Look Grandma! We're Pregnant

No words needed....

GRAYSON CHAD HOFHEINS!

So yesterday Jamie told me she would be having a baby today and so I took the day off. And yes at 7-8 am she called.  Mom, it's time. And so we went and at 11:35 Grayson Chad Hofheins was born. He weighed 7 lbs and 3 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long.  He is the smallest of the 4 grandchildren.  Brecklyn, the daughter was the largest.  He is so blonde.  How could a Nishimoto have such a blondie?  Can't figure it out.  But it is so.  He had his cord around his neck and gave us a little scare, but all is well.  He was born so fast.  The doctor was literally running across the parking lot and the nurses were definitely a little nervous that he wouldn't make it in time.  But just in the nick of time, he did.  I was there as with Logan's birth, but this time I was supposed to help by pulling Jamie's leg.  Never did that before.  It was amazing.  Later as I picked up the older kids and we were riding to the hospital, I heard from Logan and Brecklyn, Is my mom still fat??? Is she skinny again?  Well, not skinny but much better!  I asked Tyson what he thought about his new brother and he said, "It's so amazing."  I think he will be an awesome big brother.

A Little Gralla Family History (Koszecin, Poland)

LOCAL PEOPLE GIVE COLORFUL ACCOUNT OF "ROBIN HOOD" GRALLA.
(I mentioned I would be doing some genealogy stuff on this blog)

In the village of Koszecin, Poland, stand the remains of the Franz Gralla farm of the late 1800's. Although, much has changed on the property, the people who live there now were able to share what they remembered of Franz Gralla, father of twelve children and my great grandfather. The current owners, the Soballas, bought the farm from a Jewish man who had purchased it originally from Franz Gralla in the year 1903. Mr. Soballa tells what caused Franz Gralla to leave the area for Moscow and later St. Petersburg, as he recalls in the year 1903. Franz Gralla, although the owner of a farm and acreage was not the farmer "type" nor did he want to be. He lived life a little on the "wild side" as he chose to defy the local nobility, the Hohenlohes, who owned the forests and most of the surrounding property. Franz Gralla liked to hunt in the forests of the Hohenlohes, which was against the law. But he did this to provide food for his large and growing family and to provide food for all the poor townspeople. For this, the people of the village loved him and the Hohenlohes despised him. He became known as "Robin Hood" Gralla. Often times he would hide with his hunting friends in the forests as the local authorities tried to track him down. He made traps out of bridges which would drop to the water below and help him in fast get-aways. This he did for quite some time until the Hohenlohes eventually caught up to him, and knowing him to be very knowledgeable in forestry, rather than arrest him, as was expected, he was given a forestry job in Belorus on the Hohenlohe property there as an alternative punishment. This same Franz Gralla was also a merchant, a business man who provided the stones for the road which still is there and leads to the next town. According to the Soballas, Franz Gralla was involved in many interesting business "deals", but was a good man whom the people liked and respected for his help in feeding their families.

Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe From a Cookie-holic

Do you all have a favorite sugar cookie recipe?  Well, here is mine.  It's a good one!

Sonja’s favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe


1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. sour cream
1 t. vanilla or almond flavoring
1/4 t. soda
4 t. baking powder
4 ½ c. flour

Mix together and roll out. Bake at 350 degrees for 5-7 minutes.

Buttercreme Frosting for Sugar cookies

½ c. butter or margarine
½ c. shortening
1/4 t. salt
1 ½ t. vanilla
5 ½ c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. of milk
Cream butter, shortening, add salt and vanilla. Add sugar, 1 cup at a time. Then the milk. Beat till light and fluffy. Add food color if desired.

How Does My Garden Grow?

Finally it is beginning to be summer!

I went outside today for the first time in a week due to too many things going on and saw that the garden was finally coming along.  I cut my 3rd cutting of lettuce and picked a green pepper.  Then later I trimmed back the half dead lavender bush and cut some mint to dry.  I felt like the Pioneer Women in me had come out. 

But then I realized how hot it was out there and decided to write about the garden, rather than work in it.  Can't wait to write about tomatoes and black currants, ha ha!

The Anniversary

Having Dinner at Applebee's

Grandma, when do we blow out the candles??

60 years, only a drop in the bucket!

