatever reason i rationalize that I simply can't make it out to the back of the yard where my pile is located.

When veggies have something to say...

... I think they do it with body language.



This one seems to be saying something about going through life with a stick up yer arse.

Somehow, in the tangled mess that was a decent heirloom tomato garden, this little fellow snuck by my daily searches. The branch he was on had grown up into a neighboring azalea and there i found him right smack on top resting in the middle of the bush.

On another note... geez louise it is hot! I've been doing my ritual coffee roasting this morning. Stocking up for the week ahead. I like to sit and watch the beans as they turn from green to brown, paying attention to the distinct cracking cycles they go through (some more distinct than others) and watching as they swell, turn satin-y, then just as they start to get their oily sheen I put the roaster in to cool mode. Just sitting out there on the porch, in the shade, with a slight breeze I still sweat as if in a freakin sauna. It's terrible!

Some of the grapes on my vine have started to turn purple, G and I tasted a couple, they are so SWEET! This year the vine produced enough grapes that even after the cardinals pick theirs I think we will still have enough to make something with. I'm starting to think perhaps not wine as I am not too fond of really sweet wines. Unless I can find a recipe for making wine with not-so-ripe green grapes... Maybe I'll just try to make grape jelly?

Speaking of growing and eating things, we are also thinking about getting a couple of olive trees. There is a sunny spot by the fence in the back yard that might be perfect for them, but will have to get some trash hauled to the dump first.

Today I plan to go to Home Depot and see what sort of cheap composting materials I can get. I'll also have to go by the feedstore and pick up a bale of hay.

Interpretation of Maria's Poem from @ 1894

Look with contentment at days passed,
and with calm toward your unknown destiny.
Keep your actions and intentions noble,
measured by your death, at last,
And rejoice: your eternity remains.

Ellis Island and the Wall of Honor

There is a wall of honor at Ellis Island with the names of immigrants. For a small fee you can have names inscribed on the wall.
It is kinda cheesy, but then again, the money raised goes toward maintaining both the Ellis Island museum and the Statue of Liberty.

So I added Maria Charlotte Svahn and Gustaf Emil Belin... ya never know, someday one of our kids may go looking for them.

I have no idea how long it takes for the names to actually be added, so don't go running out there tomorrow looking for them!

Carl Eric Belin 1841-

This is the information sent to me by the researcher in Sweden:
------------------------------------------------

CARL ERIC JANSSON BELIN. Born 1841-02-12 in Gästgifvaregården i Slyte byLillkyrka-Ödeby (T)

His mother moves home to her parents after Carl Eric was born as an illegitimate child. While his mother works as a maid in other farms he stays at his grandfather and grandmothers.

At the age of 15 Carl Eric moves to another farm in the same parish and starts working.

In 1862 he becames a solider in a special organisation of military service in Sweden at this time - indelningsverket. He is located in Bälby, Dingtuna, Västmand.

The soldiers often got names when they were recuited that sometimes was inspired from the place where they lived, sometimes out of other inspiration. But they needed short specific names, not to be mixed up. So Belin was out of Bälby. There are other families with the same name, several persons recruited to Bälby got the name.

1st marriage 1863-11-01 to JOHANNA JOHANSSON. Born 1842-06-13 in Sala (U). Died 1884-04-08 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U).

Belin Children from 1st marriage:
Carl Fredrik. Born 1865-06-04 in Dingtuna (U) Died 1881-06-07 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U)
Gustaf Emil Born 1866-10-20 in Dingtuna (U). Died in America? He left Sweden and the boat went from Gothenburg at March 25 1892 with destination New York.
Johan Wilhelm. Born 1869-04-07 in Kärrbo (U) Died 1938
Frans Oskar. Born 1871-08-24 in Kärrbo (U)
Robert Emanuel. Born 1875-03-26 in Västerås-Barkarö(U) Died 1877-09-19 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö
Anna Olivia. Born 1877-07-29 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U) Died 1956-10-23 in Karlskrona stadsförs (K)
Erik Hjalmar. Born 1879-12-29 in Västerås-Barkarö (U). Died 1886-04-28 in Länslazarettet, Västerås domkyrkoförs (U)
Agnes Elisabet. Born 1882-09-29 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U) Died 1883-05-27 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U)

Carl Eric Belin's 2nd Marriage:
1885-05-03 in Västerås-Barkarö (U) to Albertina Johansson. Born 1852-02-16 in Hjulsjö (T).

Belin Children from 2nd marriage:
Knut Arvid. Born 1885-02-16 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U) Died 1971-01-05 in Västerås domkyrkoförs (U) Unmarried man.
Konrad Emanuel. Born 1888-09-24 in Holm, Västerås-Barkarö (U) Died 1965-08-04 in Västerås domkyrkoförs (U)


Anna Olivia Belin married Nils Öberg and had two girls.
Inga Öberg (1916-2008) and
ELISABETH* Öberg (1922) This is the woman in Sweden who has hired the researcher.

So what on earth happened to my paternal great-grandfather?

Yesterday I found my great-grandmother's obituary that ran in the New York Times. She was laid to rest in the historical cemetery, The Evergreens, in Brooklyn, New York. I called the cemetery this morning to see if she was placed with her husband, in hopes that I could at least get the date of my great-grandfather's death.

