Snow Treasure ~ Marie McSwigan

 

Book Review

  Snow Treasure 

Based on actual events, this thrilling story of children's bravery in the face of a powerful enemy has been continuously in print since its first publication in 1942. 

During the German occupation of Norway, the children of the small town of Riswyk set out to save the community's gold from the Nazis who have seized control of the area. Using their sleds, the children smuggle thousands of pounds of gold bullion down a mountain to a waiting ship bound for the United States. In doing so they must pass by the Nazi guards. Day after day the children make their dangerous journey, avoiding detection until one final, daring confrontation with the Nazis.  

 

I enjoyed this book. I do not know as much history about how the war raged across the Scandinavian countries. Reading about how using the skill of cross country skiing to outsmart the enemy and the use of snow was very interesting.

 

Edmund Fitzgerald

 Lake Superior is a favorite place for our family. We love to spend time on her shores. We enjoy exploring the areas around the lake. And we enjoyed many adventures around and on the mighty lake. 

Our family enjoys learning history about Lake Superior.  

50 years ago today.. November 10th.. 

Leaving port from Superior, Wisconsin, on a sunny November day, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald is looking forward to a routine crossing of deep Lake Superior.

 

 

Heading for Zug Island, Detroit, Michigan, the giant transport ship is loaded with ore that will be used to build cars. But disaster is building in the wind as a storm begins to track after the great ship. 

 

 

The bell rings forever where heroes are found, for the soul of the sailor is held in its sounds.

 

 

There wasn't a sound except for the bell - Some say it rang out when the mighty ship fell.

 

 

The Edmund Fitzgerald was found later, lying broken and twisted on the bottom of Lake Superior, only 17 miles from the shelter of Whitefish Point.

November 10th, 1975

29 men aboard

Leaving Coins

 

 

Hello Friends,

 

My husband and I like to visit cemeteries on our travels. We enjoy reading the stones. We often wonder why we see the items left on the gravestones. 

I am sharing a few unique to us gravestones that we have seen throughout our travels.

 

Bruce Wasielewski, we did not know him, but I was interested in what he had put on the back of his gravestone.. IT IS WHAT IT IS DARLING.

 

 

 I have always wondered why I would see coins. I found out the answer, please share with me if you know something different.

Leaving coins on veterans' gravestones is a common tradition meant to show the fallen soldier's family that someone paid their respects. Different denominations represent varying levels of connection:

A penny means you visited. A nickel signifies you and the deceased trained  together, a dime means you and the veteran served together, and a quarter shows you were there when the veteran died.

 If you know of any other traditions, please do share.

 

 

December Birthday's

 Hello Friends,

Happy December Birthday!

It is always fun to learn about who shares a birthday with you. I have several special friends and even a famous singer that share a birthday with me.

The day after my birthday we celebrate a very special birthday, the U.S. National Guard.

 The birthday of the U.S National
Guard is celebrated on December
13th and although this is not a
federal holiday it is still an
important event to be noted.
Since, 1636, the National Guard is
the oldest military organization in
America. The members of the
National Guard serve during times
of war and emergencies.
Let us all take the time to honor
those who have protected our
country for centuries and
centuries to come.
The U.S National Guard birthday is important because it
is part of our history. This birthday of this prestigious
militia reminds our country of the past and can be used
as an opportunity to move further into its history. By
celebrating the birthday of the National Guard we show
our respect to those who risk their lives for America and
its citizens.

157th Brigade December Newsletter was the source for the above information.

Happy Birthday National Guard

I am a proud National Guard Mom!

 December 12th Birthday's

I share a birthday with a very special blogger Nana Diana .

My friend Angie gave birth to twin boys on 12/12! I am honored to share a birthday with two amazing young men.

My childhood friend Nellie, she too has a 12/12 birthday. 

 

That famous singer is Frank Sinatra, he was born December 12th.

 

 I just recently found out that Caroline "Ma" Ingalls  was born December 12th.

 Caroline “Ma” Ingalls (Dec. 12) was born in 1839 in Wisconsin and became the beloved matriarch of the Ingalls family.

