CLARISSA JEROME - WINSTON CHURCHILLS GRANDMOTHER

One set of Winston Churchills great-grandparents were born here in Palmyra, New York.  His great-grandparents were Ambrose and Clarissa Hall.  They had a daughter, also named Clarissa, who married a man named Leonard Jerome.  In fact, they were married in the Western Presbyterian Church in Palmyra, NY, which is one of the four corner churches.

At first the Jeromes lived  on Canal Street where Jerone practiced law.  Eventually they moved to Rochester, New York where Leonard worked with his brother in the newspaper.  Again they moved, this time to New York City where Leonard worked in the stock business on wall street. It is said that he made and lost several fortunes over his career.

In 1854, they had a daughter named Jeannette, called Jennie.  Due to her family's wealth and position, Jennie spent a great deal of time over seas with the high society in Europe.  It was in Europe where Jeannie met, Lord Randolph Churchill, the son of the seventh Duke of Marlborough.  Three days after they met, they were engaged.  They were married in 1874.  Their son Winston was born less than a year later on November 30, 1874.

So, as you can see, the small town I live in is part of the history of Winston Churchill who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940 to 1945).

UPSTATE NEW YORK - MARCH 15, 2017

The first picture is of my car in the parking lot this morning.  Second picture is after it was cleaned off.  The snow is still coming down on it, so it will probably be covered again.  Third is our maintenance man on the plow. In picture 5, I tried to show how deep it is here.  I guess the rest explain themselves.  We are asked by the police, not to drive except in case of emergency.  I'm not going anywhere.

Does anyone have some pictures they would like to share with us?  Just let me know at:
lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com

JEAN'S IRISH SODA BREAD

I am not sure, if I had this recipe on before or not, but I wanted to put something Irish on.

JEAN'S IRISH SODA BREAD

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp caraway seeds
3 Tbsp shortening or margarine
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
2/3 cup raisins, dark or golden, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp butter melted
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Preheaat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease an 8 or 9 inch round layer cake pan.  In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt and 3 tablespoons sugar. Add caraway seeds.  Add shortening and cut into flour with pastry blender until shortening is in fine pieces.  Make a well in center of flour mixture, pour in buttermilk and add raisins.  Mix lightly.  Turn out into lightly floured board and knead gently a few times.  Shape into a 5 inch round and place in prepared pan. Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut dough crosswise into quarters about 2/3 of the way through.  Brush top service with melted butter and sprinkle with remaing 1 tablespoon sugar mixed with cinnamon.  Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until golden brown.  Serve warm with butter.

NOTE: To sour milk, add milk to 1 tablespoon vinegar in measuring cup to make one cup liquid.

JEAN'S POST

Michael has taken filling in for Marilyn very seriously on here.  He said to me: " Mom you haven't been on New York State of Mind since January." I told him I had, but he had checked back and was right.  So he told me this week was my week.

Right now, the men are out checking the generators to make sure they will work well, if the coming snow storm hits hard and our power goes off.  We really are concerned if the power goes off in the building where we store people's food.

I was hanging my laundry this morning and noticed that, as usual, all us Old Order Mennonite and the Amish wash and hang their clothes every Monday morning - rain, snow, or sunshine.  From where I live, I can see their laundry and they can see mine.

Elmer forgot to tell you that he, Anna, Bishop Eli and his wife are suppose to leave Tuesday for Pinecraft in Florida.  They are going to Rochester today and get a hotel room near Amtrak so they will be close tomorrow morning.  If the snow makes them cancel Amtrak leaving they may stay another night to see if it leave's the next day or come home depending on the weather reports.  They have reservations with Amtrak.  I think they are planning to stay about a month, but Bishop Eli has to be back before Palm Sunday, which is April 9th, so I guess it will be a little less than a month.

Their families, church members and our family are going to keep an eye on their farms while they are gone.  Michael, Edward and Thomas will be plowing snow so, they will make sure their farm is clear so people can get in and out to feed the animals, milk the cows, etc.

Thomas and Ruth are getting things together for their child, when it comes.  It's not due until about June.  Thomas built the baby's cradle.  David, my husband, built a matching dresser.  Then Ruth said she would like a baby table, so Thomas built that.  They are stored in the attic.  Of course, us ladies have been making clothes, blankets and quilts for the baby.

We are hoping we get an early Spring so they can built their new house.  It doesn't take long to get the house up.  It's the inside that takes a lot more time.  Of course every new house person wants their house just about perfect.

Being in Foster Care, we got a call that they would like to bring a child to us for an extended stay.  David laughed and said every previous extended stay we had, we adopted, and never left.  Well, Thomas and Michael moved, but they live very close to us.  It is unusual they call days ahead.  They usually call and ask if we will take the child and if we say yes, they bring it right over.  This one is a 16 year old girl.  When I told Susan and Katie, they said she will even the score between how many men and ladies we have in our home.

I have gotten one of our bedrooms ready for her.  She will be accepted as member of our family.  This week, she is suppose to come and we look forward to meeting her.  We are not her first Foster Home and she is not coming for anything she did.  I don't ask why they are changing Foster Home, but that doesn't matter - she's coming here.

We have been very blessed.  All the children we have had - and there have been several who had come, stayed a few days and either went back to their family or were transfered, we have never had real problems with.

If you have any questions, we could use some to answer.

Be With God,
Jean

SPRING IS COMING - SOMETIME

Found these in Marilyn's pictures.  She took them last August.  There was no particular reason why she hadn't put them on yet - she just hadn't.  With all the snow we have had lately, thought flowers and green land would look nice today to remind us Spring is coming - sometime.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS BEGINS TODAY

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS TOMORROW