April 29, 2009 - Colorado

Whee! Another plane trip. I'm on my way to Colorado to see Mary & Dean. There are 2 weeks of visiting planned. I didn't keep daily notes (sorry) but here are some of the activities. Soaks in the hot tub, music at Mary's, lunch & music at friends. Cooking, eating, 2 trips to the pool (only ladies), Aunt Martha trying to learn to swim, shopping, Mary's graduation, taking pictures, making CD's, celebrating Mother's Day. A nap sometimes, watched Mary & Aunt Martha wear "waders" and waded in a stream. Saw deer in Mary's yard almost daily. Saw a big buck elk, too. Hand fed a cute little fox, puppy dog biscuits. He came 6 times one evening. Martha was so excited. She puts the food close to him, but doesn't let him take it from her hand (a safety precaution).

****

I'm sitting on the bed while she packs & gets ready to leave for PA. I think she'll need a box of Kleenex when she leaves Mary & Dean at the airport.

~Martha Schwanebeck

March 30, 2009 - Pennsylvania

Today I'm going home with Aunt Martha, also known as Grandma Martha, to Shady Grove, PA. First I am put into a tote bag for a day or two, then in her suitcase. What a busy time she's having, when I'm in this dark place with clothes. Today, 4/3/09, she took me out briefly, then put me in a plastic bag - for protection she said - because of all my decorations. I'll be here alone until we leave for Colorado on April 2! Aunt Martha picks me up occasionally and puts me back again - just laughs!

~Martha Schwanebeck

March 28, 2009 - Holy Lands



Mediterranean at Ceasarea

Globetrotting Batesy here - recovering from a bad case of jet lag. I departed from PA on 3/16 in a big suitcase. Of course no one told me where I was going, but I felt I was in the air for an awfully long time. After we landed I sat in an airport for a day while Rebecca went off on a bus. I could hear lots of conversation around me, albeit muffled by the suitcase. Couldn't understand a word of it - it was all Greek to me. Then I was flying again. At last, someone opened the suitcase & got me out.



Egypt



****

 I spent a week & a half in a green handbag being carried from Dan to Beersheba - literally. I saw more ruins than I'll ever be able to tell you about. They did let me catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea when I sat by the ruins of Herod the Great's aqueduct at Caesarea. A few days later, they had me out again. I guess they wanted to see how little I looked beside a big tall sycamore tree in Jericho. And then they laughed. I was actually relieved to go back into the handbag. Too much attention!

****

Under Zacchaeus' tree Jericho



Then came the afternoon of March 25th. I'll never forget it - an 8-hour drive through the Sinai Desert into Egypt, with an armed guard sitting in the front seat of the bus. What a long trip! I did get out for a little while to see the pyramids near Cairo. Then it was back in the handbag again. I shook and trembled just hearing everyone exclaiming about the odd traffic patterns in between hours of blaring horns and screeching brakes. Apparently, the bus was dodging trucks and donkeys left & right.

 

Dead Sea


**** After a short stop in Athens once again, we headed home. Wonderful adventure - can't wait to go again!

~Rebecca Castang Bland

October 22, 2008 - West Virginia

Whew! Have I been having the time of my life!! I had been stuck in Twila's spare bedroom for several weeks. I noticed her scurrying around, all excited and anxious. "I'll bet it's those grandchildren," I thought.

****
Well, the big day finally arrived! Bruce & Twila left me in the house all alone while they went to Whytheville, VA to pick up Tara, Evelyn & Samuel. That was Friday, October 10.

****
Oh, was the house filled with laughter & happy sounds when they got home! Evelyn was introduced to me first. Samuel was content just to have his picture taken with me. After staying a little more than a week, Twila's house is quiet again with the Crooks family gone. Grandma & Grandpa walk around kind of sad, but I hear them talking about heading south one of these days! I know where that would be...I've been there before!

