update

Hello blog friends. For those of you who follow my paranormal blog or know me from facebook you already know that my weekend in Gettysburg turned into quit a nightmare. What was suppose to be an over night trip turned into four days and emergency surgery for my husband. Several months ago he found out that he had a gallstone but had not had any more problems with it.
That is until the middle of the night Saturday/Sunday while we were camping in a tent on an air mattress in the campground in Gettysburg PA.

(Putting up the tent)

About three a.m. my husband woke up with horrible pains and vomitting. We knew right away what was wrong and hurried into the ER where they found that his gallbladder had reached a stage so bad that it had to come out. By noon they had called in the surgeoun and his team and by one he was out and in a room.
I must tell you that if you ever get sick and have to have emergency suregery Gettysburg is the town to do it in. They were so wonderful to us. It is a small town, small hosptial and everyone went out of there way to make sure he was given the best care.
I had to find a place to stay of course and did not want to stay alone in the tent, so the campground offered me a night in a cabin for free on Sunday night. My husband got out of the hospital late Monday and we found a motel for that night. As it turns out the motel had a reputation for being haunted, and although we did not have an experience it was a lot of fun being there. You can read more about it and our day before the ER at my paranormal blog. Just click on the sidebar to take you there.
The funny part of the entire thing was we had taken a self guided tour during the day of 35 sites that were used as field hospitals. We never expected to tour number 36 ha ha..
I an going to post some photos in the next post of the places we went
Also I am happy to report that my husband is feeling better and we are home and he will be returning to work on Monday..

I am so bad

I am so bad about updating this blog! I always think of this great stuff to write about and then it never seems to make its way onto the computer. For example a few days ago I was thinking of complaining about my pet peeves at work. You know things like women who try on 12 pairs of jeans in 4 different sizes and then leave them all inside out on the floor in the dressing room at work for the sales associate (ME) to have to pick up, refold or hang and put back onto the sales floor. Or maybe about the customer who won't get off her phone long enough to make her purchase. (I have actually thought about picking up the store phone and dialing a co-worker and start a conversation in the middle of these people's conversation just to show them how it feels but they wouldn't notice)

Then there is the complaint I have against my local Walmart (Or any store) parking lot. Have you ever noticed that just when you are about to back out of the parking space that someone always walks behind your car. Do people not see the wheels rolling or something ten times the size of there shopping cart halfway out of a parking space. Geez!

Anyway I thought about complaining about all of those things, but instead I am only going to complain that my poor hubby is sick and I had to spend almost the entire night awake and then take him to the ER about 4a.m. He had a gallbladder attack and we now know he has a gallstone. He has an appointment to see a surgeon in mid March and more than likely they will set up surgery. Right now he is snoozing away and I still have only had a short nap. I'm tired, I'm grumpy and I am worried about how we are going to pay for surgery since we have no insurance and no savings.
Why is it one good thing (my new grandson) always brings more bad things to follow. Have you ever noticed that? Life starts going a little to smooth and ZAP!
Ok well that is my world right now..
More another day. Take care everyone

The Big Day Is Here

Well the big day is here! I am at the hospital with my daughter and they started her on an IV with pitocin. No real contractions yet so we are in for a LONG day. More updates later

Can you believe it

Can you believe it did this AGAIN

We never get snow,and now we have it two weekends in a row...All I can say is this baby better not come until Tuesday!

Baby Update

Little Noah is due to arrive any day now. If my daughter does not go into natural labor before this next Tues. the Dr will start to induce her by inserting a foley in her cervix. This will dialate her more and get her ready with some contractions. if that alone does not start the real labor then on Wed. morning they will put her in the hosptial and start her labor with drugs.
We are hoping she won't have him until then because everyone is trying to be off those days, and I have time off at the end of the week next week to be with her. Keep your fingers crossed. Also we are expecting more snow here, so say a little prayer that it misses us. It hasn't snowed in our area in ten years and now it is trying to come two weeks in a row. Sigh..
Anyway please keep Rebecca in your thoughts and prayers that we will have a safe and fast delivery, and that little Noah will be here soon

