Happy 13th Birthday Shaun Patrick

Donegal Ireland April 2014

When you were born I became a grandmother. I have watched you grow, develop, and change through the years. I have enjoyed every second! I think you are amazing sweet and smart.  I love you more than words can describe. As my first born grandchild, you have a very special place in my heart. That being said, pick out those sneakers and crazy socks you seem to like to wear these days for your birthday gift!

Christopher and Elisabeth Keller Beatty

Elisabeth Keller Beatty was the daughter of my maternal great great grandparents John G and Elisabeth Voigt Keller who was born February 1, 1873 and died on November 26, 1929 from a gangrene Gall-Bladder. At the time of her death, she was 56 years old. Elisabeth was the sister of John Keller married to Sally Gallagher and my great grandmother Mary Keller married to William Gallagher. Elisabeth Keller Beatty is interred in Westminster Cemetery.

Edna (Schroeder) SANFORD

 Great Paternal Aunt Edna Schroeder Sanford Discovered on a public family Tree during research of my father's family. 1925 - 2010 Daughter of Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder (Great grandparents) Sister of my grandmother Marie Schroeder Weleski Another aunt I never knew.

Charles and Mary Mervine Schroeder

Photo taken around 1905.
Charles was of German decent. Mary was of Irish, German and French decent.
Charles was first generation. Mary's family has been in the United States since Revolutionary War times.

I recently discovered these pictures of my paternal great grandparents. A cousin of mine had the pictures posted to a public family tree. If I never did genealogy would I have ever known any members on my father's side of the family? I am 54 years old and this is the first time I have seen these pictures of my great grandparents on my father's side of the family. It saddens me to know Mary lived until 1979 ( I was 19 years old) and I had no idea she existed because the adults in my life felt it necessary to keep us apart as a result of problems those adults could not resolve. My paternal grandmother Marie died in 1945. My paternal grandfather died in 1954. However, this woman (my paternal great grandmother) along with several aunts and uncles and dozens of cousins resided in close proximity of me while I was growing up and I never knew any of them. It saddens me even more that history seems to be repeating itself with my own granddaughter.

Cape May Beach

Granddaughter

Names that are being considered for my newest granddaughter due in December;

• Madison
• Kennedy
• Chloe
• Mary
• Christine

Saturday at the Shore

Sun Set

And a Full Moon

Other Stuff

Fairmount Water Works

Manayunk

St Michael's Lighthouse in Maryland

"Hi Grandmom, I am a little girl".

I received that message this morning. I will have a granddaughter in December. When I received the message at work today, my eyes filled up with tears of joy. I am over the moon with happiness.


When I received the message that my Ava was on her way. I told everyone I was buying a pink dress. Well. Guess What? I am buying another pink dress. Two grandsons followed by two granddaughters after raising three sons and having three brothers. Girls are not common in my family. They are as rare as they are beautiful. God has surely blessed me today.

Sunday Fun With the Grandsons

We had a blast with the boys today. We went to an IMAX theater out in King of Prussia and took the boys to see Guardians of the Galaxy in 3D. I personally had so much fun.

Afterwards we had dinner in which Bill acted as though he was stealing Shaun's ice cream.

Other pictures from our day.

Nikolas and Shaun, how I love these guys!

Outdated Medical Terms

apoplexy =  stroke

bad blood = syphilis

blood poisoning = septicemia 

Bright's disease = glomerulonephritis

consumption = tuberculosis

cretinism hypothyroidism = congenital

dropsy = congestive heart failure

fatty liver = cirrhosis

glandular fever = mononucleosis

grippe = influenza
 
jail fever = typhus

lock jaw = tetanus

lung fever = pneumonia

lung sickness = tuberculosis

plague/black death = Bubonic plague

podagra = gout

Pott's disease = tuberculosis of the spinal vertebrae

quinsy = streptococcal tonsillitis

scrofula = tuberculosis of the neck lymph nodes
toxemia of pregnancy = eclampsia

Last Week

 When you are under the weather and take a selfie and not afraid to post the god-awful picture.

 I love this piece of furniture which was the first piece of furniture I purchased in my new home after the divorce.

Missy and John

Having the best roast beef sandwich ever at the Ye Olde Ale House.