Pathways, Vines & Groundcover

I don't think I've taken many pictures of the west side of the cabin as seen from the porch. Mainly because I never liked the way they looked, or maybe it's the junk in the background that I need to collect and burn. Too much trash here and there in the woods. That because of the local trash collection place. A few years ago they had a huge dumpster one could toss anything into. Not anymore. I understand they have another place somewhere in the county but I don't know where.

Several types Azaleas and Hosta, including some perennial Vinca vine started two years ago. Ajuiga or something like that in the second picture on the right middle. Lot's of ferns that just grow here and there and a wild hydrangea (lots of those around here) in the foreground of the second picture about to bloom.

Yep, it's turtle season...again. Hefty looking claws eh?

The other side of the cabin; pathway leading into the woods. Blue Star Creeper filled out great, but takes work keeping the weeds from taking over. Blooms in May. English Ivy full. Probably get completely out of control if I don't cut it back twice a year.

Third year for this climbing hydrangea on a poplar tree next to the creek. It finally appears to be spreading rather than climbing. Hopefully it will bloom next year.

More ivy I started two years ago taking over this poplar also down near the creek.

Time To Divide Hosta

Yea, it's the wrong time of the year but I figured I could get a few smaller ones out of the way that includes these three. The one in the bottom left had been living in a muck pond on the west side of the house in part shade for the last three years. It always seemed like it could do better elsewhere because the leaves get a funky ruffled appearance to them. Original tag does not indicate that. Anyway there were two, now  four with the one shown being the smallest.

After three good years of growth around here I'm now realizing some of my planning is off. Not only Hosta spacing but size of Day Lillies. Smaller ones in back shown above. This is an area I also filled with annuals in past years, but now are being populated with Daisies and Coneflowers from seed, plus an unknown from seed last year barely visible. Must be a fall flower; slow growth all spring.

These guys down near the creek have taken off. Note the milk jug for size. Definitely need dividing next March or April when they're barely out of the soil. I also stuck an elephant ear in the back this year, but noticing they do need more sun to reflect their name; Mammoth.

Another elephant ear moved This one will get about four hours of sun. Could overwhelm the entire area within a few months. Also shown is another divided Hosta. Notice Azaleas getting crowded out; more poor planning, along with the next Hosta picture. Nice clumps of Ferns here and there about three foot high.

Creeping Jenny spreading all over. Fine with me, but I hate weeds growing through it.

Endless Summer Hydrangeas. These were the first two planted in of May 2010. Hoping they remain that bluish color after earlier treatment. Why one is white and the other blue is a mystery so far. I count seven now on the property, with five coming from the original two. Only a foot or so high.

Clematis that I thought I had killed off last year after I cut it back, eventually to four inches above the soil line. It needs some screening to spread out. That's it for this month.

More Shrubs Added

Headed up Tennessee way today for shrubs and finally a handful of annuals at Quinns Greenhouse. My plans have changed this year as the impatiens disease has some to do with it. Besides I'm getting tired of spending money for something that doesn't come back the next year. Add the fact I'm giving up on areas that are just plain too difficult to get something growing; along the driveway going up the hill.

I was going to buy at least a dozen impatiens just to see what may happen, but not after seeing this. Signs of downy mildew. Looking in Lowes last week I saw the same. The weather has been perfect for it. Cool and rainy. So, none of them around here this year. I did settle for Begonias...but they have never impressed me.

English Roseum

This one caught my eye at Tree City just north of Blue Ridge. It's a hybrid Rhododendrum. I picked up two lavenders and a white. Should be interesting in a few years. Slow grower though. The ones I picked up are about three feet tall and filled with buds. Should bloom within the next few weeks. Reaches something like 8 high and six or seven feet wide.

Mature Look. Lot's of big flowers.

Tree City Sign

Tree City flush with blooming azaleas, ass was the drive from Blue Ridge to Tennessee.  Most of mine got hammered by rain over the weekend. More of a no show this year.

