What to do When The Party's Over - or Monday Madness

What To Do When The Party's Over

or

Monday Madness

This past Saturday we held our family reunion. It was wonderful! Well, at least Saturday was wonderful.

It was hosted at my sister's house for the first time. And everyone had a great time. We don't do much. Have a fantastic meal. Dessert. And visit. At some point one of us draws numbers and passes out a few door prizes. Everyone signs an attendee book. We take a few photographs. And then we all promise to see one another again in two years.

Sadly, because of a couple of people who were not only rude, vulgar and ugly, any further reunions have been cancelled. I said all the right things: "Well, of course I understand!" and "Of course, we shouldn't allow someone to behave like that!" and "Yes, our seniors don't need to be exposed to those kinds of behavior!"

But, once I got home, I cried like a baby! I really did. This heart-hardened old nurse simply was broken-hearted. And I suppose I always will be.

As a genealogist, I think we all look forward to family reunions and the time we get to spend together.

Time when we will be able to not only reconnect with those who we have always seen there, but time to connect with new family members and those lost long connections we've never met! (Such as I got to with these "new", old, cousins this Saturday! Descended from my gr-gr-grandfather, they fall from a line of his children that was a brother to my gr-grandfather. And had no idea what our family history was!  I had a blast telling them what I could in such a short time! Showing them what I could. Hoping to fill in the gaps that they never knew how to fill! It was absolutely wonderful for me!

And so, my heart is broken over not being able to show them the many things there wasn't time for! And now, never knowing if I ever can!

So, after praying and soul searching, I have decided to do what I can to keep this family legacy alive. In the only way I know how.

Renewed vigor in my research. Writing more of our history. Especially on the initial 12 children of those shared distant grandparents we come from. And in keeping the family newsletter alive and going. (I write it monthly, and it goes out to over 200 individuals!)

And meeting, when I can, with those who would like to meet with me. Keeping family, and traditions alive as best I can.

I'm not yet a senior citizen, and so I hope I have a few more years that I can continue doing this, that I love so. Sharing the history and legacy of our family.

The motto of each of us that does this for the sheer love of it, is, and should always be, "Never Give Up". For without us, the history may be lost forever! Without us, who will tell the stories and legacies that have been shared with us? Who will fan  the spark,and keep the flame alive for those who follow behind us!

Let us work with renewed spirit on writing those family histories down.

Let us keep families together in whatever way we can: whether that be with family reunions, newsletters, or sharing the research we have done.

Plan on whom you will relegate to receive your family research when you are one day gone. Will it be to a younger family member who has shown intense interest in your research? Your local historical society? Or your local genealogical society?

So, should the party come to an end, as it seems it has for my family, then please, keep those memories alive! And "Never Give Up!"

I know, I never will.

As always, your comments are always welcome.

Sunday Singing - It's Time For Church Ya'all!

Sunday Singing 

It's Time For Church Ya'all!

It's time to head over to the little church in the woods!

Come on in! I've saved ya a seat right beside me here in the pew.

We'll start with a little prayer, and then we're gonna sit right back and listen to the old time hymn singing!

Sippin' Saturday - It's All In The Drink

Sippin' Saturday 

It's All In The Drink

As many of you are aware, I enjoy a drink now and again. 

Our ancestor's believed in having an enjoyable drink. Well, at least the men folks. They drank the hard stuff, while the women folks stuck to cordials, and such. It really wasn't until the advent of the 20th Century that drinking to be sociable became such a bad thing in the eyes of the local churches.

And alot of our ancestors made their whiskey themselves. Yes, they really did. A fine southern gentleman could be considered fine only if his plantation made a smooth sipping whiskey. (We call that moonshine in the 20th and 21st centuries.)

I recently decided to try some moonshine. I mean, after watching the Hatfields and McCoys on television and their moonshine biz a few years ago, I have been dying to try some. And I have found, much to my amazement, that it's pretty good! Especially the flavored ones!

I am particularly fond of Tim Smith's Climax Moonshine. It comes in several flavors,

here, left to right, peach, plain, and, grape. It's the grape I am quite fond of. It is very smooth, and quite enjoyable. While I doubt my ancestors enjoyed grape flavored moonshine, perhaps they mixed it with grape juice, which makes a delicious drink!

And....

...here is my latest favorite, also Tim Smith's Climax brand. It is the Fire Brand. It is made with hot cinnamon. (I can't wait till fall to mix it with warm apple cider! Gotta be so good!)

We've come a long way from Grandpa's sippin' corn whiskey!

And even from the way Grandpa made it!

To today's modern distilleries.

I bet Grandpa would be proud!

I am reminded of the George Jones song, "White Lightning".

Enjoy the singing, while I think I'll go pour me another sip!

Follow Friday - Using Pinterest

Follow Friday 

Using Pinterest

Do you have a Pinterest account?

These days, it seems everyone does. On this site we are able to share photographs, and articles from interesting sites, or that we make ourselves with hundreds, if not thousands, of other viewers.

We are able to create Boards where we can specialize those items we pin. Yes, think of each board as a bulletin board. You can specialize each board and pin items that are particular to that board. Such as one of my favorites, Genealogy News. Here, on my account, I am able to pin wonderful articles that I have either enjoyed, or have learned from others. And you can follow other people's boards as well. Getting to see what unique articles they are able to save as well.

I love that I am learning more and more about genealogy simply by following Pinterest boards!

So, how do you find these pins on everyone's boards? 

