May 2025
John Tyler - 10th President
31/05/25 11:45 Filed in: History
The news recently covered the unusual occurrence of the death of John Tyler's last remaining grandson. John Tyler was the 10th President, being the first Vice President to become President after the death of his predecessor. The predecessor in this instance was William Henry Harrison who was only in office barely over a month. Tyler was President prior to the Civil War and from what we know a sympathizer with the South since he was a Virginian. His grandson lived a long life and odd to have him pass in the 21st century when his grandfather was President in the first half of the 19th century in the United States.
More detail about both men and the family are found here.
More detail about both men and the family are found here.
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First Humans on the Continent
30/05/25 14:29 Filed in: History
"The very first humans emerged in Africa, and migrated from there to regions around the world. The exact date they first walked in the Americas is a long-standing open question, the answer to which continues to evolve as advances in archaeology and DNA analysis shed more light on the subject. During the second half of the 20th century, many archaeologists favored the “Clovis-first” theory, which argued that the prehistoric Clovis people were the first to reach the Americas, about 11,500 to 13,000 years ago. It was believed they crossed a land bridge — known as Beringia — linking Siberia to Alaska during the last ice age. This bridge then disappeared underwater as the ice melted, leaving the Clovis culture to roam North America — a land never before occupied by humankind.
More recent archaeological discoveries, however, have dramatically pushed back the timeline of human habitation on the continent. In 2021, archaeologists discovered human footprints in mud in what is now New Mexico, and dated the prints to between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. Research by an international team at the University of Oxford, meanwhile, suggests that the earliest humans arrived on the continent 30,000 years ago — and that rather than crossing a land bridge, they came by sea. The debate is ongoing, and tantalizing evidence of pre-Clovis cultures continues to be accumulated."
More recent archaeological discoveries, however, have dramatically pushed back the timeline of human habitation on the continent. In 2021, archaeologists discovered human footprints in mud in what is now New Mexico, and dated the prints to between 21,000 and 23,000 years old. Research by an international team at the University of Oxford, meanwhile, suggests that the earliest humans arrived on the continent 30,000 years ago — and that rather than crossing a land bridge, they came by sea. The debate is ongoing, and tantalizing evidence of pre-Clovis cultures continues to be accumulated."
Dickens and Andersen
29/05/25 08:57 Filed in: Books
Here is a "factoid" from time gone by related to Charles Dickens (a favorite author) and another author I have read though less familiar with, Hans Christian Andersen. They could have been more friendly in a relationship as authors but a visit went poorly and changed all of that. See here.
"Famed British novelist Charles Dickens and Danish fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen (known for The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid) could have been lifelong friends. They met in 1847 at a swanky party; Andersen told Dickens he was “the greatest writer of our time,” and Dickens, in turn, sent Andersen several books he signed as “his friend and admirer.” The pair were close pen pals for the next decade, but their relationship quickly went south in 1857, when Andersen visited Dickens for what was supposed to be two weeks, but stretched on for five.
Dickens later wrote in a letter to his friend William Jerdan — one of multiple letters to multiple people about the visit — that “whenever [Andersen] got to London, he got into wild entanglements of cabs and sherry, and never seemed to get out of them again until he came back here, and cut out paper into all sorts of patterns and gathered the strangest little nosegays in the woods.”
While Andersen, who was notoriously difficult to be around, remembers the visit fondly, for the Dickens family it was both peculiar and exhausting. Andersen was moody, anxious, and sensitive to rejection. Dickens’ daughter Katey called Andersen a “bony bore,” and one morning, Dickens’ wife Catherine found the visitor face down on the lawn, crying and clutching a bad review of his most recent book. After Andersen’s departure, Dickens left a note on the mirror in the guest room: “Hans Andersen slept in this room for five weeks — which seemed to the family AGES.” In the following years, Andersen continued to write letters to Dickens, but Dickens stopped responding.
"Famed British novelist Charles Dickens and Danish fairy-tale writer Hans Christian Andersen (known for The Ugly Duckling and The Little Mermaid) could have been lifelong friends. They met in 1847 at a swanky party; Andersen told Dickens he was “the greatest writer of our time,” and Dickens, in turn, sent Andersen several books he signed as “his friend and admirer.” The pair were close pen pals for the next decade, but their relationship quickly went south in 1857, when Andersen visited Dickens for what was supposed to be two weeks, but stretched on for five.
