Mascot Manor Genealogy

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 8 – Genealogy Libraries

2012-02-20T08:58:00.000-08:00

Genealogy Libraries: Genealogy libraries (and dedicated departments in regular libraries) are true treasures in the family history community. Tell us about your favorite genealogy library. What or who makes it special?

My favorite genealogy library is the California Genealogical Society’s library. It’s a relatively small area packed with great books, periodicals, and people. Over the summer, when the days are longer, I like to schedule time after work to just be in the library. The atmosphere alone breeds excitement and enthusiasm.

One trip last summer had me talking to Jane. Jane asked me about who I was researching and we chit chatted a bit. She offhandedly said I should check the digital records on FamilySearch for the mortuary records for one person I was researching. We did and found some interesting things, although nothing too new. But wait, Jane said. She disappeared and came back with a giant old dusty book. GIANT old dusty volume of the IOOF cemetery records. My guy was in there and we learned much from looking at those handwritten records.

But more than information, like I said, is the enthusiasm. I haven’t yet been where I didn’t meet someone interesting or where I didn’t find a treasure of a book to take me off my research course!

***
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

If I Were on Who Do You Think You Are. And Cannolis.

2012-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

As I watched the recorded episode of Marissa Tomei on WDYTYA last night, I realized that if they did a show featuring me, the story would play out far differently. Even if I had the same story.

It would open with me looking not beautiful like Ms. Tomei. Sure, I’d have new clothes, but my brand-spankin’ new flowey sundress with matching umbrella would be in a size smaller than the size I actually wear (the dress, not the umbrella…). My logic is always that by the time any far-off big event occurs, I’m magically going to be one size smaller. But I never am.

My too-tight clothes and I would be nervous, too. So we’d be awkward, fat, cramped and that damn umbrella would blow inside out and my flowey dress would try to follow, luckily held down from underneath by my ripples of Rubinesque ridges.

We would open with me telling my family of the wonderful adventure the show was going to help us with. Their eyes would glaze. “Genealogy? Did you say you were going on a genealogy trip? For how long?” They ask the length only so they can judge how much reprieve from my “fun stories” they will get. They will not ask any questions and will only say, “Have fun and don’t hurry back!” They are already dreading all my chit chat upon return…

Since for this imagination, I have Ms. Tomei’s family, I would tell the show that my main focus is on my murdered great grandfather. They would take me to his home town in Italy and to the archives. While there, I’d get sidetracked by the giant books and need to read all of them before we leave. And since I don’t speak Italian and when I say, “Canovaros” it doesn’t roll in a melodramatic Italian accent and sounds more like a really bad way to say Cannibals. Or cannolis. Mmmm cannolis.

Now that I’m sidetracked by books and cannolis, I want to visit all the places there. I stay up all night on Google, Ancestry, and GenealogyBank while eating a truck-load of cannolis (because once you think of them, you have to have them). So the next morning my clothes are two sizes too small and I didn’t have time to wash my hair but who will notice?

I put the show behind by weeks by all my sidetracked adventures and I’m far too haggard to feature on film any longer. They black-shape me like on Court TV. When they finally tell me the results of the murdered grandfather, I no longer care, as I’m onto bigger and better things.

They fire me and I go home and excitedly tell the family the murder details because who doesn't love a good murder story? Just a moment before their eyes glaze, they say, “Yes, we know. We have all the newspaper clippings, photographs and actual video-recorded event right here where they've always been. Didn't you know?”

----------------------------------------------------

My Mother-in-Law's Cannoli Recipe

1 ¾ cups unsifted, regular all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons firm butter, cut in small pieces

¼ cut dry Sauterne (sweet white wine – Riesling should do)

1 egg white, slightly beaten

Shortening or salad oil for deep frying

Ricotta Filling (see below)

Powdered sugar

Chopped sweet chocolate and halved candied cherries

Sift flour with salt and granulated sugar. Make a well in the center and in it place egg and butter. Stir with a fork, working from center out, to moisten flour mixture. Add wine 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough begins, to cling together. Use your hands to form dough into 9 ball. Cover and let rise about 15 minutes.