Elephant Ears Coming Back Strong This Spring

I have two varieties around here after trying another last spring called Mammoth. Last year I didn't see it until mid June after an early May planting. Anyway they're already popping through or almost on the same schedule as the hosta. What astounds me is the one that did the best last year.

After cleaning out the leaves and pulling winter weeds (I don't remember them in recent years either) from around the star of the show last summer, I found what almost felt and looks like a stump. I didn't expect that. Maybe this sucker will be enormous this year? The others that are planted in shadier areas did not grow as large, nor do they have the stump appearance.

 

It's a mystery as are many things around here from time to time. Heavy rain this year? I've calculated the rainfall around 25 inches since January 1 which offers a very strong running creek.  Winter temps were similar to the previous year, or on the mild side. But that does not explain why the smaller EE (planted in 2010) are also coming through. They typically don't show until later or in May.

About a dozen or so trailing petunias (from plugs last year) made it through the winter in areas that do get sun in the winter months. How well they'll do is unknown as they really petered out late last summer unlike the perennial wave Petunias I always have growing on the warm east side of the cabin. Here's a really nice chunk that could bloom in a few weeks.

My transplanted Kerria bush (Easter Rose) is blooming. I did manage to root another but it's only twelve inches high. That climbing hydrangea (background) better bloom this year, dammit. Bought it with profuse blooms three years ago. Nothing since, except climb like crazy.

Japanese viburnum (Popcorn) blooming, but only one showing more than a dozen blooms. The other two in the background have a few here and there. Another mystery.

Leaves beginning to show on most trees. Lawn always looks good from a distance this time of the year. Does have a mild winter weed problem.  I'm leaving it alone this year. Some weed and bug killer, that's it. Not worth struggling with anymore. I'm in the woods. That's my excuse.

Looks Like Petunias For Awhile

Yea, I know what I said a few days ago..."why bother." A combination of horrible weather and a case of the black ass led me to those comments. But I thought, I have to do something for my daughter in law Beverly who will be visiting with family May 22 to May 26 or 27. They have a wedding to attend in Helen, Georgia that weekend. Should be a fun four days with the kids.

I never thought they would have time to visit for several reasons. Btw, son Ryan has made a career change. For his sake I hope he sticks with it because it's not easy as time goes on finding good employment. Maybe he can excel at sales eventually here. Or management? Who knows. It's a company that has apparently grown through the tough times in Florida the past several years. Looks like they have a good niche.

About Petunias

They do pretty good around here until July or so, but it's more of a hit and miss with what has a lot to do with the soil used. Mentioned last year, it's the clay they seem to thrive in, so forget that Miracle Grow stuff. Remember the picture below? July 2009. All clay, barely anything else except maybe some leeching from the cement used in the stone wall.

So, Lowes had a six pack buy on Waves for about six bucks...only pink. Probably won't look like the above until mid June, but a start below. Those smaller azaleas that bloom in late May have really done well after pruning a few times last year. Nice and bushy! Should be bursting with color.

I'm not going to touch any Impatiens until the second week of May or so. Probably head up to the  MacCaysville greenhouse and pick some up. They usually have some sizable annuals for cheap because of their growing conditions. Will they last? Probably not, but I'm just hoping for color while Bev is here.

A few more Petunias (mounding) in clay once again. I hope these will show well in six weeks. I've also picked up some six pack whatchacallits. That name I can never remember...snap dragons. Both plants will do okay if there's another frost before summer (likely- average last frost date around 4/22)

Should have some good Azalea color in a few weeks. Most everything around here is about two weeks behind last year judging by photo comparisons. Six azalea in this picture. About 20 total on property. Looking to pick up a half dozen more or maybe something that blooms in mid summer. Tree City in Blue Ridge - great source. Had to get water heater replaced - lattice missing.

Thomas H Yorke Jr - Abington, Montgomery County Pa

Forgot I started this...

Another series in the family tree stuff. This one takes me to my grandfather Thomas or as he is sometimes shown or reported as Thos H. Yorke, Jr. The first image is self explanatory as the date is shown. He never did become a fireman, but did spend his life either driving a fuel truck or in later years worked as a machinist at Standard Pressed Steel in Jenkintown I believe.

