PANSY ST CLAIR

We received Alice Powner's book, "Bonds of Love and Laughter" by Alice Reeve Scriber. We're going to take it to work with us and I will read it to Rian as he drives. We're so excited. There are many pictures and very interesting copied documents as we quickly thumb through this book, just recieved it today.

A short note just to describe some interest and theme in which she has captured the Reeves Family, and I quote, "It's 1900, long past the (great migration), when Charlie and Rosella Reeve decided to homestead in Washington state with their five children. Sadly bidding farewell to their Minnesota family, all of the Reeve's travel in a single wagon, following the route of the Northern Pacific railroad across No. Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.

"Alone on the trail, this loving adventurous family must create a day-to-day life for themselves in unfamiliar territory: cooking meals, washing clothes, battling hardships, all the while trying to figure out what was around the next bend. Charlie and Rosella weren't famous or special, just ordinary Americans persuing something better for their children." Unquote. This book can be purchased through Amazon.com, just type in "Alice Reeve Scriber."

This is just a taste for those of you who may be interested in purchasing Alice's book. For us this is just another beautiful event in this gathering of The St Clair Family Reunion.

Also, we're thinking of a theme for the gathering, and in doing so, we have discovered the original St Clair family crest, being a rooster sitting upon a tether of rope, encircled by a belt (which we will research what these items represented to the family) with the logo of "Commit Thy Work To God", this dating back to 1180 AD. A lot more history here folks! We are also in search of the original Reeve's family crest. We have decided to make up a flag much like the Knights of Templar would have had that represented their family. These will be our efforts and we are not asking for any help in this area. We also will do the same for Pansy's side for the family crest.

We hope this sets on everyone in the "family correct" way. Rian says, we need more personal history and stories from everyone on Grandma's side, so come on guys and gals, bring it on!!!
Love to all,
Rian and Gina

reunion quilt

Ok... I need to hear from the quilters in our family. We do need to get together to start planning the quilt as summer 2008 and the reunion will be here before we know it.

I have some thoughts and know a few of you do as well. We need to consolodate our thoughts and make some decisions as to size, specific background fabric or not, if we want a theme or not and lots of other things, including deadlines for getting the blocks to one of us to sew together, getting it quilted, etc.

Velda and Glada -- you are the two other quilters in the family that I know of. Please e-mail me at cruize@theofficenet.com with your thoughts, etc. And if there are other quilters, please contact me as well. The more help planning this quilt the better... then ...........

the rest of you... be thinking about what you want to put on your quilt block. I believe we will want each family to make a block... probably something to do with you/your family/your life/hobbies/pets/kids/or whatever.

Rian and Gina are hard at work making lots of plans for this reunion.
Us quilters can take care of the quilt thing... contact me soon.

Bunny

More of the Reeves Family

Rian just got off the phone with Alice Powner. His Mom, Marian, brought up her name, Alice having written and published a book on the Reeves family. She is on Grandma Pansy's side of the family. We will recieve this book shortly, and will pass along some pictures and information on Grandma's side. We will also make sure at the time of the reunion, you will all have at least some of the likenesses of what she presents in her book. This is good stuff!!!! Rian says, it's not just the men in this family that make a big difference, so help us out with the gals.
Love you all,
Rian and Gina

2008 reunion "Up&Rolling"

Ok just a short note, first of all I should say to all that I have called -- If I would have read all the notes you all have posted I wouldn't have had to ask as many questions -- so here I am saying I'm sorry for being a pest to those of you that had to say in my old ears the same things you had already posted here ! When you mix a bunch of nuts and bolts with a lot of years of trucking you end up with a box of rocks and that's where they came up with the old saying --- "Dummer than a box of rocks".An old trucker pal of mine said - hey there ole man -- I just figured out how to become a millionaire in the trucking world --- You start out with "9" million .

Back to reality, I have to thank each and every one of you for your help and ideas , please keep up the spirit and thanks again to you "Carol" for getting us all started with this blog , we all owe you a great thanks ! I know that I still need to phone a few more of you just for my own stubborness if nothing else, I'll try not to be a pest , just want to hear your voices and make sure you all know how much this means to us . In the past few weeks I've spoke with my cousins , mostly of which I haven't made the effort to even say hello to for most of my life, SOOO great to hear your positive response !! Now it's up to the bunch of us all to share and pass along our ideas on how and what we should do .Ok --- thats it for now , lots of time to make plans --- I need your ideas and thoughts on these matters , please help if you have the mind to . "Ole Box of rocks Rian " Love to all ~Rian&Gina~

Patriot Guard

Hi Everyone,

Jim and I just spent the day with 70+ other bikers... the Patriot Guard, at a funeral for a young man from our town killed in Iraq.