Roll dough out on floured board about 1/16 inch thick. Cut to circles 3 o- inches. With rolling- pin, roll circles into ovals. Wrap around aluminum tubes; seal edge with egg white. Turn out ends of dough to flare slightly. Fry two or three at a time in deep hot fat (350 degrees) for about 1 minute -until lightly golden. Remove with tongs to paper towels to drain; let cool about 5 seconds; then slip out tube, holding shell carefully. Cool shells completely before filling. Use pastry tube to fill. Sift powdered sugar over shell; garnish at once with cherries.- Makes 25.

Ricotta Filling

Whirl 2 pounds ricotta cheese in the blender or press through wire strainer until very smooth. Beat 1 ½ cups unsifted powder sugar and 4 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in ½ cup each finely chopped citron and orange peels and ¼ cup chopped sweet chocolate. Chill several hours or overnight.

Fluffy Ricotta Filling

Prepare ½ recipe Ricotta Filling and fold in one cup heavy cream beaten until stiff.

Pistachio Filling

To either of the above filling recipes, add a few drops green food coloring to tint pale green. Use chopped blanched pistachios for garnish.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 7 – Historical Documents

2012-02-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

Week 7 – Historical Documents: Which historical document in your possession are you happy to have? How did you acquire this item? What does it reveal about your ancestors?

I wrote about this just a few weeks ago. *LOVE* this:
Renouncing the Thrown

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 6- Family Heirlooms

2012-02-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

Week 6 – Family Heirlooms: For which family heirloom are you most thankful? How did you acquire this treasure and what does it mean to you and your family?

I’m not 100% sure this is an heirloom, since it’s only as old as me and broken, but I do treasure it. When I was a little girl, my dad carved this wooden doll for me. It got broken through the years (although her mod-‘60s hair has remained untouched), but I’ve always treasured her and she sits right here at my desk where I can see her.

Carved Doll (next to lipstick for scale)

Wordless Wednesday:

2012-02-08T07:47:00.000-08:00


Left to Right: Ann (Konst) Conner, William Mason Conner, Harriet (Price) Conner, Orville Thomas Conner, Carol Conner

Ann and Orville are my great grandparents. William and Harriet are Orville's parents, my great, great grandparents. Carol is Ann and Orville's daughter, my grandfather's sister.

Goals

2012-02-07T16:43:00.000-08:00

Now that we are over 1/12 of the way through 2012, I guess I’d better do a goal check…

Writing/Publishing Goals

Finish rough draft of Grampa book. With the help of my new genealogy writing group through L-AGS and the Family History Writing Challenge, I am well on my way to finishing the rough draft. I have finished part 1 and a lot of part 2. My side goal is to have Part 2’s rough draft done by February 26.

Photo book of WMC. Working on an interactive timeline instead of photo book

Research Goals

Order Civil War pension file for Miles Price. Completed Monday!

Blog Writing

Need to get better at this. Will spend some time prepping some posts and scheduling them.

I have been good at not getting too sidetracked, though! Except by life and work…

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 5- Life Experiences

2012-01-29T18:53:00.000-08:00

Life Experiences: Sometimes the challenges in life provide the best learning experiences. Can you find an example of this in your own family tree? Which brick wall ancestor are you most thankful for, and how did that person shape your family history experience?

My third great grandfather was born to a coal miner in Scotland. He somehow managed to bring his wife and children to the United States where he worked his whole life as a coal miner. He could have done that in Scotland, but I like to give him a back story and pretend that he has psychic abilities and could see into the future. “If I go to America, my third great granddaughter will not be a coal miner or married to a coal miner. She will sit in her cushy chair at her office job while her husband takes care of my fourth great grandchildren. They will have an amazing life. If only I save up and get my wife and children to America.”

And he did.

And my life has been amazing.

Thank you, Great, Great, Great Grandfather Thomas Connor. I really am humbled by all you did for your family. Even if you didn't know why through all your trials and tribulations.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 4- Free Offline Tools

2012-01-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

Free OFFLINE Genealogy Tools: For which free offline genealogy tool are you most grateful? How did you find this tool and how has it benefitted your genealogy? Describe to others how to access this tool and spread the genealogy love.