Moving into the future, here's picture of him at the Gettysburg Civil war site at the age of 24.

The ancesrty.com trial is over so I no longer have access to interesting census stuff. Besides I think I went back as far as I could go because prior to the mid 1800's if there was information, it was too generic. In other words, there may be lists on passenger ships from Europe but that's about it. No way to distinguish if it is the actual person.

The picture below is probably around 1943 when my Uncle Tom was one year old. Also shown is Barbara Ann Yorke my mother who will turn 80 this July.

Taking a closer look at mom, who was called Shirley Temple's stand in by all family members in what appear to be around 1940.

Some Daffodils

After surveying the property with a warmer day finally, I began to think. Why bother this year? After all,  few see this place anyway except for the meter reader. I may be gone for a few months in summer too. Pretty sad eh? Oh well, that's my life. I've always wanted a change but as the years pass...I really don't know how I got into this funk. Could be after I quit drinking. All my social angles disappeared. I just may take it up again out of total boredom.

Yes, there are a few daffodils here and there. Forget what these are called. They typically bloom after the King Alfreds who have been too damned spotty since the first year.

The neighbor kid did a great job trimming these with the weed whacker? Like I really wanted him to.

This weed (hanging baskets) must have come in with all the cow manure the past few years as I don't remember it a few years back. Now it flourishes in the sunny areas but very easy to remove.

My seed starter area from last year. Shasta Daisy and ??

I had something like 25 bulbs planted in this area. No flower show at all this year and last. Soil? I'm not about to fertilize either.

Of those that did make an appearance or are showing now, this is typical. Cold weather, hail? I don't know. Most just didn't show.

Christmas Rose

What's Up This Spring?

I'm getting a little itchy to do something this year, but it may be time to focus on perennials. I do have a number of two year perennials that should do well this year and need to be moved, otherwise they'll crowd one another out. And who knows what kinds of seeds were dropped last year with the likes of.

• Larkspur or that other name
• Coneflowers
• Painted Daisy
• Shasta Alaska 
• A few others I cannot recall

As it stands I may not be in Georgia during April and May (possibly June too) this spring as my business plans will take me to the Philly area. Yep, said it before, but I'm crossing my fingers this is finally it. I've been in touch with the guy who got me to where I am today. He introduced me to selling flooring on the web. And with the amount of business that will be going on along the Jersey shore due to the hurricane it should be a busy year. This means I may be getting back into eCommerce...as long as I don't have to handle the day to day BS. Lot's of opportunity and finally my chance to prove the naysayers wrong.

Hopefully we'll be hooking up with the Philly Floor Store

So, that leads to a smaller garden area this year for sure. I'm definitely not going to plant up along the drive as nothing seems to want to thrive. Good soil and water didn't even work?? Forget all those petunias too. I can't figure out why they didn't last through the summer and fall. Well they did, but just  looked raggedy into August even after cutting them back.  Soil was decent and it was a wet summer.

Impatiens? Geesh, I miss them. They created the show. They always create the show, but no go this summer. Maybe 2014. Let's see what happens. A fella down the road in Bonita just planted a slew of them last week. His garden last year was the first time I noticed the disease. We all blamed it on a heavy rain, but I guess he never did realize (or became knowledgeable) of how rampant the disease is. He still doesn't believe me after I explained my findings.."they'll do okay."

William Penrose Toomey Family - Runnymede NJ

This dates in the area of 1862 (Civil War Information) up to about 1920 or so. Shown first is a civil war veteran death burial certificate that was updated in 1942. 38 months of war service! Ended April 1865. Lucky guy. This is also the first record this side of the family has on his actual full birth date.

Here's where 13 children were born including my great grandmother Blanche Toomey Sowers. Not sure how long they lived in the house but I did see a reference to being on Market Street (Gloucester County, NJ) in 1920. The guess is 1890, give or take 2-3 years. I don't see any power lines...yet. Pops was apparently a busy and successful blacksmith with wife Marietta Steelman Toomey juggling the large family. An 1880 census shows the family living in Centre Township so I believe that spoils the "13 born" handed down family fact as two children are shown. Unless a new township was created or dissolved.

