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James Oscar Byrne and the Luck of the Irish
March 17, 2016
— 1 Comment
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- James Oscar Byrne
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- James Oscar Byrne
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- James Oscar Byrne
James Oscar Byrne (1840 – 1879)
2nd great-grandfather
Sarah Helena Byrne (1878 – 1962)
daughter of James Oscar Byrne
Olga Fern Scott (1897 – 1968)
daughter of Sarah Helena Byrne
Richard Arden Morse (1920 – 2004)
son of Olga Fern Scott
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Richard Arden Morse
My second great-grandfather was born in County Meathe, Ireland and immigrated to the United States during the potato famine with his family. He arrived in New York at the age of 7 in 1848. His family took up residence in Wilna, Jefferson County, in upstate New York. I know from notes left to me by his daughter, my great-grandmother, that he and his brother Luke operated a saw mill in Michigan before they moved to Kansas. She wrote that they sent all the wood to build homes in Kansas from that mill. On the Kansas census of 1875 he says he moved to Kansas from Wyoming, which was pretty wild at the time. He was married to Hattie Peterson, age 19, and her parents lived next door to them in that census. James owned a large piece of property, much larger than Hattie’s family, and his profession was listed as farmer.
James and Hattie had 2 daughters born in Ladore, Kansas, where James is buried. After all the adventures he endured crossing the ocean (a voyage during which two of his siblings died), lumber speculating in Michigan, making it to Wyoming, and settling on the frontier in Kansas he died in 1879 at the age of 38, when my great-grandmother Sarah Helena was less than a year old. I don’t know the cause of death. He was probably the only Catholic in his wife’s family, and maybe the only Catholic in my entire ancestry. I was Catholic for a year when I went to boarding school because I didn’t like to go to long Moravian church services and being Catholic was the only way to get out of it. My parents did not object. I wonder if that was some kind of calling from clan O’Byrne that lead me to do that. I will never know but on St. Patrick’s Day I feel proud of James Oscar and his adventurous spirit.
Irish Love
Finishing Sugar by Terre Botanicals
March 8, 2016
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I am surprised and pleased with my discovery of a new product for my kitchen. When Terri Nacke offered me a taste of her fine finishing sugars I told her I don’t use sugar. This is a little exaggeration because I do use sugar to ferment ginger beer, lacto fermented lemonade and other beverages. In the case of the fermented drinks the sugar is consumed by the yeast in order to grow and make the final result fizzy. A little sugar goes a long way at our house. I tried the chocolate sugar and liked it, but decided it would last for 10 years in my cupboard. After chatting for a few minutes at her booth at the Old Town Farmers’ Market in Scottsdale I learned that we had much in common including a love of botany and aromatherapy.
When I lifted the Rose Petal Darjeeling sugar to my nose it thrilled me. The taste blew my mind because this super deluxe product is made with essential oil of rose, a pure and direct love note to the brain. I knew before it hit my tongue that I had to have some to take home. Terri mentioned stone fruits and the natural affinity the rose has with apricots, which got my attention. My apricot and peach trees have just set fruits, and this year I am determined to keep them for myself instead of gifting them to the birds. She told me that for those who have a sweet tooth (a group I rarely join) the enhanced flavor of the essential oils reduces the amount of sugar needed to get the results desired. She does not skimp on the oils, very expensive additives.
I left the market with a recipe card that gave me many ideas about putting my new darling ingredient to use. I had a long drive ahead of me, but when I arrived in Tucson her suggestion of trying a small amount of the rose sugar to flavor a fine whiskey was still in my mind. I stopped at the store to find a good rye whiskey to try her idea for my reward at the end of the trail. Indeed, a very small amount of rose sugar in a glass of rye on the rocks created a unique and exotic cocktail. I was both happy to be home and felt very lucky that I took the time to listen to the reasons this sugar is different from other sugars. It is my new favorite ingredient! I am very happy to know that recipe ideas as well as a mail order form are available at Terre Botanicals website. I highly recommend this fabulous line to all the gentle readers. A little goes a long, long way, and there is really nothing like it I have seen on the market.
