Week 27: #52 Ancestors – Independence By Eilene Lyon In my story about Emma Jenkins, I detailed some of the events leading to the downfall of my great-great-grandfather, Robert Ransom. The more I discover about the Ransom family, the more I find a humongous, convoluted soap opera. I'm not sure if these people were crazy,... Continue Reading →
Extending the Family
By Eilene Lyon The “Greats” Getting to know extended family can be challenging. In my case, geographic separation was a serious obstacle to spending time with even closest kin (grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins). Until recently, it was a rare occasion that I ever met any of the “greats”: great-grandparents, great-uncles, and great-aunts. Nor did... Continue Reading →
The Drought Diaries: Insects
By Eilene Lyon Mosquitoes July 10, 2017 Today was my turn to walk the dogs. The Sarah-Palin-bugs (“Drill, baby, drill!”) were out in full force. By the time I got home, the back of my legs looked like West Texas. I almost wanted to jump in the ditch with the dogs. Despite essentially no rain... Continue Reading →
The Amazing True History of Yankee Doodle
If you ever wondered if history could be enlightening, entertaining and downright hilarious, you must read this story about the origins of “Yankee Doodle.”
In Balance
By Eilene Lyon The Putterer and I each have a few household chores that the other never touches. I've taken over cleaning the disgusting shower drain once a month. Who knew that those horizontal, hidden-in-tile drains could get so nasty? There's a design flaw there somewhere. He is king of the coffeemaker, wielder of vinegar... Continue Reading →
A Lovable Louse
Week 26: #52 Ancestors – Black Sheep By Eilene Lyon A Model Citizen If there’s a blacker sheep on my family tree than William Clark Ransom, I’ve not come across him/her. William Clark Ransom (1828 – 1917) was born into humble circumstances in Ohio, and grew up on a modest farm in eastern Indiana. He... Continue Reading →
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Molde
Our Trip from Molde To Bergen, Norway By Eilene Lyon After our Hurtigruten ferry trip to Molde, we were free to motor our way around the fjord region until our flight back to Amsterdam. This part of the trip was entirely unplanned. We followed our noses (as you shall see), with a little help from... Continue Reading →
Crossing Wyoming
By Eilene Lyon We’re rolling westward on Interstate 80 in southern Wyoming, on our way to do breeding bird surveys along a proposed transmission line route. The rising sun is adding fire to the stratus clouds hanging low in the sky. Our Ford Super Duty truck passes plains and low hills draped in sagebrush and... Continue Reading →
La Canción es la Cosa
By Eilene Lyon See a gringa in this mariachi band? Yup, that’s me! Sorry, no big sombrero or fancy conchas down my pant legs, but I really am blasting out “Volver, Volver” on my silver Getzen trumpet. My parents were both musical (not so much these days). They insisted that my brothers and I get... Continue Reading →