♪ ♫ Summertime & the Livin' is Easy ♪ ♫

It truly is summertime but the livin' isn't always that easy due to the nonstop heat. We do feel lucky that our a/c has kept up with the heat to some degree . . . when it is 100° outside we are about 20 degrees cooler inside -- so still 80° . . .

This is what "summer" is looking like -- somewhat -- we actually identify the most with the picture of the blazing sun, the rest is wishful thinking.

For the youngsters, summer has about one month to go before the school bells chime for real again. I have mixed feelings about the summer vacation as it has evolved over the years.

Today, 14 July, is "Bastille Day" celebrated by France as the beginning of their revolution and the storming of that fortress.

I always feel sympathetic to Bastille Day, not so much due to politics, but due to every French class that I ever took always made a "big deal" of that celebration.

On my side of the family, I have not uncovered any French ancestors or relatives, there probably are some -- I just have never discovered them.

On Gail's side, she does have some French relatives, in fact, some of the few remaining examples of her maiden name -- Bouldron -- are found in France.

France has a "big" day tomorrow as they are in the final of the World Cup.

France plays Croatia tomorrow in Moscow. Have you been watching the games . . . we -- sadly to say -- have a hard time watching a complete soccer game.

The action on the field directly impacts our ability to concentrate or to stay awake for that matter. Scoring so little as every hour or so gets to be so tedious -- but we try . . .

I have spent my time mostly this week with sporadic searches -- following the hints that Ancestry.com puts into their "shaking leaves" in the tree.

Again, I have been all over the genealogical field and sometimes actually working on relatives that are closer than "grandchild of step-uncle's wife of 4th cousin three times removed".

If I find good information for relatives like the above example, I add it to the tree -- you just never know when you are going to hit "pay dirt".

And this week, too, I have been in communication with two cousins with whom I am exchanging family information -- again, you never know . . .

And did you know -- or remember that:

That July is "National Ice Cream Month".

That's right, President Reagan designated this month to focus on ice cream.

Every month in our house is focused on ice cream -- we mostly purchase our favorite half gallons these days.

And we mostly choose vanilla of some kind and then adorn it with caramel or chocolate sauce -- so good . . . but just tiny portions of course.

And actually along with a month of recognition -- the third Sunday in July is set aside as "National Ice Cream Day" . . . it is expected that appropriate celebrations happen -- we'll try to do our part.

And, "Oh, My" did you know that today is Day 195 of the year. That means that after today there are only 170 days remaining in 2018.

That means about 164 days 'til Christmas.

About 130 days 'til Thanksgiving.

About 108 days 'til Halloween . . . but who's counting?

So get busy and prepare for these events -- each has it's own
preparation need.

And lastly, for those who are thinking about having your DNA tested and are utilizing the "swab", it is probably wise to take
heed of the suggestion to the right.

I look forward to more of our tree folks testing -- it is a good thing to point out that even siblings can receive different markers in their results for a variety of reasons.


That is a bit of our "hot" week. See you all "in a few"! 👨👩