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- finishing sugars
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- botanical wizard
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- Terri packs my purchase
ZorroZ Bloody Mary Mix is a Flavor Treat
March 6, 2016
— 4 Comments
I had a wonderful shopping day yesterday that included the Old Town Farmers’ Market in Scottsdale as well as the Greek Orthodox monastery in Florence, AZ. Tasting all the samples at that wonderful Saturday morning market challenges one to pick favorites because there are so many delicious choices. Since I had a long drive I limited myself to products that would have no problem staying in the car for a while on a warm day. One such product is ZorroZ Bloody Mary Mix. I tasted it and loved the complex flavor. I could honestly just drink it straight up, but Fran Rons, the creator of the magical elixir, provides a card with recipes to spark new ideas for using this tasty liquid party in a bottle. I must try it in sloppy Joes because those are a favorite at our house, much more than Bloody Marys themselves. I also like his meatball recipe which I plan to knock off with a vegetarian nut loaf. Once the bottle is open I know I will be trying it in many ways. Guacamole is another suggestion Fran makes that sounds like a very good idea.
Today is Sunday, and I know that Bloody Mary is the official cocktail of Sunday morning for many people. I have lemons from our tree, some fabulous jalapeño stuffed olives and some celery for the garnish. My own preferred version is actually a red snapper, made with gin. Bob is in the garden working and I have been packing up some home made sauerkraut, making a big mess in the kitchen. We will wait until afternoon to savor our new cocktail mix, using it as a reward for finishing our respective tasks. As I write this post my mouth is beginning to water thinking about it. Are you a Bloody Mary fan, gentle reader? If you are I am recommending this excellent product to bring your cocktail to a new level of excitement. Cheers!!
Fran Rons at the market
Authority, Use and Abuse
March 3, 2016
— 2 Comments
When we were in grade school it was obvious that we had little control over our circumstances. This is appropriate for children leaning to be part of a larger society. Still some of us questioned the system wondering where the teachers/parents/school officials got off being so threatening about some rules and regulations. Some of us used our own immature logic to question authority. Some of us even spoke up about what we considered to be abuse of our rights. Others quickly conformed to fit in and get the brownie points for behaving the way we had been instructed to behave. I was naturally part of the first group, those of us who felt oppressed unnecessarily by silly rules.
My nature was never very compliant without seeing the purpose of the rules. One such rule was my mother’s idea of fashion for little girls. I fought tooth and nail over cutting my bangs, putting permanent waves in my otherwise fabulous hair, and, most of all, the wearing of white ankle socks. The whole look was atrocious, but I was physically too small to fight off the stinky hair solutions or the bangs scissors. All I could do was take of the hideous white ankle socks once I had left home for school. It was my only available form of resisting authority that I saw as fascism. My parents were very strict, believed in beating children to a pulp with a belt, and fought back hard. I saw this was obvious sign of weakness, the need to physically bully a child into wearing white socks. If they had thought about what they were doing they might have made more reasonable rules and fought more reasonable battles, but they were out of their minds with power. They belonged to the Republican Party.
They voted for Barry Goldwater for president and loved war and police brutality. They were animated fans of the Viet Nam war, which was truly the last straw. They saw America as entitled bully, and I saw them as entitled bullies. Our political paths would never cross once I was old enough to vote. There was no discussion because my dad would blow his top so wildly that it was out of the question to question his opinions. I just wore a patch on the back of my jeans that said “War is not healthy for children and other living things” and they voted a straight Republican ticket. I have a letter my mother wrote to my father when Kennedy was elected bemoaning the fate of the world. They were truly nuts.
I now thank them for the training I had early in life to see that some authorities use power for evil (I still think permanents are evil and probably cause brian cancer). Some authorities are just ignorant, and must be opposed in order to save the world from fascism. The political scene we face today is clearly one of treacherous consequences. I thought most of the violent crazy people were already dead, but I was completely off course. This sentiment is alive and sick. It has never been more important to vote and become aware of the rights we still have in this country to shape our future. Please inform your self, gentle reader. Consider the possibilities very carefully, and then VOTE!!!
Ketchup in the Kitchen
March 1, 2016
— 5 Comments
homemade and store bought
When I was a child I visited the Heinz factory in Pittsburgh with my Brownie troop several times. One never forgets the vinegar floor of that factory, ever so olfactory. They gave us little plastic pickle pins as souvenirs of our visits. Although we lived in a big industrial city, most of us would not see the inside of any other factories. I did not know until I was an adult that ketchup had a strange history long before it became the sauce we put on french fries today.
