Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Wordy Wednesday - Aunt Martha's House

Picture of Aunt Martha's house is from 
the personal collection of the owner of this blog.


This is my Aunt Martha's house. Until this summer,  I never really thought I had a sentimental attachment to this house. But  this summer, the memories have come flooding back and it's been tough.

My Aunt Martha died in 2001. In her will she left the house to her younger brother, my daddy, and her younger sister, Aunt Emmanuline. Dad bought out Aunt Emmanuline's share of the house, so, when daddy died, the house passed on to me.

It was never my intentions to sale Aunt Martha's house. Since, I always wanted to have my own business, I started out thinking that I could be a landlord and it would be the perfect setup since the house was paid off and I wouldn't have to worry about making a mortgage payment. But even while daddy was still living, I came to the conclusion that being a landlord was not for me. That being said, I still couldn't motivate to do anything about the house. Well, that is until this year.

One day, back in the spring, I woke up and decided that I was tired of dealing with the insurance company that covers the house, decided I was tired of people calling me about the house, and decided that I was just tired of dealing with it period. So, I've been spending the summer trying to get the house cleared out, so that I can put it on the market. When this started, I didn't think it would take as long as it has taken. After all, some of this was done  while daddy was still living. Little did I realize, how much was still in the house.

So, this summer, I've been spending many weekends over in the hometown trying to get the house cleared out. This has taken longer than I had expected, and no, as of this post, I've still not competed the task but I'm pretty close.

Most of the summer my mother had been helping me try to complete the task, so I guess I didn't have time to think about things that much. But Labor Day Weekend was a different story.

I had contacted the Hospice Store in my hometown to come pick up most of the larger items on the Friday before Labor Day. My mother wasn't with me that day, so after the Hospice crew left and with the bulk of the house now emptied, the memories came flooding back and would not ease up. As I went through each room to compile a list of what still needed to be done, the memories rolled. I pictured my Aunt Martha talking to clients of the now defunct Cleveland County Teacher's Credit Union, my grandmomma in what was her bedroom, and the biggest one of all, the summers when my aunts, uncles and cousins would come back to North Carolina and descend on my Aunt's house for a few weeks. I truly miss those summers from that bygone era.

As much as I miss those times and as much as I would like to hang on to the house, I also realize that time marches on. I really don't have time to deal with the house. So, I'll spend the last few weeks of this summer and first weeks of the fall, completing the task of clearing out the house and finally putting it up for sale. And yes, I find myself explaining to my Aunt Martha, who loved this house, why it must be this way. And I hope that the next person or family that buys the house will be able to build their own memories.



Monday, September 8, 2014

Madness Monday - Getting Ready for a Research Trip

This week, I'll be going on my second research trip, ever. And it looks like I will not be any better prepared for this research trip than I was for the first one I did a few years ago. But the ancestors are telling me that I need to go and who am I to argue with the ancestors.

So, before going, I'm trying to make a quick check list of things I want to do and hope to get accomplished. One thing that makes this trip different from my first research trip is my trusty side kick, mom, won't be going with me. Instead, my second cousin, Clifford, will be going with me on this trip. While I'm glad to have the company, part of me wants to go it alone since I feel like we will have different goals, which will ultimately hinder both of us.

So for me here are some things I hope to do during my one day trip to ancestral home county.


  1. Pick up a clearer copy of the Probate Proceedings for my Great Grandfather's, Peter T. Everett, estate. A few years ago, I had written the Register of Deeds for Martin County, NC to see if there was a will for my Great Grandfather, and there wasn't one. This past week while putzing around on Family Search, I came across the probate proceedings for my Great Grandfather, who died without a will. However, I wasn't able to print out a clear copy, so I wrote down all the details, in order that I can pick up a clearer copy while there.
  2. I would also like to try to locate my Great Grandfather's grave. I have a copy of his death certificate which seems to indicate he may be interred in Everetts Cemetery in Everetts, NC. This is one area where my cousin should be able to collaborate with each other. Cousin Clifford wants  to see his Uncle Buddy's grave. His uncle / my cousin appears to be be buried in the same cemetery as great granddad. After all these years, I still haven't figured out who operates this cemetery. I would like to write ahead of time to find out the exact location of the graves.
I'm sure I'll be adding to this list between now and Friday.

