Archives
The Tea Kettle Sings Merrily. All is Calm. All is Bright.: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 28
Posted on December 20, 2021 Leave a Comment
Nov 29 – J. did not go to work so we washed the laundry and went down to Oakland. I could not get Milos Christmas box there so we did a little shopping and came home. J. went to S. F., Found Eilene sick in bed. Got Milos sox that Mrs Johanna Wahl knit for […]
Christmas Expectations
Posted on December 19, 2021 5 Comments
A fellow blogger Genea- musings asked: What are your most vivid memories of Christmas times past? The expectations would begin right after Thanksgiving with my Mother’s long Christmas gift list. Then every Christmas Eve starting around 2 in the afternoon we would load up the car with Christmas packages for friends of my parents and […]
One Thing Leads to Another: Our Ira ALLEN not “the” Ira ALLEN
Posted on December 13, 2021 3 Comments
While I was writing my post Ice Cream Melons & Foxes [ now many months ago] I was surprised to find several mentions of Daniel COATS’ father-in-law Ira ALLEN in the History of De Kalb County, Indiana 1885. So I parked that with the thought—okay that needs exploring, so here I am staring at the […]
Sign of a Kind Heart: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 26
Posted on November 19, 2021 Leave a Comment
Monday Aug 5 – Up early. Jessie and Sylvester get started about 8 oclock to Hayward for him to Entrain for Fort McDowell where Uncle Sam will make a soldier boy out of him. Eilene and Leo Hoffman came about 2:30. I will cut and fit her gray dress. I dislike the job exceedingly. I […]
Happy that the World Still Contains a Little Joy: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 24
Posted on November 12, 2021 Leave a Comment
Thursday April 11 Fri 12 – Sat 13 — Helping Jessie with her washing & housework and looking over my diary. Sunday April 14 – Spent most of the day writing. Later in the afternoon Mrs. Miller & I went call on Mrs. Hausenbalg. She is an old woman of German birth and widow of […]
The Shelter of My Big Bay Tree: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 23
Posted on November 11, 2021 1 Comment
Fri Feb 1 1918– Usual routine Sat Feb 2 – Usual housework, sewing, etc. baking Sun Feb 3 – Eilenes birthday anniversary and they all except Milo came over to Jessies. Frank brought them their water pipe, window sash, sack potatoes and box of Newton Pippin apples. Dewey brought my hamper. Jessie put up my […]
Amid the company of Happy Maidens: A Soprano’s Aria Chapter 21
Posted on October 18, 2021 Leave a Comment
July 23 1917 Since noting the past events a number of things have happened. I finished Fannies things $6.00 also a dress for Mrs Fish $6.00 a skirt and waist for myself w white dress for E. [Eilene] and other things. On the 16th E. [Eilene] was sick and I had all the work to […]
Location, Location Location: Changing Names and Jurisdictions & Finding Records
Posted on October 18, 2021 1 Comment
My recent trip back to Massachusetts underscored the SUPREME importance of understanding a Town’s history. It is not just the names that often changed, but their jurisdictions and sometimes their ACTUAL location. What do I mean by knowing a Town’s history. Specifically nothing will serve your genealogy research and your family history writing more than […]
Foxes, Wild Cats, Crows & Woodchucks – Negros, Indians & Servants: The Battle for Control in Early Rhode Island as reflected in South Kingstown Records
Posted on October 17, 2021 1 Comment
The joy and horror of reading original colonial town records is the discovery of everyday life in the Colonies. On a recent visit to South Kingston, [Originally named for the Naragansett Indians and later known as Kings town], Rhode Island Town Record office I stumbled upon these records, which were both illuminating and disturbing. What […]
The Very Best 50th Wedding Anniversary Gift of All
Posted on October 14, 2021 2 Comments
Sometimes we must tell our own family stories. Back in February of 2021 after we received our first Covid-19 vaccines, we began talking about a trip to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. I did lots of research and came up with 20 or so places we might go. They ranged from Vancouver Island, BC to […]
Wheaton Wood 