This looks like the place to be. If you are going to visit the coast of Maine the trip would not be complete without stopping at Watchtide By The Sea.  A unique bed and breakfast with a huge dose of American history.

 Watchtide . . . by the Sea! invites you to experience the unhurried lifestyle along the midcoast of Maine.  This historic bed and breakfast inn on three-plus landscaped acres offers some of the finest accommodations on the Maine coast -- five comfortable rooms with private baths, tasteful period furnishings and accessories, and the sense of history that only a 200-year-old home can convey. 

          Each morning you'll awaken to a superb, creative multi-course breakfast served on our 60-foot enclosed sunporch as you watch a spectacular sunrise over the glistening waters of the bay.  Spend your day relaxing on  the sunporch or in our guest lounge, reading in our library, or strolling in our flowering gardens.  Venture out for sightseeing, visiting the many interesting galleries, museums, antique shops, parks and historic sites along the coast road, or sailing on one of  America's most attractive waterways.

          Less than an hour's drive from Rockland, Camden, Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park, the inn is located on Coastal Route 1 in Searsport, a seacoast town famous for its clipper ships and sea captains in the mid-1800s and today considered the antiques capitol of Maine.

          In August, 1794, Brigadier General Hanry Knox acquired the original deed to the Watchtide property.  General Knox, one of George Washington's most reliable aides during the American Revolution, was the new nation's first Secretary of War and is acknowledged as the founder of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.  After General Knox sold the property, well-to-do merchants and sea captains resided here until the Pettee family purchased it in 1901 and retained ownership for half a century.  One of the daughters, Frances Pettee, and three roommates from Wellesley College opened a tea house on the site in 1917 which evolved into the College Club Inn, one of the most popular stopping-off places on the Maine coast.  The inn hosted many notables, among them Eleanor Roosevelt who made regular visits with her entourage as she traveled the coastal route to Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada, where the Roosevelt family spent their summers.  In April, 2000, the College Club Inn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places   by the U.S. Department of the Interior.   A framed document certifying this recognition hangs proudly in the main entry hall at Watchtide . . . by the Sea!

          The present owners and innkeepers, Patricia and Frank Kulla, take great pleasure in continuing the tradition of hospitality established at the inn many decades ago.  Today, as in years past, they are welcoming guests to enjoy the warmth and special ambiance of a stay at this unique, historic bed and breakfast inn overlooking beautiful Penobscot Bay.

Solano County Genealogical Society

We had the opportunity to visit the Solano County Genealogical Society library located on the 2nd floor of the Old Town Hall building, 610 E. Main Street Vacaville, California, 95688.  We were given a thorough tour by the President of the society Jerry.

They have some unique (to Solano County) records that are available for your research.  Of interest to our military researchers, a catalog of ship rework information on microfiche.  In addition, they have a good collection of early church records, cemetery records, and local family history.

Check your local area for a Genealogical Society.  While you are there make sure to drop a few coins in the donation bucket to help keep them going. For more information 707-446-6869 and www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cascgsi.

Tonight America's sweetheart, Valeri Bertinelli, is featured on the "Who Do You Think You Are".  Tune into The Learning Channel on your local system.  For more information www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are.  A fantastic show about finding your past.

American Hope

Note; This post is a year in the making.  It is about hope for America.  Life has thrown a few setbacks and hope had a hard time shining through.  Then I had the opportunity to visit the John F. Kennedy library in Boston last week.  Fifty years after his death JFK gives me hope.  So after a year in the box, what do you think America?

I have been accused of having a poor memory.  The truth is it is more like selective memory.  Most of us fall into this category.  There have been times in our history when we all grab onto a memory and hold it for life.  The good times and the bad times.  The traumatic and the great.  I’m not going to talk about the days watching Kennedy burial or the towers falling.  Let’s talk about hope.

My first memory of hope was of a young President Kennedy in front of the camera, speaking at Rice University September 12th, 1962;  “We choose to go to the Moon, not because it is easy but, because it is hard”.  If you would like to listen to the speech;  http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/ricetalk.htm.  There were thousands of hours over many years leading up to that decision.  It was that moment in time that I understood what it was like to be a proud American.

My second memory of hope was the very second that Neil Armstrong put his foot (OUR FOOT) on the moon.  Neil Armstrong said it best; “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”.   Neil Armstrong did not consider himself a hero.  He once said that when his foot touched the moon it was for every American now and for all those that would follow.

