It’s time for another Weekend Chat, because it’s Friday and you know…. Fridays would be incomplete with a Chat, right? Greetings from Cathey’s Creek! It’s been a little cooler here with only a little rain, so I can live with that. My wife, on the other hand, will not be happy until warmer weather arrives to stay. Her winter mantra continues. Rain today with 30°F predicted for tonight!
On the Home Front: We formally put our previous house on the market last Monday evening. Zillow showed 2000+ views, 200+ saves by Wednesday night. That night, our agent called us to close the bids because we had eight already. We accepted the largest one, and so the legal processes begin.
During the one really warm day we had here, I power washed the screened-in back deck. Of course, I was soaked by the time I got done. Dad had been unable to do much of anything the last year or so he was here. The walls were covered in mildew. It looks brand new!
One of my daughters and her husband arrive this Sunday. We haven’t seen them since January a year ago. They’ll be here until Friday. Can’t wait!
Wednesday was National Tartan Day here in the States. Canada established this day in 1986 with the US following in 1998. (Would you believe Argentina also has a Tartan Day?!) Even with nowhere to go, I wore my Macrae Hunting Weathered all day. My kilt maker published a YouTube video on the Sobieski Stuarts who fooled the world with their claims of discovering tartan patterns. Amazing how many clan tartans are based on these false patterns. The video was called The Great Tartan Con Job.
On the Genealogy Front: I was contacted by a non-member who turned out to be a step-daughter of my dad’s brother, Vernon Lee Sheppard. What’s she’s looking for is the marriage date of Vernon and his wife, Fern Opal Biddix. I can find none. Nowhere. On any site. Since these two profiles were some of the early ones I created, they were in desperate need of care. I sourced them out, but no biographies as of yet. I’ll be using Opal’s profile for the Connect-a-thon as her parents are listed on Family Search.
Aside from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Opal, I have done little personal genealogy. Most of my contributions for this month were from greeting duties. So, I have about 330 contributions.
Last month, I added 30 Jones profiles which came in fifth for that surname. I was Number One in Cobb creations with 23. Shepherd was seventh with 10 profiles. I created seven Dalton profiles which put me seventh. My measly five Corbett profiles were second, surprisingly. Earp was fifth with five profiles. My five Asbury profiles came in first! Miller, Neal, and Green did not place; five profiles or less for those.
Did some piddling in the 1950 US Census. I cannot find my mom! Where was she living? Maybe at the teacherage at Long Creek School? Maybe still in college? If only she was here to answer my questions!
Today is the birthday of my g-grandmother, Esther Cathey Lawing Underwood. She never went by Esther, but instead always went by Hettie. My grandfather said that her other nickname was Easter, because she was born on Easter Sunday in 1849. She lost two brothers during the Civil War, one killed outright during the Siege of Petersburg, and other so sick he was sent home. He died the night of the day of his arrival at the homeplace. When my g-grandfather died in 1923, Hettie began receiving his Confederate pension from the State of North Carolina and did so until her death in 1935. By the way, this US Census webpage has all of the dates of Easter from 1600 to 2099.
I hope all of you are well and safe in this crazy world!
Enjoy the Chat!