My favorite offline tools are libraries. The Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society (L-AGS) has a fantastic collection housed in the Pleasanton Library. A L-AGS docent is on duty at the library on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to help with research and the collection.

My local library has a nice collection of general genealogy books as well as a great atmosphere to work in.

And then the California GenealogicalSociety’s library is amazing. Great atmosphere to work in, great collections, and great staff.

Let's Hear it for Local Societies!

2012-01-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

Last night was the board meeting, which I attend because I pick up ideas for the eBulletin. The upcoming meetings were announced and I can't tell you how exciting they are! I can go IN MY OWN TOWN to see these awesome presentations! For FREE! If you are local (or even Kindof Local), please make sure to attend. And say hello. I'll be the one with stars in my eyes.

Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society upcoming meetings:

*Date*	*Topic*	*Presenter*
February 14, 2012	How to Use the NEHGS Website	Lisa B. Lee
March 13, 2012	Researching the Valley Pioneer Martin and Related Families	Julie Mooney
April 10, 2012	Getting Ready for the 1940 Census	Steve Morse
May 8, 2012	Historyalogy	David Stevenson
June 12, 2012	Putting the Flesh on the Bones	Ron Arons

This is Not a Joke

2012-01-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

How long does it take an anal-retentive genealogist to put some pictures in a cute family tree frame she got for Christmas?

Answer: 11 hours and 50 minutes.

Count how many pictures will fit. Ten small and ten large total. Okay. No problem. But they don’t have the real flow of an actual family tree. Ponder this and make several maps of how to make this work.- 1 hour.
Decide to just make a list of the cool pictures that COULD be in the tree. While looking through these, notice that you actually do have a picture of 3^rd great grampa Henry and that it needs to go in the book. You know, the one where you have long since finished the chapter on Henry? Yes, that one. Well, now that chapter has to be refigured because of the picture insert. Do this. Notice that the picture also includes his brother Louis (who you knew about) and his brother Herman (who you had never heard of). Research Herman. 6 hours and 16 minutes.
Finish the list of cool pictures. The list now includes 927 pictures. Recall that you can have ten small and ten large. Throw cool picture list away. Then dig it back out because, really, you spent all that time on it… 57 minutes.
Get a fresh piece of paper and decide to make a map of where the pictures are on the cool family tree gift you got. 5 minutes.
Plot out grandparents (4 pictures). Then great grandparents (8 more pictures). Then great great grandparents (16 more pictures). Then remember husband has ancestors, too. Throw the list away. 5 minutes.
Finally decide on the pictures. Plot them out. Several times. 3 hours and 12 minutes.
Re-size and print the pictures. Cut them out and frame them. 15 minutes.

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 3- Free Online Tools

2012-01-20T07:53:00.000-08:00

Free Online Genealogy Tools: Free online genealogy tools are like gifts from above. Which one are you most thankful for? How has it helped your family history experience?

My favorite free genealogy tools are the following:

FamilySearch.org- https://www.familysearch.org/

Google- https://www.google.com/ and Google Books- http://books.google.com/

Forums- http://genforum.genealogy.com/

Find-A-Grave- http://www.findagrave.com/

USGenWeb- http://usgenweb.org/

Chronicling America- http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

My go-tos of love…

***
52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy by Amy Coffin is a series of weekly blogging prompts (one for each week of 2012) that invite genealogists and others to discuss resources in the genealogy community including websites, applications, libraries, archives, genealogical societies and more. You do not have to be a blogger to participate. If you do not have a genealogy blog, write down your thoughts on your computer, or simply record them on paper and keep them with your files.

Thankful Thursday- Renouncing the Thrown

2012-01-19T08:07:00.000-08:00

Over the summer, when I visited my grandfather, he pulled out a large manila envelope, with “Family Papers” written on the outside of it. “Do you want any of this stuff?” he said. And “Stuff” was said like “Junk”.

Inside were birth certificates, death certificates and burial records for his parents and grandparents. And this, my grandfather’s great grandfather’s citizenship paper. So I’m thankful for my grandpa, for his “stuff,” and for his great grandfather making the long trip to America and becoming a citizen.

