Traditional PreFestivePeriod

This is probably the fastest moving part of the yearly calendar. Once it hits Thanksgiving the following weeks fly-by. Maybe not to the younger generation but for us -- it screams past.

There are but five days until Thanksgiving and about 32 days until Christmas and New Year's just a week later, which finishes off 2017. Amazing.

This is one of the ways I view the coming weeks -- large packages of protein. Of course, there might be changes in the menu in actuality e.g. to a turkey burger, ham sandwich, or a hot dog-on-a-stick . . .

Whatever the meals are, we will enjoy the season. So to start we will be going out today or maybe tomorrow to begin the poultry selection for next week's "big" dinner and of course all the trimmings.

It is of course -- TRADITION.

Unfortunately, we are daily reminded of the recent fires and the thousands of stories and realities that must be dealt with by so many.

The above picture appeared in the "Press Democrat" and it is a picture taken by Will Chubb who has shared this photo in the media to hopefully provide some comfort during this period of loss.

The "Red Barn" was built in 1899 -- burnt to the ground in October 2017. It was a sight most of us viewed daily or weekly as we drove to Santa Rosa. It advertised Fountaingrove, the area of homes that lost thousands.

Thanks to Will and the "Press" for sharing this iconic image for all of us.

A lot of my research time this week and for times in the past have been spent searching among the branches of the "Gillett" family tree. It is from the Gilletts that so many of our connections can be traced, so it is not uncommon to spend so much time rooting around there.

The above is just some of the many many Gilletts that I have researched and put into the tree. Every day almost something or someone new is added to the Gillett branch.

Interestingly, growing up in our household I almost never heard of the Gillett name as being related to us. It was even only after I started working on family history that I found out about James Norris Gillett, Governor of California in 1907.

And now I have been able to add so many more interesting Gillett folks into the tree. Just like there is a "HILES" Wisconsin, there is a "GILLETT" Wisconsin. just north of Green Bay. I'd like to visit that town some day.


AND I have been a user of Gillette products for years. My daily shaving involves several Gillette products. The Gillette family may still be involved in the company, I do not know, but P&G owns the Gillette brand these days.

The company owes it's starting to King Camp Gillette.

The "e" on the end of the surname used to keep me from pursuing searching, but these days I have uncovered the fact that even within a family, there may be GILLETT and GILLETTE being used by the members, for whatever reasons.

So, lately, I have been researching this branch. There certainly seems like there must be a connection and maybe we'll uncover that.

And, wonder of wonders -- the Niners won their first game this past week.

They are now -- one win, nine losses. It might even get better as the last few games may include the new quarterback  . . . we'll see.

There have been other well-known head coaches who have started with poor seasons, only to become long-term winners.

While the postseason will not include the Niners, we'll look forward to a few good games played by some other favorite teams.

Lastly, a word of caution -- "Be careful out there" as this is the season:

Such are the dangers while holiday shopping, it can be a spur of the moment thing.

That is a bit of our week, see you all "in a few" !