Dickens later wrote in a letter to his friend William Jerdan — one of multiple letters to multiple people about the visit — that “whenever [Andersen] got to London, he got into wild entanglements of cabs and sherry, and never seemed to get out of them again until he came back here, and cut out paper into all sorts of patterns and gathered the strangest little nosegays in the woods.”
While Andersen, who was notoriously difficult to be around, remembers the visit fondly, for the Dickens family it was both peculiar and exhausting. Andersen was moody, anxious, and sensitive to rejection. Dickens’ daughter Katey called Andersen a “bony bore,” and one morning, Dickens’ wife Catherine found the visitor face down on the lawn, crying and clutching a bad review of his most recent book. After Andersen’s departure, Dickens left a note on the mirror in the guest room: “Hans Andersen slept in this room for five weeks — which seemed to the family AGES.” In the following years, Andersen continued to write letters to Dickens, but Dickens stopped responding.
Rhodie Color in Spring
Spring is always colorful here. My mother and earlier members of the family planted a lot of azaleas along with different varieties of rhododendrons. Enjoy a close-up of one of our unique 2 color rhodies.
British Peerage
27/05/25 14:04 Filed in: Current Affairs | History
I love history and have read quite a lot of British history plus other eras and topics. Many of my books are on this topic. It is interesting to get more of a sense of their peerage which is over 1000 years old and part of the color of the history of that time period. It still goes on.
More to cover and understand on this topics by reading this history article.
"The British nobility is divided into tiers or ranks, known as the peerage. The roots of this hierarchical system date back around a thousand years; it began to gain a defined structure (as with many things in British history) after William I conquered England in 1066.
The peerage has five ranks: baron, viscount, earl, marquess, and duke, in ascending order. And within each tier, superiority is given to the holder of the oldest peerage. So, for example, the Duke of Devonshire is more senior than the Duke of Marlborough because the former title was created in 1694, eight years before the latter. While many titles are hereditary, it’s important to note that fewer than 90 peerages can be inherited by a female heir (in most cases the title would become extinct if there was no male heir). It’s a subject understandably under scrutiny by activists and some members of Parliament. Peerages are awarded through legal documents known as letters patent, which officially bestow a title in the name of the monarch."
More to cover and understand on this topics by reading this history article.
"The British nobility is divided into tiers or ranks, known as the peerage. The roots of this hierarchical system date back around a thousand years; it began to gain a defined structure (as with many things in British history) after William I conquered England in 1066.
The peerage has five ranks: baron, viscount, earl, marquess, and duke, in ascending order. And within each tier, superiority is given to the holder of the oldest peerage. So, for example, the Duke of Devonshire is more senior than the Duke of Marlborough because the former title was created in 1694, eight years before the latter. While many titles are hereditary, it’s important to note that fewer than 90 peerages can be inherited by a female heir (in most cases the title would become extinct if there was no male heir). It’s a subject understandably under scrutiny by activists and some members of Parliament. Peerages are awarded through legal documents known as letters patent, which officially bestow a title in the name of the monarch."
Memorial Day 2025
Why is Memorial Day called as such and what was the name of this memorialization prior?
I was asked recently if we celebrate VE Day like they do in European countries. I did answer that we recognize VE Day though not to that degree then. Our recognition of the loss and sacrifice of our military veterans plus all who live here is on Memorial Day. It is a day of many war movies and remembrances. I just finished watching "Sink The Bismarck" which happened in World War II.
"As the American Civil War came to an end in 1865, communities across the U.S. honored fallen soldiers through local ceremonies at burial sites. On May 30, 1868, the first national ceremony of this kind took place on a day that would come to be known as Memorial Day — though at the time, it was called “Decoration Day.”
A few weeks before the ceremony, John Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans organization, issued a proclamation urging Americans to decorate Civil War soldiers’ graves with springtime’s “choicest” blooms. Logan stated that the May 30 commemoration would be “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.” About 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for the first official Decoration Day observance. Along with flowers, each grave was adorned with a small American flag.
By the end of the 19th century, Decoration Day ceremonies were taking place on May 30 throughout the country. The name had started to evolve by this time, too; people began using the term “Memorial Day” instead. That moniker, however, didn’t become common until after World War II, and Congress didn’t make the name change official until 1967. A year later, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, declaring that certain federal holidays would be observed on Mondays, including Memorial Day, which was to be commemorated annually on the last Monday in May. Today, the holiday honors all Americans who have died in military service."