Baby update

My daughter is due on Feb. 13, but as of this week she has dilated 1 and the baby is head down and he has dropped. I suspect she wont make it another four weeks. Her first baby was born a week early, so we will see. The boyfriends mom gave her a very nice baby shower last weekend, so she is all set as far as things she needs to welcome him. I am posting a few photos so you can see the adorable cake and a few of the decorations. The little ducks on the cupcakes are chocolate aren't they cute! The little sweater in the last photo has a special story behind it. It belonged to my daughter's boyfriend and was made by his great grandmother for him. He wore it home from the hospital when he was born. His mom presented it to my daughter as a gift at the shower. She was very overwhelmed and had tears in her eyes as she gave it to her. I know that it held a special place in her heart and it must have been so hard for her to give it to my daughter. Especially since her son and my daughter are not married. Rebecca plans on letting Noah wear it home when he arrives.

Hello World

Hello World, yes I am still alive. Sorry I haven't posted in such a long time. Is anyone still checking to see if I have a blog?
Lots has been going on since my last post, but most of it daily boring stuff. Also I have had a little personal stuff going on that I had to sort out in my head. I am feeling better now and thought that I better get back to the world of the living. All I will say about the last month and what was going on is it involved someone from my past who was part of the problems that caused my ex and I to split up. I had not been in contact with this person in almost 12 years and it brought up a lot of hurt and pain to hear from him again. My husband knew that I found this person and he understood it was something I needed to do (we didn't see each other just so everyone knows) to have a final closure on a painful time in my life. Now that all of that has been hashed out this person and I have agreed not to contact each other again and let the past stay in the past. I am going to stop feeling sad for things that are no longer a part of my life and be a happy. I have a new grand baby coming in about three weeks, I have a wonderful husband now and life is good..
I will try to get back to my regular blogging soon

Holiday fun

A friend of mine made this and sent it to me today. I thought it was really cute so I wanted to share it.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

So what are you thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who are celebrating today. As for me I am waiting for my daughter and grandson to come pick my husband and I up. We are heading to my mom's house in VA. Beach where we will meet up with the rest family to enjoy our meal.
This year I am thankful for my family. My son is here instead of out west working. My daughter and grandson and the new little one on the way. It goes without saying I am thankful for my husband, my Mom of course (miss you daddy) my brother and his family and my sister and her husband.
I am thankful that I have a job (even if I do have to be at work at 4:45 AM tomorrow morning to face the Black Friday crowd)
In spite of my aches and pains I am thankful to be alive, to see and hear, feel and touch and enjoy the world around me.
I am thankful that we got to make TWO trips to my beloved Gettysburg PA. this year.
I have a home (though small and over priced for the neighborhood we are in)
Two cars (One which is broken down again)
My pets which bring me joy (even when they poo on the floor)
And last but not least my friends.
This list includes you dear readers for without you this blog would not exist
Enjoy your day everyone

Is it magic?

*play video as you read this post*



Lyrics

Stevie Nicks - Crystal lyrics


In just a little over a week (Dec. 2) My husband and I will celebrate eleven years of living together and nine years of marriage. I have to admit more than once during those years I have, like most women asked myself what have I got into. Like any couple we have had our ups and downs. Most days I do count my lucky stars that I found someone to love. Lookng back now I do know how it had to be more than luck findng each other. If your a regular reader of this blog, you already know that Dean and I met in a chat room on the Internet. Having only known each other in person for 36 hours before we moved in together. I now realize just how crazy that was.  Of course at the time I probably was more than a little crazy. I was in a bad marriage, desperate to find a way out. I was wishing for someone to save me. Thankfully that someone was Dean. Not only did he save me, he allowed me to find myself, to heal and to become stronger for what had happened.

Like in the movie Practical Magic Where Sally does a little spell where she writes down the qualities of the man she will love forever: he has one blue eye and one green eye, can ride a pony backwards, can flip flapjacks in the air, and his favorite shape is a star, I was looking for someone I didn't think existed.
Although Deans eyes are brown, and I've never seen him ride a horse, he does have a horse tatoo and his Internet nickname was PonyMan, I have never seen him flip flapjacks and I never thought about what his favorite shape might be. I do know he is the man I wished for.