****
Well, on to the next house - I just don't know where that will be...

~Twila Castang Kelley

September 7, 2008 - West Virginia

When I woke up Sunday morning 2 weeks ago, I was on a bed in a strange place! They tell me it's where Twila lives in West Virginia. She has a really nice place, but for some reason, I spend most of my time on her dining room table!?! Two different times she took me to work with her. I sat on her desk part of the time. She introduced me to some of her friends...but the best time of all was when she let me ride on her cart. Whee!! I got kind of sad, though, hearing about people that abused their babies, people who needed food stamps...I was glad I was safe with Twila.

****

I have been watching for Twila's grandchildren - Evelyn & Samuel. I hear talk lately that they may not be coming until the end of the month. I hope they hurry...their Grandma is getting very anxious.

~Twila Castang Kelley

August 24, 2008 - West Virginia

This was my first time visiting with Rosemary. She & Charlie took me to a Mother's Retreat at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, WV. Since they are both homeschooling their children, they were invited by their local support group to a weekend retreat just for mothers. (They didn't mind that I snuck in.) And guess what else we did after the retreat...we spent the night and the next day with Twila. We all had such a wonderful time together. What a pleasant weekend with the 3 of them. I'm planning to stay with Twila a few weeks until Tara & Steven come in from Louisiana. I'm sure Twila will want to introduce me to her grandchildren. I hear her bragging alot about them. That's OK, though, I don't mind that she brags about them. :)

~Rosemary Castang Harris

May 31 - June 14, 2008 - Western US

For these two weeks I have been very, very busy visiting different states. We left Maryland and flew to Phoenix, AZ. Visited the Grand Canyon by plane, floating down the CO River and Hoover Dam & Las Vegas, NV. Uncle Dean's in CA, Sequoia & Yosemite National Parks. Salt Lake City in UT. I saw lots of bears & other animals of the Yellowstone Bear World in ID. We saw it snow at Grand Teton, WY. I saw Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park. Was it ever awesome. Next I stopped by Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Crow Aging, MT. Then I saw Mt. Rushmore in SD. It was simply gorgeous. We went through NE to go to Estes National Park near Denver, CO. Back to MD. What a wonderful trip!!

****

Guess I'll go to WV to visit with Rosemary. Haven't been with her yet.

~Esther Castang Martin

May 16, 2008 - Maryland

Today I went camping at Fort Frederick State Park in Big Pool, MD with Rebecca, Esther, Rosemary, Darese and Charlie. They celebrated Rosemary's and Charlie's birthdays. We had a wonderful time together.

~Esther Castang Martin

April 10, 2008 - Maryland

I arrived today just in time to watch Darese and Esther finish painting Esther's bedroom and bathroom.

~Esther Castang Martin

March 2008 - Arizona

After traveling back to Illinois to celebrate Wilma's 50th birthday, I found my way back to the West - this time in Arizona. Saw the Grand Canyon, Saguaro and Petrified Forest, along with millions of cactus. I'm headed East to travel with Esther. Maybe she won't leave me in the back seat all the time - it gets cold in the desert at night!

~Sue Perry

Summer 2007 - Western US

"I've been everywhere, man, I've been everywhere..."

****

Spent the summer with Su & Tom going to different states and a bunch of National Parks. I'm so into travelling now, that I'm sporting pins of all the places I've been to and I have a new picture book! Please add any pix you have of me so I can truly be the "Castang Gnome". My trips this summer included Kansas, Wyoming, Nebraska, South Dakota and Michigan. I'm exhausted and am heading home for some R&R!

~Sue Perry

November 2006 - Missouri

Meet me in St. Louis! I loved the Arch! I got dizzy because I stared up at it for too long. I was planning on going with Wilma to St. Croix, but you know how she is always changing her travel plans...O well, I'll go see Su in CO! Maybe I can take in another National Park!

