!4th week 5/20 to 5/27

Willard, James and Brother-in-law of Elzada's holding up the Cube

Monday was a slow day and we were looking forward to seeing Elzada and Robert Simmons from our ward back home with her sister and brother in law.  They came around 5 and we all went to the Kayenta Inn for dinner.  It was so nice to see someone from home.

At these rocks we got stuck

Tuesday the next morning, they picked us up and we all went out to Monument Valley where we had arranged for James Tsosie to give us a tour of the Valley.  You have to have a guide to take you to places that only the natives can take you.  We got in free because we are considered locals. 

The type of truck we went in.

Three sister in front of the Three Sister's Rock formations

The Mitten

What would you name this formation?

James Tsosie, Kat's son.

This formation is called the Wagon Wheel

This is the Ear of the Wind

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This is the Big Hogan. Look at the bottom and you can see people

It was quite and adventure.  The roads were ruff and it was like a ride in Disneyland.  Then his truck wouldn't start at the place where there were ancient drawings. Finally someone came along and pushed the truck and we started out again.  We were sort of behind schedule so we had to hurry  so they could get back to their rooms before 1 o'clock.  Many times we would just stand up and take pictures.  We were also afraid that the truck might not start again.

A description of battle

Wednesday  I spend a lot of time up at the library. I had felt impressed Wednesday morning that I should subscribe to Ancestry.com for a month while we get our computers update. First I found more information on James W. Dean and the Battle of Plattsburgh he participated in and the DAR information.  Then on Thursday I was so excited when I found Deorethea Kinney's information. She had married my dear Uncle Earl Flory after my Aunt Rosella had died in a car accident.  I only meet her once but she was such a dear person and I loved her immediatedly.  I had lost track of her after my uncle died.  The other day when I was working on the computer, I discovered that I hadn't done her work and there was a lot of missing information and so I was able to fill in the blanks.

Thursday I went and got my hair cut.  Even though I told her not to cut is too short, she didn't get the

Rhoda Young

point.  Oh well I guess I won't have to get another hair cut for another 3 months. That night a lady came to my door looking for help to send some reports to her employer.  Her name was Ruby Young and she had just has had the job for 2 weeks and needed to print out her travel vouchers and send them on to her employer.  She was hoping that I could help her in some way because she didn't have electricity nor a phone in her home.  She said they had given her a printer but she was unable to use it.  I invited her in and we got her things sent in.  Then I found out that Sister Ziegler and William had helped her get the job and she was very happy with it.  We had a good visit and I of course asked her clan.  She was from the Many Goats Clan which from the Narrow Canyon area just north up the highway.  It was interesting because she was from the same clan that Elzada Simmons Grandfather was from.   That night we also got a call from Sister Olsen in Tuba City asking us to go to Monticello to pick up 20 more sets of the drip tubing

In front of one of the Cabin

The sand from the storm

Willard working hard

One of the cabin room on display.

Friday morning we awoke to red fine dust all over everything.  There has been a windstorm that night and every thing was covered with red dust. It blew and blew all day and night long.  It rocked our trailer and the sand made visibility hard.  We made good time there because we had a tail wind.  We loaded up after stopping at PJ's to eat and headed back. But we did stop and my two favorite stores the Family Dollar and Alco  Discount store.  Then we stopped at Bluff Fort and went through the homes there.  It was very interesting to see the cabins that were recreated.

George Washington and Purnell going to battle the British at Trenton.

Saturday I spent most of the day at the FHC and I was excited to find out that Purnell Houston served with George Washington. Just a snippet from the history,: I thought it was appropriate for this Memorial day.
In March, 1776 at the age of 21, he volunteered for service as a private in the Revolutionary War under Captain John Hazzard. He spent two months in a troop of about 30 soldiers that guarded the Capes of Delaware watching for British ships that were in the waters near the Capes.
Purnell was discharged from this service and in November, 1776 he volunteered in Philadelphia in a company of Pennsylvania militia commanded by Captain Chambers which was attached to General Cadwallader's brigade. These troops were raised to guard against the enemy who was over running New Jersey. In the later part of November or early December, Purnell's troop was encamped near Trenton, New Jersey on the opposite side of the River. The enemy was in possession of Trenton and on Christmas Eve, Purnell fought in the famous Battle of Trenton in which the American soldiers crossed over to Trenton and defeated 900 Hessian soldiers. The General in charge of this attack was George Washington. Following this battle, Purnell marched to a place called Blackbird which was located in New Jersey. In early January, 1777 the troops marched back to Trenton where they held a bridge against the British soldiers. Purnell left at night with his troops, under the leadership of General George Washington, for Princeton and attacked the British. From Princeton his troop marched to Somerset Courthouse, to Pluckamin and finally to Morristown which was the winter quarters for the American soldiers. About the last of March, 1777, Purnell's troop marched back to Philadelphia where he was discharged.(That wasn't the last of his service. There is the story of him being captured was on a boat for 8 months)

Ben called later and told us that he would be coming with Brian for a road trip.  We are looking forward to seeing him.  We think the wind is about done.


Sunday was quite a day.  Kat, Becky and I all spoke in the 1st ward and also sing "Turn you Hearts" a #291. We sang it in the Key of C.  It is a great hymn about genealogy.  We sang it and then the congregation sang it for the closing song.  Then. primary was a little hectic.  Kristie was there and only one teacher.  So I grabbed the missionaries and had one lead and the other one corralled the 4 Black Boys who are a handful I hope the new primary president shows up next week because they released Kristie today.

We are outside of a Hogan

Brian and Ben inside the Hogan

Ben with Brian, Holly's brother, rode down on their Harley just for a ride and to see the beautiful scenery. It was great to see Ben and visit with him. We took him to see a few of the sites here in town and then to see the canyon at the Anasazi Inn.

Brian and Ben looking at the Tsegi canyon