Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

 

I am accumulating a longer list of hidden headstones at Myrtle Grove.  Stones, photos of which have been requested by far-away family members in search of family.  It's very frustrating to know that each time I claim a request through Find a Grave, there is little likelihood that I will actually find the stone.  SO MANY that should be there just aren't.  Or, they have sunk out of sight. In my continuing quest to uncover hidden graves at Myrtle Grove, along with the ever-lengthening list, I have added tools to my work bag. Recently, I added a probe in the form of a very long screwdriver. 

 

 

The idea of this probe was to poke around in the vast empty areas hoping that there may actually be stones there.  When I found Alice's stone, most was visible but it just needed some trimming of sod to expose the rest.  Today, I headed out looking for Harriet Edeline.  The stone of her husband, Edward, had already been located and I thought I might be able to poke around for Harriet's marker nearby.  I spotted the name and started pushing the rod into the soil.  Turns out the stone I initially spotted was not Edeline but Emeline but, nonetheless, as I poked around... "clunk".  Ohmygoditworked.....

As I poked to find the perimeter of the stone, I used my drywall saw to start cutting away at the sod, finally pushing my fingers through to the unmistakeable cold of granite.  I found the stone of John O. Mowry, a 1st Lieutenant in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry, who died in 1884 at 60 years, 7 months and 17 days. 

Welcome back, Lieutenant Mowry.  I'm certain your wife, Emeline will enjoy having you seen next to her.  And, by the way, thank you for your service.

Sadly, the stone of Harriet Edeline still evades me.  Logic (and documents) would have her near her husband but she will require more searching and poking another day. For now, I'll tend to the enormous blister I developed from repeatedly pushing that screwdriver into the ground.

It's a Beautiful Day

It doesn't have to be sunny. Just a Saturday. With no rain. In Humboldt. I don't complain about a dry 56 degrees so market basket in hand, I strolled the Farmer's Market, open on the Plaza for just the second week. I went for honey - I love Dave Reed's Blackberry honey - but also picked up some Brussels Sprout and Snap Pea plants from Flying Blue Dog Nursery. I was cautious to be sure I'd plant what I bought and didn't get too crazy with more than I was ready for. The cilantro was looking good so maybe I'll grab that next week.

After my lap of the Farmer's Market, I made a lap through Heart Bead for a tool I need to smooth wire for wrapping. I took a class from Kim last Fall and am just now finding the time to use my new-found skill to turn my tumbled beach rocks into center-pieces for necklaces.

In spite of the timing (it was high tide and I usually prefer low tide for beach walks), I figured it was better than NO walk so stopped at Samoa Beach for a brief stroll. Good choice.For me, a walk on the beach has value, no matter the weather but I generally consider it a successful walk if I find a sand dollar. As the sandpipers (I think?) clustered and flowed and banked and wowed their way around me, as if to prevent my taking their picture, I had to watch my step for fear of crushing one of the treasures on the beach. I was surprised when I emptied my pockets at the end of my walk and found the flotsam amounted to eleven, yes, ELEVEN flawless (or nearly so) sand dollars. Of course, my other pocket contained the jetsam....actually just trash. Plastic, of course. Although, if anyone knows Jimbo who seems to own the Rose Ann, my collection includes what must be an equipment tag, perhaps from a crab pot (that's the orange rectangle near the top of the peach schnapps bottle). In spite of the trash, I can't complain about this day. It's Saturday, after all.

"It's a beautiful day; don't let it get away..."