January 29, 2021 RECAP OF 2020 OIL PAINTINGS

2020......... no comment, other than WHAT A YEAR. Here is my first completed painting for 2020. Actually I thought I had completed it in 2019, but after looking at it for several weeks, I decided the painting was not what I wanted it to be. HAHAHA.... "Is a painting ever really finished?" It's interesting how looking at something at home, tweaks pop out at you, indicating further work. BTW...... this one is STILL a work in progress.👇

Who would have thought that I would be painting at home. A month's worth of zoom, a few in-person instruction classes. Blog post here includes a zoom session with my art instructor .April9, 2020 Zoom Oil painting session. Finish painting:👇

April's zoom sessions were a bit over-the-top for me and I honestly almost took on more than I could chew. Blog post includes several paintings, as well as links to other blog posts about my painting zoom sessions: May 27 Zoom Sessions 2,3,4 and May 31, 2020 Sunrise Sunset Oil painting . Finished paintings for these sessions:👇

Another zoom and in-class session included work on another piece, the Roanoke Star. I've painted this scene 4 other times(taken from a photograph that I snapped), and wanted to do one more. The students were starting to trickle back to class, with social distancing, masks, and limited number in classes. The studio was absolutely sterile.  

I completed another painting at home, as well as attending another in-person class. My instructor was gracious to give directions to me, for working at home.

My desire to continue painting is paramount. I started another large canvas at home, carrying the monstrosity back and forth to class. It felt good to be back in class for a few more session to begin another piece.(my high expectations were to to complete this by Christmas.....which never happened😢) This is one not complete. 👇

The decision to forgo more in-person classes (for now) was a difficult one. The desire to be a part of a structured one-on-one class has far exceeded my desire to paint at home. Expectantly by mid Spring, I'll be back in the swing of things. At least my brushes are clean! Who knows, maybe the month of February will prompt me to dabble again in my happy little place of painting. 

January 14, 2021 Genealogy ***Shafer Lineage, Tintypes, Velvet Albums

 

'Tintypes were an important part of photographic history. Tintypes were popular around 1850-1870. They were photographs produced on metal. Also called a ferrotype, the tintype was a photograph made on a sensitized metallic base. (Iron sheets, never tin, thus the Chemistry name FE ferrotype) From the ones that I have seen, "they are 'frighteningly' realistic in a world where photography was unknown. (Perhaps you’re aware that many Native Americans didn’t want their photographs taken because they were so life-like they thought the camera had stolen their soul.)"'

In good condition, collectors will pay #35-$350 for a good quality antique tintype..... but who wants to sell your Grandmother? 😂 or your Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather?😂

I'm intrigued, as well as amazed, at the clarity of these photos that were taken in the 1800s. The clothing, the jewelry, hair styles, and the stern serious expressions, were exquisite. While I do not have the names of these 'characters of history', I know that they were from the Shafer family (my paternal side of the family tree), as inscribed on the inside of this tiny photo album(almost fitting in the palm of my hand).

The content included 10+ tintypes.

I suspect these tintypes will outlast any digital photographs that are made today!The album was found in the drawer of this Antique Victorian Edwardian ornamental album stand.

Here👇👇👇 is the larger velvet-covered, beveled heart mirror, ornamental photo album that sits on this stand👆.

 The top of the album is currently wired together, but the brass closure has been located and is ready to attach!

And yes, the album is also FILLED with old photos. 

Have you heard the saying, "NOT ON YOUR TINTYPE"? (kinda like 'not on your life', or 'you bet your bottom dollar', or 'absolutely not', or 'swear on a stack of Bibles'). This phrase was in vogue in the 1800s. It was an odd phrase, but no doubt referred to the permanence of the TINTYPE! 

My personal favorite is this one:

What a trip down memory, or should I say historical lane! The Shafer lineage part of my paternal side of my family tree.  .

January 13, 2021 RoanokeMtCampground ChestnutRidgeLoop

 Oh how I thank God that we live within walking distance of wooded areas and places to hike. 

During the past (which almost seems like forever) 10+ months, we have taken advantage of this little retreat! Our destination to the Roanoke Campground site, is reached by crossing over a spur of the Chestnut Ridge Trail. (within feets of reaching the top of our street!!!!)

The first post written about this haven was April 5, 2020 Read about here. Walking is not cancelled.

The importance of taking care of ourselves has never been more important!(physically and mentally). 

Today's 8200 fitbit steps of inhaling fresh hair was blissful!

The solitude of nature, at its best, renews my faith that "ALL IS WELL".

The area walkers/hikers are continuing to add a bit of spirit!

Here's to remaining vigilant and taking good care of yourself!

There's light at the end of the tunnel!