The original sauce was made of fermented fish and was used in China. When the English adopted the word they attempted to replicate the Asian version using mushrooms, nuts, anchovies, beer, and spices, creating a thin sauce that did not resemble the Chinese condiment very much. The recipe evolved and the anchovies were dropped in favor of walnut based or mushroom based sauces. The tomato was not added to the mix for a couple of centuries. Tomatoes came from the new world and were considered to be poison for a long time.
tomatoes
When tomato ketchup was made in factories in America the first recipes were toxic, not because of the tomato, but because of the processing and ingredients used. They used coal-tar to make the color bright red, and used other very harmful preservatives. Henry J Heinz was a reformer who treated his workers and the environment in a new way. Eventually he met G F Mason, who helped him develop the food science he needed to drop the coal-tar and dangerous ingredients. In 1904 he produced the first preservative free Heinz ketchup. The company was later bought by Del Monte and the old brick factory on the Allegheny is now a fancy condo. I wonder how that got the vinegar smell out of the building.
Although I am grateful to Henry for his progressive ideas, which included food purity, today I buy organic brands. Better yet, I enjoy making my own to create both a pure product and a custom flavor. I have made ketchup from cranberries and green tomatoes in the past with success. This week I scored a large batch of beautifully ripe tomatoes so I was inspired to make some house brand tomato ketchup for our kitchen. I used date balsamic vinegar and maple syrup, a little honey, shallots, onions, and red peppers. After I took out a couple of jars of this delicious mix I added extra spices to create a different flavor profile for the last batch. Still on simmer in the crock pot, the thicker spicier version will be ready in the morning. Have you tired making your own, gentle reader? It is an easy project, and the results will give you a healthy, sugar-free product that is worthy of sharing with friends.
tomatoes
What is a Milagro?
February 26, 2016
— 3 Comments
The custom of using milagros, or ex-votos, to remind one of a vow or a wish is common in may parts of the world. The custom was popular in Spain and came to Latin America with the colonizers. I have been collecting and using them for years. I like to find unusual ones to add to my collection. I put them in my change purse to protect my money. I don’t attach any saint or religion to them, but do like to see them every time I sort through my change to pay for something. They remind me of the intention I had when I placed them there. Some naturally get lost, but I have a some for so many years it is surprising.
friends enjoying Tubac
I recently found some great new ones in Tubac that I had not seen before. I was traveling with friends, so I purchased matching milagros for us as a souvenir of our trip to Santa Cruz County. I had just gifted a couple of charms to some guys from Wisconsin who were about to go on bicycles to Mexico. We met them leaving Tumacacori Mission ready to ride across the border. They were not afraid and felt fine about having no plans or accommodations arranged. They were some real adventurers. I was certain they needed some protection, so I gave them each a milagro. I am sure that milagros have been left at the mission for centuries, so it seemed right.
Tumacacori Mission
Tumacacori Mission
The Tucson Botanical Gardens has a craft project in the hispanic garden section now for visitors to design and leave their own meaningful charm in the trees. These handmade milagros are really fun to see as they decorate the garden. They signify whatever the maker has in mind at the time, and are very charming (pun intended). Do you have any personal milagros, gentle reader?
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
milagros in the trees
Elizabeth Cocke, 6th Great-grandmother
February 21, 2016
— 17 Comments
Malvern Hill
My 6th great-grandmother was born in Virginia in 1720 in the home where her father had been born. The Cocke family came to Virginia in the 1600’s and played a significant part in the colony’s affairs. She married into the Holt family, another prominent family in Williamsburg. When I was a child my parents took me several times to vacation in Williamsburg. I always looked forward to being there to be immersed in the history of the place. We stayed at the Inn and walked around town to see the blacksmith, the candlestick maker, and many historical reenactments. I have vivid memories of buying sealing wax, which I used on all my correspondence until I was about 18. I had a real thing for fancy stationery and sealing wax that began when I saw it in use at Williamsburg. Now that I know my ancestors lived there I am even more thrilled that my parents (who had no idea about the ancestry connection) gave me the gift of an early interest in history.