The weekend in review

This is my three day weekend,and it is going by way to fast. I spent the first two days getting nothing done other than spending time with my daughter and grandson. Of course I always enjoy that but I swear I never seem to have enough "Me" time.

Today has found me still in my nightgown and it is almost 4 pm. I did do some laundry and picked up over the living room a bit, but other than that I have vegged.
In the mean time I am making Chicken and Dumplings for supper and plan on watching some TV
I can't believe that Thanksgiving is Thursday. We will have our meal with my mom this year. It is the first time she has cooked for the family since she had her heart attack almost 3 years ago. I already know that will be a busy day and I have to be at work on Friday at the crack of dawn. We open at FIVE AM
We are about to start longer hours at work and I really dread them. I hate to say it but I really do hate the holidays. I will be so happy when January arrives.

Oh the bright side Rebecca and I did sneak off Saturday night alone to watch "New Moon", which is the second movie in the Twilight series. If you haven't seen it yet I can recommend it. Especially if your a Twilight fan.
While there we got a chance to talk to some of the other people (we waited in line about a half hour) and I was surprised to find that several people saw the first movie but haven't read the books. Read the books folks, you will be glad you did.

Anyway we joined about 400 other fans for the 7 pm showing. The auditorium we were in holds 500 and it was almost full. This was just one of three in that theatre that were showing the movie. I must admit I really enjoyed it, and those sexy scenes where Jacob has off his shirt did get me to wishing I was 17 again.

The price of movies is ridiculous and I can see why so many people wait for the DVD.
At lest it was a movie that I could walk away from and feel like it had been worth the $11.00 price of admission. Of course we won't talk about the other $8.00 I had to spend on a hot dog and soda.
On the bright side we had stopped at the dollar tree for candy, so eat your heart out AMC I got one up on you ha ha.


Sunday found me back over at my daughters house. Someone she knows was moving and they gave her a dinning room table and chairs for free. Her boyfriend was suppose to go help her and her dad pick it up, and I was going to stay with my grandson, but the boyfriend showed his true colors once again and refused to go help her. Her dad and I picked it up and moved it. (My husband didn't come because he was being a pain in my butt too....A story for another day ha ha)
Anyway we got all of that taken care of and then Rebecca and I went for lunch with Cody and on to the toy store. I had promised him a toy because he had received a good report card from pre-K. From there a quick trip to the grocery store and then home. Needless to say my day was gone by then.

I vote we should have two day work weeks and five day weekends? Anyone else agree?

kIds

I swear sometimes I really do understand why lower species eat there young when they were born. Today is one of those days. Someone tell me please why do kids blame their mom for everything. My daughter calls, WAKES ME UP, she is in a panic because she can't find her epiccard .She thinks she lost it so I stumble out of bed, half asleep, eyes still watering. I go to the computer and check her balance, I read her the list of the last 10 places she has been. She is upset thinking someone used it today because I tell her that the last post was today. She then panics cancels the card. then calls me back, I reread her the list and she says OH it probably wasn't stolen, now she is mad a ME because I told her the date and now she can't get to her money for 10 days. I don't get it. This is a 25 yr old woman who can't keep up with HER card and I am the bad guy here. Sigh

The Ham

Sarah was sitting on the porch; shelling the last of the peas she had picked that morning. The Georgia sun was still low in the sky, but she knew by noon it would be blazing and the dew that had been on the grass that morning would melt away to the heat of summer. She was already hot and she wiped her forehead with her apron as thought about the day ahead of her. With a sigh, She looked out onto the empty dry fields remembering a time when they had been white with cotton. Now with no one to work them they had fallen to ruin. She did manage to keep the little garden going giving herself enough to eat, but times were hard with Floyd away fighting in the war. He left her behind signing up with some of the other men in the area and promising “To be home in a few weeks”. Those weeks had turned into almost a year. Their son Early Barto (Bud) had been learning to sit up when his daddy left. Now he was walking and into everything.


Sarah took the letter she had received almost a month ago out of her pocket and read it again.


