Kim and I visit THE Cottage

When I was growing up my father and his brother Walter jointly bought a cottage on the lake where they most fished, Pleasant Lake, New London, New Hampshire. Sunday, I met my daughter Kim and went to THE cottage. We met Aunt Dot, Walter's wife, and one of my cousins, her daughter, Annterese Mozden Throop. Annterese, who lives in Reno, Nevada, is visiting her mother for a few days. She is taking the opportunity to visit her sister, Dorothy, who lives in Maine. Marie, who lives in Nederland, Colorado, is to join them this coming Wednesday. Kim's and my visit was an opportunity for all of us to discuss our many summers together. The hikes to the New London Library, around the lake and into the woods along paths long gone. We explored cabins and discovered newspapers for the 1890's and eye glasses that long pre-dated Walt Jr's optomology practice. Kim was amazed that we all stayed at the same time in such a small place, beds everywhere, one bathroom, a very small kitchen. That kitchen enabled pancake eating contests. The porch was the scene of many rainy weather Monoply games with rules that prevented them from ever ending. The picture was taken by Aunt Dot and is of Kim, myself, and Annterese standing on the beach side of THE cottage. Will post comments about my trip to Baltimore this evening. Hi, Dotty.

Our Family Grows: Patrick Nicholas makes 3

My son, Michael, and his wife, Lyn, are again proud parents. Friday, June 23rd, at 5:45 PM Patrick Nicholas Mozden was born in Washington, DC. He wieghed 6lbs, 10 oz and arrived 14 days earlier than projected. His brother, James, was especially happy that an event he had been told about for more than 2 months had finally happened. Course James was a little confused as to which baby was to be his brother; wondering if a friend's baby was the one during one stop in all the trips.

Nicole and her son Jackson Stanley Dungee have been visiting since Friday, June 16. It was the first time I saw Jackson, only pictures till then, although everyone else was present when Jack was born. We all stayed with Nicole's sister, Kim, and her husband, Todd, for an extended weekend. She is in her newly acquired house in Claremont, NH. Kim and Todd are really enjoying having a house of their own. Todd especially likes the 'man shed.' Todd and I got to go brook trout fishing and we each did catch a few; even have some pictures to prove it.

Saw Uncle Joe and Mary while in Claremont. They are doing well. They told us the story of how they met and eventually married. The story is posted on the Mozden Reunion Blog: http://mozdenreunion2006.blogspot.com
Listening to them tell the tale was a delight, especially when each was correcting the other's impression of what really happened.

Nicole will be going home tomorrow.

Rain, rain, and more ran

Rain: 10 inches + Saturday. Took Linda to a quilt shop in York. Had to travel south on Route 1 about 20 miles. Became an adventure; much of road was under running water. Love those guys who think that they can drive like on dry summer roads when the road is covered with 2 feet of running water. Love it even more when their engine dies.

Had lunch at the Maine Diner in Wells. Have to go there before the tourists arrive. Almost missed it; the parking lot was full of vehicles from MA and CT. See the ME Diner next in the late fall. Will also have to plan our trips to Wormwood's.

Would be nice if the rain eases. However, finally have some water in the streams. After the water drops some; the fishing should finally be reasonable. Been too dry this year for good brook trout fishing.

Some Good News and Some News

On Easter Monday, good Polish Holiday, Nicole (Mozden) and Warren Dungee presented us with our newest family member: Jackson Stanley, 9 lbs. 3 oz, born at 11:20 PM at the University of Maryland Hospital in Baltimore. Congradulations to the new parents!!

Yesterday, May 10th, I received a most welcome surprise when an email arrived from Donna Sakowski, a thought lost cousin. In a day we have accomplished much in establishing the framework for having Mozden Family Reunion this summer. The dates are the weekend August 12/13 somewhere in the Palmer/Three Rivers area. Donna is gathering some info together about places available. Jahju is gathering mailing info. We willl be using this Blog as a way to keep people appraised of our daily activities and to gather input from any Mozden that cares to participate. Just select the Comment button to the bottom center of this message and chime in.