~Wilma Castang

October 2006 - California

From Colorado I traveled to Sacramento, CA with cousin Jan Arney. I stayed in Lincoln, CA for 3 weeks and saw the following while there: Apple Hill, Napa Valley, met my great-cousins Aidan and Drew Nelson Arney, and rode around the golf course on a golf cart. I think I would like to play golf more often. The leaves were beautiful in Colorado and California so I saved one to always remember. I am lucky to be able to see both the East and West coasts of our beautiful country. I feel like Princess Batesy, thus the princess pin on me.

~Jan Arney

September 2006 - National Parks

3 National Parks in 1 trip! Wow! Started at the Great Sand Dunes in SW Colorado and then went over to Arches and Canyonlands in Moab, Utah. Rocks, mountains and trees everywhere! Came back just in time for a mini cousin reunion with Wilma, Mary, Jan Arney and Su Perry.

~Sue Perry

August 2006 - South Dakota & Nebraska

Drove up to South Dakota for the Hasz Family Reunion and Century Farm celebration. Saw some cows, lots of prairie and the sand dunes of Nebraska. Haw-Yee!

~Sue Perry

July 2006 - Colorado

Buffalo Batesy here! Coz Wilma and her friend Dave came out to visit on the worst weekend of the summer, so we visited the Buffalo Bill's Grove & Museum. Yee-Haw!

~Sue Perry

June 2006 - Colorado

The baby thing lasted a long time and Melda has 4 new grandsons. After the 2006 Castang Reunion, I was on the road again - back to Colorado.

~Sue Perry

February 2004 - Illinois

The Carolinas were awesome - our visit with Marion and family was filled with adventures at Duke University. Our favorite place to eat was Bullocks Bar-B-Cue!

I stayed with Wilma when she had her hysterectomy. After I was sure she had recovered enough and was settled into her new apartment at Surrey Ct, I raced back out to MD to be with Charnita and Darese and to assist with their deliveries!

~Wilma Castang

June 2, 2003 - Illinois

Well, it's been a nice two months out in the Prairie Lands with Lisa and Wilma. They have shown me an exciting time in IL. I visited Allerton Park with its interesting statues and mosquitoes as big as me! I cam down with a touch of the West Nile Virus which landed me at Kirby Hospital. When Lisa drew my blood, they discovered I had SARS. I still have the tongue depressor as a souvenir! I was able to head the CPR team after my recovery and we saved the life of a young woman. You can view all of my exciting adventures on the Castang family website (http://www.myfamily.com/).

****

I got to visit again with Su Perry as she came to IL for a brief visit before she, Wilma, Lisa, Aunt Bobbie and I all headed to the Carolinas for a visit with Marion Salinger and her family.

~Lisa Castang

May 29, 2003 - Colorado

I arrived in CO on 5/29/03 with Martha S. I traveled in style next to a wedding dress. I spent the evening at Murpee's Mansion eating Kabobs with Mary and her soon husband-to-be, Dean. They gave me a foot massage.

****
Friday I explored downtown Denver. I shopped until I dropped. Later, I got to sing on stage at Red Rodis with the Denver Dames, the western version of the Dixie Chicks (Lisa, Wilma & Su).

****

Saturday, the last day of May, I traveled to the Rocky Mountain National Park where I picnicked and hiked and met a cute little friend named Frosty, ditched the Red Monkey.

****

On June 1st, I attended the wedding of Mary Castang to Dean Barr. I would have shed tears, but I don't have any eyes. Mary was glowing and beautiful. Her dress was almost as pretty as mine. The ceremony was held indoors due to inclimate weather, but fortunately, since I was wearing a back pack, I was able to hike up to the outdoor chapel. The scenery was breathtaking.

****

I need to get to bed early because I leave for IL in the am.

~Mary Castang Barr

December 27, 2002 - Louisiana

Annie and I were greeted at the Alexandria Airport by her fiance, Gary. He had a red rose to give her. They seemed so happy to see each other. The weather was nice. Lots warmer than Hagerstown. We were taken to his parents' house where we were to stay.