“My Darling Sarah,
I hope this letter finds you and little Bud doing well. I am fair. My bowels have been bothering me and I have not been well. I have been in the hospital in Virginia for a while now but I am getting better and will return to my unit soon. They are somewhere south of here. We can hear the cannon fire and if I look out my window I can see the campfires at night. I pray that this war will end soon and I can come home to you and little Bud. Give him a kiss for me and one for yourself.
Your loving husband
Floyd”


Sarah sighed and put the letter away. Walking into the house she took the cornbread that had been baking out of the oven and dropped the peas into the water boiling on the stove. She sewed on her quilt awhile resting and thinking of Floyd and how happy they were together before the war.



Baby Bud who was waking up from his nap interrupted her thoughts and she quickly went to him. After she had changed him and fed him some of the cornbread mashed with the juice from the peas, and a cup of milk she had got from the cow that morning she sat him on the floor to play while she ate her own meal. She sliced a tomato and ate it along with the peas and cornbread. She thought about going out to the smoke house for a ham, but then remembered she only had a few left and it was a long time until fall when the pigs could be slaughtered. She hoped she could find someone to do that for her this year but with so many of the men away that chore might fall upon her.

Sarah finished her meal and almost had the table cleared when she heard the sound of hoof beats and shouting from the road. She quickly grabbed baby Bud and ran into the yard. The rider stopped in the cloud of red dust out of breath shouting. The Yankees are coming, Not more than a mile from here. Hurry Ma’am hide, they will be here soon. With that he road off leaving her standing there. At first Sarah couldn't move, she was so frighten, then she realized she had to hurry. She ran inside with Bud telling him to sit and play, that she would be right back. She prayed he wouldn’t fall onto the stove while she was gone. The wood was still hot from the meal she had just cooked. She didn’t have time to think about that now she had to hurry.

She ran for the smoke house and took her hams down. There were two big ones and she had to carry them one at a time. She ran past the well and down the lane and into the woods. Sarah remembered where a big tree had fallen last fall when the heavy rains had come. It had rotted over the winter and now had a hollowed out place in the stump. She took the first ham hid it there and ran back for the other as fast as her legs would go. She put them both in the tree and looked around for some brush to cover it.  She then took the cow and hid it by the river, praying they wouldn't find it. Then she ran back to yard and into the house. Baby Bud was still happily playing on the floor. Just as Sarah scooped him into her arms she heard the sound of horses coming. She looked out her window. There were men all around her house now pulling into a circle under the big oak tree at the end of the yard. Sarah straightened her hair and opened the door.

Ma’am I am General Smith, and these are my men. We have been commandeered by Union Army to take food for our troops. Sarah stood silent afraid to speak and watched as the men killed her pigs and chickens. They brought them into the house and told Sarah that they need to be cooked. The men were hungry. One man pushed her aside dipping his fingers into the pot of peas she had left on the stove and helping himself to the rest of the cornbread. They opened all her jars of food, throwing them to the ground and breaking the glass as they poured the food into a pan. They took every thing she had left from last winter. They took everything from her garden. Knocking down the fence post. Tearing the door off the barn. Sarah was angry, but she was more scared. She had baby Bud to think about. Who would take care of him if anything happened to her? Sarah did what the men told her and she cooked for the men for three days and nights, sleeping little. When the men were finally gone she breathed a sigh of relief and she smiled to herself. At lest the hams were safe and Floyd would be coming home soon. After all the war couldn’t last much longer.

The End.

Floyd and Sarah

This short story is a work of fiction. However

Floyd, Sarah and baby Bud were real people.

Floyd and Sarah were my great great grandparents. Floyd did fight in the Civil war and was in the hospital in Richmond VA for most of the war with diarrhea, The Yankees did come to Floyd and Sarah’s house and Sarah was made to stay up and cook for them for the three days that they camped around an old oak tree in her front yard. She did save her cow by hiding it and her  hams by hiding them in an old tree and the men did kill all her pigs and chickens. Early Barto Barker was my great grandfather, he was born in 1861 so he was a baby during this time.

What is not known is the exact time of year that the Yankee troops were camped at Sarah house, nor how long she had to hide her things. . I do not know how many men arrived, but we do know from oral history that they stayed three days.  We do not have any letters from Floyd to Sarah so that part I made up. Along with what she thought and what she ate and so on. I have only been given oral history of the event itself so the rest of the story is fiction.

This is my first attempt at writing a short story and I hope you enjoyed it.