Elizabeth Cocke, probably b. 1720’s; m. Dibdale or Dibdall HOLT, son of David HOLT & Margaret DIBDALL of New Kent, Hanover, and Williamsburg, VA (b. 1720’s; d. aft. 1792). Dibdall probably met Brazure COCKE’s family in Williamsburg where the HOLTS were a prominent family. Dibdall’s brother John HOLT served as mayor of Williamsburg and later published newspapers in New York City and Norfolk VA. Dibdall is named in John HOLT’s will, dated Oct. 1, 1749, proved Oct. 30, 1784, in New York. Dibdall’s sister Jane HOLT was married to a famous Presbyterian minister, Rev. Samuel DAVIES (1724-1761), of Hanover Co., VA. Dibdall probably married Elizabeth COCKE roughly 1745 and moved to Amelia Co., VA, soon thereafter. He can be found in Amelia Co. as early as 1748 when he witnessed the will of William STONE (Amelia WB 1, p.55) and was still there in 1762 when he appeared on a tax list. He lived in Nottoway Parish, which later become Nottoway County. A deed dated Dec. 14, 1751, from Phillip STONE of Johnston Co., VA, to Charles CONNALLY & Robert TAYLOR of Nottoway Parish, describes 100 acres in Nottoway Parish adj. where Dibdall HOLT now lives, Charles CONNALLY, Joseph HARPER, Robert TAYLOR’s line by the county line, and William STONE’s line now Dibdall HOLT’s. (Amelia Co., VA, DB 4, p.338.) Robert CHEEK worked as Dibdall Holt’s overseer and lived with him in 1754 and 1755, according to the Amelia Co. tax lists & court records. Dibdall’s daughter may be the Elizabeth HOLT who m. Samuel BIRCH (or BURCH) on May 1, 1764, in Granville Co., NC, with Robert CHEEK as bondsman. Dibdall moved to the Natchez District of the Louisiana territory sometime in the 1770’s & settled in an area that later became Jefferson Co., MS. Dibdall’s name appears on a petition dated Oct. 4, 1779, “from the citizens of Natchez to Lieut. Col. Dickson, 16th Reg. commanding his Britannick Majesty’s Forces in the River Mississippi. . . .” He is also mentioned in his sister Sarah TRULY’s will dated Mar. 15, 1792 (Natchez Dist.) and in other Natchez records. Children may have included David HOLT (m. Rebecca BELK), John HOLT, and William HOLT (d. 1836 in Hinds Co., MS).
Elizabeth Cocke (1720 – 1773)
6th great-grandmother
Elizabeth Holt (1747 – 1811)
daughter of Elizabeth Cocke
Elizabeth Betsy Truly (1782 – 1851)
daughter of Elizabeth Holt
Minerva Truly Darden (1806 – 1837)
daughter of Elizabeth Betsy Truly
Sarah E Hughes (1829 – 1911)
daughter of Minerva Truly Darden
Lucinda Jane Armer (1847 – 1939)
daughter of Sarah E Hughes
George Harvey Taylor (1884 – 1941)
son of Lucinda Jane Armer
Ruby Lee Taylor (1922 – 2008)
daughter of George Harvey Taylor
Pamela Morse
I am the daughter of Ruby Lee Taylor
ruins of Malvern Hill House
Pisces Month and Mental Health
February 20, 2016
— 1 Comment
Pisces
The sun has just entered Pisces for a month. I am working on clearing my desk and finishing my tax preparation, which always happens this time of year. I am particularly interested in clearing my space as well as my body and mind of the past this month. Cleaning up and getting rid of useless garbage always brings me great joy and a feeling of moving forward with everything. This year I am giving the Pisces month full attention because I see a metaphor for better health through karmic cleansing of beliefs. In my own natal chart I have three planets in Pisces, most significantly my north node is the twelfth house. I am a relative amateur in astrology but am learning more as I investigate and read. I follow a few good astrologers all the time. One of my favorites is Dr. Loretta Stanley who also created my most recent chart. She has urged karmic cleansing of the past during the Pisces month in preparation for a new life this spring. Physical and mental as well as belief cleaning is what she recommends during this time. Sounds reasonable to me. I am sure I hold at least a few beliefs that no longer serve my best interests.
My own needs coincide with karmic cleansing and attention to the mystical, magical powers of Pisces for several reasons. Pisces rules the feet, and I am slowly recovering from a nagging chronic foot pain that has plagued me now for a couple of years. It is definitely on the mend, but still causes a bit of pain. I have acupuncture once a week which is very effective in reducing the swelling and discomfort. I am back on the walking path and functioning well, but I have a feeling the injury/chronic issue has an emotional component. Everything always does. There is a powerful metaphor about stepping forward without pain that I believe is soon to be opening a happy new pathway in my life.
