Me and my long silences...

Well, life has moved along since my last post.  We've reached another financial milestone and have paid off our car.  Yay!!!  We are now credit card and car loan free.  There's still quite a bit of journey left for us on the road to becoming debt-free, but we're making progress and that's what is most important.  Freeing ourselves of the car payment has provided some much appreciated breathing room in our budget.  Extra debt payments have been placed on the back burner as we take a little time to work on our overall family health.  I admit, I'm more than a little soft around the middle, and over the past few years, the time I've spent hiking has been replaced with cuddling on the couch, video games and Netflix.  So having made some significant progress in our financial lives, I've decided that we need to start making some improvements in our physical lives as well.  Shortly after paying off our car, I signed our family up at one of our local gyms.  The cost wasn't terrible, and the facilities do offer a little something fun for each of us (my daughter LOVES the pool, and our son is excited to try the climbing wall soon).  Despite it taking away from our debt repayment, I'm hoping that this will provide us with some much needed exercise and entertainment of the non-couch variety.  

Step two on my recent healthy living goals, was to enroll myself in a weight management program through my insurance company.  PEIA has a great program that encourages weight loss by providing a discount on your gym membership, a personal trainer who meets with you about twice a month to teach you the best workouts and keep you on track, a dietician to discuss healthier food choices and accountability.  It also gives you ONE chance at the program.  One chance to motivate yourself and get moving toward a healthier you.  You skip appointments or slack on your goals, then you're out.  No more discounted gym, no more trainer covered by your insurance, and no more chances to try again.  Needless to say, it gives you something to think about before signing up since you risk losing some mighty big perks by not sticking with the program.  The program lasts for two years.  So I've made a huge commitment, but that being said, I have a lot I want to lose (150 lbs) and some really important people in my life that I want to be healthier for (my daughter especially).  I've had my first training session already, made the commitment to go to the gym on my own at least twice a week (and I've done it, even though I've really not felt like it some days).  I know I've not really lost anything yet, but I'm already feeling better (less winded when taking the stairs, a little more energy)... and I'm actually enjoying the exercise too.  I wish I had done this before my daughter came along, since she's been a little bit of an obstacle to my getting to the gym... mostly, she just wants to spend a LOT of time with mommy and gym time isn't time she gets to share with me as much... but I'm doing this for her too.  A healthier me is a healthier example for her in her own life... and a more active mommy is much better equipped to chase a toddler through the park without collapsing. 

So here's to paying off the car, getting motivated to get into better shape and to getting my family moving more.  Pool time, here we come. 

Emergency kits for home and hiking...

Lately I've been working hard to make sure we have decent first aid kits for both home and for hiking.  All of the pre-made kits I've come across (except the majorly expensive first responders' type kits) have been rather lacking in a lot of ways (most are just collections of bandages a couple pill packets of pain relievers and some alcohol swabs) so I've decided to build up our own.

I've used the Red Cross and FEMA suggestions for their emergency preparedness kits for a lot of the basics and then added (or am planning to buy in the future) a few extras.  Anyhow, here's a list of what our home first aid kit will eventually hold.  Note that most items are purchased in boxes of individual use sizes in order to be easy to set aside hiking kits for the family as well as our home kit.  Our home kit will likely have some larger size items like Neosporin since storage and size aren't an issue at home.

1 First Aid quick reference (I'm still debating on which quick reference to use, but it's a definite most have)
Pepto Bismol tablets
hand sanitizer
antiseptic wipes
aspirin 
hydro cortisone cream
triple antibiotic ointment
saline solution/eye wash
antacid tablets
acetometophin (tylenol)
ibuprophen
alcohol wipes
activated charcoal
Quik Clot
Burn Free kit
Sting Eeze


Hiking kit additions
Emergency Mylar blankets
Chlor-Floc US Military Water Purifications tablets
Storm proof matches
Lighter
Sunscreen Wipes
hand sanitizer wipes
saline solution/eye wash (single use)
duct tape
ration bars (Datrex, Mainstay, or SOS)
Life Caps 
a small pocket knife
an LED flashlight

This is just a start really to making sure we have good first aid kits for home and hiking, and I'm sure there's several more things I'll decide to add in the near future. 