****
My first big event was taken on Sunday night. We went to this turtle farm where we had a big supper. The turtle farm wasn't in season, so the owner, Mr. Ed, had a big area where he set up so folks could come. I found out really quick, these guys love to play music. After we ate, we sat around and enjoyed the guitar pickin'. There was at least 5 guitars, dolbro, 2 violins, banjo, harmonicas and sometimes a mandolin. We did get to see some turtles. We went into this room where we saw these small turtles. They had 2 heads. Really weird. Finished up the evening about 10:30.

****
Brought the New Year in having watch night service. We got to church around 7pm. Again there was a lot of singing. I noticed they were some of the same people that were at the turtle farm. After some singing they had a speaker. He was Steve Martin's uncle, Raymond, from Virginia. I sat beside his wife, Alice. She was nice. After the sermon, we had supper. Food was somewhat different. They fix a lot of gumbo. Had it at the turtle farm. That gumbo was made of shrimp. This time it was made of chicken and sausage. Someone fixed taco soup. Had a steamer. Oops! They call it sloppy jo. After we ate, went back for some more singing then had prayer, which welcomed the New Year in. You would have thot that was a long time to be in church. Actually, it went really fast. Must have eaten something not used to and had an upset stomach. Took some digestive enzyme and some aloe juice. Before drifting off to sleep, it went away.

****

The rest of my stay was restful. Spent a lot of time at Gary's mom's house. Gary looked after me as well. Went out to eat couple times. Gary has 2 cats and they were company for me. We went over to Uncle Jay and Aunt Lois' one evening. Did some sight seeing. Everything is so flat. Can see for miles. Being winter wasn't anything growing.

****
It's sure good to be home again. Anyone going where it's warmer? If not, I'll take to Rebecca's cabin again and sit by the fire til it's time to go again.

~Annie Castang Alwell

December 11, 2002 - Pennsylvania

I'm getting "cabin fever" already. I guess traveling has gotten into my blood. I understand I will be accompanying Annie to Louisiana in a couple of weeks to visit her fiance. Can't wait!

~Rebecca Castang Bland

December 8, 2002 - Pennsylvania

Back where I started from. Rebecca's house in Welsh Run, PA. It certainly is colder than when I left in May! There is snow on the ground and the wind is knife-cold. Inside the cabin, though, there is cheer. Barry is building a fire in the fireplace. I hear him talking to Rebecca about broiling steaks over the fire tonight for dinner. They are expecting two couples as guests - Steve and Martha and Wayne and Barbara. Both couples have recently begun to "see" each other. Perhaps romance is in the air!

****

10:30pm -- It was a great evening. I became a conversation piece - not that that hasn't happened before! Even Barry has started to like me a little better, now that he's observed my popularity.

~Rebecca Castang Bland

November 12, 2002 - Cayman Islands

Well, I didn't have much time at Annie's 'til I was off to the races again. I don't mind though, I love being on the run. Duane and Darese and I left this morning from the Hagerstown Airport on a small PanAm airplane headed for Pittsburg. We had a bumpy way here and I almost lost my Krispy Kreme donut I had eaten from Sheetz. I did see a real cool thing on the way here though. We flew through a storm and I could see the raindrops even though it was dark out. The lights on the wingtips blinked on and off shining on them and it was very neat. Next we fly to Charlotte, NC, then on to Cayman Islands. I'm so excited!

****
Well, I'm here. Darese told me we have a full schedule for the next two weeks. (I'm used to that). Friday I went with them to Duane's oldest brother's house, David, for a family Christmas dinner. They had Chinese food catered in and it was really good. We had lots of fun eating and sitting around and having Duane's other brother, Eddie, entertain us.

****
Mostly what we did the first week was visit friends and family and shop for souviners. One afternoon I went to the sea with Sarah, Eddie's wife, and her son, Nathan. The water was beautiful! The waves rushing in was so soothing. The next couple days, they had a Norwester there on the island. The waves were really high and it was so neat watching them come in.

****

The second week we were there was the annual Church Convention. They had visitors from the States, Jamaica and Hondorus. There were a total of about 75 visitors from overseas.