So What Do You Think?

Out of all the blogs I read, I haven't seen anyone mention the H1N1 flu. Are you worried about it? Do you plan on taking the vaccine?
It seems to be the hot topic in our area, and we are currently out of the vaccine. My sister who is a nurse did find a dose for my daughter who is 6 months pregnant, so she took the shot. We were really torn about it, but from all the news reports the flu is very very dangerous for pregnant woman and the majority of them who contact it have a high chance of both the baby and them-self dying. That is a lot more frightening than the shot.
The schools here were lining up kids for the shot last week, but my grandson had a fever from a cold and sinus infection and no one seemed to know if it was safe for him to take the vaccine. At his age he has to have the mist and will need it in two doses. By the time he was feeling better and my daughter had made plans to go get it for him they had ran out. It looks like it may be several weeks yet before our area has it back in.
I don't mind admitting, I'm a bit nervous. I don't want my grandbaby getting sick.

So what is the talk around your town?

Treasures Galore

Sunday afternoon found me with some free time so we decided to go to one of the nearby antiques stores. I had seen this shop on my previous visits, but had not been there. I later found out it is only open on weekends so I was fortunate to find them open.


After looking around a few minutes the owner and I started chatting and the conversation lead to the history of the house and barn. Much to my surprise and embarrassment I found out that I was standing on The JacobWeikert Farm


For more information on the farm and additional photos click HERE







This home was not only used as a Civil War hospital during and after the battle, but is one of the most famous farms in the area.

I hope you will take a few minutes to read about this wonderful farm. It played an important part in the battle and I will also be telling you more about one of the young ladies from town who spend almost a week here during the battle itself in a future post.

For more information on the antique store, and photos of the inside click HERE

As I mentioned I love antiques so I did not leave empty handed. I bought an old blue medicine bottle and I also found this wonderful "treasure"



Of course you know me, so you know I had to ask if there was a ghost story. It was no surprise to me to find out that they had one.
The owner recounted one to me that involved her daughter. It seems that one day she saw an apparition of a soldier in her bedroom. Also the owner told me that on photos that she takes inside the home she always gets orbs. This again was not a surprise since the dinning room table was used for operating on the men. Arms and legs were cut off on the table and thrown outside the dinning room window
This table is now at the visitors center and I did go by to see it before I left town so I could take this photo. Sorry it is poor quality but was taken behind glass.




All in all this was one of the highlights of my week and the owners were very sweet and easy to talk to. I would recommend that if you get a chance to visit Gettysburg you drop by.
They are located on Tanneytown Road.

Apples, Battlefields and Ghost OH MY!

I took half a day off today so that I could finish getting ready for my upcoming trip this weekend.  I think I have almost everything packed and ready for the car. I've been undecided as to what to take to wear while I am in Gettysburg. The weather is going to be cooler than I am use to, but I don't want to dress to warm and be uncomfortable the entire time. I finally settled on both jeans and Capri pants, and added both long sleeve, three quarter sleeves and short sleeves along with a sweat shirt and light weight jacket. I know I have to much packed, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I still have a few little things to gather up but for the most part I am finished. We won't talk about my husband but I will tell you that he doesn't have the first thing packed and has to do his laundry yet. It's ok though he has off tomorrow. I on the other hand am working 11-8, which is one reason why I was off this afternoon. I don't want to be running around here at the last minute trying to finish up.
I have to tell you that I am excited, and if you have ever read this blog more than once you know by now that Gettysburg is probably my favorite place on earth.  I love not only the history but the town itself.  As I mentioned in my previous post we plan on going to the Apple Harvest Festival on Saturday.  Since this also is my birthday we may find a nice out of the way place for dinner. Some time on Sunday I plan on walking the field at Picketts Charge, where the last fight of this battle took place.  I tried walking all the way across on my first trip and was over come with emotion and had to turn around. I am determined this time I will make the one mile walk. (My header photo was taken in this field). If all turns out as planned we are going to try and hook up with a blogger friend of mine from Are We There Yet? for a ghost walk on Sunday night. She has a couple of things going on during the day, but if she makes it in town in time we will hook up. If not we hope to still meet the next day. I think it would be fun to put a face with the words so I hope things work out to meet her.
Anyway this is my last post for awhile but don't worry. I will be back late next week full of stories and photo's so be sure and come back by. In the mean time I am leaving you with a bit of Triva on Gettysburg. Enjoy your week everyone.



