I can't wait for Thanksgiving tomorrow. It represents the start of the Christmas season. I hope the weather stays warm enough to put out Christmas lights outside on Friday. I usually hook up a timer to the outside lights, but I'm a bit frustrated because I can't seem to find the timer from last year. Maybe it will turn up when I start digging out the Christmas boxes?
I'm also looking forward to going to Seattle this Christmas to visit my Sister & Brother-in-law and my nieces and nephews. I haven't been back there for several years and I'm looking forward to leaving Denver for a little trip.
Potato soup
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Chanda's Potato Soup
3 c chicken broth
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped onion
5 c cubed potato
1t salt and pepper
bring to boil for 10 min
pour in c...
14 years ago
1 comment:
I am thankful you are keeping in touch with your family and roots.
Best wishes in your pursuits.
Changing the subject - I came across an old piece of mail I had save which may be of interest to someone:
Spring 1996 “Neff Times” Volume 2, Issue 1 by Neff Organization
Barbara Neff
Barbara Matilda Neff Moses was the oldest child of wealthy Pennsylvania miller, businessman and land owner John Neff and Mary Barr. She was born on October 28, 1822 and died in East Mill Creek [Salt Lake Valley]May 29, 1890 a the age of sixty-eight.
During the summer of 1840 Mormon missionaries came to Strasburg and taught the restored gospel in a small chapel near the Neff home. John, Mary and Barbara listened to the hope of the resurrection and having 4 year old Amanda, who had just died, with them for eternity. They were baptized by Elder Henry Deem. John began to dispose of his property to join the saints in Nauvoo. The family tried to convince their friends and neighbors, other Mennonites, to join the LDS church.
In 1844 John, Mary and Barbara went to Nauvoo to visit with Joseph Smith at the Mansion House. They spent time visiting the prophet and listening to him preach. Joseph and John became fast friends. Before they left, Joseph Said, “ I shall not live long.” To which John asked, “Brother Joseph, then what shall we do?” Joseph replied simple, “There will be someone in my place.” Six weeks later he was killed.
While in Nauvoo twenty two year old Barbara met Julian Moses, 34. He was handsome and well educated. After they returned home [to Strasburg, Lancaster, Pennsylvania] Julian came and courted Barbara. March 25, 1845 they were married in a small, quiet ceremony as they had long since estranged themselves from their Mennonite neighbors.
Barbara’s father had sold most of his material possessions and bought the finest equipment for their journey. They left Pennsylvania and arrived in Nauvoo the second week of February 1846 [after the main company had left the week before]. Instead of the bustling society they had seen two years before, all was desolation. The poor bedraggled saints were leaving the city and heading into the wilderness. Homes had been burned to the ground. March 5 1846, Barbara and Julian probably witnessed the marriage of her brother Franklin Neff to Elizabeth Musser in the Nauvoo Temple.
Then Barbara and Julian left with the family. By September they were in Winter Quarters, Nebraska. John Neff and his sons were asked by Brigham Young to build a flour mill and to plant wheat for future pioneers while the family prepared to leave. Franklin and Elizabeth stayed to run the mill, and the Moses and Neff families left with the third company of saints. They were part of Jedediah M. Grant’s Hundred; Joseph Noble’s Fifty and Amos Herr Neff’s Ten. All they had was loaded in a wagon.
Oct 2, 1847 they arrived in Salt Lake Valley, probably spending the first winter in the fort. The next spring they took up a homestead in what is now known s Sugar House and lived in it for some time. Julian was called on a mission to what was then known as the Society Islands and spent about two years there. When he arrived home, he found that his farm had been sold for taxes so he was compelled to take up another one near the mouth of Mill creek canyon. He was greatly prospered on this new farm of 160 acres and soon became a well-to-do farmer. Besides farming, he taught school being the first male school teacher in the Salt Lake Valley. Skyline High School stands on a portion of [what once was] a portion of Julian Moses’ farm. He was the Presiding Elder ( Bishop) in the East Millcreek Ward from 1852-1877.
Barbara Matilda had an accident where very young which injured her spine and she grew up to be “hunch-backed’ and was therefore not very tall. She was not able to bear children so they had no family. But a young woman who was an orphan – her father having been killed by lightning while crossing the plains and her mother having died shortly after her birth – was staying with them in the capacity of a servant girl. Since Barbara wanted to have children, she agreed to the marriage of her husband and this servant girl, Ruth Ridge, on condition that Ruth would give her the first child that would be born. This was greed to and they were married February 12, 1857. The first child was born December 29, 1857 and they named him Julian Neff. Barbara raised him as her own son, butr he died in his eighteenth year. Before his death, his own mother, Ruth Ridge Moses told him she was his real mother. Undoubtedly, she told him of this promise made to Barbara. Ruth had three other children, all girls. They were given the names of Barbara Matilda, Sarah Elizabeth and Esther Brown. These girls were also taught to call Barbara “Mother” and to call their own mother, “Ma.” They this did as long as Barbara lived.
* * *
I recently decided to purchase (2) Shortwave radio transmitters for a gift and came across the Cobra 36 ST Factory reconditioned model still in its' box from a Christmas past. Will you please send me a link to something suitable for communication where power outage and emergency situations may exist? (Price range around $100 each unit, with shipping)
A course is beginning after the first of the year for receiving Ham radio licensing, which I am considering. Do you believe it is something an older person can achieve and learn?
What technology accompanies this goal as far as Christmas gift/purchase goes for a home setting?
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