  

January 11, 2021 CloverHollowBridge, LinkFarmBridge, MountainLake, PandapasPond

The day began as a cloudy Monday morning 'get-out-of-the-house' mini adventure. Our destination  was the Clover Hollow Bridge. Without checking the weather forecast, we drove up Christiansburg Mountain, exiting 460 toward Blacksburg. It didn't take much snow in the higher elevations to create a winter wonderland. As we made our first right turn to Rt 42, the scenic drive through the back country roads in Newport,Va(Giles Co) was filled with farm land, open fields, and rural living at its best! The first left (Rt601)Clover Hollow Road, led us to our destination, also known as SINKING CREEK BRIDGE

  

We continued following the path of Sinking Creek👇👇👇....... turning right on 604 (Zells Mill Road)eventually ending at yet another covered bridge.

LINK FARM COVERED BRIDGE 👇

Next, we followed Rt700(Mountain Lake Rd). Oh goodness, we were delighted to be driving the jeep!

Visibility was beginning to diminish.👀

But we made it to MOUNTAIN LAKE LODGE

After a few oohs and aahs,(and seriously not being able to see anything due to fog) we slipped and slided a few times back down the mountain to route 460. The elevation difference was remarkable! 

 Our last destination, before heading home, was PANDAPAS POND , located in Montgomery County, Va

The path to the pond was covered.......... but not slippery! 

Our mini day adventure was just what we needed! 🥰

January 2, 2021~ GENEALOGY ***The link between Sharpley and Hamilton

 Indeed, the hunt is real!  After reading the following, you tell me👉👉👉 Are we cousins (#theKingandI)?

Welcome to the twisted vine on our genealogy search! The missing link begins with Ron's maternal Grandfather, Raymond Forrest Stanley:

And my maternal Grandmother, Eva Kathryn Thomasson:

Ron's grandfather was born in Bedford, Va, and my grandmother was born in Lynchburg. The couple shown below are Raymond Forrest Stanley's grandparents!👇

James Wheat Jennings and Rachel Jenny Wilkerson

 

Many more photos of Ron's tree limbs are in our stash,  than my branches! I did, however, find this gem!

Hazael Wheat was my maternal grandmother's(Eva K Thomasson)great grandfather. We knew 'the missing link' was hidden somewhere in the stack of photos and musty albums.
 Our genealogy searches began several years ago, as we had 'inherited' boxes of paraphernalia from our parents, uncles, and cousins.  (It was discovered that these people saved everything from rubber bands to plastic bags, bank receipts, matchbook collections, buttons, napkins from bars, and photo negatives .... in case they needed them 😂.)  The boxes continued to be shoved to the back of that dreaded "must do" list, until we started decluttering our home.  In that daunting process of eliminating unwanted items, those 'inherited boxes' moved up to the front line. I began blogging about our roots/heritage/genealogy.  First, the genealogy hunt began as an interest, which evolved into a hobby of sorts, and now it appears to have finally become a full-blown obsession. Yes, I suffer from ADGD. (Attention Deficit Genealogy Disorder. It's when you start researching one ancestor, but get distracted by another ancestor, which causes you to bounce around to different ancestors only to end up doing a lot of work with very little to show for it!) 

But let's get back to THE MISSING LINK 😁😁😁. Bingo. Discovered! Voila! RON AND I HAVE THE SAME 4-5TH-ish GREAT GRANDFATHER! Yep, you read that correctly. If you think that your family is normal............... then you probably aren't a genealogist!  Our family tree is in full bloom, including nuts, apples that don't fall very far, and vines that are added through the years. 

The above chart is a 'first sketch' of more to follow, filling in birth, marriage, and death dates. Do you see the missing link? Look to the right. ZACHARIAH WHEAT! Soooooooooooooo......... Are we  cousins? 😁😁😁(#theKingandI) 

I have read that "Grandpa Zachariah Wheat married (Edith Chastain) and bought/built a log home at Ash Spring in Wheat's Valley, Bedford, Va around the year 1700. He owned approximately 1700 acres of land, for which he paid $1.00 per acre." I have also learned that the Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery, in Wheat's Valley, is near the intersection of ST640(Wheat's Valley Rd) and SR765(Overstreet Creek Rd), plot #66. Speaking of Ash Spring: 

Well, that settles it! ROAD TRIP, ROAD TRIP, ROAD TRIP. Much information has been found in our old musty albums, thanks to Ron's mother, Dot Sharpley. Her excursions to THe Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library were profitable. Extensive records, charts, photos, certificates, etc were found at the library.  I suspect we will be visiting 201 East Main Street Bedford, Virginia soon!  

• Being asked if I want to go to a cemetery is like being asked if I want money 😊
• I bet the skeletons in my family closet can outdance the skeletons in your family closet!🤣
• All my friends are posting weather updates and photos on facebook and I'm just over here like, "Hooray! I just found my 3rd Great Grandmother's maiden name."😍
• I'd rather browse a cemetery for ancestors than browse a mall for new shoes.😀
• You know you're addicted to genealogy when you have more pictures of ancestors than your living relatives on your walls. 💓