I Is For...

Well, it's time for the "I" post in the ABC Along and at first I thought that would be difficult but as time went on, many things came to mind.

First, I is for insects and one of my favorite insects is the bee.


This insect is called a Hummingbird Moth and the only reason I know that is because I saw one on Marguerite's blog.

My favorite insect is a Pipevine Swallowtail. This one is probably one of my top five favorites of cards I have made.

I is for Iris. Bearded Iris are new to me, as in my home state one is more likely to see Dutch or Japanese Iris. These photos were taken at High Sierra Iris Gardens near me. I really love flowers that have infinite color variations like orchids, iris and pansies. Each one is a miniature painting from God!

These iris are another one of my cards. I like to take pictures of "twins" in nature.

And this photo brought two songs to mind, first "She wore blue velvet..." Here are the lyrics. My Grandma Johnson loved Bobby Vinton. He has a lovely voice, but he has joined the ranks of those freakily artificially preserved people who though well into their senior citizen years look much younger than me, unless you get in close range! LOL The second song I thought of was Deep Purple by Donny and Marie Osmond... and excuse me, but who allowed Donny Osmond to become a grandfather?! That's just not right! :o)

I is also for Idaho. This photo was taken the summer of 1956. My Dad on the left is 10.5 years old and Grandma Johnson is holding up my Uncle Jerry who was born November 1955.

I is also for Index where my Grandma and Grandpa Johnson had a beautiful lot on the Skykomish River. We spent many happy hours and camping trips there. This is Mount Index. (scanned from a dirty slide)

I is for ice. Look at all those icy and snowy glaciers. The large volcano is Mt. Baker which is "my" mountain, seen both from my home town and my adopted home town, wherever you go. The water above is part of Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

I is for Innsbruck, Austria, which I visited in July 1984 with my friend Jutta and her family.

We climbed a church tower and looking down we could see this. The famous Golden Roof is pictured at right.

Another view from the tower. Innsbruck is a beautiful city, though very crowded with many tourists. I would love to see it again as well as more of Austria.

Here is Friedhelm, Jutta's father, checking out a guide book. The architecture of the city is fascinating and I especially enjoyed all the arches.

And lastly, I is for Italy, which I also visited with Jutta's family in July 1984. Here Jutta and Friedhelm look out from castle ruins on a hillside.

The castle ruins from the photo above.

Every hill top seemed to be covered with a castle. This is in Sud Tirol (South Tyrol, which is northern Italy and in the Dolomite Mountains area).

It was so HOT, triple digit heat, but we did a lot of hiking. Here Renate photographs Jutta petting a horse on the side of the mountain.

Jutta, Renate and Friedhelm on the trail ahead of me.


The trail wound around the side of a hill. This is again, Jutta.




Amazing to me, is the European tradition of climbing and hiking and ending up in a restaurant out of nowhere! I never ended a hike in the mountains with a spaghetti dinner before! LOL

This is the city of Merano, Italy. We stayed near here.

The country side was beautiful. This is a zwiebel dome (onion dome) church, typical of the Tirol. This part of northern Italy used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Vineyards covered the hillsides and were planted in all different directions. In some places they looked like green quilts on the hills!

H Is For Hopkins and Honey

I am a little late for my "H" post for the ABC Along. But I was early for the "G", so I guess that makes up for it! LOL My H is for Hopkins, my Mom's paternal family line and if you are not interested in my family story, which I have discussed at length in this post for the benefit of my family, you can scroll down to the bottom to see H is also for Honey! I am working on putting together a family history containing photos and genealogy for my family.

Many times in my blog posts, I mention my maternal Grandma Holly Tisdale Hopkins. This is a picture of her reading her Bible when she was around 90 years of age and she is also looking at a Daily Bread devotional booklet. I've probably shared this picture before, because I love it - it really shows her personality, what was really her.

Grandma wasn't born a Hopkins though, she was born a Tisdale (which will probably be my T post!). She married a wonderful man, who was her first and only Sweetheart and they built a home and family together. This post is about his family.

This photo was taken about 1909. On the left is my Grandpa who I never met. George Alden (Alden) Hopkins was born 21 August 1906 in Boyne City, Michigan. As an infant, he traveled to Everett, Washington by train with his father George Alfred Hopkins and Mother Blanch Alpha Wolcott Hopkins. Many people in Michigan were heading west at this time for better jobs and money for their families. The Hopkins' joined the Wolcotts in a city where I would eventually be born and built a home on Rockefeller Street, which at the time was nothing but a muddy open space. Today the land where their homes were located is now part of the grounds of an elementary school. Here, Vera Alene Hopkins (above) would be born in 1908, Paul in 1909 and Philip in 1914.

