Mullins Family Reunion

PHOTO CAPTION CONTEST:

What is Dad saying to Ted in this Photo?

I can think of a few possibilities:

• "If you won't tell anyone..."
• "How many of those kids called you Daddy?"
• "I knew Clyde didn't know what he was talking about."
• "They don't seem to want us in the family photo, do they?"

Leave your captions as comments...

No More Genealogy

I know I have just started to put together our family tree but I think I am going to have to quit genealogy and find a new hobby. I knew going in that there might be a few 'skeletons in the closet' as people say, but it's getting too frightening too quick.

I've been identifying ancestors and putting their data into a family tree program I found. Every so often I take a look at the tree to see how it is filling out. A few days ago I noticed this section of the tree and it sent chills up my spine.

It would appear that Dad and Ted have common ancestors. They are both the Great-Great-Great-Grandsons of Sherwood Mullins and Mary Roberts. If I'm reading the Understanding Cousins chart correctly, that makes them FOURTH COUSINS! Not seventh cousins or fifth cousins twice removed but actual, honest to goodness, Fourth Cousins. I'm afraid this news might put Dad back into the hospital again or, more likely, make him mad enough to shoot the person who brought this information to light (Me).

For my own safety I think I need to change hobbies. No more genelogy for me! I'm thinking about getting into one of those competitive eating contests. I've had lots of practice. I could maybe turn Pro and go on the 'circuit'. I might even end up on ESPN someday. I could do the hotdogs and hamburgers real easy. The sushi would be a problem though.

Beautiful

Emily is almost four and loves to dress up and be pretty. She loves makeup, and fingernail polish, and all the frills that go with being a girl. Lately she has been asking me if she is beautiful. She will ask me when she wears a new dress, or combs her hair a different way, or she will smile real big and want to know if she is beautiful. Of course me being the proud Grandma that I am I always tell her she is absolutely beautiful and then some.

One morning we were on our way to work and preschool and she had on a different coat than she had been wearing. She asked me if I thought she was beautiful in her new coat. I answered the usual, "Oh, Yes Emily. You are so beautiful." She was pleased with herself.

A few minutes went by and I looked at her in my rear view mirror and asked, "Emily, am I beautiful?"

I was not at all ready for her answer, "No Grandma, but you are Wonderful and Special!"

Oh my! What was this. I was wonderful and special, but not beautiful. I felt like I had just come off a blind date that was to be my last date. A few days went by and I asked Emily what I needed to do to be beautiful? Again, I was not ready for her answer, "Grandma you just need to stop being bad to me and Blair when we are bad and then you can be beautiful too."

Go figure! All I have to do is let her and Blair be as bad as they want to be, and I can be beautiful. I guess I will just have to settle for being Wonderful and Special.



Posted by Jeff

Wildflower Weekend is Near

This coming weekend is Wildflower Weekend. I ran across this press release from the Kentucky Tourism folks today...

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After several cold days, the wildflowers at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Slade are hanging on and continuing to progress towards the predicted peak bloom in late April. Some early wildflowers such as hepatica and bloodroot are beginning to fade. Wildflowers currently in or near peak bloom include rue anemone, yellow trout lily, miterwort, long-spurred violet, star chickweed, pennywort, large-flowered trillium, and red trillium. Those flowers that have buds or have just begun to bloom include: wild geranium, purple phacelia, foam flower, wild ginger, and columbine. The leaves/buds of stonecrop, Solomon s seal, wood betony, May apple, mandarin, and dwarf-crested iris are up and preparing for their spectacular displays. As for trees and shrubs in bloom, serviceberry and trailing arbutus are continuing to bloom on the sandstone ridge tops, while spicebush and redbuds continue to bloom in the valleys. Two of the best trails at Natural Bridge for observing spring wildflowers are the Rock Garden and Whittleton Trails.

The peak of wildflower blooming at Natural Bridge should closely coincide with our Wildflower Weekend event April 17-20. The beautiful area around Natural Bridge is home to hundreds of native plant species which can be enjoyed during this event with other botanists, gardeners, and nature lovers. Our fieldtrips are for all levels of participation, from beginner to advanced wildflower enthusiasts and from short easy walks to longer hikes at Natural Bridge State Resort Park and the Red River Gorge Geological Area! ...

