How reading about flowers led to finding ancestors

For the past couple of weeks I've been reading lots of books, and one book was called "The Language of Flowers."  by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.  Well I loved the book so much that I had to buy it on my nook so that someday down the road I can read it again. At the same time I bought the companion book " A Victorian Flower dictionary, the language of flowers companion.  In this book they have picked several flowers that are illustrated and then talked about paintings that have the flowers in them, and have also added poems about the flowers. In this book I came across a poem written by Robert Herrick. (this illustration above is of Robert Herrick).  I have Herrick's in my family line.  Which made me decide to find out how we were related. What I found was very interesting.

Robert Herrick was born in August of 1591 in Cheapside London.  His father died soon after he was born. He eventually became a poet.  His father was the brother of my so many greats grandfather.  The greats are too many to list.  He never got married. 

His poem that I read about was about the Daffodil.  It's meaning according to the flower dictionary is "New Beginnings."

To Daffodils

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see

You haste away so soon;

As yet the early-rising sun

has not attain'd his noon.

Stay, Stay,

Until the hasting day

has run

but to the even-song;

And, having pray'd together, we

will go with you along.

Robert Herrick.

Here is a picture of my direct line ancestor Sir William Herrick.  He lived at Beau Manor Park in England. He was born in 1557 and died 2 march 1652. 

Here is a portrait of his mother Mary Bond Herrick.  I think she lived to be 93 years old.  That has to be seen as really old way back then.  It will be fun for me to find stories about these people.  I thought it was so cool that I could see what they looked like and where they lived.  This is part of the reason I love to research family history.  You never know what you will learn about those who came before you.  I look forward to reading some of Robert Herrick's poems.   Especially since some have to do with flowers. 

Hope you continue to search for your ancestors.  Please share what you find some time.

G.G.





Simplify....What I hope to do now that my house is sold.

I just finished reading a really good book called "Simplify a guide to caring for the soul"  By Carolyn J. Rasmus.  It was such a good and inspiring book to me that I had to go out and buy it.  I want to read it again and mark all the quotes that I like, and work on the different "to do" lists that she gives at the end of each chapter.

Each letter in the word SIMPLIFY is used for a chapter.  S=Stillness, I=Integrity, M=Mercy, P= Prune, L=Let go, I=impossible, F=Fortify, and Y= You.

With our house sold, I feel as if a great weight has been taken from our shoulders.  I now just want to rest and set my life in order.  I want to relax and have time to think about what I want with my life out here in Utah.  I don't want to rush into finding a new house, I want to take  my time and learn about the area and the schools.

So many people seem to want us to rush out and find a new place.  But my husband and I feel like resting.  We have been struggling for so long.  A break is nice.  Plus a summer sitting by the pool sounds lovely to me.

We had our first Easter away from extended family.  There was no rushing, no time schedule, it was just us wandering about the temple grounds.  Looking at the flowers, and having a relaxing day.  I hope we go to the Temple often.  That is one of my new goals.  To go one Saturday a month to the Temple with my family.  I go weekly by myself.  I never realized how much learning could come from attending the temple weekly.  Things come to me and it's like wow!  That is such a blessing from this move.

So here is to a new and simplified life.  I'll share more as I can.  My goal is to blog every Friday.  My first step in my new simplified life is to put it in order and make time for the things that matter most.
Hope you enjoyed my flower photo's.  I took 162 photo's this weekend.  Most of them came out really nice.  Can't wait to print some out for my photo cards.
Have a great weekend.
G.G.

This House Is Sold!

This is a photo of the house we used to own.  Yesterday the papers were signed and there is now a new owner.  Yeah!  There are somethings I will never do again.  I will never buy half a duplex again.  I will never buy a fixer upper again!  I will I think someday buy a house again.  But for right now I'm going to rest.

Could the person who bought the house have bought it because of the kitchen my husband built?  It only took my husband 3 years to do... Well actually I had to hire someone this past summer to finish it because my husband didn't finish things too well.  That is why I'll never buy a fixer upper again!

Could they have bought it because they liked all the natural wood?  My husband did all the trim work and most of the painting of the house too.

Did they like the big sunny living room?  Or......

Did they like all the flower gardens.  Well I do know this they get to live in a much more complete house than I ever did.  It seemed just as the house was finally almost finished we moved.  But the nice thing right now is I'm no longer paying, mortgage, and rent and bills for two places.  Now I'm going to rest.  So some of my blog in the coming months will be houses I might like to buy and houses I definitely won't buy. 
Thanks for all the prayers that you said for me during the sale of my house!
G.G.