Am I a Genealogist?

2012-01-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

I rarely call myself a genealogist and when I do, I cringe on the inside and am sure someone will smack me or hang a scarlet letter “F” for fraud around my neck.

I “do genealogy” just fine. I “study my family history” with no problem. But whenever I have to use the word, “Genealogist” in conjunction with myself, it doesn’t feel right.

I never really thought about it too much and just avoided that word until the hoopla around the interweb happened and that made me think that of course everyone is talking about me, right?

“Did you hear that Debbie once said that she was a genealogist? (And did you see that weird face she made when she said it? What *was* THAT??) How can she be a genealogist when she doesn’t do this all day? She doesn’t even do this every day. She works full time doing something totally not even related to family or history and her children take up most of the rest of her time! She doesn’t even own her own copy of Evidence Explained. Can you freaking believe the gall of that woman to call herself a, ‘genealogist’!”

That’s what you all were saying, huh? I knew it.

So here is the thing. Really and truly, genealogy is my hobby. I do it for fun and when I can. I took a 7-year break from it altogether when ~~small beings sucked out my brain cells~~ I had my children. I work outside the home. I homeschool. I have a book club. I have playgroups and karate and scrapbooking and traveling to places not related to family history. So how in the world can I be a “genealogist”?

Because of our homeschool and our love of watching cool things, we do a lot of science experiments around our house. You can find homemade trebuchets and camera obscuras lying around next to the magnet kits and the create your own zombie candy kits. But does that make us “scientists”?

If you have a garden in the back, are you a “horticulturalist”? If you mix up smelly crap for your bath, are you an “aromatherapist”? If you go on a bike ride with your family, are you a “bicyclist”?

I had figured that to be an “ist” you had to be trained in it somehow. Some classes or experience. If you toss together a vase of flowers, are you a florist. No, you likely need some classes, right? If you pound out Chopsticks on the piano, are you a “pianist”? No, you need some experience, don’t you? So who decides how much experience or how many classes you need before you can be an “ist”?

Some “ists” need a certification or degree (think: “cosmetologist” or “dentist”- just because I trim my bangs or yank out my kid’s disgusting dangling tooth doesn’t mean I’m either of these things). But again, not every “ist” needs these things.

That’s the moment I realized that I should really look up what “ist” means. According to Merriam-Webster, “ist” is a suffix and it means:

1 a : one that performs a (specified) action <cyclist> : …

2: one that specializes in a (specified) art or science or skill <geologist> <ventriloquist>

3: one that adheres to or advocates a (specified) doctrine or system or code of behavior <socialist> <royalist> <hedonist> or that of a (specified) individual <Calvinist> <Darwinist>

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ist

Does my hobby fit into definition 1 (“one that performs a specified action”). Genealogy is the study of genes and family lines. I do this. Check.

Does my hobby fit into definition 2 (“one that specializes in a specified art or science or skill”)? In order to determine this one, I decided to look up, “specializes” and again, Merriam-Webster gave me this, “to concentrate one's efforts in a special activity, field, or practice. I think that being a member of several genealogical societies and volunteering for two, writing a blog, writing a couple of books, taking several (hundred) classes, attending local genealogy events, reading every book I can get my hands on, etc. all count as “concentrating.” Well, golly jeepers. I specialize! Check.

Does my hobby fit into definition 3 (“one that adheres to or advocates a specified doctrine or system or code of behavior”)? First of all, I don’t think this definition applies, as genealogy isn’t any one form of dogma or doctrine. But putting that aside, I think genealogy has so many different doctrines and systems that to subscribe to and advocate just one may be putting yourself at a disadvantage. I try to stay open to different, new systems and ideas, so that I can take a little from each and make something work for me. But I do have systems that work for me, so I do fit the definition technically. And from being around you genealogists, I know you have a code of behavior (is there a nicer, more helpful group of “ists” in the universe?!?! I don’t think so…). I try to uphold that, too.

I also looked up the word, “Dentist,” to see if has some special wording about licensing and it does (“one who is skilled in and licensed to practice the…”). But you know what doesn’t? Genealogist. “A person who traces or studies the descent of persons or families.”