The happy couple Heinz and Eva, alias Omi and Papa!

The great-grands, we are 1 short here, Grayson tried but just didn't make it...

Which is why Jamie and Jake weren't here tonight...

The grandkids help in unwrapping, a difficult task as you age...

A little gift for you!

As you can see no Jay or Jake, they were at the hospital with case 2 of the false labor of love...

What the Grandkids Taught Me

So over the years, I have tried to get some exercise by walking.  The goal is to lower bp, get less fat, get in shape and be generally more healthy.  Lately the grandkids have noticed grandma's walking routine and decided they want to join and everyday the question "Have you gone on your walk yet?" comes out and if I haven't gone, they are gonna go with.  So we round up scooters, big wheels, bikes or whatever the tranportation of the day may be.  Well, I must start by saying when you take your grandkids, or kids with you, the exercise part of the walk really disappears and it is interesting what does appear.  First, one child is 3 miles ahead, while another is equally behind.  The one from behind finally catches up by running over the back of your feet with a big wheel or other instrument of pain.  But being the sweeties they are, they ALWAYS apologize and as you limp along you say "It's OK, honey, it only hurts a little."  The far away child returns and says, "look at this or look at that".  And so we stop and look at this and that and talk and laugh.  What do we look at?  Well, via my blackberry, so excuse the bad quality, here is what we see:

We see millions of ants having their breakfast, lunch or dinner...

We see "Kornblumen Blau" as Omi would say.

We see horses too, and we also smell them a mile away! 

We see the seagulls on their favorite roof top every day, literally hundreds of them.

And we see toadstool "nests"

They are a little gross...

And sometimes we decide to climb a tree or two!

So you see we spend lots of time looking and not so much time exercising, so this grandma will remain fat and happy.  But the key word here is "Happy".

Happy 60th Anniversary To My Wonderful Parents! I Wish You Many More!

ODE TO EVA

It was many yesterdays ago,

When I met you, setting my heart aglow.

Times were tough then, with seemingly nothing to live for,

but undaunted, we opened this new door

of life’s experiences together;

Many storms we would weather.

Now there’s some smoother sailing

With winds from the right direction prevailing.

We share this life in mutual bliss,

And although Mozart and Bach I would never want to miss

(but I know that you like ‘em too)

You’re the greatest - my love and companion so true,

Our love will remain forever as new.

Your Heinz

A Nummy Polish Recipe

I tried to post this on The Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen Site, but it kept rejecting everything I did to put in the recipe.  So I am posting it here so as not to feel like a complete failure...  It really is nummy and the credit goes to Theresa Ulfik, my Polish relative's wife, who is a really good cook.

Teresa Ulfik’s Polish Salad.

Ingredients (every ingredient should be put in the form of a layer)
1 can pineapple cut into pieces ( I used Pineapple tidbits, drained)
1 can drained and rinsed kidney beans
The white part of a leek cut into pieces. (I sliced it)
a layer of mayonnaise
1/3 lb.of deli turkey or ham cut into thin stripes (Omi can leave out)
2-3 carrots (boiled) cut into thin stripes ( I used boiled baby carrots about 10-12 of them)
2-3 stalks of celery, chopped
2 cloves of mashed garlic
can of corn (I used frozen because I had no canned corn)
another layer of mayonnaise
4 grated hard-boiled eggs (I just sliced them and put them on top)

Mix it when you serve it, but it is prettier in the layered form in a clear serving bowl till ready to eat.

Blossoming Musician?

Well, Last nite I got to tend my two grandsons.  We took Tyson to scouts and then that left little Logan, the birthday boy, all by himself.  I was in my bedroom when I heard loud noises from my office area and went to investigate. There laying on the rug were the contents of two tin containers of crayons.  Every crayon was laying on the floor, with no Logan or container in site.  My first thought was, why does he dump out two containers of crayons and not even color anything!  Great, now I get to hunt for the containers and then clean up all the crayons, right? Ugh...not my day.  So I proceed to track down the culprit and there on the kitchen floor sits a little drummer practicing his musical skills...

Fish

Fish: "Add a touch of nature to your page with these hungry little fish way down at the bottom of my page. Watch them as they follow your mouse hoping you will feed them by clicking the surface of the water."