The nice lady at The Evergreens searched their database and it turns out Maria (Svahn) Belin was put to rest alone, in a plot purchased by her only son Herbert.

So my great-grandfathers disappearance remains a mystery to me. It does not help that his name was spelled every possible way and sometimes used his middle name as his first.

His name was Gustaf Emil Belin. In the 1910 Brooklyn New York Census Maria is listed as head of household with her son and a few boarders at her boarding house. Gustaf was still around for the 1900 Census, so something happened to him between 1900 and 1910.

Happy Father's Day

We had a leisurely paced morning. I made an experimental omelet for G. Used smoke salmon, chives, capers, and goat cheese. Then drizzled hollandaise sauce (seasoned with a little dill) over the top... wasn't bad at all!

Each morning when I fill the dog bowls with fresh water I have been carrying the old out and using it to strategically water plants with. Every day I see people watering the hell out of their yards because of our lack of rainfall and all I can think is that we will soon be on watering restriction. Counties all around ours are currently under a burn ban, it is only a matter of time at this rate.

Squirrels have been peeling off the bark from all the trees in the yard. A neighbor speculated that they are looking for moisture trapped under the bark. I don't know if it is true, but I have never seen this behavior to such a degree before. Every morning I wander around the yard picking up the bark and throwing it away. Speaking of which, after talking to Chelsea the last time she came for a visit, I have decided to start composting again.

Last time, i had to stop because having food sitting around the house for any amount of time attracts ants. I'm going to figure out a slightly different arrangement this time. My last compost pile was awesome. I used information from the Humanure Book (sans the poop) and mid-winter had a beautiful steaming pile of cooking compost in the backyard. When I would dig around in it, was loaded with earth worms. I feel guilty about all the food scraps we waste from the parrots.

Quacking The Case

Gordy stopped by the flower shop yesterday to check in on everyone and noticed little rubber ducks scattered all over inside the place. Come to find out, they were part of an unsolved "mystery." There was even a write-up in the local paper back in May.

Gordy couldn't resist finding out more and managed to stop by the newspaper's office and sweet-talked a gal working there into giving him a copy of the paper from that week. The author did a great job on the write-up... what a hoot!

Swine Flu Protection

Gordy's brother Marc handmade everyone in the family their own mask, to be worn in public for protection from Swine flu... Mine has a Day of the Dead theme, what a hoot!

So You Think You Can Dance

I'm not ashamed to admit it, I love watching this show. Tonight is the second night that the contestants dance for public votes and then tomorrow we learn which couple has to leave because they received the least amount of votes. If you don't know about this show already, the contestants are challenged with dances generally outside their comfort zones by some top-notch dance choreographers.

This show is produced by the same fellow who produces American Idol, infact, Nigel Lythgoe is one of the judges on "So You Think You Can Dance." The dance show seems to cater less to a teenage drama-seeking demographic.

Anyway, I'll be parked in front of the tube tonight.

New Blog for Doodles

To keep it all in one place, I started a new blog yesterday to track the progress of The (Potentially) Great Doodle Experiment.
doodleforgood.blogspot

The sweetest thing

When G and I got home from work yesterday evening one of the little tables on the front porch had been moved directly in front of the door. Placed in the middle of the table was an esspresso-size coffee cup with the image of the Mona Lisa on it and a note that said "Read Me" on it. We opened it up, was a letter from Kate and Michael (Hoot's best friend from high school). They had been in the neighborhood and come across the cup in a shop somewhere, thought of us, and came by to drop it off.

What a sweet surprise!
Kate is quite a neat young woman: very talented, soft-spoken, and a very interesting person to talk to... Thank you Kate, I miss you too! :-)

getting caught up with life

On a completely different note from the doodles, so much is going on right now, it is kinda difficult for me to stay pointed in the right direction and actually making some sort of progress. The 5-year death-march that is my job just keeps getting slowly closer to death and G and I find ourselves running the gamut of emotional responses to goings-on. I can't help but feel a sense of responsibility, worry, and wonder what our customers who call for tech support will do if we finally do have to shut it down. Wouldn't be so bad if it felt like higher up the food chain there was actually a plan, but it all feels like they are just desperately doing what ever comes to mind with no cohesion to other tasks they have concocted. *sigh*

G Jr. Is still at desert warfare training. They gassed all the soldiers again last week and he has a real bad sore throat as a result. He is now in charge of hazardous waste stuff, monitors inventory and places all the orders for materials they need. He is also still driving the big trucks around. It was SO so good to see him when he got to come for a last-minute. He has grown into quite the young man. I enjoy his sense of humor and philosophical musings, which always make for great conversations.

"Big" G's mom is back home after her surgery and G is back home from Corpus. Taking care of his dad was a big eye-opener as to the extent of how dependent he is now as a result of the small vessel disease that causes outward behavior much like senility. A week with pop has left us both with lingering thoughts about our own old age and the possibility of being in a similar state.

This past weekend I had a great visit with Chelsea who surprised me Saturday evening with her presence. We stayed up until 3am (something I haven't done in a LONG time) talking and watching TV. We made seafood crepes with mornay sauce and munched out. Little did I realize she has gotten so intolerant of dairy that the sauce gave her a stomach ache... on an odd hunch I fed her a couple pickles... the hunch was no good.

The Great Doodle Experiment