Well, it feels like it's been forever since my last blog post.  Lately I've been feeling rather drained from work.  Drama upon drama has unfolded, and I don't thrive in drama... so I've felt both a physical and mental toll.  All of this has reminded me of how much my feelings toward my job have changed.  Once upon a time, I was absolutely in love with my job.  I was happy to come into work, spend extra time, knowing I couldn't get paid for overtime... hell I was excited to be a part of an academic library and university life... but... isn't there always a but.  When my daughter arrived just a little over a year and a half ago, I knew that I no longer wanted to spend so much time away from home, I even discussed the possibility of moving to part time employment with my supervisor, but I've, so far, chosen to trudge on.  I partly have been hanging on in order to ensure I get more of my debts paid off and am in a better place financially to care for my family.  That's probably the largest part of it actually.  And I've partly been hanging around because I'm afraid.  Afraid of what staying at home would mean to us financially... afraid of what I would do if I needed another job since the current job market isn't all that friendly.. and I guess part of me is just afraid of letting go of what's familiar to me, even if it's starting to make me miserable.  This job has become like a favorite book... I know the story, I know every little stain and ink blot, every tear and crease... the typos and misprints are old friends... but the cover is falling off, the paper is becoming dry and brittle, and somewhere along the way the story that meant so much to me and carried so much meaning stopped having that deep, sure connection to me heart that once made it so beloved.  I've changed... my job has changed... and I'm thinking, once again, about moving on.

I keep dreaming, much to my dear Justin's dismay I think, of a little hand built house in the country (this is the part he dismays over) with a garden, some chickens, maybe a couple goats... homeschooling Jess a couple years, teaching her some of the more practical skills she won't get in school like cooking and budgeting, raising animals, woodworking and sewing.  So far they're all just dreams and they'll stay that way for a while yet.  There's still so many little complications that I have to find a way to deal with before I could have hope to homestead or become a work-at-home mom.  But when I'm dreaming about these things, that's when I feel the old spark, the one I used to feel about my job, that excitement and joy at the idea of doing something and doing it well.  I may not be much of a salesman or marketer, I'm certainly not the type to go about hobnobbing as a lawyer or doctor, but I am a hardworker, especially when I'm inspired and motivated.

Here's to moving on... maybe not today, but someday... and hopefully in the not too distant future.  Here's to making a handmade life for myself and my family.  Wish me luck... and wish some of those complications out of my way while you're at it. ;)

Book Review-The Hunger Games series...

I've been in love with reading since my mom took a job at our local public library once my brother and I were both in school.  Since then, I've gone through periods of having reading, and lulls where I hardly cracked a book open, but I've always enjoyed a good story.  Lately my reading has been more on the YA side (Young Adult for you non-library types).  Among my latest reading materials I've had a penchant for survival tales, characters fighting for their lives against natural and man made obstacles.  One of my recent favorites has been the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.  The story revolves around the life of a girl, Katniss, who has grown up in a future America where all that we know has fallen and been replaced by lose knit society made up of specialized districts, each kept mostly ignorant of each other, and all governed by a capitol district.  Each year a lottery selects a male and female tribute, age 11-18, to participate in a gladiator style competition to the death.  Katniss, nearing the end of her eligibility is shocked to hear her sister's name (her first year of eligibility) called, and bravely takes her place.  From here Katniss's story escalates from one of daily survival back in her home, District 12, in the coal fields of Appalachia to a the glamour bestowed on the "tributes" before they enter the arena.  The games show themselves to be a televised popularity contest, where popular tributes are gifted helpful items to assist their victory, while the less popular are left to fend for themselves. 

As you read through the first story, you're confronted with the fact that the Hunger Games are just a way for the Capitol to keep it's distant districts subdued.  A cruel, annual reminder that a once failed rebellion failed to take power from the Capitol.  Katniss, who wants nothing more than to ensure her family's safety, unwittingly becomes an icon of rebellion through her acts of mercy during the games.  Her growing popularity leaves the government in a bind and she and Peeta dare to take a deadly gamble to save their lives, making fools of the Capitol.  Victory is bitter sweet as Katniss realizes that she is being held responsible for rebel behavior. 

As we start into the second book, Katniss is besieged with fear for her family and loved ones.  Trying to maintain the identity that helped ensure her victory is proving harder than she expected since Capitol spies are watching her every move, and so is the rest of the country.  A winner's tour across the continent proves educational and threatening as she realizes the full impact of her actions in the Games.  With rebellion on the wind, President Snow decides to punish Katniss by  issuing a special Hunger Games, where only previous winners (normally forever exempt from the lottery) are selected, ensuring her a place in a new a deadly arena. Her life more or less forfeit, she vows to keep her partner alive no matter what.  But as the games begin, competitors become allies and Katniss isn't sure who to trust.  A dramatic series of events leads to a daring rescue by rebel forces who've marked Katniss as their savior and an icon for their war on the Capitol, leading us into the final chapter of Katniss's tale.  But not everyone is rescued from the Capitol's clutches.

Espionage, rebel attacks, and propaganda abound in her new role as rebellion figurehead.  Katniss worries over what the Capitol might be doing to those left behind, but the leaders of the rebellion have more "important" tasks for her.  Soon our reluctant hero is swept into a war she didn't want, a rescue mission with unforeseen consciences, and a final stand off with President Snow.