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It's also Hillbilly Days in Pikeville so I don't know how much of Wildflower weekend Jennie and I will get to take part in, we hope to get to Natural Bridge for part of it anyway.

Double D Decision

A little bird told me that a certain member of the StalkerClan is considering having some cosmetic surgery done and is trying to decide just how much "enhancement" she needs. To protect her privacy we'll refer to our surgical candidate as simply 'Jessica'. Please review the photos below and participate in our poll to help poor 'Jessica' make her decision.

ENHANCEMENT OPTIONS: The Jessica Alba The Jessica Biel The Jessica Simpson or The Full Dolly Parton

Now, let 'Jessica' know what you think by voting in the poll below:

April 11th in History

On this day in History ...

• 1079 - Bishop Stanislaus of Krakow is executed by order of Bolesław II of Poland.



• 1775 - The last execution for witchcraft in Germany takes place.



• 1865 - President Abraham Lincolnmakes his last public speech. He is assassinated three days later.



• 1945 - World War II: American forces liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp.



• 1951 - Korean War: President Harry Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of command in Korea.



• 1961 - The trial of Adolf Eichmann begins in Jerusalem.



• 1965 - The Palm Sunday tornado outbreak of 1965: Fifty-one tornadoes hit in six Midwestern states, killing 256 people.



• 1970 - The ill-fated Apollo 13 is launched.



• 1976 - Ruey Randall Ratliff is captured in marriage by Jeffery Lynn Stalker.



• 1981 - President Ronald Reagan returns to the White House from the hospital, 12 days after he was wounded in an assassination attempt.

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How sad, I never realized how April 11th was associated with so many assassinations, executions, trials, imprisonment and other tragedies. What's really sad is that I am old enough to remember half these events.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

RANDY AND JEFF

Diggin' Up Bones

Lately I've been looking to see what I could find on the Internet and in the library about our ancestors. In order to share what I've found with everyone, I've put together another website. It is called Diggin' Up Bones. I hope to post stories and photos and interesting information about our ancestors there. All I have there so far is three stories that appeared on SeriouslyLooney or somewhere previously.

I've also started on a seperate set of pages for the families on our family tree. An index to them is located at Diggin' Up Bones - Family Pages. There is some new information here. Be sure to check out the pages for the families of Ted's grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather, and great-great-great-great-grandfather. Look carefully, you may find out you're related to him.

Spend a little time looking at what I've found so far and let me know what changes you would like to see.

JEFFERY HEN - Panda Wants to Play With the Baby Chick

It was barely light enough for all of the family to see to get into the hen house. When all was inside they had to just about guess where the roosting rod and the nest was.

Panda said, "I'm going to get to play with the baby tomorrow."

Crystal Fawn started to chirp. Jeffery Hen said, "We have a baby right here for you to play with."

Panda said, "She's not that little."

Roo and Bear said, "Let's get some sleep."

The next morning when the sun rises, Roo got out of the hen house and did his daily crowing. Everyone around woke up to the crowing. The first thing Panda did was to look out the door to see if anyone was around. Fonda and Vonda was outside alone. Fonda said, "I want to watch the baby."

Panda said, "So do I."

Jeffery Hen got up out of her nest and said, "Panda, wait till after breakfast first."

When the rooster came back home with the morning meal, Roo stopped crowing. He looked down and sees Jeffery Hen, Crystal Fawn and Panda outside of hen house. He wondered why they were already outside. He flew down out of the tree and when he did Bear came out of the house.

Quick as all got finished eating. Panda started begging to go and play with the baby. Jeffery Hen said, "All right, Fonda tell your mother Vonda will go with us to see the baby."

When they arrived at the hen house the mother and baby were outside the hen house eating. The girls stood around watching the baby pick at the seeds.

"Chirp, Chirp," said Crystal Fawn.

"Chirp, Chirp," said the baby. Everyone started to laugh.

Justin Turns Ten

Justin and his friends from school enjoyed a trip to Ripley's Aquarium. I took this cute picutre of him...

He turns 10 today.

Happy Birtday Jutt !

Jackson McNew

The photos of Dawn and Craig's new baby boy, Jackson, have been posted on the WebNursery Site.

Looks like he has a lot of energy like his Mom.