Facts about Gettysburg Monuments



1. Which state has the most monuments on the battlefield?

New York, New York has a total of 128 and Pennsylvania is a close second with 123.


2. How many Equestrian Memorials are there dedicated to generals on the battlefield?

Seven. There are memorials to Generals Sedwick, Hancock, Howard, Slocum, Reynolds, Meade and Longstreet.


3. True or False, Gettysburg has more mounuments than any other battlefield.

 True  At last count there were 1,340 monuments. The reason for this is quite simple. In the days following the battle, those immediately touched by the death of fallen loved ones and the nation needed a way to express thier grief. Nothing as devastating had happened to the young nation and monuments were a way of showing honor. Also, the battle took place in the midst of the Victorian Age, a time when death was a morbid fascination.


4. What was the cost of the Virginia State Monument?

50,000. The Virginia State monument was dedicated on June 8, 1917 and unveiled by Miss Virgina Carter, a niece of General Lee.


5. In what year was the first Confederate monument placed on the battlefield?
 1917.  The first Confederate monument was from the state of Virginia. With the completion of the Tennessee State Memorial in 1982 each southern state was at last represented.


6. Which state has the names of all the soldiers who participated in the battle contained on bronze markers around the base of the monument?

 Pennsylvania  The height of the Pennsylvania monument is 110 feet. The base of the monument is 80 feet square and has a height of 9 feet. Around the base, and on the inner walls of the arches, are placed bronze tablets on which are recorded the names of 34,530 officers and enlisted men of Pennsylvania who participated in the battle. The monument cost $150,000 and was dedicated September 27, 1910."

7. Which state monument has the inscription "Your names are inscribed on fame's immortal scroll"?

 Alabama  Dedicated in 1933, the monument stands near the spot where Law's Alabama Brigade began its attack on Little Round Top on July 2, 1863.

8. Which state monument was added in 1929 to pay tribute to the 41 units that participated in the great campaign into Pennyslvania?

North Carolina  The North Carolina state monument was designed by famous sculptor Gutzon Borglum.


9. On what anniversary of the battle was the Eternal Light Peace Memorial dedicated?

75th. The Eternal Light Peace Memorial was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 3, 1938. This was the last Joint Reunion of the blue and gray; this memorial was an enduring reminder of "Peace Eternal in a Nation United". A sodum vapor lamp, which replaced the original natural gas flame, burns 24 hours a day as a sign of the commitment by the two sections to coexist as one nation.

10. The 11th Pennsylvania volunteers monument has a bronze likeness of what?
: A dog The name of the dog was Sallie. On the field during and after the battle of Gettysburg, the dog stayed with the regiment's dead and wounded. After Lee's army retreated from Gettysburg on July 4th, members of the 12th Massachusetts found her still alive. The dog was weak from lack of food and water. Sallie was unfortunately shot and killed during the fighting on Feb. 6, 1865 at Hatcher's Run VA.

11. The Virginia State Monument has a statue of General Robert E. Lee astride his favorite horse Traveller at the top. What did the sculptor use as a model for the horse?

Sculptor Frederick Sievers travelled to Washington and Lee University in Virginia to study the skeleton of Traveller on display there. A live horse, matching the shape and size of Traveller was then used as the actual model

More interesting tidbits about the battle

Several companies of black emergency volunteer militiamen were raised in Pennsylvania during the Confederate invasion. One of these saw action, when it was put into the lines with the 27th Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia at Wrightsville, on 27 June. The company, about 100 men organized at Columbia, suffered one man killed before Union forces were withdrawn across the Susquehanna, whereupon the Columbia bridge was burned.

Russel C. Mitchell, who fought at the Devil's Den and the foot of Little Round Top on 2 July as first sergeant of Company I, 1st Texas Infantry, a part of Robertson's brigade of Hood's division, was the grandfather of Margaret Mitchell, who wrote Gone With the Wind.