I Wish My Daddy Was a Dog!

At Stake Conference today, Elder Sitterud spoke about being a better parent, a better grandparent and just plain being a better person.  He told us this poem and I really thought it hit the hammer on the head!

I Wish My Daddy Was a Dog


One day, when Bruce was just a lad, starting out in school,
He came into my workshop and climbed upon a stool.
I saw him as he entered, but I hadn't time to play
So I merely nodded to him and said, "Don't get in the way."

He sat a while just thinking---as quiet as could be.
Then carefully he got down and came and stood by me.
He said, "Old Shep, he never works and he has lots of fun.
He runs around the meadows and barks up at the sun.

"He chases after rabbits and always scares the cats.
He likes to chew on old shoes, and sometimes Mother's hats.
But when we're tired of running, we sit down on a log;
I sometimes get to thinking--I wish Daddy was a dog.

" 'Cause then, when I come home from school, he'd run and lick my hand
And we would jump and holler and tumble in the sand.
And then I'd be happy, as happy as could be.
'Cause we would play the whole day through, just my dad and me.

"Now I know you work real hard to buy us food and clothes.
And you need to get the girls those fancy ribbons and bows.
But sometimes, when I'm lonesome, I think it would be lots of fun
If my daddy was a dog, and all his work was done."

Now when he'd finished speaking, he looked so lonely there
I reached my hand out to him and ruffled up his hair.
And as I turned my head aside to brush away a tear,
I thought how nice it was to have my son so near.

I know the Lord didn't mean for man to toil his whole life through
"Come on, my son, I'm sure I have some time for you."
You should have seen the joy and sunlight in his eye
As we went outside to play--just my son and I.

Now, as the years have flown and youth has slipped away.
I've tried always to remember to allow some time to play.
When I pause to reminisce and think of joys and strife,
I carefully turn the pages of this wondrous book of life.

I find the richest entry recorded in this daily log
Is the day that small boy whispered. "I wish my Daddy was a dog."

-Author Unknown

Logan's birthday

Baseball Boy

Deutschland Trip 2009

Deutschland 261
Originally uploaded by Grandma Sonja

Jamie and I entered Tyson's German Butterfly picture to The Pioneer Woman's Photo contest. Don't you think it is just cool how his eye shows through the butterfly wing? This butterfly landed on Ty's hand and just stayed with him and had no desire to leave. It was so cool.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Grallas in España

Some years ago I came upon the Grallas in the Catalan area of Spain.  Gralla is my mom's side of the family.  They are my Polish side.  However, while doing research we found out all about the Grallas in Spain and even went to the Casa Gralla in Subirats and spoke to the Gralla descendants that were there.  It was a little difficult as my 6 years of Spanish had turned to "rust" but none-the-less the family shared their pedigree chart and pointed out the Gralla who emigrated to Polonia back several hundreds of years ago.  We were escorted to the Palace and the family church by the author of the book about Luis de Requesen.  He was also the proprietor of the Museum in Martorell.  Here are some quotes I translated from his book which is written in Catalan.

Miguel Juan de Gralla


From Lerida ? XV century - died in 1531. Distinguished royal official. Teacher of royal classroom. Delegate of the Generalilat (1491-1494). Royal accountant teacher of Catalunya. (1501-1520). His linage was through the Burgues de Lerida. He gained his riches by practicing mercantilism. Castellan and Feudal Lord of the castle of Subirat. He was at the service of Ana de Bretana until the capitulation of Reunes in 1491. He returned to Cataluna and intervened in name of the King in the municipal reforms and of the Generalilat and he was designated by the king as a delegate.

Short Lesson on Prussian Military History

A little military lesson from my friend Harald in Germany:

In a lithograph by Richard Knötel, whose former capacity was in regards to questions of European uniforms and equipment, from 1890 to 1905 when he published hundreds of these plates showing the European armies since the 30-year war, edited by Max Babenzien in Rathenow. It can be recognized that there are no significant differences, neither in the uniforms nor in the armament of the musketeers and fusiliers.

Usually women are more interested in the clothing of the ladies than in the solders` uniforms. Nevertheless it is sure, that at least two of my ancestors had to wear "des Königs bunten Rock" and there was also of the Swiez family as executioner and three of the Badura family who had joined the army.

