I've been really bad at keeping up my blog, so there's probably very few out there reading this. It's been really busy, I made 3 trips to Mom's in 6 weeks. She's having problems with an eviction, and also has had some doctor appts. When I go down there, I stay for several days at a time, I just can't run to Casa Grande and back like some people do- I have to have some recovery time between drives. Driving through Phoenix makes me crazy- the traffic is awful, and June is so hot. She only has a swamp cooler, so those lovely 110 days are just peachy...
Mom drove up here on her way to Nevada, and the motor home quit just past Sunset Point. Luckily, she has AAA, and was able to get towed to my house. She's so unflappable, she turned on the generator, the AC and took a nap! She was here for several days, got the battery changed and met Shawna in Flagstaff. Shawna drove her on up to her home in Nevada, but they broke down again on the way. She was told it was the fuel pump, so hopefully Mom can get the motor home road-worthy again before we get her back home.
Dakota has been here for the past month, and we've really enjoyed the visit! I've posted a few pictures of her, a couple in the dresses I made, and maybe 1-2 from her swimming classes.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Newsy update
Wow, what a week this has been. Gina's dad was in a terrible paragliding accident last Wednesday, and lived to tell about it. His 'chute collapsed at 300 feet, he fought it and was able to get it open again, until he hit another air pocket that collapsed it again at about 30 feet, I think. He landed hard, crushed a vertabra in his back, broke both bones in one leg, both ankles, and his shoulders are badly bruised from the ordeal. Nic and Gina went to Provo to help the family at the hospital all weekend, and got back yesterday afternoon. Nic had to turn right around and drive to Tempe for a class last night and tonight.
I took the phone the last couple days for Best By Farr, and boy was it busy! This is their busiest time of year, and I was very happy to give it back to Gina today. She's doing pretty good, considering the stress. She hated leaving her dad and mom, but Nic had to be back for class, and they both had to come back to work.
I have now said it out loud, so now I have to put in on the blog to make sure I don't back out- I'm working on the Balmes/Pike book. Hopefully I can go to Missouri this summer or fall and get copies of my Aunt Shirley's writings and information about the family. She has the most about the Pike line, and wrote booklets and poems about her Mom and Dad, my Dad and her husband, Gerald Goodman. I need to get the information gathered, and get my nerve up to start writing. I've received so many pictures and stories from my Dad's Balmes cousins that it's time to put it all together.
I took the phone the last couple days for Best By Farr, and boy was it busy! This is their busiest time of year, and I was very happy to give it back to Gina today. She's doing pretty good, considering the stress. She hated leaving her dad and mom, but Nic had to be back for class, and they both had to come back to work.
I have now said it out loud, so now I have to put in on the blog to make sure I don't back out- I'm working on the Balmes/Pike book. Hopefully I can go to Missouri this summer or fall and get copies of my Aunt Shirley's writings and information about the family. She has the most about the Pike line, and wrote booklets and poems about her Mom and Dad, my Dad and her husband, Gerald Goodman. I need to get the information gathered, and get my nerve up to start writing. I've received so many pictures and stories from my Dad's Balmes cousins that it's time to put it all together.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Pike Genealogy
I've been doing more research on the Pike family, and want to share what I've found. My grandmother is Marie Pike, or Marria Bridget Pike Balmes, as she is recorded in places. Her father is William A. Pike, and his father is Franklin Pike, who served in the Civil War for the Union. Not only did he serve, but he served with the 8th and later the 6th Regiments, Here is a transcript of the information I found about his service, from the website http://www.mosocco.com/newjersey.html.
Frank Pike listed as a veteran in 1890, from Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey.
Corp Franklin W. Pike
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown
Civil War Union Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company H, 4th New Jersey Militia on April 27, 1861. He served through the July 1861 First Bull Run Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1861. He then enlisted in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enrolling on August 9, 1861, and being mustered in as a Corporal in Compnay D on August 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, and, when the original enlistments of the regiment expired, he was transferred to Company G, 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in October 1864. Reduced in rank to Private due to there being already enough Corporals in Company G, he served through tthe conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on July 17, 1865.
