Sunday, March 2, 2025

2025 off to a good if not crazy start

January:

The year started with Ryan, Angeles, Melody, and Hannah moving to Texas (which is a happy/sad thing). Then Alex returned to school for his final semester, so it was back to just Glen, Eric, and me at home.

Glen and I celebrated our 36th Anniversary with fajitas.

21 January 2025


We've only had one tiny bit of a dusting of snow this winter (so far), though, thankfully, the mountains have received a lot. 

I love little birdie feet prints in the snow

26 January 2025

February:

Glen took part in a concert with the Domesticated Man Band (DMB) again, just like he did last Galentine's Day celebration. He is not one of the musicians. He played more of an extra in a music video role. Dancing on the side. Wearing crazy outfits. Singing into a bottle of 409 kind of thing:


7 February 2025


Glen and I were able to go to Vegas to visit my mom and sister.

11 February 2025



And February ended with a bombshell of a discovery. My grandfather was not my grandfather. 

I was looking at the DNA results from tests that Dad, Mom, and I took years ago (10?). I was able to confirm one connection on my dad's mother's side which previously had only had circumstantial evidence (Mary Elizabeth Pinner being connected to her 3 brothers and father). Also, on my dad's father's side, I was making progress on finding the father of Hannah Van Velsor (Cornelius Van Velsor but still needs work).

But, when I looked at my mom's father's side there was no DNA evidence, but I did see close relatives that I didn't know.  It took a few minutes for the realization of what that meant to enter my mind. It took a while more for me to accept it as truth.

What followed was 2 days of intensive DNA and genealogical research, and then reaching out to my mom's half sister. I was thrilled when she replied! So this next month should prove very interesting as I learn more about Stanley Alexander Bush.


What my pedigree chart looked like at 5:15 pm Wednesday, February 26th:


What my pedigree chart looked like at 5:30 pm February 26th:



What my pedigree chart looked like at 7:30 pm Friday February 28th:




Tuesday, December 31, 2024

finishing up the year

November-

Very colorful sunset on the 5th


Eric's 33rd birthday was a relatively quiet affair--just grandpa, Glen, Eric, and me. One thing he got worth mentioning is a game called Poetry for Neanderthals. It's kind of like the game Taboo where you want to get your teammates to say the word on your card, but in Poetry for Neanderthals you can only use 1 syllable words. You get hit with the "no" stick (an inflatable "stick" so, unless you are Angeles and people hit you in the face by accident, it doesn't hurt). The game is actually quite challenging.




I went in for allergy testing because I had a rash a few months ago. I was hoping to find what the problem was, but nothing reacted. I guess that's actually a good thing.


Glen and I were able to participate in Light the World as the special vending machine was in Reno for a few weeks. We donated for a community water well. Loved it.


Alex and Hannah were both home for Thanksgiving. Hannah had just finished her job in New Hampshire and her 3 week cross-country drive. It was a great few days. Hannah stayed through Christmas. Alex went back to school, finished up his internship, and then came home for Christmas. He'll head back for his last semester soon.

playing the game Play Nine


One of my projects that I've been spending a lot of time on is adding biographies to my ancestors' entries at FamilySearch. So far, I've written 9 and am working on #10. I'm no real writer, but collecting info from newspaper articles is a big help in getting some details to put into the biographies. Having computers, the internet, and searchable databases is such a blessing. I'm really enjoying this project. Can't wait to meet them all in the next life.


December-

Hannah and I had our birthdays-- no photos available but my birthday was spent with Glen during the day and at a friend's Christmas party in the evening. Fabulous day.


I love paying attention to the solstices-- this year's winter solstice was on the 21st. I went for a walk during sunrise and then again at sunset and got these photos:



Alex, Ryan, Angeles, and baby Melody came for Christmas, with Hannah and Eric already being here. Andrew and his family couldn't come. Video calls are better than nothing, though, so we did get to "see" them for a short visit.

The Perazzo clan's annual Christmas caroling was on Sunday the 22nd this year. The weather was mild and we had a great time--with 7 cars in our convoy we caroled to the neighbors (being out in the country means we drive and not walk it), passed out treats (with the boys adding an extra side show treat by making human pyramids at a few houses), and then went back to my sister-in-law's house and had hot chocolate, freshly made beignets, and played games. Great activity.

On Christmas Eve we worked together to make tamales and we lit the bayberry candle, per tradition. Hannah had a friend over, so we let her light the candle.








Christmas is full of traditions. In the morning we all opened our stockings whenever we woke up. Then on to the pickle hunt (using the paper mache pickle Eric made in grade school, of course). Hannah won this year, so she got to be the first to pass out a present. 


waiting for the word "go" so they could look for the pickle






to not waste paper we reused boxes (Alex did not get cereal as a gift) and Hannah make cloth bags

Cheese fondue for the win!


Playing my new game "Space Base"


Two items that need sharing: 

Hannah made silkscreened t-shirts for Glen, me, and herself using the design on the sign outside of Alberto Perasso's Italia Bar Pizzeria Ristorante Hotel in Silvano d'Orba!



And Hannah gifted me a 2-week continuous glucose monitor that I'm currently wearing. I really wish I had been a researcher. I am having a blast testing what different foods do to my glucose levels. 

on our early morning walk to end the old year right 12-31-24

Started on some goals before New Years-- My new YouTube channel! I've been debating it for a little while, but I figured it's the best way to share my videos of our trip to Italy. Most are very short. If I had realized I was going to do this, I would have taken more videos!

If you are interested, go to: https://www.youtube.com/@BethPerazzo. Most of what I posted went under the "shorts" tab, so check out both the "video" and the "shorts" tabs.

Happy New Year!