When Friedrich der Große had conquered Silesia he started at once to institute a government, dividing the country in civil counties and military "Kantons". The general duty for serving in the army was also introduced at once. Early as 1742 Friedrich was recruiting Silesians and forced them to his troops. Fighting for the Austrians in 1741 some people found themselves in the Prussian army one year later in 1742. Beuthen, Tost and Tarnowitz had Prussian garrisons at several times.

Fighting in the Napoleonic Wars went back and forth. In the beginning the Prussians fought against the French. After the catastrophe of Jena and Auerstedt in 1806, Prussia was forced to support the French with their own troops at their Russian campaign. Which units had to follow Napoleon to the east was decided by lots. From our area it was: II. Battalion of the 1. Silesian Infantry Regt., II. Bat. and Fuesilier Battalion of the 2. Silesien. Inf. Regt. The disaster of Moscow is well known.

In the meantime Prussia had reorganised its army. A novum, founded by the French, now was used by the Prussians: nationalism. Up to that time farmers and labourers didn`t mind to which king they had to tax. But now they were going for their country. The Prussian king posted his declaration "An mein Volk" in Breslau 1813. With this declaration also the Order of the Iron Cross was founded (in Breslau!) - the first decoration the simple soldiers could receive as well, as the noble officers. (By the way: the first decorations were produced in the iron hut of Gleiwitz) And now one was going to fight against the French again and in the end some of the Silesian troops which had to support Napoleons army, served as a part of the allied occupation army in Paris.

And Knötel is showing us what the people of these times looked like.  And there are some people who told me, genealogy was boring!

One result of the Napoleonic Wars was the "Bauernbefreiung" in Prussia. It started 1810, initiated and developed by Stein und Hardenberg. Before this the Farmers and gardeners were not slaves, but they were not allowed to leave their lent land, had to work up to 4 - 5 days a week for the landlord who also decided which of their sons should inherit the lent cottages and who even had to give his allowance if one of his "erbuntertänigen" Bauern / Gärtner / Häusler wanted to marry. For the landlords needed the cheap workers, they fought against this "Bauernbefreiung" so the dependence lasted in Schlesien partly until 1830, while in the other Prussian provinces the farmers were freed in 1818. So it is always something special if the profession is given as Freibauer or Freigärtner.  If you click on the image, you will see a larger view.

Work Assignment 8

Today's work blog assignment was to check out Google Docs.  I wasn't really aware of this too much, although a friend mentioned it to me but here you can upload documents to work on, save, send or whatever.  I think it is kind of a cool thing.  The idea is that at some point in time, programs such as Microsoft Word, etc will be eventually replaced by this.  I can see the possibilities.  I like how it works and in the case of my computer crash, you would know the important things are there.  However, like in Picasa web albums, after a certain amount of space is used you would need to buy more room to store.  So depending on the costs, that could be a problem.

By the way, my computer wasn't a "true" crash, which is great news for me, but rather my video driver died and so that is why I could see absolutely nothing.I now have it back and happy that no data was lost.

Another part of Assignment 8 was to go to YouTube and find  a Family History video.  I found one of an interview of Thomas McEntee, the so called "Father" of Family History blogging.  He spoke of concerns others had regarding copywrite issues and privacy concerns.

Re-do, Re-habilitate, Re-pair and Re-lax

Well, today I had professional Development at work and started working on my blog again. I found a background that I really liked and it was a family history theme. So I thought that would be perfect for me and used it and also changed my template. So once you do that it seems everything needs to be adjusted. All that and a new computer at work that gave me some headaches all day yesterday. The internet and phone finally started working at home again and that was a big relief. Apparently something had been cut somewhere in the lines and the power company seemed to be the ones that had to fix it. My personal computer is still in the shop and no word how that is all going....

Soon it will be my parent's 60th Anniversary. What a big day for them! They were married in Freiberg, Germany 24 Jun 1950. My parents have experienced things in their lives that I hope most of us never will have to. I will try to write some blogs about that at some future time.

My grandkids survived their little incidents and Jamie is doing better and still hanging in there. So things are improving in those respects. I am still working on my Polish trip in August. I just can't wait. Things seem to be going well and I have gotten lots of the preparation done. But there is always some that still has to wait till the proper time to get done.