Real trouble determining the date on the next one. Young children makes guessing easier (as long as they were in the census) but there is no information on those in this photo. There are only three Toomey family members according to my mother (Blanche Sowers grand-daughter) I'm finding it hard to believe Marietta Steelman Toomey is the oldest, when you compare her to her husband.

"After 13 kids, what do you expect.." my mothers comments.

Next is around 1914 with Pop Toomey as the children called him. Blanche with daughters Mildred and Marietta Sowers. Others are noted but not all are family members.

A few other pictures during this period...

Recession Of 1880? Lykens Pa

Even with tidbits of information found in Census records one can get ideas of all sorts of things. However I've noticed forms do vary from the dozens I've looked at. Take for example this one from the town of Lykens, in  Dauphin County Pennsylvania (1880) where numbers indicate a recession or? Mind you I'm just guessing. Other factors could have been as bizarre as a change in who purchased raw materials from the town, or maybe there was a natural disaster etc.

Found The Answer- I was close 

The column furthest to the right is the number of months each person was unemployed. I see four, eight, four, four and six. Must have been some very hard times! Have no idea what "pucking slate" means. This was for a 12 year old. And what about that servant listed at the bottom for Adam Fisher, my fathers grandfather? Different last name too, yet she and a 3 month old are listed as daughters. It is the same household. Maybe the census taker got it mixed up?Lot's of other kids are shown as well that doesn't include my fathers father born in 1883.  It is the same household. Maybe the census taker got it mixed up? Mary F had the measles too (not shown) Damned hard times.

Looking deeper, I have a feeling a good portion of the unemployment happened before the May explosion as the census was take after June 1. It was documented on September 15, 1880. Then I could be wrong?

"age at last birthday prior to June 1, 1880. If under 1 year give months in fractions"

About how they took census reports. Could be some misleading information here and there from what I read. Dialect problems, can't locate the actual head of household, information provided by child, neighbor etc. May Fisher ("keeping house)  was actually born in Wales (not sure of immigration date) so I can envision problems there.

Thos H. York & Isaac James Sowers - Philadelphia Area

Signed up at ancestry.com this morning. After all, I gotta do something to get through this winter. I do have some forks in the fire with my latest business adventure, but that's what I said three months ago. Time will tell. Some smart web savvy person will "get it" and of we go.

I mentioned to my mother about finding a David York (grandfathers uncle) born in Dover, Delaware after she hinted that some/part/all of the family does originate from there. I spliced a few things together and it all made sense, but she disagreed with his occupation in 1880; an "ice helper." Naturally she probably wasn't listening (I get blamed on that too) but she didn't take into account this was when he was 19.

I get blasted from all angles when I discover something. She doesn't do the internet and never will, so she still thinks it's almost like a magical box with immediate answers. One thing I keep finding on this side of the family is the reference of being a chauffeur with Abington Township in Montgomery County Pa. I've found it three times with the following:

Isaac J Somers - great grandfather
Uncle Babe Toomey - grand mothers brother
My grandfather - he did drive a gas truck at one time

So what was a chauffeur in those days? Truck driver? Probably a combination of that and an actual limo car/buggy driver. After all, that was the classification here in Florida to be able to drive a truck before they changed the licensing requirements back in the early 1990's. I believe the same was true in Arizona where I had a license in the late 70's.

This one surprised me on ancestry. Not sure who posted it. Could be that black-white part of the family I heard about today. Edit: Nope not that part of the family. Somebody in Millville, NJ.

Another discovery in what appears to be my great grandmothers parents judging by the records I have and the dates. By the way, the dates on these tombstones were unknown until today by our immediate family. There's also a reference found in that they were married on February 6, 1876.

Occupations sure were different in this time. A few house painters here and there. Gasoline attendants, sergeant of police, envelope maker, picture show attendant, dairyman, and shirt textile mill worker.