So, Franklin Pike served from the very beginning of the Civil War to the very end, in fact, his regiment was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomatox, Virginia. He participated in an amazing number of battles, including Gettysburg. I know it's long, but I'm going to include here the paragraph from the military records for the New Jersey militia.
Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, '62; Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62; Fair Oaks, Va., June 1 and 2, '62; Seven Pines, Va., June 25, '62; Savage Station, Va., June 29, '62; Glendale, Va., June 30, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., August 5, '62; Bristow Station, Va., August 27, '62; Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, '62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, '62; Centreville, Va., Sept. 2, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, '63; Wapping Heights, Va.; July 24, '63; McLean's Ford, Va., Oct. 15, '63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, '63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, '64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, '64; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 to 18, '64; North Anna River, Va., May 23 and 24, '64; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, '64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 5, '64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 23, '64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26 and 27, '64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, '64; North Bank of James River, Va., August 14 to 18, '64; Fort Sedgwick, Va., Sept. 10, '64; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 2, '64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, '64; Fort Morton, Va., Nov. 5, '64; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5 to 7, '65; Armstrong House, Va., March 25, '65; Boydton Plank Road, Va., (Capture of Petersburg,) April 2, '65; Amelia Springs, Va., April 6, '65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, '65; Lee's Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, '65.
As I read this incredible list, I was sobered at the amount of warfare that Franklin must have endured. It's easy to recognize that by the end of the war, he was a professional and battle-hardened soldier. He entered a hospital for Veterans in Virginia in 1890, which is probably shortly before he died. He left the hospital after several months, and he is not found on any census afterwards. Although I haven't found an exact death date, he is buried in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Gloucester, New Jersey.
Frank Pike listed as a veteran in 1890, from Gloucester, Camden, New Jersey.
Corp Franklin W. Pike
Birth: unknown
Death: unknown
Civil War Union Soldier. He was mustered in as a Private in Company H, 4th New Jersey Militia on April 27, 1861. He served through the July 1861 First Bull Run Campaign, and was honorably mustered out on July 31, 1861. He then enlisted in the 6th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, enrolling on August 9, 1861, and being mustered in as a Corporal in Compnay D on August 26, 1861. He re-enlisted on January 4, 1864, and, when the original enlistments of the regiment expired, he was transferred to Company G, 8th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry in October 1864. Reduced in rank to Private due to there being already enough Corporals in Company G, he served through tthe conclusion of the war, and was honorably mustered out on July 17, 1865.
So, Franklin Pike served from the very beginning of the Civil War to the very end, in fact, his regiment was present at the surrender of General Robert E Lee at Appomatox, Virginia. He participated in an amazing number of battles, including Gettysburg. I know it's long, but I'm going to include here the paragraph from the military records for the New Jersey militia.
Siege of Yorktown, Va., April and May, '62; Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62; Fair Oaks, Va., June 1 and 2, '62; Seven Pines, Va., June 25, '62; Savage Station, Va., June 29, '62; Glendale, Va., June 30, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, '62; Malvern Hill, Va., August 5, '62; Bristow Station, Va., August 27, '62; Bull Run, Va., August 29 and 30, '62; Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, '62; Centreville, Va., Sept. 2, '62; Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13 and 14, '62; Chancellorsville, Va., May 3 and 4, '63; Gettysburg, Pa., July 2 and 3, '63; Wapping Heights, Va.; July 24, '63; McLean's Ford, Va., Oct. 15, '63; Mine Run, Va., Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1, '63; Wilderness, Va., May 5 to 7, '64; Spottsylvania, Va., May 8 to 11, '64; Spottsylvania C. H., Va., May 12 to 18, '64; North Anna River, Va., May 23 and 24, '64; Tolopotomy Creek, Va., May 30 and 31, '64; Cold Harbor, Va., June 1 to 5, '64; Before Petersburg, Va., June 16 to 23, '64; Deep Bottom, Va., July 26 and 27, '64; Mine Explosion, Va., July 30, '64; North Bank of James River, Va., August 14 to 18, '64; Fort Sedgwick, Va., Sept. 10, '64; Poplar Spring Church, Va., Oct. 2, '64; Boydton Plank Road, Va., Oct. 27, '64; Fort Morton, Va., Nov. 5, '64; Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb. 5 to 7, '65; Armstrong House, Va., March 25, '65; Boydton Plank Road, Va., (Capture of Petersburg,) April 2, '65; Amelia Springs, Va., April 6, '65; Farmville, Va., April 6 and 7, '65; Lee's Surrender, (Appomattox, Va.,) April 9, '65.