Go to http://www.pinterest.com and in the search box, simply type in what you would likie to find. (You name it, and someone has pins of it!) But, if you'd like to learn more about genealogy, simply type the word genealogy into the search window. Believe me, you can spend days (maybe weeks!) poring over the pins there! And if you visit the sites that they are linked from, you can learn so much! I've learned so much that I have started keeping a journal of sites with articles that I have read, so that I can reference back to them when I want to! Yeah, it's that cool! You don't want to bookmark the pages, because believe me, there will be too many bookmarks saved!

If you haven't already signed up for Pinterest, go ahead and do so now. Play around and see what others are saving to their boards for now. And then decide what things you are most interested in. Set up some boards and beginning pinning!

No matter what subject you are interested in, you'll find pins!

Well, I pin, and I pin, and I pin some more!

You can even pin your family name! You'd be surprised how many people will turn up with similar, or the same pins!

Visit it now, and learn just how you can use Pinterest to assist you in your genealogy research. It's a site well worth utilizing!

Thursday's Thoroughfare's - Or, My How Travel Has Changed, Or Not

Thursday's Thoroughfare's 

Or, My How Travel Has Changed, Or Not

Back in June, we traveled by car to my husband's family reunion, just south of San Antonio, Texas. It's a trip we don't take nearly enough, and one in which we actually enjoy the travel! We drive, and enjoy stopping whenever we can and seeing the sites. I love going into those kitschy souvenir stores and seeing all the 10-cents items that sell for $10-$20!  Ha ha.

But one thing I was reminded of, was how much road travel has changed over the years.

When I was a child, I grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, and we would travel to West Virginia to see my Grandmother Bean, and on to Indiana, to see my Grandparents Dreher. There wasn't an Interstate system then that we could travel. So we drove hours to get to West Virginia. Spent the night there, and continued on to Indiana. Taking a full two days of driving to finally get from Virginia to Indiana. There were no rest stops along the highways. Although there were some picnic tables. Alot of gas stations. And sometimes, Mother Nature called when there was no restroom and the bushes and trees became our restrooms!

Today we have very nice modern rest areas, with heated and air conditioned rest rooms. Some of them even have restaurants and coffee shops. Some have museums!

But it's the roadways I am most interested in. I remember those days, and nights, of my Dad driving to Indiana on some single lane, but mostly two lane highways. Speeds were good if you did 45 miles an hour! During our trek to Texas, we drove super highways, with 6, and even 8, lanes!

Bridges and overpasses that took us many feet into the air! (Yes, I know, I took this photo while driving. But I was careful!) I was fascinated by the multiple overpasses that went over and under one another! We were actually above a highway with 3 overpasses here! (If you look closely you can actually see this.)

I am reminded of a time when back in the early (very early) 1900's, when my Grandfather's daughter Pauline, my aunt, had tuberculosis. The physician told my grandfather that he should move the family to North Carolina where the air there would be good for Pauline. They traveled by motorcar.  It took them a week to get there from West Virginia, as many places didn't even have roads! One of my uncles had a motorcycle, and would drive ahead of the car by a few miles and make sure the car could go through an area, and then come back to direct another uncle, as grandfather didn't drive. There weren't any motels, or hotels, and so they camped out under the stars at night. They cooked their meals on the ground. Once in North Carolina, they didn't stay very long. Pauline "pined" for the hills of West Virginia and home. And grandfather couldn't keep her there. So, they traveled back to West Virginia. Unfortunately, Pauline took care of her little baby sister, Eloise.  Little Eloise died on 14 February 1925 at the age of 15 months; and Pauline on 27 June the same year. Both from tuberculosis. But I can only imagine the trip to and from North Carolina! My Uncle Bill regaled me with the story, and I was absolutely fascinated by it!

Unfortunately, in parts of West Virginia, where I now reside, the roads are no better now than they were then. And I can provide you proof.

Yes, that is my little car, just a week back from our trip to Texas, and the super highways, as I traveled to see a client! (I work full time for a major insurance company.) As you can see, I am up to the axles in mud. Thankfully, this was on top of a mountain and I had good cell phone reception! I was able to call for roadside assistance from my cell phone, and a wonderful tow company was there in just 30-minutes to my rescue. They were even kind enough to direct me correctly, and safely, around the area I was headed to on a paved road.

So, the next time you are flying down the Interstate, at what seems the speed of light (sound?), please remember as you fuss when traffic begins to slow you down, that even here in America, there are those of us who still travel along dirt roads! Some of which even a horse and wagon would not safely get through!

Do you have dirt roads that are this bad where you live? Have you ever been stuck in a mud hole in the road before? What did you do if you were?

Are you old enough to remember traveling before Interstates? What memories of those trips do you have?

Wordless Wednesday - Well Almost

Wordless Wednesday 

Well Almost

Our beautiful granddaughter was married this past Saturday.

August 5, 2017

Congratulations Amber and Marshall!

Tuesday's Titillating Tales - On This Date In History

Tuesday's Titillating Tales 

 On This Date In History

Will Kellogg

(April 7, 1860 – October 6, 1951)

On this date in 1898, Will Kellogg, an American Industrialist best known for food manufacturing,,  and best known for the product that continues to be an American staple, invented Kellogg's Corn Flakes.

He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist faith, and a devout vegetarian  which was practiced by his church. Later he founded Kellogg Arabian Ranch where he became a breeder of fine Arabian horses. 

Kellogg founded the Kellogg Foundation which was instrumental to the founding of California State Polytech University, Pomona, and Kellogg's College Oxford. His legacy of philanthropy continues to this day through the Kellogg's Company in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Do you like Kellogg's Corn Flakes? Do you think other brands are as good?

Did your family eat Kellogg's Corn Flakes when you were growing up? Do you still?

What other products were available that your ancestor's may have purchased that you still purchase today?