I was asked recently if we celebrate VE Day like they do in European countries. I did answer that we recognize VE Day though not to that degree then. Our recognition of the loss and sacrifice of our military veterans plus all who live here is on Memorial Day. It is a day of many war movies and remembrances. I just finished watching "Sink The Bismarck" which happened in World War II.
"As the American Civil War came to an end in 1865, communities across the U.S. honored fallen soldiers through local ceremonies at burial sites. On May 30, 1868, the first national ceremony of this kind took place on a day that would come to be known as Memorial Day — though at the time, it was called “Decoration Day.”
A few weeks before the ceremony, John Logan, head of the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans organization, issued a proclamation urging Americans to decorate Civil War soldiers’ graves with springtime’s “choicest” blooms. Logan stated that the May 30 commemoration would be “designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.” About 5,000 people gathered at Arlington National Cemetery for the first official Decoration Day observance. Along with flowers, each grave was adorned with a small American flag.
By the end of the 19th century, Decoration Day ceremonies were taking place on May 30 throughout the country. The name had started to evolve by this time, too; people began using the term “Memorial Day” instead. That moniker, however, didn’t become common until after World War II, and Congress didn’t make the name change official until 1967. A year later, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, declaring that certain federal holidays would be observed on Mondays, including Memorial Day, which was to be commemorated annually on the last Monday in May. Today, the holiday honors all Americans who have died in military service."
Aberdeen Family Dinner
25/05/25 15:47 Filed in: Family
We ate out the first night together while in Aberdeen at a restaurant called Mulligans. They had pretty good food and the onion ring appetizer was probably the best item. I was able to capture some of us at dinner though Jesse tried to avoid having his picture taken. You can see a small bit of his head. The weather was wet, cold, and very windy so it was nice to be indoors.
Nicolas High School Graduation
23/05/25 09:47 Filed in: Family
This past Sunday on the 18th, the family gathered in the gymnasium/auditorium of the Aberdeen High School (South Dakota) to watch Nicolas graduate from high school there. It was a special day and the ceremony was quite nicely done. The following photo is showing him receive his diploma during the ceremony. Yay, Nicolas!
Oregon's Thundereggs
12/05/25 08:41 Filed in: Oregon
The Hunt for Thundereggs in Oregon
We have thundereggs in our home and they are super cool. There are a number of rock stores in the area and people go rock hunting in the state. Last rock place though we visited was Custer, SD.
From an article here about Thundereggs.
<<Sixty years ago, in 1965, the fascinating thunderegg was declared Oregon’s state rock.
People come to Oregon from all over the world to hunt for thundereggs, the seemingly unremarkable egg-shaped rocks that hide beautiful patterns of agate, opal, jasper and other gemstones.
Oregon’s thundereggs formed up to 60 million years ago, when gas bubbles were encased in molten lava. The water and minerals that filled in those holes form surprisingly beautiful shapes and colors.>>
We have thundereggs in our home and they are super cool. There are a number of rock stores in the area and people go rock hunting in the state. Last rock place though we visited was Custer, SD.
From an article here about Thundereggs.
<<Sixty years ago, in 1965, the fascinating thunderegg was declared Oregon’s state rock.
People come to Oregon from all over the world to hunt for thundereggs, the seemingly unremarkable egg-shaped rocks that hide beautiful patterns of agate, opal, jasper and other gemstones.
Oregon’s thundereggs formed up to 60 million years ago, when gas bubbles were encased in molten lava. The water and minerals that filled in those holes form surprisingly beautiful shapes and colors.>>
Cats At War in World War I
08/05/25 15:42 Filed in: Animal Kingdom | History
It was quite interesting to come across an article about the role of cats in World War I. Their role was to provide companionship in the midst of war in part.