Overall, the series is riveting.  The first book is especially amazing as Collins brings you into the world, bit by bit.  The character development is well done... and though Katniss is not always the most loveable of characters, she is a remarkably strong one.  Romance enters the story lightly in the first book, so you romance fans won't feel left out here, especially as you learn more about the characters throughout the series.  Action and adventure lovers will also have plenty to enjoy.  And there's even a good dose of mystery behind figuring out who's trustworthy and who's not.

The Hunger Games is an amazing tale of government abuse of it's citizens, the struggle and will to survive, and the horrors and casualties of war.  If you get a chance, please take a few moments out of your busy day... drop by your local library or book store, and sit down to read a good book.  It doesn't have to be the Hunger Games, though it would be an excellent choice, but sit down, grab a book and let yourself get swept away in it for a while.

Walking through the jungle... of our back yard.

A while ago, I mentioned that our lawnmower had been stolen.  Since then, we've been on the hunt for a lockable shed to place by the house before even considering purchasing a new mower.  Finally, a suitable shed has been found and purchased.  It's not much, just 4.5x7 ft in all, but of sufficient size for our meager needs.  It only took around 3 hours to put together (Justin did most of the work while I was at work, so I just was there to help put the roof on... and I must say, it wasn't too bad).  The price was a bit steep... $500 once we added in the taxes, etc... and we didn't pay to have it delivered and installed.  :(  Oh well, at least thieves will have to work a little harder to steal our next mower... (here's hoping they won't be interested in trying).

So, with the shed in place (on the uneven ground that we call our yard), we're now awaiting mower buying day.  Our yard, last mowed right before the mower was stolen, has grown into somewhat of a jungle.  The rain, which would have kept us from mowing most of the days since our mower was stolen, has brought about an amazing (and annoying) amount of grass and weed growth.  Right now, I'm thinking that our eventual new mower is going to get a painful initiation into the family.

Once we manage to get the yard back under control, I've seriously got to get some interior work done.  I've got stuff that needs to be sold or sent off to Goodwill soon to make way for Jessie's toddling.  And I'm hoping that making a little more room in the house will help make clean up easier and faster.  Lately, with all the changes in schedules and what not, we've been exhausted and running around without a shred of organization... and the house has suffered.  It's become somewhat of a jungle all it's own.  Dishes and Laundry awaiting my attention, dusting to be done... boxes to be gone through and things to be made ready for the yard sale (still need to set a date) and other items just waiting to be put away or worse, find a place for the first time.

Funny enough, despite all of the stress of late with unexpected expenses (the car's front brakes had to be replaced this week too... completely), I'm still feeling positive.  We've paid off the highest interest debts, so we're not having interest beat down on us while we deal with these current necessities.  Sure we've still got medical bills to pay off, and the car is still being paid on (the next big item I hope to get paid off)... but somehow I'm less stressed about these things. 

Our 4H club has finished meeting until after the summer, so we've one less time commitment for a while, though I kind of wish we were staying more active over the summer, but that's ok.  We've planned some weekend hiking/camping trips with the kids.  I've got all but one of bub's 4H project books now, so we should be able to finally start getting some of them done before the fair.  I've even started working toward my disaster/emergency preparedness goals of setting up some simple food storage for us (goal is to set up 3 months worth of reserves) in order to ensure we're able to eat even if one of us (or both) should lose our job or be injured, etc.  I'm hoping to even set us up with Grab'n'Go bags this summer in case of a fire or any event that would cause us to have to evacuate our home with little warning.  So despite some recent mishaps and minor emergencies, life is still working on shaping up for us.  Now if I can get organized enough to start cooking ahead a little again, I'll be rocking and rolling.  :)  Life my not be easy all the time, but it is good.  Well, to all a blessed day.

Genealogy break through...

I've been working on mine and Justin's family trees for a couple years now.  I had started working on my family tree several years ago, doing work here and there in short bursts, and just before we decided to try to get pregnant I had started to explore Justin's family tree so that his son would have it when he got older.  Anyhow, in my own research, I had been trying very hard to find out information about my great great grandmother, Mahala.  She was a bit of a mystery.  Family stories always referred to her as a Native American, Cherokee even.  This has always been fascinating to me, but no one could ever tell me more.  So as I was rechecking the WV Vital Statistics page (a favorite free tool I use, and something WV should be proud of as few states have made much effort in digitizing this info and making it available) I came across Mahala's death certificate.  I don't know if I had missed it in the past because I hadn't tried a different spelling of her last name or if it just hadn't been digitized previously (this was the case for another great great grandmother), but low and behold after years of trying to find her parents, here they were on her death certificate.  So with renewed interest I began looking for these new people, John Potter and Hulda Wright of Fletcher Co. KY.