 

  Caroline Ingalls  Click here for more information. 

 

Photo Source

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful Landmarks

 

 

Hello Friends,

We recently took a trip to  Wausau, Wisconsin. The birthplace of my husband and where he lived for the early days of his childhood. He attended church and school at the above church.

 

 

 

My husband wanted to share with me Historic Wausau. I am so thankful that many of the beautiful churches have been preserved. 

I call this one the "Gingerbread Church".

 

When they came to the little house they saw that it was built of bread and covered with cakes with windows of clear sugar.

Hansel & Gretel 

 

The detail is in every nook and cranny.

 

If you want to find out more about Wausau, Wisconsin.

Click Here

 

Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.

Mary Oliver 

 

An Overdo Visit

 Hello Friends,

During Christmas week my husband and I visited my aunt Marcy. It had been awhile since I saw her in person. We do not live close to each other and there are family issues that make the entire thing a mess. It became a visit of memories. I do not know a lot about this side of my family. My aunt was willing to share, perhaps from old age or just the fact it is time to let go. She shared what she knew with me, what she did not know, she tried to help me solve.

None the less, I still do not have all my questions answered, but know more than I did before. I did take photos of photos, and photos of notes of some family history.

I will share some of what I found with you.

My grandpa Roy, who I never met. 

I did not know his birthday or date of passing. I just knew he died from an accident.

A dear friend and distant relative of my grandma's did some family history on some of the family. I took photos of the entries that interested me.

The Family Tree ~ my grandma Martha's dad ~ William 1891

My aunt Marcy's first rosary.

The home my dad was born and raised in. I later lived in this house too. My dad took over the farm after my grandpa was killed. My dad took over the farm when he was 15 years old. He met my mom, married her on July 14th, 1973 and started his own little family.

We did not always live in the old farm house. I actually started my life in a trailer home across the driveway of this big farm house. But that trailer house tipped over in a big storm, with my family in it. The story goes, during the rocking and rolling of the storm.. I laughed the entire time. I was only two years old.

Some of the photos, I took photos of.

My aunt Marcy above riding her horse.

My aunt Marcy below.

More photos of photos that I took.

My grandpa Roy.

 Me and my aunt Marcy, Christmas week of 2021.

♥

Carla

 

On the Road Friday ~ Battle of Kettle Creek ~ Washington, Wilkes County, GA

 During our time visiting Sam in November 2018 during his time off from training we visited Kettle Creek Battlefield.

Below is some history from the battle from the following website National Register of Historical Places

One of the most important battles of the  American Revolutionary War to be fought in Georgia occurred in Wilkes County, some 12 miles from present-day Washington, Georgia. Here on February 14, 1779, a force of 400 patriots, in a surprise attack, defeated a force of Loyalists twice their number. Savannah, Georgia, had recently been captured by the British on December 29, 1778, as part of the British “southern strategy” to pacify the South and separate it from the Middle and Northern rebellious colonies. Southern Loyalists welcomed the British arrival, while Southern patriots began to prepare for battle. Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Campbell, captured Savannah for the British with 3,500 men, soon came under the command of Brigadier General Augustine Prevost. Savannah had been defended by the American General Andrew Williamson from South Carolina, but he withdrew from the city when Campbell approached, fighting a rear-guard action with his roughly 1,000 Georgian and South Carolinian militia men. 

The Kettle Creek battlefield, a wooded area, including “War Hill” is a 40 acre tract encircling a 500 foot high hill.  Upon the hill the War Department placed the Kettle Creek Monument in 1930.  The Georgia Historical Commission placed two historical markers in 1958 atop the hill and in 1962, 1973, and 1974 additional monuments were placed and some Revolutionary soldiers reburied atop the hill. Kettle Creek Battlefield was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1975.

 

 One of the things I found interesting was the placing of the crosses of where those died. As you walk the woods and see the white crosses all about, that is where they were hiding and fighting.

 "Discovering Our Heritage and History"

Georgia's Revolutionary War Trail

 

Thank you for coming along with me On the Road Friday.