I was getting pretty frustrated after awhile trying to find stuff, then my nephews daughter pops in and more or less told me I was doing it wrong. Oh okay, a nine year old knows eh? Apparently so. But if I did go through all the long video introductions I would have eventually found it. Yep, just like the TV commercial. Once names on my personal tree are entered, little leaves do pop up leading to more information. Shown below is as far as I got this afternoon.

Incidentally I would have never gotten this far had it not been for my mother who did much of the tree work in the past. There's still more to go on the Guthrie side that will go into great-great grandfather, and further, or to one born in 1763.

Diagonal Hardwood Floor Installation at zzVidz.com - Hardwood Flooring Video

Ancestors - Adam Quincy Fisher Family. Williamsport PA

Came across some pictures, some of which I have seen, others I haven't. Perhaps the blog title may find some long lost relatives or ones that I haven't heard of in ages. First one is my grandfather on my fathers side whom I never met. Born in 1882 (passed in 1949), the first image date is more of a guess (as are many pictures I find) but it could be within one or two years (clue in picture #2)

Adam Quincy Fisher is pictured on the right, the other, probably a shipmate buddy. I did not realize he was a small man in stature, noted in the discharge papers dated 1907 below from the USS Olympia. Born in Lykens, Pa, a town that hasn't seen much change since by only looking at population numbers.

I wonder what the best conduct rating was? Or how did he rate in proficiency? What's the scale? If anyone can find the answer please rely. It's old stuff like this that's difficult to come by on the web. Maybe it hasn't changed? Anyway my grandfather was commissioned to the USS Olympia that during this period patrolled the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and in April of 1906, became a training ship for naval cadets from the United States Naval Academy.

Interesting. I also had a great Uncle (Babe) on the other side of the family who rode the Olympia as well prior to 1900...I think. Perhaps I'll look into that.

Next up. My uncle Jack (who is still around at the age of 91 I believe) and my father James Robert Fisher (right) who passed in 2005. I'm guessing this one dates to 1925. How old does he look? That would be a better judge of the actual time period/year (born March 29, 1924) Good head of hair!

Next is Adam Fisher again. I Probably should have started this in chronological order. Perhaps I may devote a website to this side of the family considering the lack of things to do this winter and an interest in the subject. Adam Fisher and his sister Mary, later Mrs Frank Wells are shown below. I'm guessing before 1890 as Adam looks to be younger than eight years of age?

Okay, this one is a bit harder to pin point the year as it's the Fisher family with my grandmother Nellie Viola Guthrie Fisher (born 1886 in Grover, Pa) whom I barely knew and passed in 1962. I'm having trouble with this one. Uncle Jack  (born 1921) almost looks to be a teenager and younger than Dad. After WWII? If that's the case Malcolm would have been 42 or so and Ken 40

 

Left to right excluding parents Malcom Rhone, John Fisher(Jack), James Robert (Dad) and Kenneth D. Rhone for which I am named after. That's about all for now, but its' interesting I'm finding one name that dates as early as 1669! Too generic to find more information.  It's a shame our family wasn't best buds with William Penn during the early land grant years. I know of one schoolmate that is a descendant of  a Penn land grant. I'm sure it wasn't that easy, but something to ponder.

Added 1/13/2013 - Seeing how I can improve old photos. Original was actually 4.5 x 3.5 inches. Names must have been written by someone younger with all the Mr and Mrs in there. Names were also written on the back, some hard to distinguish (?)

Back Row From Left:

Jack Fisher, Linora Hall, Tommy Hall, May Hall, Laura Paris, Clyde Paris, Mid Vangrift, Floyd Eberhart, Bille Eberhart, Frank Hemminger(?), Mrs. Frank Hemminger(?), Mrs. Hugh Marshall

Middle Row:

Mrs. Adam Fisher, Mr. Adam Fisher, Mrs. Elmer Murphy, Mrs. Nelson, Mrs. Floyd Eberhart, Mr. Hugh Marshall, Mr. Elmer Marshall

Front Row:

Jim Fisher, Bill Larverison(?) Richard Eberhart