The dubious honor of being the first Union soldier to die in the Battle of Gettysburg apparently belongs to Cpl. Cyrus W. James, CompanyG, 9thNewYorkCavalry, while the equally dubious honor of being the first Confederate soldier to fall probably beongs to Pvt. Henry Raison of the 7th Tennessee Infantry.

When his brigade surrendered on 1 July, Brig. Gen. James J. Archer --the first of Lee's generals ever captured-- was brought to see Maj. Gen. Abner Doubleday, who had been Archer's classmate at West Point. The latter greeted him in a friendly manner, saying, "Good morning, Archer. How are you? I'm glad to see you," to which the unchastened Rebel replied, "Well, I am not glad to see you by a damned sight!"

As Confederate Lt. Gen. Richard S. Ewell stood observing the attack of his II Corps on the afternoon of 1 July, he was struck in the leg by a musket ball and knocked down. His aides rushed to his side, fearing the worst. But the general just picked himself up, saying "I'm not hurt." Then he smiled, adding, "But suppose that ball had struck you? We would have had the trouble of carrying you off the field, sir. You see how much better fixed for a fight I am than you are. It don't hurt a bit to be shot in a wooden leg."

On 3 July Lt. Col. Johnathan Lockwood, commanding the 7th West Virginia captured his own nephew, who had been wounded leading part of the 7th Virginia at the climax of the Confederate assault on Cemetery Ridge.

During the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg an estimated 566 tons of ammunition were expended, amounting to about 24 pounds for each casualty on both sides.

On the 4th of July, as the two armies lay glaring at each other across the bloody fields between Cemetery Ridge and Seminary Ridge, Robert E. Lee's pet hen caused a minor command flap. It seems that the bird, who rode in Lee's headquarters wagon and was wont to lay an egg under his cot every morning, thereby providing his breakfast, managed to get lost. Perhaps fearful that his little pet had ended up in someone's cook pot, Lee ordered a search. After a short time, the bird was found and returned to her proper place and Lee got back to contemplating his next move.

As the Confederate troops were falling back from "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg, British observer Lt. Col. James Fremantle said "I wouldn't have missed this for anything," to which Lt. Gen. James Longstreet replied "The devil you wouldn't! I would like to have missed it very much . . . !"

Union cavalryman Elon Farnsworth's promotion to brigadier general came so unexpectedly that he had to borrow a suitable uniform from Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasanton, which he was wearing when killed at Gettysburg four days later on 3 July 1863.

While enduring the Confederate bombardment atop Cemetery Ridge on the third day of Gettysburg, Union Brig. Gen. John Gibbon may perhaps have received some satisfaction from knowing that the enemy was using his The Artillerist's Manual as their basic handbook.

During the Gettysburg Campaign Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, reasoned that a good deal of money could be saved if the army did not supply uniforms to the many miliatiamen and volunteers who turned out to help stem Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania, since the emergency was certain to be over before their own clothing wore out: Lincoln demurred, however, and the men got their uniforms anyway.

As a result of an argument over who's battery had precedence on the line of march, Capt. Pichegru Woolfolk, Jr., of Virginia's Ashlad Battery, was challenged to a duel with rifles at 15 paces by Capt. George W. Moody, of Louisiana's Madison Light Artillery; Alas for honor, the expected encounter never took place, for the Battle of Gettysburg interfered in the arrangements. Although both survived, the battle neither ever met the other again.

When Lee conferred with Ewell and Early on the morning of 2 July, they did so in the Adams County Prison on High Street in Gettysburg, which is now a library.

When Confederate artillery bombarded Wrightsville on 27 June, the only two structures seriously damaged were the offices of the "Sons of Temperance" and those of the "Native American Party" [i.e.,the "Know Nothings"], a matter which some took as a sign from heaven.