Should Merriam-Websters be formally modified? I would fully support that. Dentists have been around since 7000 BC, using creepy tools like these:

Despite being practice for thousands of years, Wikipedia tells me that the first dental school with licensing didn’t pop up until 1840 (“OMG, she even quotes Wikipedia!”). So for a time, if there were a Merriam-Websters, it wouldn’t have listed “licensed” under dentist.

But until the definition changes, even though I think this does a disservice to those of you who are professional, certified and/or really awesome genealogists, I must continue to use my rudimentary, creepy researching tools and say it…

I AM A GENEALOGIST! HEAR ME ROAR!

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 2 – Paid Genealogy Tools

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 2 – Paid Genealogy Tools

Week 2 – Paid Genealogy Tools: Which paid genealogy tool do you appreciate the most? What special features put it at the top of your list? How can it help others with their genealogy research?

Ancestry.com has been a huge help and I imagine that I will pay for it for many years to come without hesitation. But the paid site that has really brought down the most brick walls has been Scotland’s People.

Surname Saturday: Anthony (but not really)

2012-01-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

My 9th great grandfather, Thomas Brownell’s 5th great grandson married Susan Anthony. Susan was sister to Daniel Anthony. Daniel named his daughter, Susan Brownell Anthony” after his sister and her husband. So I’m not related to Susan B. Anthony, but I know what the “B” stands for!

Thomas Brownell m. Ann Bourne

William Brownell m. Sarah Smiton

William Brownell m. Lydia Soule

Sarah Brownell m. Samuel Irish

Smiton Irish m. Elizabeth Simmons

John Irish m. Mercy Mae

Caleb Irish m. Orinda Palmer

Chester Gilbert Irish m. Francis E. Simmons

Minnie Mae Irish m. Robert Henry Badgley

Charles Albert Badgley m. Ethyl Maxine Shelton

My mom

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 1 – Blogs

2012-01-06T19:18:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy: Week 1 – Blogs

Week 1 – Blogs: Blogging is a great way for genealogists to share information with family members, potential cousins and each other. For which blog are you most thankful? Is it one of the earliest blogs you read, or a current one? What is special about the blog and why should others read it?

I am most thankful to Amy Coffin’s blog, The We Tree Genealogy Blog, http://wetree.blogspot.com/. My biggest reason for my thankfulness is that it’s Amy that made me realize that I could read blogs about genealogy. For some reason, as a mommy blogger for so many years, it never occurred to me that I could also find blogs about genealogy. And write one. So thank you, Amy!

Konst/Kunst Family from Germany

2012-01-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

Anton William Konst

Elizabeth Bauhaus

Our family’s name was Kunst, which means, “Art” in German. In fact, some of the Kunst who came to America changed their last name to Artt and Artz. But our family changed theirs to Konst and that is how they stayed.

Our German family came from Osterwick, which was actually in Prussia at the time of their emigration.

Osterwick was in the Prussian province of Westphalia from 1815 until after World War II. Before 1815, it was divided duchies and other feudal areas of power until 1807 when it was treatied into the Kingdom of Westphalia (founded by Napoleon and a French vassal state). In 1815, it was granted to the Kingdom of Prussia . From Wikipedia.com, “The present state of North Rhine-Westphalia was created after World War II from the former Prussian province of Westphalia, the northern half of the former Prussian Rhine Province, and the former Free State of Lippe. North Rhine-Westphalia is subdivided into five government regions (Regierungsbezirke), so one can say that Westphalia today consists of the Regierungsbezirke of Münster, Detmold and Arnsberg. “ Osterwick is in Munster. Technically, “Coesfeld, Munster, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, Europe.”

Our immigrant ancestor was Adoph Anton Joseph Kunst and his parents were Joan Gerhard Kunst and Anna Elisabeth Popping. Joan’s parents were Joan Henrich Kunst and Margaretha Tummler. Joan H. parents were Joan Kunst and Elisabeth Rovekamp.

This drawing was painted by Martin Holz. It shows the house of Anton Kunst a short time after he had left it to go with his family to America.