Pisces rules the 12th house of karma or self-undoing. It is a very emotional, mystical, spiritual and intuitive sign. The 12th house is the end of the line for astrology, the last house. It represents the unconscious, and therefore transformation. Our unconscious minds are powerful guides that process the unknown and unseen parts of our lives. The symbolism of the 12th house is the deep understanding, both spiritual and physical, that will decide how we move forward. I have applied many remedies and treatments to my foot disorder to find a cure. It makes sense to take this month to take a deeper look at what my gait is trying to say to me. The little limp on the left represents a deeper issue, I think. I plan to use this month to meditate, clear, clean, and simplify my spiritual practices. I believe (the motto of Pisces) the answer will be found deep in my subconscious.
What Law and Order? #BlackPanthersPBS
February 17, 2016
— 4 Comments
I am a revolutionary. I am in flashback mode during this political season. When I watched the PBS documentary about the Black Panther Party my mind was blown thinking about the similar tactics employed by our government today. Police are still outside the law, are still involved in brutality rather than community protection. In my neighborhood the police force protects criminals and refuses to respond to those who want to stop crime. I think it is scary that abuse of power continues to be our greatest obstacle to peace and prosperity. In 1968 J Edgar Hoover had absolute power to invade privacy and snuff Americans at will. Today the FBI is asking Apple to give them a back door to everyone’s iPhones. Today we have drones out killing people for our “freedom and democracy”. Have we ever had freedom and democracy for all our citizens? I think not.
I was involved, but not old enough to vote, in the 1968 election that sent Tricky Dick Nixon to the White House. I was in the audience at the University of Texas at Austin to listen to Eugene McCarthy, and later to Hubert Humphrey, during my freshman year on campus. I decided to register to vote as a Libertarian as soon as I was 21. The Democrats were more to my liking but both parties struck me as corrupt anachronisms dedicated to keeping war and prejudice alive around the globe. I was not alone in this belief. I am still not the only person who sees our system as dangerously off course.
We all feel that things have gotten out of hand, and we all want a better future for our country. I know that is true, even though the campaign rhetoric has become vile and toxic. With the new twist of a Supreme nomination stakes are high and emotions are higher. If we the people allow super pacs and nasty grudges to continue to drive our political outcomes we will all continue to feel let down by our government. This election, very much like the election of 1968, will have profound consequences on our image around the world as well as our own economy. No matter how you feel (Bern or no Bern) it is time to register to vote and exercise your right to elect officials you trust. History is being made very rapidly. Get out the vote, gentle readers. Do it now before all the hippies drop dead from exhaustion.
Captain Cook and Vitamin C
February 15, 2016
— 2 Comments
Captain James Cook
The famous British naval captain James Cook lived from 1728-1779. He was in command of the HMS Endeavor sailing in 1768 to Tahiti to investigate the Venus transit and explore. On board he stocked 7,860 pounds of sauerkraut for the voyage. He devised a system to keep the crew healthy that promoted new practices on board ship for the British Navy. The crew was required to exercise on deck in the fresh air daily, and wash themselves and their property. In addition to the hygiene regulations Captain Cook fed the entire crew sauerkraut and lime juice regularly. Those serving in The Royal Navy are still known today by the nickname Limeys because of the Cook cure for scurvy. He stopped at any port where he could purchase fruits and vegetables to include in the crew’s diet. Since his voyages were much longer than any that had been attempted he brought sauerkraut to fill the long gaps without fresh produce. At first the sailors were refusing to eat the kraut, so he used an old trick. He served the sauerkraut only to officers until the sailors saw it as a desirable addition to the diet. The ship’s medical doctor used cabbage as a poultice on wounds to avoid gangrene. Cabbage truly saved the day.
Although the discovery and isolation of vitamin C as a nutrient was not made until 1932 sea captains had been experimenting with dietary changes to avoid the dreaded problem of scurvy at sea for many years. Cabbage contains vitamin C but the fermentation process releases extra C, creating a true superfood. Sauerkraut made long voyages at sea possible without risking the lives of the crew and passengers. This regimen changed the world and man’s ability to explore it. Today there is a renewed interest in raw fermented foods. The health benefits of eating probiotic foods are becoming more widely known. There are many people interested in reviving this valuable art of food preservation. In the 1700’s sauerkraut made the world smaller. Today the same fermented cabbage has the potential to make the world much healthier.
Cook’s Voyages
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