The Patriot Guard tries to go to all funerals for our fallen soldiers to keep the protesters away from the family and friends and to show support. We stood for 3 hours with our flags in pretty much total silence. We do have war protesters in our town, but thankfully they did not try to mess with this funeral.

We had Patriot Guard members attend from as far away as Portland Oregon, and Yakima, Idaho, etc. About 40 rode up from Spokane. Our good friends rode over in the 30 degree weather from a town about 40 miles from Colville. It was a sad occasion which we hope we won't have to do again but will do in a heart beat if needed.

If you have not heard of the Patriot Guard... you can look them up on the web... www.patriotguard.com

We are now drinking hot chocolate (with a little Kalua) trying to warm up. This is the earliest we have had our bikes out. Jim hauled our bikes into a friend's home on Thursday to store them for a few weeks (and so we could use them today). We cannot ride out our 1/2 mile road yet... snow, mud, ice still on the road. But the highways are pretty much OK. So if we get a nice day on the weekend we can go into town and take a ride. Last year we did the same thing. Jim got to ride during the week a few times.. but the weekends were always too cold or ? for me to get to ride....before we brought them back home and could ride from here.

Anyway.... it was a good thing to be a part of but very sad for the family.

Jim took this photo as we were all getting ready to head to the funeral home and the church. I am with our Italian friend Tony and his wife Catherine... we call her "the wee one".
Remember you can double click on any photos to make them larger and hopefully more clear.
Bunny & Jim

Dennis and Nikki Holmes family

New baby Emalyn and new home for Greg , Jerusha, Maria, and Emalyn Shaffer

Mike, Bernadette, Mikiah, and Jadon

Lindsay and Sam

Dennis,Nikki, and Shaffers

George', Beka, Mihaela, Daniel, Alin, Andrea Magher-Holmes

ST CLAIR FAMILY REUNION 2008

Shirley has contacted Rian and I (Gina) to head up the family reunion that so many of you have been anticipating. Thank you Shirley for your trust. (Gulp!) Shirley and Carol's suggestion was to try for 2008 as there is not enough time to get everyone gathered and plans made for this year. They're absolutely right. So, our plan is for summer of 2008. We can't give exact dates yet, but we are planning for Brownsville OR at Pioneer Park. It has a very nice Pavilion, and is very scenic and also within walking distance to the small community which hasn't changed too much since way back when.

According to the Linn County Recreation Dept, we will have to apply in November of this year. A lottery will be drawn, as there are so many people wanting to use the facilties during the summer months. They will draw the lottery at the beginning of 2008...if we get it...great! If we don't, we have alternate parks we can use in the Brownsville area.

I will attach the website so all of you can take a look at it. We will also advise of places to stay in the surrounding area, and I do believe there is a list of motels, hotels, and B&Ds in the area on the website too. During the summer a limited amount of overnight camping is available. If camping is what you're looking for, cost is $15 per night for RVs and $10 per night for tents. Restrooms are available, but no showers or hookups.

From the local cousins, we will be asking for your help in the food department. We are planning a Potluck, so feel free to jump in with your suggestions. We would like to keep it relatively simple, kind of "old time" as far as the food goes, games for the kids...etc.

If anyone has any ideas, or suggestion, please feel free to contribute. We would like to make this a family effort, and make those that are far away, and coming to this shin dig, to feel welcome and comfortable. Our theme is simply "Family History", which we think will make everyone feel a part. It's also important to make the little ones aware of where they came from.

Rian says, in the old days, they would put saw horses together and sheets of plywood for tables. The women would spread bedsheets for tableclothes. Just remembering Thanksgivings and such. Those were wonderful times. As kids we would look forward to seeing the cousins and sharing different stories, listening to the older folks tell their tales of times gone past.

In this respect, we hope each and everyone one of you can make this event, and make this a Family Reunion to remember.

We will be sending out RSVPs (Aunt Marian from Alaska's suggestion) to get a head count as soon as we get a firm date.

Let's communicate as often as possible with any and all thoughts. Rian and I are simply a connection point...this is YOUR reunion...so let's get it going! Rian says, it seems we've all went our separate ways and haven't had the opportunity to present our personal lives, and share with each other. When we were young, our parents made sure to stay connected with each other. As we have grown older, we have made our paths, and many of us have lost touch. Keeping connected with family is the most important aspect. Please help us make this a memorable reunion for all of you.

Rian and Gina Hickman

http://www.ci.brownsville.or.us/park