So I just finished a four mile run, when actually maybe a one mile jog to almost fast walk, I hate the hot weather! Anyway, after I  was finished, I collapsed in my chair here in front of the computer and almost fell asleep, I did manage to get up and take a shower. As I was getting out of the shower I was trying to think of what to eat, something maybe quick and light and  decided on a fried egg sandwich. That  means two eggs on toast….., which in turn leads my mind to “Well, it’s two eggs up on whiskey toast……” and Jerry Jeff ….

Yes, Oliver flirted with several of the women, but he was entranced by only one thing……. the iPhone…..

That’s his Dad holding Oliver, as he stares happily at my iPhone!!

As I was looking for these pictures that my wife had posted on my Facebook page, I came across these pictures of my daughter Elizabeth and my wife’s mother (and Jim’s sister) I knew there was a strong resemblance between the two but I didn’t realize, how strong it was……..

One of the biggest  – hell “I only wish thats” of my life – was that my children would have been able to know my wife’s parents, Bob and Ruth Clarke, who were two wonderful people, that could have had a very positive impact on my family! I know that their spirit has actually been passed on to our kids, by my wife, but still, it would have been nice, if they could have done it themselves!

My wife’s mother Ruth Browne Clarke died at the age of 48 in 1981 from breast cancer, and her father Robert Nelson Clarke died of a heart attack in 1993 at the age of 60. Damn!

The post Evening thoughts : “Navajo Rug” – Grandson Oliver and his Great-Grandparents Clarke! appeared first on .

Yesterday was not a good day for a variety of reasons and tonight as I sat at the computer I thought I need some laughs! So I went to Youtube with the intent of finding a funny video and when I got there I got distracted – big surprise there! . Because I found one of my first drafts of a video, I was making for my cousin Marti’s 60th birthday party. In the video I used a variety of pictures Marti at various ages along with photos of my father and his brothers Arthur, (Marti’s father) and Kenny. I’m in several of the pictures with Marti. I used The Strawbs “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” featuring the vocals of Sandy Denny. when I got done this draft my wife thought it was a little too depressing so I changed the final version. If I ever find that I’ll post it but for now here’s the first go round and by the way I still need a laugh!! Now maybe even more!!

The photos at the beginning of the video our of our grandparents and a couple of our great grandparents on both the Karn and the Meyer sides. Here they are with captions explaining who they are…..

Maternal great-grandfather Herman Meyer born in Germany	Maternal great-grandmother Helene Wendel Meyer born in Germany
Pauline Hechler Karn my paternal great-grandmother born in Switzerland.	Grandparents – Edward Karn and Charlotte Meyer Karn

Herman Meyer was born in Koningswalde, Saxony, Germany in 1871 and was a member of the King’s guard before he married Helene. He came to the US in 1911 a year before the rest of the family made the trip in September of 1912. In the US he was a nurseryman and worked at Dreer’s Nursery. As part of the work he took care of the landscaping at the Zurbrugg house in Delanco, NJ, which is where he is standing in the picture.

Helene Wendel Meyer was I believe born in Dresden, Germany in 1880. She had two sisters Frieda, and Elsie and a brother Moritz. Both Frieda and Elsie came to the US, Frieda married Hugo Doelling and lived in Philly and Delanco, while Elsie married Curtis Schrier and eventually settled in the Bethlehem, PA, area. Herman and Helene had three children daughters Irmmagard and Charlotte and a son Albert.

Pauline Hechler Karn (Grissie) was born in Switzerland and  came to the US in the 1880s with her parents Daniel and Suzanne Hechler and her brother Gustav. Pauline married Henry Karn and they had five children, Emma, Anna, Charles, Harry, and my grandfather Edward. They lived in Delran and Moorestown.

Edward H. Karn Sr. married Charlotte Meyer. Edward farmed on Creek Road in Delran up until 1939 when they left the farm. After that he farmed in Willingboro until he had a series of heart attacks. Edward and Charlotte had three sons my father Edward H Karn, Jr was the oldest, followed by Arthur and then Kenny…….the video was made for Marti the oldest daughter of Arthur and Pauline(Polly) Karn. Their youngest daughter is Arlene. Both Marti and Arlene live in South Carolina.

All this is part of my know your past so let’s see we are a large part German on both the Meyer and Karn side (Henry was born in Germany too), with a bit of Swiss thrown in. Maybe that’s why I’m partial to those German prog rock bands????? I know that my father’s first cousin Eleanor, daughter of Irma, always was very proud of her German heritage and always belonged to German-American clubs!!

Here is the video…..sorry about the title page, hope you like it!! And if anyone from Konigswalde or Dresden reads this and know anything about my ancestor’s please let me know!!!

The post A Family Video made for My Cousin – Music “Who Knows Where The Time Goes” – The Strawbs – Sandy Denny appeared first on .