Thatcher Magazine - February 2010

FAMILY HISTORY
There is a Thatcher Island located off the coast of Massachusetts.
While I cannot prove we are related to Anthony Thacher, for whom Thatcher Island was named, Anthony's letter is an historical document of interest to our Thatcher Family (as we are probably related). Related or not, a Thacher is a Thatcher so I think you should see for yourself the letter Anthony wrote to relatives in England following the tragedy. EUREKA! While searching for the letter online, which is faster and easier than finding a copy in my closet full of files, I not only found the letter, but presented beautifully on a website with lots of information about the Thatcher family - in England. To read the letter and get a peek at these English Thatchers, go to http://www.ladykatherine.net. The webmaster is Lady Katherine deCourtenay. Note: There are a few listings for other "lady Katherine" sites that we are not related to us - or so I would hope!

FAMILY NEWSLETTER
Congratulations to Glenn Cerny's daughter Cheryl and her husband Tony on the birth of a baby boy, John Armeo Campanaro who arrived September 14, 2009, weighing in at seven pounds and six ounces. Photos reveal a head of reddish hair (just like John;s Grandfather, Glenn was born with).

Kudos to Robert Speer's daughter Beth on winning Hallmark contest. Bob sent an email: Need to brag on my daughter. Beth is an Artist and teacher. To prove to her students that this teacher can do what she teaches, Beth took some pictures of her kids (twins Jesse and Jordan), made a card and entered the card in a competition with Hallmark. Here are the results (One of her boys is in a Croc costume). http://www.hallmarkcontests.com/page/WINNERS/sub/Gallery/contest/ThatsMotherhood/do/det.

Winter Whites: Missouri and Arkansas were in the path of severere winter storms again this January. This time, like experienced scouts, Marjorie and I were prepared - but Carol and Colleen were smart - because they boarded a plane for Hawaii the day before the deluge of ice and snow and won't return until it has melted. It seems Nancy and Rich Grenvish, like all you Illinoisians, are tired of shoveling snow so they will turn into snowbirds and head for Alcapulco in February.

THE SISTERS
Nancy and Me
It was Labor Day weekend and I was not wanting to stay home on a long weekend. I needed to keep busy, so I called Nancy and asked, "What do you have planned for the weekend" and I invited myself to visit her for a few days.

While there, I suggested Nancy put a few things into a suitcase and come back to Bolivar with me. We could do some daily trips and use my home as a base for sight-seeing. Nancy said, "Why don't we go to Eureka Springs?"

I hadn't brought extra clothes or money for an extended week away but there is always the mad money and the plastic. Nancy and I left her house Sunday morning and enjoyed a pretty drive. I got us lost in Eureka Springs with its winding, narrow streets. We discovered the GPS doesn't work on the side of a mountain. After going in a circle two or three times, we ended up going in the same circle - but the opposite way. How that happened, I don't knoow. We pulled into a hospital parking lot, read the road map and, as we left, found ourselves only a block away from our motel. We Parked at our motel and bought passes to hop on and off the trolleys for the rest of our tour and visit to this unique old town.

We met and talked with many interesting people in Eureka Springs; artists, winemakers, shopkeepers, railroad station keepers and other tourists. We visited a lot of art studios, then hit the tourist shops. Eureka Springs is one of the top ten artist colonies in the United States. One shop sold sox; all kinds of sox. Some of the sox had themes, some had licensed icons and some were just plain sox, and yes, we did buy sox as they made for interesting and unusual gifts.

Another shop we visited had a little bit of everything you might want as decoration in your home. The best thing about this shop was that we were about half-way through the shop when we noticed the ceiling. It was all doors! Doors with windows, solid wood doors, carved wood, you name it and they had it. All were painted white and hung flat to the ceiling. We asked permission to take photos and the proprietors were glad we noticed their uniqueness. They also complimented Nancy on how nice she looked in her summer hat. We liked that shop!

We took a trolley ride up to the end of town and to the beautiful Thorncrown Chapel. It is an unusual building, in the shape of praying hands, made entirely of glass with wooden pews inside. It is set in a peaceful area in the woods. We caught the last trolley back to the crowded tourist town and our motel. We had fun on this last minute journey. And we will be taking more short trips - planned or impromptu. MAS

A THOUGHT TO INSPIRE YOU
Take your successes seriously. Make light of your mistakes.
Celebrate the best in you, Forgive the rest.

STORIES TO SHARE
Josephine is my English friend, a writer and artist, living in Gainesville, Missouri. I wrote about her in the FamilyHistoryNews 2009. Recently I wrote her of my aching back, dimming eyesight, trouble learning to blog and hobbling on injured toe after kicking a chair. Through Josephine, I do occasionally hear from her brother Ivan and this is from Ivan in Fishgard, West Wales to me:

Dear Nancy the world is a wonderful place.
Just stop kicking chairs and slow down the pace.
A good Welshman's cure is quite simple, you know.
Take a stiff drink, stick your foot in the snow.

Our Cariad tells me your bloggings on track.
give up the gymnastics and ease your poor bak.
I'm quite sure the ether both crackles and sparks,
But don't over-blog or you'll glow after dark.
We hope you're soon better and back with the flow.
No more chair kicking, not with the same tow.

Here is the land of the leeks and the song
We oldies are fine, still creaking along.
Take care of yourself in the land of the free.
you will always be famous, our own Nancy y te.

Translation from Welsh to American: Cariad = Sister; Land of the Leek and the Song refers to the Welsh tradition of wearing a leek on some obscure Saints day and the Welsh are renowned for their beautirful singing.

It is because of Josephine and Ivan that I sign my Blogs (and some of my stories) as Nancy y Te.

EDITOR'S NOTE & ABOUT THIS BLOG...
I have wanted to set up a website or blog for the past two years. The preoblem: I am electronically challenged. I cannot even program phone numbers into my cell phone. Like The Little Train That Could, I was determined to find a way - Marjorie and I even attended a seminar/workshop lat year) - with a lot of help from everywhere. As of January 2010, the BLOG, Thatchermagazine.blogspot.com, is a reality. The primary subject is Thatcher family history from the time of Adam and Eve to current events.

In 1900s our Thatcher family lived within walking ditance of one another. By 2000 our members were scattered from sea to shining sea. Although we come together each August in reunion, most of us would liek to stay in touch and informe dudring the rest of the year. The solution: a BLOG.

This BLOG is intended as a magazine with monthly editions and five major categories: Family History, Family Newsletter, The Sisters (Marj & Me) Stories to Share, and Other Interesting Stuff.

Family members are welcome to contribute to the blog by accessing the editor through either 'comment' space on the blogsite or by emailing nktcerny@suddenlink.net or phoning (870) 425-8264. (You can use snail mail if you prefer.) To date, I know only how to manage (transcribe) print information (no pictures, cut/paste, sophisticated presentations).

OK. I'M JUST SITTING HERE WAITING TO HEAR FROM YOU... Nancy y Te