To get preliminary detail about what they meant in the trenches…
"The Great War was such a difficult time, some soldiers sought out the assistance and comfort of four-legged friends — including cats, who were used in the trenches to boost morale. Dogs, homing pigeons, foxes, goats, lion cubs, and even raccoons also served their countries as pets and mascots throughout the “war to end all wars,” and some even carried out official duties. Cats did a bit of both: Though most kitties simply kept their compatriots in good spirits by providing them with loyal companionship (and fending off rats), some also used their heightened sense of atmospheric pressure to detect bombs in advance. Not all feline soldiers’ deeds have gone unnoticed. Among the 75 animals who have received the PDSA Dickin Medal, which was established in 1943 to honor the military service of animals, is a cat named Simon. He served aboard the HMS Amethyst from 1948 to 1949 and received the medal for “disposing of many rats though wounded by shell blast. Throughout the incident his behaviour was of the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.” In a newsreel of the ship returning home, Simon is rightly referred to as “a hero in his own right.” "
To get preliminary detail about what they meant in the trenches…
"The Great War was such a difficult time, some soldiers sought out the assistance and comfort of four-legged friends — including cats, who were used in the trenches to boost morale. Dogs, homing pigeons, foxes, goats, lion cubs, and even raccoons also served their countries as pets and mascots throughout the “war to end all wars,” and some even carried out official duties. Cats did a bit of both: Though most kitties simply kept their compatriots in good spirits by providing them with loyal companionship (and fending off rats), some also used their heightened sense of atmospheric pressure to detect bombs in advance. Not all feline soldiers’ deeds have gone unnoticed. Among the 75 animals who have received the PDSA Dickin Medal, which was established in 1943 to honor the military service of animals, is a cat named Simon. He served aboard the HMS Amethyst from 1948 to 1949 and received the medal for “disposing of many rats though wounded by shell blast. Throughout the incident his behaviour was of the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.” In a newsreel of the ship returning home, Simon is rightly referred to as “a hero in his own right.” "
North-Northeast Sunrise
07/05/25 19:51 Filed in: Berlin Community
Early this morning while looking at the window to the North, I could see it was a beautiful sunrise in the making. I went outside on the deck towards the north end and got this iPhone photo that aimed North-Northeast. This is not the most usual location for our sunrises. They are usually more easterly.
(Photo)
(Photo)
Dust Bowl History
In the early 1930's, my grandparents and mother left NE Nebraska due to the Depression effects on the region and they made the decision to move West. First through Cheyenne, WY then on through Washington State near Selah then to Lebanon, OR. My grandmother's favorite sister, Mary, died from dust pneumonia during the Dust Bowl days. The following is an article description how bad the situation could be in the Midwest.
"The Dust Bowl wasn’t entirely confined to the actual Dust Bowl states. Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico were certainly the most affected by the extreme drought that ravaged the Great Plains in the 1930s, a natural disaster that followed overcultivation and proved disastrous for both the land and the people living on it. But some of the dust storms that resulted were so extreme that their clouds reached cities more than 1,500 miles away on the East Coast. Boston, Massachusetts, even saw red snow due to red clay soil becoming concentrated in the atmosphere.
One of the worst storms hit the Great Plains region on April 14, 1935, which became known as Black Sunday. What started as a sunny morning quickly turned into an oppressive haze that dropped temperatures more than 25 degrees in an hour and turned the sky black. This “black blizzard” displaced an estimated 300,000 tons of topsoil, an agricultural disaster that led to further hardship and a number of casualties."
"The Dust Bowl wasn’t entirely confined to the actual Dust Bowl states. Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico were certainly the most affected by the extreme drought that ravaged the Great Plains in the 1930s, a natural disaster that followed overcultivation and proved disastrous for both the land and the people living on it. But some of the dust storms that resulted were so extreme that their clouds reached cities more than 1,500 miles away on the East Coast. Boston, Massachusetts, even saw red snow due to red clay soil becoming concentrated in the atmosphere.
One of the worst storms hit the Great Plains region on April 14, 1935, which became known as Black Sunday. What started as a sunny morning quickly turned into an oppressive haze that dropped temperatures more than 25 degrees in an hour and turned the sky black. This “black blizzard” displaced an estimated 300,000 tons of topsoil, an agricultural disaster that led to further hardship and a number of casualties."
Little Bighorn Battle Told
04/05/25 07:22 Filed in: History
As I was searching the internet this morning for video of the Kentucky Derby which I missed yesterday, I found a video telling of the Little Bighorn Battle based on the witness of a surviving soldier of Benteen's troops. We have visited the battlefield twice, last time was a few days short of a year ago, driving the tourist route. The video is pretty accurate in describing what is known of the battle mixed with beautiful depictions of what might have been visualized.
I have included a photo looking from the route Custer, then Benteen's troops took toward the main northern action. It is looking across the valley to where Reno's troops attacked the southern part of the Indian camp.
I have included a photo looking from the route Custer, then Benteen's troops took toward the main northern action. It is looking across the valley to where Reno's troops attacked the southern part of the Indian camp.