****
Another cool thing we did was visit Pedro's Castle at St. James. We watched a film about the history of Cayman and toured the grounds where the first settlers lived.

****

Well, it's out of the frying pan into the freezer. It was really hot when we left Cayman but snowing when we landed in Hagerstown. Wow.

~Darese Castang Arch

October 31, 2002 - Colorado

Well here it is October 31, 2002. Happy Birthday to Anna Castang! I've decided that's where I want to go next and I'm so excited. Today I'll be leaving on my journey there to see Anna. I can't wait to hear all about her plans and spend some time with her.

****

But before I go I want to tell you more about my adventures here in the wild Rockies!

****
I went up to Rocky Mountain National park a couple times to see the elk during the rut. When the change of season comes to the high country, new colors appear, the days are short, nights colder and autumn skies are a deep blue to contrast the reds, golds and yellows as the green fades from the aspen leaves. The bull elk are bugling, breaking the silence of the evening in the meadow where we waited. A soft, silent snow was falling and we watched the magnificant scene as a couple young bulls contested their strength by rushing each other, antlers down, clashing a couple times. An elk bugle can be described as beginning a low whistle, raising to a high pitch, then falls off, ending in a hallow grunting. It's an eerie sound, I think, as it echoes across the meadow to the ridge. The cow elk are just ignoring the males, and the yearlings are playing and jumping.

****
Guess what we saw on the way here! We saw a moose feeding down in a marsh just off the high mountain pass we came over. We took pictures during my trip back to Annie today. I have so many memories of the mountains and hope to come back this way again.

****
I went to string quartet rehersal, choir practice and to the emergency room where Mary works. We jumped on the tramp, went for bike rides and played in the hot tub. Today before I get in my box to go to the post office we will make cookies. Yum! Off I go now...

~Mary Castang

October 2002 - Colorado

Well, here I am in Pine, CO, again. Yes, there is snow in the high mountains! I'm so excited, but a little out of breath because of the altitude. Expecially since the day after I got here, I went up to almost 10,000 feet on a Scouting Adventure. We slept outside in a "bivy" sac. Actually we hardly slept all night because we were a checkpoint for the Night Navigation Course at the Annual X-Games Competition for the Venturing Crews in the Boy Scouts. The Crews are older scouts that come to the High Adventure Base here in the Colorado Mountains to challenge their skills, learn teamwork and most of all have FUN! We stayed hidden in the trees waiting for the boys to find us. They were using maps, a compass and GPS. Our spot was a waypoint preprogrammed into their GPS and they had to find their way around an 8-mile course in the dark. There were about 4 checkpoints where adult leaders were positioned to make sure there were no injuried, lost or otherwise among the Crews. There were about 5-6 boys in each Crew and about 12 Crews total. The next day they had several other competitions: mountain biking, kayaking, wilderness First-Aid, black powder rifle shooting, bow and arrow, outdoor cooking, climbing and rappelling. I ejnoyed going to the different events and learning about scouting's High Adventure Programs.

~Mary Castang

September 23, 2002 - Maryland

I'm on my way, by mail to Pine, CO.

****
It's been rather warm here, so maybe it will be cooler out there. I hear they have already had some snow in the higher mountains. I'll keep you informed.

~Melda Castang

September 5, 2002 - West Virginia

You would never believe the things I have been asked to help do. Brian and Charnita Richards have been working on building a new house in Falling Waters, WV. They had some of their belongings stored in the basemement and garage at Sharon's (Brian's mom) house. Brian and Charnita had been living in Danny's (Brian's dad) basement. It was closer to their new house in WV. So on the 5th of September, we took a truck and trailer over to Sharon's house (she was at work) and loaded up their washer, dryer, bedroom suite and boxes galore. We had the trailer full, plus any car that was going over, was full, too. We put everything into their living room. By the time we was done unloading everything, you could hardly find even a path to walk around. I was up on a file cabinet at one time, and I don't think one of the men liked it very well because the picture that was taken looks like he was making a face at me. I was afraid if I didn't get on something rather high, I might get trampled. There were 14 people there. To me that was quite a crowd.

