5-22-16

Descendants of three siblings born around 1885 in Belarus met up today.

It was so amazing.

5-21-16

The balloon is ready for the reunion party tomorrow. I've gathered people from all over the world this weekend to meet up. South Africa is meeting up with Miami. Belgium is meeting up with New York. Alabama is meeting up with Massachusetts. Ohio is coming to NY...

5-20-16

This is where I parked my car at the ATL parking lot. Must remember. We are on our way to NY-- me and my mom.

This is the door we must exit when we depart the airport on our way back home.

5-13-16

Aza and Squirt were playing some sort of two-player computer game and were having a good time. It was so nice to see them "playing" together at their ages.

5-11-16

This evening we went for a walk around sunset and I was struck by how beautiful the pond was in front of the museum.

5-8-16

We went to Cheezeburger Cheezeburger for the first time ever. It was pretty good! Then went for a walk around campus.

5-7-16

Squirt is a COLLEGE GRADUATE!!!! He graduated Phi Kappa Phi, Summa Cum Laude with a bachelors in Computer Science. From left to right:

Grandpa, Grandma, Dan, Me, Squirt, Aza, Jes, and Aunt Sakura.

A great time was had by all. We got the VIP seats on the ground floor and had a great view. The speaker was Chris Moody from Twitter and it was a really great speech. #chrismoodycom

5-5-16

I saw Aubie today on campus raising some enthusiasm for graduation impending. 

5-2-16

We flew from New Jersey to Atlanta today. It was horrible. First, the plan was delayed from 1:00 - 6:30. Then we did not board the plane until 8:00. We did not take off until 10:00pm. It was 'fun' sitting on the runway for 2 hours. We landed in ATL at around midnight and got home around 2:00. Oh, what fun.

4-30-16

Dan and his god-son at first communion in New Jersey. A beautiful day and a fancy church with little girls all in white veils.

Dan and his godson The Duke at his first communion in Chatham, New Jersey.

4-29-16

I look horrible, but this is the sweater I knitted (designed myself) and made the buttons for in my pottery class.

Made the sweater. Made the buttons.

4-26-16

I made this stuff. With this house and these buttons I realized that I have mastered the necessary skills to really enjoy this craft. So, I decided today to enroll for another 10-session course! 

Tonight in pottery class, I found my flow. All time stopped as I worked on collaring vases, trimming mugs, and assembling a lamp. Also, I got this stuff out of the kiln and love how it all turned out.

4-22-16

Birthday celebration today... good food and lots of fun conversation, especially about the smell of the flowers behind the cake. I want to remember that. It was funny.

4-17-16

Today Dan and I walked around Baltimore and came across this Holocaust Memorial. It was appropriate since my grandparents met here in Baltimore, and my mother was born here, and if my grandfather's parents had not left Eastern Europe, I would not be looking at this memorial. Also, I recently found three of my grandfather's first cousins who were killed in the Holocaust. Here are their names so that if anyone Googles them, they can see their pictures here and contact me. The picture has "Libau 17 Januari 1931" written on the back. I think the woman in the picture is Abram's wife, "Sophia Stern Magidson". On the left is "David Magidson" then in the middle "Moses Magidson." They were living in Libau/Liepaja Latvia in 1941 when the Nazis invaded. Their father had several names (Russian, Latvian, Hebrew, etc) " But where was Hirsch?

Hackel Chatzkel Yechezakel (Joshua) Magidson

4-16-16

One of the good things about being in Baltimore is seeing my sister Sta and my niece. Here we are at dinner trying to polish off a Smith Island 8 layer cake. I did my share!

4-13-16

We are in Baltimore for NARST this week. Baltimore has a lot of cultural offerings, and Dan got to experience them all. I attended a lot of sessions, and lead some meetings... and caught up with some friends.

4-12-16

Dan's pottery is really good. I wish he was taking the class with me again. I like going, but it was good having him there too.

4-9-16

The ginkos are doing great! We transplanted them in the fall and they have both leafed out. Grown from seeds from our old Kentucky home.

3-29-16

We set up this garden statue for Mom. She had us to dinner. It was wobbly-

3-27-16

Easter dinner at Mom's and I brought her these flowers in a vase I'd made. See how it matches her other things?

3-24-16

More pots come out of the kiln. Dan made the one on the right.

I signed up for pottery class for 10 more sessions. Now that I'm getting the hang of it, I don't want to quit.

Genealogy research has paid off splendidly. I've met so many cousins online, and even one from Russia. I talk by phone with one regularly.

3-22-16

The first bowls come out of the kiln.

I don't like the thin brown glaze inside this. Must remember not to use it again.

3-20-16

A windmill at the Bascom Art Museum in Highlands, and a knitted sculpture. We left today... and will miss the mountains until next time.

3-19-16

Sunset in Highlands

Dry Falls. Not dry.

3-18-16

 We are in Highlands, NC for the weekend. We hiked a mountain and I felt strong-- not winded-- strong the whole way to the top. Walking every day for 2.5 months has really made a difference in my stamina and heart health.

3-17-16

The house up the street, where a former house was demolished, is being built. It is huge and massively towers over the little brick house next door.

3-15-16

I wasn't there, but Squirt went to Colorado to see Jes and took this selfie while on a 5 hour hike in the mountains. Just look at my boy!

3-14-16

Spring break, yellow roses bloom, and we get a visit from Meg and Gary from C'ville. 

We showed them around campus.

3-12-16

Today I switched notebooks and couldn't bear to dismiss my doodles, so I photographed them. My work researching my ancestors continues and yields new discoveries every day.

3-7-16

My students at the rural high school spinning wool into yarn.
This week I found my cousin Nancy, the professor and author, who lives in Massachusetts. Going back in my genealogy resulted in finding her. Joy oh joy!

3-1-16

My  newest obsession...