The third time was during a speech by President Ronald Reagan.  Part of his speech;

“The poet called Miss Liberty's torch the ``lamp beside the golden door.'' Well, that was the entrance to America, and it still is. And now you really know why we're here tonight.

The glistening hope of that lamp is still ours. Every promise, every opportunity is still golden in this land. And through that golden door our children can walk into tomorrow with the knowledge that no one can be denied the promise that is America.

Her heart is full; her door is still golden, her future bright. She has arms big enough to comfort and strong enough to support, for the strength in her arms is the strength of her people. She will carry on in the eighties unafraid, unashamed, and unsurpassed.

In this springtime of hope, some lights seem eternal; America's is.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.”

Is America done?  Where is our hope for our future?  I feel the hope trying to get past all the rhetoric coming out of Washington.  I hear the hope of everyday Americans fighting for opportunity.  I see young high school graduates that are reaching for something to be hopeful about.  As long as our Government rules the people it is very hard for all this hope to find a foothold.  Maybe it is time for the Government to get out of the way and let Americans build our future?  You want to see hope?  Give someone an opportunity to earn a job rather than hand him a check.  You want to see hope?  Let people make a lot of money and not treat them like a criminal.

America is hope!   We hear how much the world hates America however, people from all over this world want to come to America.  Why is America the greatest country this world has ever seen?  The answer may be in it’s people.  American’s are from every country, every religion, every belief, every color, every age, height, weight, and with physical and mental limitations.  Together there is nothing we can not do.  The differences are what unite us.

Quiz 5, What show did this actor star in before Captain Kangaroo?

One of my favorite shows growing up was Captain Kangaroo starring Bob Keeshan.  What show did he star in before Captain Kangaroo?  How about what part did he play?

Image thanks to imdb.com and filmbug.com

Ramona Iona (Parker) Reed 9 Jun 1930 to 19 Sep 2012

Ramona Iona Reed

Passed away September 19th, 2012 at the age of 82 surrounded by her family in Vacaville, California.

Born Ramona Iona Parker June 9th, 1930 at the Wray hospital in the town of Wray, Yuma County, Colorado to parents Julius Sparks Parker and Dorothy Latham (Ward) Parker.

Ramona grew up in the Depression first living in Vernon then Wray Colorado, North Plat Nebraska, Denver Colorado and then back to Wray at the break out of WWII.  She stayed in Wray until she graduated in 1948.

She met Ben in May 1953.  When Ben was deployed to Goose Bay Labrador, Ramona worked in Denver.  Ben returned in 1954 and they were married November 30th, 1954 in Oakland, California.  The Air Force kept them on the move.  El Paso and Amarillo Texas, Castle Air Force Base California, Orlando Florida, and Vandenberg in California.  When Ben started working for United Air Lines they moved to San Mateo and then to Hayward California.  Then 12 years in Fremont and 4 in San Jose California.  The moved to Vacaville California in 1979 and stayed.

Ramona’s life was dedicated to her family.  She was a homemaker, cub scout den mother, girl scout leader, baseball team mother, and various other roles supporting her children’s activities.  Her hobbies included crafting, decorating, collecting teddy bears, brass figures, paintings, and traveling 49 of the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

She is preceded in death by her Mother, Father, and sister Jane (Parker) Jones.

She is survived by her husband of 21,113 days Benjamin Franklin Reed IV, Son Benjamin Franklin Reed V and family of Danville, daughter Karen Ramona (Reed) Sigler and family of Suisun City.  She is also survived by the numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren she had opportunity to spoil, and her favorite teddy bear Godfrey.  (ssshhh!  Don’t tell the others)

Services- Ramona was cremated.  The ceremony was on the Oregon coast line where she spent many hours enjoying the serenity.  She would comment; “I always felt free and relaxed by the ocean coast.”

We celebrate the life of Ramona and are thankful to God for giving us 82 years.  The bible says that Jesus died for our sins so that we could be without sin in front of Him.  Hold her close Lord, she is one of your very special angels.  Ramona, until we meet again, thank you for being a great Mom to all of us.


We have posted a memorial at http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Yf6Mr9rq

Genealogy Insider - European Private Equity Firm to Purchase Ancestry.com

Genealogy Insider - European Private Equity Firm to Purchase Ancestry.com:

'via Blog this'