More on the grand kids

My grandson called me this morning to inform me that he has TWO days off from school. (He is in pre-K)
(I on the other hand have to work). I found it a bit sad that at the tender age of four he is already leading such a busy life that he is understanding the importance of having a weekend off. When did kids stop being kids and go to being so big? I swear they come out of the womb grown up now. When mine were young I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom. They didn't go to school until kindergarten. No wait I lied, They both did go to play school for three hours from 9-12 each day. When they were four. Cody goes from 8:30 until 4:20 counting bus time When mine were little, I kept them little, we played house and cars and trucks and dolls and all the innocent things that kids use to play. Now with almost all mom's working kids don't get the luxury of being kids. Even the schools push them hard. Already in pre-k Cody is learning to use a computer to do his work.  Of course he has know how to use a mouse since he was big enough to sit in my lap and he does already play computer games and loves the old netindo  his mom has. (He is smarter than me) I know his mind is expanding. He is smart, he is happy,and healthy and will embrace much more in his life than his mom did or I did. Still he is four? What happened to my baby?
Sigh

Still In Love

On Oct. 9th, my husband Dean and I will celebrate 11 years from the day we first met. Or I should say met in person. We actually had "met" a little over a year or so before that, just briefly in a chat room on the Internet. I was going through a lot at the time, and was chatting with a lot of different people. He was just a name on the chat list. Months went by, my ex and I were fighting more and more. We made one final attempt to save that marriage by moving from Knoxville TN. back home to Virginia. Some time passed and one day while on the computer I once again noticed a familiar nickname. I honestly don't remember who messaged who first, but what I do remember is how he was always there for me. Listening at first to me whine and complain about how unhappy I was. He tired to encourage me to make a go of my quickly failing marriage. Trying to keep me smiling, sending me jokes, being there when I needed a friend. As time went on the marriage to the ex reached the point of no return and along that way my heart had started to beat for Dean and Dean alone. I did one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I sat my husband and kids down and told them that I planned on going to met a stranger off the computer.
No one was happy, Dean and I were both scared. Should we take the chance?
What would happen if it didn't work. A million questions raced through my head. My heart somehow won and I bought tickets to fly out to Salt Lake City. I flew straight into the arms of a wonderful loving man, with a big smile on his face and a dozen red roses in his hand. The next day was my birthday, and we shared a wonderful weekend getting to know each other.
All to soon I had to fly home. The next week I was living in a motel where I remained for six weeks until I once again flew out to Dean. This time he had everything he owned packed and we traveled together back here to Virginia. We moved in together in Dec. 1998 and I have tried not to look back. I wont sugar coat it and say that it has always been easy, because it hasn't. I have learned over the years that I should have done things different. Let more time pass before I jumped from one relationship to another. But Dean and my love has never wavered. It has remained strong and true.
So this year on my birthday, I will once again spend time with him. We will travel not to Utah or to VA. but to Gettysburg PA. We have a cabin booked, just the two of us..
*Wink*

Pumpkin Picking

Rebecca and I took Cody in search of the perfect pumpkin today. We both came home with two each and some small ones for decorating. Look out Halloween, here we come!

Snips and Snails

Do you think it would be really really wrong of me to put a pink dress on my new grandson when he is born?  (can you tell I want a girl)
Sigh!

On the serious side, I do have to admit I am disappointed.  I know when all is said and done and Noah gets here it really won't matter. I am going to love and spoil this child, and think of him as my own, but I would have really loved to have a little girl to dress up and play with. I feel like I have always been cheated out of the chance to be a girly girl. My granddaughter is so far away. Girls just have more to choose from when it comes to clothes and accessories than a boy does.
Also Rebecca had her heart set on a girl this time. It really hurt me to see the look on her face when they told us it was a boy. She had not planned this baby, and really did not want it. She has had one emotional up and down after another in the last 4 1/2 months, and had really just started to accept the idea of a baby and started to get a bit excited at the thought it might be a girl and then boom. The air was just let out of her balloon.  I tired to cheer her up and took her shopping, but the both of us were walked around going..DUH...
She has three big totes of baby clothes left over from Cody so she really doesn't need a thing. Let's face it, a blue sleeper is still just a blue sleeper. We left the store empty handed. Sigh.

Oh well at lest she won't have to spend much money, and the boys can share a room. That part will be good for my husband and I since I will probably never live in anything bigger than a two bedroom apt. I can fix up the extra room in a boys theme for them, where as if I had a girl I would have had to paint and decorate with a neutral color and curtains.  Also I like the way Cody and Noah sound together, it slips off the tongue easy..
But maybe I can dress them both up as a princess, just once..At Halloween..Ok..Just once!