Treasures - what was lost . . . 

. . . is found.  My grandpa, Zack Kelley, had only one sibling - his brother Archie, who had three children.  Sadly for the extended family, Archie's relatively untimely death resulted in grandpa's side of the family losing track of Archie's offspring over time.

We knew two of them lived with their mother in Prescott at one point way back; however, despite Dad's persistent requests for me to find his cousins, it took many years before I tracked Ray to Boise, Idaho, and Nola in nearby Congress, Arizona, surprisingly enough.

Since then, we have been privileged to visit with two of our cousins, although we never met Modell.  Dad got to see them after a long separation, and we've enjoyed spending time with them and their families.  

 

Last week was another opportunity for a lovely day of a house-full of visiting and eating.  We gathered at Nola's, and were amazed at the feast she produced for eight people from her tiny kitchen where helpers scooched past each other to bring out dish after dish.

We reunited with Nola, Doris (cousin Ray recently passed away), Dennis & Terrie and Greg & Tracee and shared family tales while devouring everything in sight - first treasure.

There was time for sharing family trees, which we have aplenty . . .

 

. . . and old family photos, which we also have aplenty.

We walked off that sumptuous Sunday dinner with a jaunt down to the incredible botanical garden that Nola & her friend have created as the ultimate neighborhood wonder - second treasure!  She calls it her cactus garden, but that does not come close to describing the extensive landscaped area beautifully designed for strolling wandering paths around gorgeous impressive desert exotics - each one a well-tended example of its species.  I regret that, while I was overwhelmed by what she has created, I was distracted with chatting and did not near give the place its due with attention and photographs.  It is well worth a full magazine layout.  The amount of time and work that she devotes to the amazing creation is incredible!

As we spent more time getting acquainted with our kin, Nola emerged with a handmade quilt!  She told the tale of being visited in 1946 in Sweet Home, Oregon, by my grandparents/her aunt & uncle, Zack & Pearl (Taylor) Kelley, accompanied by Nola's grandmother/my great grandmother Julia (Winans) Kelley, and being gifted the quilt top that had been hand-pieced by Julia.  She subsequently researched the pattern - Welcome Block - that was created from fabric scraps and flour sacks.

Nola has cherished the quilt through the years, lovingly done handwork to finish it, and gifted it to me along with a note explaining its origin - third treasure!

 

My heart is full!