As I read this incredible list, I was sobered at the amount of warfare that Franklin must have endured. It's easy to recognize that by the end of the war, he was a professional and battle-hardened soldier. He entered a hospital for Veterans in Virginia in 1890, which is probably shortly before he died. He left the hospital after several months, and he is not found on any census afterwards. Although I haven't found an exact death date, he is buried in the Cedar Grove cemetery in Gloucester, New Jersey.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Warm days ahead
Wow, it was so beautiful today! Last Saturday it was cold, rainy and even snowed a little, but today is amazing. I spent 60$ at Home Depot for flowers and herbs today. David gave me two big, big flower pots for Valentine's day. They've been sitting on the front porch waiting patiently for warm weather and fresh flowers.
I found two gorgeous canna lilies; they are maroon on the inside, and slowly turn golden up the flower. I added lemon colored petunias, dark red petunias, blue allysum and some white trailing plants in both big pots. There is a smaller big pot too, and I put a basil plant in the middle, some onion chives flowing over one side, a lemon petunia and several blue allysum. I'll have to take some pics. They look really pretty!
David was super busy, he rototilled the rest of the garden, did some weed-eating in the front, ran the lawn mower, helped me hang up a couple of the topsy-turvy hangers- one with strawberries, the other with a tomato plant. Then he moved some of his antique farm equipment in front of the house for decoration, hung a cool name plate with our address on the front too, plus some metal butterfly decorations. It's looking pretty spiffy out front!
I planted some tomatoes in the garden, but pooped out before I got the peppers in the ground. Hopefully I can do them on Monday, along with some lettuce, beans etc. All in all, it was a great Saturday. Sure hope I have the energy to make it to church tomorrow...
I found two gorgeous canna lilies; they are maroon on the inside, and slowly turn golden up the flower. I added lemon colored petunias, dark red petunias, blue allysum and some white trailing plants in both big pots. There is a smaller big pot too, and I put a basil plant in the middle, some onion chives flowing over one side, a lemon petunia and several blue allysum. I'll have to take some pics. They look really pretty!
David was super busy, he rototilled the rest of the garden, did some weed-eating in the front, ran the lawn mower, helped me hang up a couple of the topsy-turvy hangers- one with strawberries, the other with a tomato plant. Then he moved some of his antique farm equipment in front of the house for decoration, hung a cool name plate with our address on the front too, plus some metal butterfly decorations. It's looking pretty spiffy out front!
I planted some tomatoes in the garden, but pooped out before I got the peppers in the ground. Hopefully I can do them on Monday, along with some lettuce, beans etc. All in all, it was a great Saturday. Sure hope I have the energy to make it to church tomorrow...
Monday, April 11, 2011
Springtime birthday
Whew! Yesterday I celebrated my 56th birthday. I was born on Easter Sunday, but I haven't had a birthday on Easter for many years. It used to happen about every 4 years, but no more. I don't know when they will meet again.
Nic and Gina planned a marvelous BBQ, then moved it up to Garland's Cabins in Oak Creek canyon. My niece Megann and her husband now manage the whole place, and invited us to have the party at their house. And what a house! They recently moved into the home of the owners, and hope to live there for many years. It was really cold- it even snowed on Saturday, which froze much of the blooming fruit trees in Oak creek, so probably not many will have fruit this year. It even snowed a little at our house yesterday evening, I was so shocked.
Nic and Gina planned a marvelous BBQ, then moved it up to Garland's Cabins in Oak Creek canyon. My niece Megann and her husband now manage the whole place, and invited us to have the party at their house. And what a house! They recently moved into the home of the owners, and hope to live there for many years. It was really cold- it even snowed on Saturday, which froze much of the blooming fruit trees in Oak creek, so probably not many will have fruit this year. It even snowed a little at our house yesterday evening, I was so shocked.
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