Mischief Managed...

So after a three-year long hiatus where children were married, graduated, launched, received, launched again, established, well-wished, celebrated, etc.... and dogs...  many dogs.  I'm BAAA-AAACK!  Details about all that later, but I am somewhat re-purposed in my day-to-day dealings, and have decided to write about what is new and happening now.

I am still costuming for the high school from where my children are *now* all graduated. (WOW!)  Past productions have included The Great Gatsby, The Three Musketeers (fave!), R&H's Cinderella, Footloose, Robin Hood, and many others. Currently going up this fall is "Night of the Living Dead", based on the classic 1968 movie, and subsequently costumed in all "black and white", as the movie was filmed. I love the 1968 styles, so am having fun with that.  The spring musical is "The Addams Family"  ...funfunfun!!!

I have opened an Etsy shop called "PiecesofEighths" featuring small quilt and sewing items--baby quilts, wallhangings, coffee cozies, gift bags, etc. I will be putting up some Halloween-themed items later this week.

I have continued the search and documentation of my family genealogy, and recently attended the 300th Family Reunion and Conference for the Germanna Foundation this past July in Culpeper, VA.  Turns out I am descended from one of the original 12 families that made the trip to Virginia in 1714 to establish a mining colony for Governor Spotswood.  I am a Holtsclaw-Otterbach descendant!  :-]

From my love of genealogy and a passion for cemeteries, a determination to document gravesites for Find-A-Grave has blossomed. I used to think that *every* grave in America had already been put up on FindAGrave.  How wrong I was!  Many of the very large cemeteries have not been completely documented because of the sheer size and numbers, and many of the smaller (particularly African-American) cemeteries have not been completely archived. I am trying to do my part when I can to remedy this.  I have also been able to document many sites in the small Tennessee County where we have land. This brings me joy, and keeps my own hope alive that one day those ancestors of mine that are not yet found will be put up by some kind soul.

So it's good to be back!  I hope I can be more consistent, and have interesting things to share. Onward!