Francis Lithgow Payson

I always visit cemeteries a few days before Memorial Day to honor and remember relatives. This year I made my usual trip to Ashtabula County to cemeteries at Lenox, Rays Corner and Edgewood. But I also went to Arlington Cemetery thanks to the Dillow family. Francis Lithgow Payson married the youngest child of Senator William Morris Stewart (my great-grandfathers's brother) on May 16, 1896. The wedding took place at the Stewart Castle. The New York Times reported that the presents were numerous and principally diamonds and silver. The groom died forty years later after an illustrious military career. After some searching we found the grave. Here you see it pictured with three little girls. The bride of so long ago, Maybelle (Mary Isabelle) had two sisters - Anna and Elizabeth.

Mother's Day of Today and Yesteryear

I took my camera to church today because I wanted to take a picture of the flowers on the altar in memory of my Grandma Ida and our granddaughter Bridget. They were both born on May 10 - just 112 years apart. I did take that picture, but the best one I took was of my friend Laura and her grandchildren who came to church today.
Recently I found a note from Elizabeth from many years ago. It also included a fifty cent piece that I was never supposed to give away. I still have it. It is a Kennedy one dated 1974.

New Addition

I could not resist this "yard art" when I saw it. The picture is a bit dark, but I'm sure you get the idea.

Three Books of Choice

On May 12 the YA book review group I attend has the final meeting of the year. This time we meet at a restaurant, and everyone brings three titles to share for summer reading. They don't have to be YA this time. Here are my three picks in alphabetical order by the author's last name.
Sarah Johnson's Mount Vernon; The Forgotten History of an American Shrine by Scott E. Casper. This might seem a bit obscure, but anyone who has been to Mount Vernon will find it fascinating. My second pick is Old Friend from Far Away; The Practice of Writing Memoir by Natalie Goldberg. Granted I read more books about writing this year, but this one is for anyone. It makes you think about your life experiences, even if you don't want to write about them. My third pick is Because I Love Her; 34 Women Writers Reflect on the Mother-Daughter Bond, edited by Andrea N. Richesin. The title tells it all.

Founders Day times Two

On Friday we attended the annual Founders Day at the University of Akron. We met a couple with whom we have lots in common. They both went to Ohio State, and one was a music major of the pair.
President Pruenza stopped at each table. I just happened to have my camera with me. That worked out so well I took my camera this morning to Founders Day for Delta Kappa Gamma. One of my "sisters" sitting at the table recognized me first. Becky B. Ulrich now teaches in Hudson. She said to say hi to all the Willis girls.