Checklist of things I know I will need to take with me.

  1. Camera
  2. Portable Scanner
  3. Notebook
  4. Pens and Pencils
  5. Kindle and / or Laptop
  6. Water and Snacks
The other thing I need to do is get prepared for the conversation that I'm sure will come up with Clifford about me converting to a vegetarian / vegan diet. Cousin Clifford is a doctor and I've already noticed that he and I don't always see eye to eye on some things.



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Sentimental Sunday - Happy Birthday Daddy!

Daddy, today, if you were still living, you would have been 86. In the 3 years, 5 months, and 12 days since your journey here on earth ended, life has continued. There have been good days and bad days and a lot that were in between the two.

Sometimes it feels like your death happened yesterday and at other times it feels like it's been years.

There are still special times of the year, like your birthday, where  days and weeks before, the tears start flowing again. I often don't realize why I'm so emotional until I look at the calendar and realize what time of the year it is. And then there are the times that for no reason at all you just pop into my head and I'm missing all the special times.

So on this day I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY! You are still loved and missed so very much.







Monday, September 1, 2014

Motivation Monday - September 2014 Goals

Since my father died in 2011, I've really struggled to get back to the research and the blogging. In the past 3+ years, I've declared on several occasions that I was ready to get back to the research / blogging only to disappear, again. I won't make any promises that this time will be different but I do find myself doing things that hopefully mean I'm finally finding my way back.

So, once again, I find myself writing a list of monthly goals to get me started. Since my research trip to my paternal ancestors home county is coming up next week (no I'm not ready), I'm thinking I'll get a few of these goals accomplished and hopefully before the trip. So here goes

Blogging

  1. Write a minimum of 2 posts for the month of September. I hope to be able to do more than that but I'm also trying to be a bit realistic also.
Organization

  1. Most of the goals in this area are the same as those found on Georgia Black Crackers. The only additional goal is before the research trip to make sure the information I have for paternal grandmother's side of the family is organized and properly cited.
Research

  1. Make a list of the goals I hope to accomplish during my research trip and what records I plan to view in an attempt to reach the goal. Goal Date: September 6, 2014


Friday, August 8, 2014

Research Trip in the Works

After researching my family off and on for the past 20 years, I'm finally going to make a trip to my paternal ancestors home county.

The goal is to do this trip on September 12th. Yes this first trip will only be a one day trip, so between now and then, I will need to get back on top of things since I've not really done any research this year or for that matter in the last 3 years.

I would like to spend more time in the ancestral home county but one of my 2nd cousins, my grand Aunt Goldie's grandson, will be going with me, so time will be limited. Cousin Clifford can only expend one day and Friday's and Monday's are the best for him. I'm still contemplating going ahead of him and spending a day there just by myself.

I'm sure I'll be consulting a few of my genealogy buds, who research nearby areas, so I can decide what is the best use of my time during my second research trip ever but my first trip on the paternal side of my family.

So, over the next month, I'll be formulating and laying out my plan of attack. I'm excited to finally be taking this journey.


Monday, April 7, 2014

Motivation Monday - April 2014 Goals

Nothing much has happened during the 4 months since my last post. I think I've finally gotten through most if not all of the health issues that derailed me last year right after I declared I was again motivated. I'm not making any guarantees that I'll stick around this time time but I'm trying to make an effort to get back to the research and blogging.

So, I'm hoping that if I set some goals for myself, this will help.

Most of these are just a rehash of the goals I posted on Georgia Black Crackers but I'm still praying that it will help to repost them here, also.

Blogging

  1. Write a minimum of 1 post per week.
Organization
  1. Organize and makes sure that citations are in order for my folder, mom's folder, and dad's folder. As state in previous posts I keep folders for individuals as well as families but I need to better organize these and make sure that that citations are done correctly, etc. Goal Date: April 19, 2014
  2. Get office / craft room back in order. This room has been in a upheaval since last year when I had new flooring installed. I can barely move around in this room much less get things out to do research. Goal Date: April 26, 2014
Research

  1. Write a research plan for determining / confirming the last owner of my 3rd great grandparents, Frank and Venus Everett. Goal Date: April 12, 2014