Later the family would buy land in Lake Stevens, an almost wilderness area in the early teen years, where they would build a house and the family would settle and expand. Their mother Blanch Wolcott Hopkins was a talented writer of poetry and intelligent and friendly. Sadly, in 1916, she after attempting to end a pregnancy. Many in my family feel this is a good reason why it should be legal. I argue that this is a good example of paying attention to those around you and seeking to relieve young mothers who are bowing under pressure and stress, loving each other in tangible and meaningful ways. Her loss was haunting and indelible. George remained single and raised his family with the help of housekeepers, Auntie B and Mrs. Nutting.

Some of my family think this might have been taken before Blanch died because the children are dressed so nicely with attention to detail. Recently though I have studied this and wondered if it wasn't taken after their mother's death, perhaps wearing flowers from her funeral. L to R Vera Alene Hopkins Rehbine, George "Alden" Hopkins, Paul Wolcott Hopkins and Philip Sedgewick Hopkins (seated). About 1916.

About 1920, the Tisdale family moved to Lake Stevens where Holly's father was Superintendent of Schools and Principal of Lake Stevens High School (Go Vikings!). The Tisdale family and the Hopkins family both attended the Everett United Methodist Church where George Hopkins and Fred Tisdale became good friends. They both had families of 4 children, all about the same age and often would get in the car and go on picnics and adventures together after church. I can't say for certain it was true love, but Holly never had eyes for anyone else and I'm almost certain they knew they would marry long before they did at age 24 (Holly completed all her teaching requirements for a lifetime credential first because in those days married women did not teach).

The photo above was taken at Hemlock Pass in the Cascade Mountains and was sent back east to family in Michigan. Because it is such poor quality I am not certain who all the people are except for the first guy on the left is Alden, the 2nd may be Philip and the 3rd may be Clifton Tisdale, Grandma's brother who is often pictured wearing a cap like that and had the same build. The young woman is Holly and I do not know the other men, who were likely friends. The photo was probably taken my George Hopkins, though both of my great grandfathers were photographers!

On 2 June 1930 Holly and Alden were wed at the Everett United Methodist Church and took a short wedding trip to Skykomish, Washington. Alden returned home to his job building homes and Holly set up house in a small shack like cabin while Alden worked on their home on the side.

Alden had attained his Bachelor's Degree at the University of Washington in Business Management in order to run his own home building business.

This is the home he began building in 1929 on 4 acres across the road from his Father's and brothers' lands. Sadly the property left the family after 70 years and this is what it looks like today. It has been sad to see changes to the land, but at least the owner did not tear it down and build cookie cutter homes!

The business went well until Alden was sued, wrongfully in the opinion of my family, and lost a lot of money. No one could accuse Alden Hopkins of being lazy. He went to night school in the 1940s, driving to Seattle after work, to take classes at the Palmer Chiropractic College where he became a licensed chiropractor. He was also an elder of the 7th Day Church of God (which my family does not follow) and served many years as their pastor.

This is all those cute little kids, many years later: L to R, Philip Sedgewick Hopkins, George "Alden" Hopkins, Vera Alene Hopkins Rehbine and Paul Wolcott Hopkins. Vera married her cousin Mark Rehbine and moved back to Michigan where she taught school for many years and Mark was a Chrysler executive. Paul became a logger and worked for his in laws, the Neff family, before operating his own logging company. Philip remained in the family construction business and was well known in the Lake Stevens and surrounding Snohomish County communities.

Vera inherited the homestead and Paul and Philip built homes for their families on adjacent land. There were 13 living cousins, 11 of whom grew up next to each other so that the school bus driver had to say "All off for Hopkinsville!"

Holly and Alden had three daughters, Grace, Marilyn and Ruth, Ruth being my mother. When she was 16 years old, Alden died from the side effects of stroke, so I never met Alden or had opportunity to learn from him. Even though I do not agree with his beliefs, I have always admired the fact that he sought God with all his being and was willing to do anything that God called him to do, even if it was unpopular. If we get to meet people in Heaven and discuss life on earth, I would love to have a good long chat with him and get to know him on a personal level.

After Alden's death, Holly chose not to marry again, even though she was only 56 years old. We very much grew up in a "matriarchal" family. This photo was taken at Thanksgiving 1993. I am behind Grandma and my Mom and is next to Grandma, with her sisters also on the couch. Spouses and cousins are standing behind. Thanksgiving and Mother's Day were always spent together, occasionally at an aunt's home but generally at Grandma's. These were very special times for me, especially since I spent most of my growing up years as an only child, after my brother died in 1973.