One of the things we want to begin for this Reunion is the 'official' story of how our branch of the Mozdens came to be in the United States 96 years ago. Why Massachusetts? Why come to the US? We are seeking everyone's input. Tell us the oral stories you have heard. Tell us the legends. What about the poker games that were played in the kitchen? I know that is how my father learned to play poker and met many of his cousins. What about each of the Brothers and Sisters meeting the one they married? Did they have to work together to get around the 'old folks' because what they were doing was not quite the way it was in Poland? What about brothers providing money to help each other through college and thus we have doctors and nurses and business people. We can make computer scans of any docs and pictures so they can be shared. We need the birth dates, wedding dates, graduation dates of all of the 10 Brothers and Sisters. And, the same for Peter and Rose Mozden, our grandparents.

Easter Morning 2006

Easter morning!! And, we are all waiting for Nicole and Warren's baby to arrive. Nicole looks good and is in very good spirits, but that baby still is to come. Warren's parents brought all kinds of food in anticipation of the blessed event. Linda and I really enjoyed it all after we arrived from Maine. Everyone is here: Todd and Kim, Dahju and Nona; Mike and Lyn and James. No new cousin for James!! However, this morning as I am writing this Nicole and Warren are going to the hospital. We are all excited!!

It is a beautiful sunny morning after a equally nice Saturday. Mike had used his new grill to cook the hamburgers last night. We all ate in the Mike and Lyn's backyard. Spring has sprung.

James is having a terrrific Easter morning. The Easter Bunny came last night and left James a basket of goodies! James has had two eggs, some bagel and who knows how many chocolate baseballs. We will be going to church later this morning. James looks like he is geared up for a wonderful day!! The picture is of James and his parents with his Easter Bunny Basket.

Why Jahju?

Why am I signing my Posts as Jahju? A reasonable question. The short answer is that my grandson needs a name to call me. It is "Jahju." When my son, Mike, and his wife, Lyn, asked what I wanted to be called by my newly born grandson, James, I initially responded, "Whatever you want. Grandpa?" This was not very helpful. Particularly whereas there is another grandfather for James. While both of us could be "Grandpa," it would be confusing for James. So I recalled that I had called my grandfather, Dziadek (JAH dek), which is Polish for grandfather. However, this did not seem to strike a responsive cord with James' parents. While visiting my daughter, Kim, in Cornish, NH, during Thanksgiving Weekend, my Uncle Joe and his wife Mary joined our gathering. As always, at our family events, one of the topics of discussion was our Polish Heritage. What to call me, the new grandfather, was an opportunity to learn about our legacy as well as arrive at a possible resolution to James' parents question. I stated that I had called my grandfather, Uncle Joe's father, Dziadek (JAH dek). My Uncle Joe, who speaks Polish, was surprised to learn this. He pointed out that Dziadek, in Polish, is a very formal and not very warm way of calling someone you consider so close. (I have since learned that Dziadek also means 'old man' and that most old men do not like being refered to in that way.) My Uncle Joe suggested "Dziadziu." Pronounced "JAH joo." It is considered a direct address or familiar, warm name. During Mike's family 2005 Christmas Season visit to Saco, the topic again arose as to what James should call me. Dziadek was again not well received. After thinking about it, I realized that at least part of the problem is that it is a difficult word for James to learn. Dziadziu, JAH joo, was mentioned as my Uncle Joe's suggestion. Everyone seemed to like it. So, it is to be Jahju. That is until James weighs in with his opinion, which will probably be different from everyone's idea. Then, again maybe his soon to arrive cousin or brother/sister(?) will make it something else.

.............and now it begins

Hi all,
Decided that we needed our own Blog. It should be easier that setting up a full Web Site and more fun than just sending each other e-mail. Because it can be accessed from anyplace one has access to the Internet, can be added to without use of e-mail. Just remember anyone with access can see and post. With all of the family news -- babies, new babies, moving, family re-unions, etc. -- thought this would be a helpfull way to communicate at least some of the news, comments, etc.

So lunch break today spent quickly setting up one. It is really easy.

Will be interesting to see how we all use it. I am going to adjust format from beginning cookie cutter pattern. Give me feedback.

We can post photos. So tonight I will be posting some of the photos from Nicole's and Mike's Christmas visits to Maine.

So what do you think?