After googling their names and searching several census records here and there, I came across the website of Nancy Wright Bays and her work on the genealogy of the Wright and Bates families.  Through info that she and Linda Potter Whitt had pieced together, it appears that I've found Mahala's family, or at least part of it.  There's now a new mystery.  On Mahala's death certificate her daughter, Della Hall, had listed her parents as John Potter and Hulda Wright, but from the information I've found on Hulda Wright, from Nancy and Linda's research, Hulda was married to a Reuben "Rube" Potter.  Now, I know it wasn't uncommon for a brother or cousin to marry a widowed woman when her husband died (found this a couple times before), but according to what Linda and Nancy have pieced together on the Wright family, they doubt that Hulda would have stayed with the Potter family after her husband died (Linda's recounted a very interesting story passed down in her family here).  So why would Mahala's daughter list her grandfather's name as John Potter instead of Reuben or Rube?  Mahala would only have been a couple years old when her father died, but it seems unlikely that her daughter would know of Hulda but not Reuben, unless Hulda had remarried and Mahala had been raised by this possible second husband.

So, one mystery solved and several more unlocked, waiting for answers.  I will have to start looking more closely at Kentucky records and trying to find a descendant of Della Hall who might have further information on Mahala.  If you think you may have information on these families, let us know.

Thomas "Boone" Salmons b. 4/1/1856  KY d. 10/30/1932 Hamlin, WV buried at Harvey's Creek Cemetery
married
Mahala Potter Salmon(s) b. 11/6/1859 (according to death certificate signed by daughter Della May Salmons Hall) Letcher Co KY d. 9/12/1951 Hamlin, WV buried at Harvey's Creek Cemetery

Their children are:

Bertha Salmons (married James M. Langley of KY) stayed in KY after parents and most siblings moved to Hamlin WV.

Elmon/Elmond Salmons (married Dinah Jeffers and Ora Hazel Woodall)

John Ervin Salmons (married Bonnie Duncan and Dolly Johnson)

James "Jim" Salmons (married Etta Tussey?) Believe he stayed in KY as well.


Robert "Bob" Lee Sammons (married Mary Alice Reffett)

Williams J. Salmons (married Dollie E. Burns) These are my great grandparents.

Henry Harrison Salmons (married Spicy Alice Elkins)

Thomas "Tommy/Tom" Salmons (married Rose/Rosa Burns-Dollie Burns' sister)

Della May Salmons (married Roy Hall)

Dollie/Dolly Salmons (married Earl Stickler

Happy Easter! Blessings pour into our lives when we least expect them...

Here in our hilly Ohio Valley area, spring has sprung and April has indeed brought us showers.  Lots and lots of showers, and thunderstorms.  :)  The Ohio and Guyandotte Rivers, that so recently were starting to ebb, are back up, muddy waters churning their way toward the Mississippi, thankfully still within their banks if just.  My beautiful little girl, now a one year old toddler, got to enjoy a little bit of Easter with her grandma Cover, wearing the beautiful blue dress her grandpa Alford picked up for her.  I'm working today, of course, as I've worked most Sundays for the past 5 years, but that's ok.  :)

It's ok, because just over a week ago, we finally got a little break.  Justin, who left an upper management job about three years ago, to take the chance on something better eventually, and to spend more time with his son, finally was given the opportunity to move up the ladder at his current job.  He's been patient, a little irritated from time to time, but overall patient as he slowly tried to work his way up from the bottom.  He'd made a couple moves, and gotten little raises here and there, but this time, he finally got to show his hand at his managerial skills again.  :)  I'm proud of him.  I'm proud that through the frustrations he's stayed and tried to make a name for himself.  I'm proud that he has stuck to his guns and not been afraid to speak up with his ideas for improving things.  And I'm thankful, that he's finally been given a chance to shine a little brighter.  :)  And better still, Justin's schedule will finally for set... no changing from day to day and week to week.  Now, he works the same thing all the time and now I can try to schedule myself for a steady shift as well!  Yay!  Oh how I've missed a steady schedule each week and not having to carry a calendar around constantly just to remind myself of where I'm supposed to be each day.  And maybe, just maybe, we can get Jess to bed on a set schedule again!  It's been months since we could do that.  Here's hoping.

Now good news never seems to come into our lives alone, so I guess I shouldn't have been surprised that just a couple nights after getting our lawn mower back from my mom and her husband (who had kept it over the winter to work on it for us), and one lawn trimming (first of the season even, and on the same night), our mower was stolen from the porch.  Gotta love thieves.  But things could be worse and I'm still more thankful for Justin's promotion than I am annoyed about the mower.

Anyhow, still working on downsizing some of our possessions, the mower wasn't meant to be among them though.  I'll have to ask for a weekend off soon in order to actually have a yard sale to get rid of stuff (maybe we'll be lucky and make enough to replace the mower).

Well, time for work.  May your day be filled with blessings and a sense of renewal this Easter Sunday.