This is what we looked like at our 2004 Reunion in Sooke, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. D in front, Mom and her husband Jack behind, Hubby holding A, me holding J, my Aunt Marilyn and Uncle Bill. Their children and spouses were unable to come and my Aunt Grace was also able to come. We were the small group at the reunion that year but had a lot of fun. From Alden's family, I am the only one to have children. They are the future and I hope to pass on the torch of faith in God to them, the same torch that brought our ancestors to America almost 400 years ago.

1. John Hopkins (of Cambridge/Newtown 1634, of Hartford 1636) m Jane

2. Stephen Hopkins, 1637-1689 m Dorcas Bronson (lived Hartford, CT)

3. Lt. John Hopkins, 1662-1732 m Hannah Strong (lived in Hartford and Waterbury, CT)

4. Consider Hopkins, 1687-1727 m Mrs. Elizabeth Grayham, widow of George Graham (lived in West Hartford, CT)

5. Captain Consider Hopkins, 1727-1795 m Lydia Gilbert (lived in New Hartford, CT)

6. Mark Hopkins, 1764-1843 m Sarah Kellogg (lived in West Hartford, CT, Bridgewater and Prattsburg, NY)

7. Erastus Hopkins, 1804-1867 m Lydia Ann Parker (lived in Bridgewater and Prattsburg, NY and White Lake, Michigan)

Erastus and his cousin pioneered in Oakland County, Michigan and had this saw mill.

This is his home in Oakland County, Michigan which was designated a centennial farm.

Where Erastus, his wives and some of his children are buried in the White Lake, Michigan cemetery.

Dan G. Hopkins, Erastus' young son was killed at the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland in the Civil War. Another son George survived the war and went on to serve in politics as a private secretary to Michigan's governors, Bigley and Crosswell, in the Michigan legislature 1878-1882 and as Assistant Adjutant General, confidential secretary to Secretary of War Russell A. Alger. A third son also, surved, the war, my ancestor...

8. William Wadsworth Hopkins, 1828- 1871 m Harriet Calista Crittenden (lived in Oakland County Michigan and Benzie County, Michigan) He served as a gunsmith and blacksmith in the Civil War and was mustered out in Salt Lake City, UT after the war. He died young of Typhoid fever.

His daughter Mary Grace Hopkins True was a painter and as you can see from this photo she was quite good. She offered to give my Grandparents a painting for their wedding gift if they could pay the postage from Michigan, but they were quite poor, being newly married at the start of the depression, so they were unable to attain the painting.

9. Sedgewick Erastus Hopkins, 1854-1932 m Mary Belitz (lived in White Lake and Interlochen, Michigan)

Sedgewick and family in front of their home in Interlochen, Michigan

L to R: Edith Harriet Hopkins Rehbine, George Alfred Hopkins (my great grandfather), Sedgewick Erastus Hopkins, Abbie Grace Hopkins Nelson, Nina Lydia Hopkins Madden, Mary Belitz Hopkins holding Erma Naomi Hopkins Riley, Ella Viola Hopkins Cole and Etta Ruth Hopkins Lewis. Interlochen, Michigan.

As their children grew older, they rented out rooms for tourists and it was called Pine Gables.

This photo was taken ca 1900-1905 of Sedgewick Erastus and Mary Belitz Hopkins.

10. George Alfred Hopkins, 1882-1949 m Blanch Wolcott (lived in Interlochen, Michigan and Everett and Lake Stevens, WA)

Nina, George, Iram and Sedgewick Hopkins taken during their visit to see son/brother George Alfred Hopkins in Lake Stevens, Washington. I must have these ladies to thank for my stout figure!

11. George Alden Hopkins, 1906-1962 m Holly Mabel Tisdale Hopkins (lived in Everett and Lake Stevens, WA)

12. Mom, 1946- m Daniel Eugene Johnson 1945-2000, divorced. (lived in Lake Stevens, Everett, Snohomish, Granite Falls, Marysville, Mukilteo, Laurel and Ferndale, Washington)

13. Me, 1966- m Hubby 1998 (lived in Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Granite Falls, Snohomish, Mukilteo, Bellingham, Laurel and Ferndale WA and Rancho Cordova and Sacramento, CA)

14. D, J, and A ... and hopefully on to the future! :o)

Congratulations if you read this far or thanks if you scrolled down to see that H is also for Honey! My best friend Shelley has always wanted to keep bees and so this year she dove in and received her Carnolian Bees a couple week ago. Soon she will be blogging at Blessed Bee all about her adventures! She sent me this photos which she took and I cropped and changed to low res so that I could see the beginnings...

The hive, sitting up on blocks and near the house. Can you see the bees buzzing near the entrance?

Here are some more bees entering the hive. They are busy setting up a home and collecting pollen. I can't wait to see what happens next!