~Melda Castang

July 26, 2002 - North Carolina

Today we were in training all day then went to evening training. We sure learned a lot! Red Monkey and I got to meet some really nice people. Oh yea, yesterday we saw lots, and I mean lots, of cop cars around and wondered what was going on. When we checked into the hotel, we found out that President Bush was in the area. Red Monkey really got excited but then disappointed when we didn't get to see President Bush.

****

PS My 45 pin means: Market America offers a 2-3 year plan to work for yourself and be successful instead of working for someone else for 45 years to make them successful.

~Darese Castang Arch

July 25, 2002 - North Carolina

Today is finally Thursday, July 25th. I have been looking forward to this day for good while! I was invited to go to NC with Annie, Duane and Darese for their annual convention. We will meet up with Rosemary and Bobby later.

****

Somehow, I think this convention will be a little different from the one I atttended earlier this month. I will probbly see a few more people. Red Monkey told me he wanted to meet the president and CEO of Market America, Jr Ridinger, but I don't think he'll be able to.

****

Well, the day is over and what a day! I'm looking forward to tomorrow and yeap I was right, there are a lot of people here. I'd say around 2,000!

~Darese Castang Arch

July 5, 2002 - Maryland

I was rather sad because I thought I had missed the fireworks. But just before dark on the 5th, our neighbors had a big crowd of people at their house. We had fireworks until 2:30 am in the morning. So I saw more fireworks than I had hoped for. Rather disturbed my sleep.

~Melda Castang

July 2, 2002 - Maryland

The Convention started today. I watched while they made a BIG bowl of salad for lunch.

~Melda Castang

June 30, 2002 - Maryland

There was much work to be done before the Church of God Convention, starting on 7-2-02, so we had fun mowing the grass.

~Melda Castang

June 29, 2002 - Maryland

We arrived at Melda Castang's house around 10:00 pm. Had a good nights rest.

~Melda Castang

June 29, 2002 - Pennsylvania

Vivian's sisters Esther, Rebecca and Rosemary and Vivian's Mom came up to visit Vivian and Morgan in the hospital.

****
Vivian's Mom came back up on Sunday, June 23rd, to stay for a week. We've all had lots of fun with Morgan except when he won't sleep at night. Darese is coming for a visit today and we will be going back with her for yet another adventure in Hagerstown, MD.

~Vivian Castang Rupert

June 18, 2002 - Pennsylvania

Went to Pottsville Hospital with Reese and Vivian yesterday. Morgan Samuel finally came out to play today at 11:52 am. He weighed 8 lbs, 9 oz, 21 1/4 inches long. Once he and Vivian were back to the room, we got our picture taken together. He sure is a sweet little guy!

~Vivian Castang Rupert

June 15, 2002 - Pennsylvania

Arrived in Port Carbon - out of the fire, into the water! Went for a ride with Reese & Vivian to try to coax Morgan to come out and play with me and Red Monkey. We got ice cream at Heisler's Dairy.

~Vivian Castang Rupert

June 12, 2002 - Colorado

After 2 weeks in Pine, CO, took the Pony Express to Vivian Rupert's before the fires got me!

~Sue Perry

June 8, 2002 - Colorado

Went to the Rhubarb Festival in Pine, CO, with Sue Perry.

~Sue Perry

May 30, 2002 - Colorado

Took my first plane ride to Colorado with my new friend, Red Monkey.

~Sue Perry

May 29, 2002 - Maryland

Spent a couple days in Annapolis, MD, with Mary Castang and Sue Perry looking for the perfect crabs (which we found) and the Thomas Point Lighthouse (which we didn't find).

~Sue Perry

May 27, 2002 - Pennsylvania

Started my journey at Rebecca Bland's house in Welsh Run, PA, on Memorial Day after the Castang reunion.

~Sue Perry