G Is For Germany

I have really been enjoying the ABC Along this year and now we are up to letter G. G is for Germany, A country I have visited twice for a total of 11 weeks. The first was in 1984, my graduation present, to go see my pen pal Jutta. The second was in 1995 when Jutta got married. All my pics are on slides and I just happened to have had a few scanned already though they do need some touch up work. These are from the June-August 1984 trip.

Die folgende Bilder sind von meiner 1984 Reise nach Deutschland. Sie sind schoene Erinnerungen von Freunden.

This is Neuschwanstein Castle that the Cinderella/Disney castle is patterned after. It was built by Crazy King Ludwig in the mountains of Bavaria and has an interesting story which you can read on the link above if you have further curiosity.

From the castle there is quite a view, including this waterfall.

This picture shows a view of the city of Wurzburg. If you check the Wiki link, you will see the Residenz and Marienburg Fortress, both of which I toured. It is a historic and fascinating city. Many tourists visit here and generally I don't like places where there are tons of people, however, the history is so intriguing and rich, that I will tolerate it in places like this! My nephew Robert, whom I have never met lives about a half hour from this city.

Here is Jutta (pronounced Ewe-Tuh) taking a picture of me. I think this may have been at the Marienburg Fortress, but possibly in Rothenburg.


Here is my friend Jutta with her parents in front of one of the buildings in Wurzburg.

We spent some time on vacation with her parents and traveled to Wurzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbuehl, Ost Allgaeu, Innsbruck, Merano and the Dolomites.

We stayed one week in Pfronten and if I had opportunity to go back, I would in a heart beat! The area is incredibly beautiful. In spite of my personal circumstances (I had my period and Giardia at the same time, about 2 months after Andy, my step Dad who raised me, died. And I was in a foreign country feeling physically miserable and embarrassed because my friends had to take me to a doctor and stay around with sick me, cancelling some of the fun plans they had!), I enjoyed the area. It has elements of my home state, Washington, especially when I was hiking, and elements of something else which I found quite magical.

This cow looks cute and harmless but very well could have been the source of my giardia! LOL They wandered the hillside like a scene from Heidi!

Along the trail we saw these grave markers from the 1940s. Likely these are people who lived on this farm in years past.

Here is Jutta on the same trail, which went through farm land and climbed up out of town and onto the crest of a mountain or a foothill to the Alps (not sure which), where we could look one direction and see Austria and the other and see Germany.

Here is Renate, Jutta's "Mutti" on the trail.

Here is a view from the crest of the trail, looking down.

Here are Friedhelm and Renate on the crest. They are an affectionate and companionable couple. I don't think they will ever understand how much of an impact that made on me. I feel like my Hubby and I have that same type of companionability, where anything you do together whether a big trip or a small task, can be delightful if you choose. After losing my Dad unexpectedly right before I graduated, I needed the stability of having some family time with a man present, although I often wonder if he was irritated by the bevy of women he took with him! LOL He was a good sport and a great tour guide. They showed me more places and things and gave me so many opportunities that I will forever be grateful for!

This is Friedhelm where we stopped for lunch. Do you see that blue-green mohair sweater behind him? That belonged to Anke, Jutta's older sister who was away at med school at the time. I used that for warmth when we hiked. It was part of the beginning of my love for mohair!

Another breathtaking view from our hike. The funniest part for me about hiking in Europe is that you often end up somewhere that you can buy food, drinks, stay the night etc. You are in the middle of the wilderness and then all the sudden you are sipping sodas or espresso in a cafe (or hutte). Having grown up hiking many miles in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State and along the coast in the Olympic National Park, I had never seen anything like it. It was refreshing but hilarious!

This might still be Germany, but we might be driving in Germany but looking towards Austria. I definitely would love to see the Alps again and explore this area as well as Austria more!

We also went to local places like Hengsteysee (Lake Hengstey), where we saw this tower called "Mauese Turm" or Mouse Tower.


There were nice woods at the end of their road. This is Jutta under the umbrella. The ferns and oxalis grew like crazy. She said it was because of the acidic rain due to the industrial area they lived in.


This was an interesting place too where I even had opportunity to make my own sheet of homemade paper! It is an open air museum and I don't remember the name of the town. Today I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more... the bakery, was there a weaver? spinning wheel? I can't remember for sure. It was neat to walk through these actual buildings brought here from various places throughout Germany.

You can't probably tell what's in the foreground of this parting shot, but it is a tiny nun in front of the HUGE cathedral in Munster.

Unfortunately when I went to Germany before knitting wasn't that big, although I do have some yarn from each trip (mohair from the first, cotton sock yarn from the second). Now I would love to go and do some yarn shopping and also I was really surprised to find some of the most beautiful china I've ever seen in Germany! I recommend a trip to Germany if you can!