Fromour German cousin’s website, here is the translated information about our immigrant ancestor, Adolph Anton Joseph Kunst:

04.12.1853 - Family Kunst emigrates to America !

Adolph Anton Joseph Konst was born near monastery Varlar, now castle Varlar. The address was: "Dorfbauerschaft 13". Since more than 100 years till today there is the "Varlar Schänke" a little tavern.

Adolph Anton Joseph Kunst had married into the house No. 119 in Osterwick which belonged to the grave-digger Jacobus Hannemann. He had only daughters, no sons.

With his wife, Theresia Hannemann, his three children and his sister in law, Josephine Hannemann (*07.06.1823) the family Kunst emigrated on 12th of April in the year 1853 to America. First they went to Antwerpen, a port in Belgium, and then with the ship "Satellite" to America. There were 125 emigrants on the ship including a family Tast (Tastove) with 4 children which came also from Osterwick. In Osterwick they had lived in "Schulze Niehoffs Leibzucht No. 1a". Later the family Tast (Tastove) settled in Quincy IL.

The ship reached New York on 27.06.1853. In the documents about the persons, who left the ship, you find not the name of Josephine Hannemann. It is possible she was infected during the passage with cholera and died.

From New York the family started into the wide country of the United States. Theresia Hannemann was far advanced in pregnancy. On 4th of July 1853 they reached Spring Prairie, Walworth Co. A short time before, in 1851, Heinrich Voerding from Osterwick had also settled there. Anton Kunst and Heinrich Voerding where neighbours in Osterwick, also they where from same age (*1818). It is allowed to suppose, the family of Anton Kunst has gone to Spring Prairie to settle there together with their neighbor Heinrich Voerding.

In August 1853 Theresia Hannemann beared her son Henry. 5 children more followed next years. Till 1857 the family Kunst lived and worked in Spring Prairie. In 1857 they went to Burlington Township. Anton bought a farm of 40 acres, good land and well improved.

In 1870 his wife Theresia died. 1871 Anton Kunst married May Herting, a native of Holland. They had together one child, it was born in 1873.

And about Theresia Hannemann:

Theresia Hannemann was the daughter of the gravedigger, Jacobus Hannemann of Osterwick. She, along with her husband, three children, and her sister Josephine, the youngest child of Jacobus Hanneman, immigrated to America on April 12, 1853.

Jodocus Henrich Hannemann was the first grave digger of Osterwick. On 7th August 1808 priest Mathias Jurgens had blessed the new churchyard. The old one was at the church and full. So they made a new one outside of Osterwick near "Elsen". (a street in Osterwick).

He was the gravedigger for 22 years, but was fired on 6th March 1831. It was found that after each burial, he'd take the iron fixture from the casket and resell it over and over again. He went to prison for 14 days.

Two of his children immigrated to America, Theresia Hannemann and her sister Josephina.

And more from The history of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin ...

By Western Historical Company in 1879, page 645:

We descend from Adolph and Theresia’s son Henry Hermann Konst. As one of the pioneers of Chickasaw County, Iowa, Henry was written up in the History of Chickasaw and Howard Counties, Iowa, Volume 2 by Robert Herd Fairbaim, S.J. Clarke Publishing Company in 1919.

HENRY KONST.

Henry Konst is one of the earliest of the pioneers of Chickasaw county and is now living retired in Alta Vista. He was born in Germany, August 4, 1842, and has therefore passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. He is a son of Anthony W. and Theresa (Hannamann) Konst, who came to the United States in 1852 and took up their abode in Walworth county, Wisconsin, upon a rented farm. Later they purchased a farm in the same county, where the mother's death occurred in April, 1869, while seven years later the father passed away in the same county.

Henry Konst was educated in the district schools of Germany and of Wisconsin after coming to the new world. In 1869 he removed to Chickasaw county and purchased a small farm, comprising forty acres of wild prairie land on the southeast quarter of section 25, Washington township. Later he added to this place, extending the boundaries of his farm until it comprised one hundred and twenty acres. He continued to make his home upon the farm for twenty years and during that period successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits. About 1889 he removed to Alta Vista and for some years conducted a saloon but it was said of him that he was too much of a man to succeed in the saloon business. If he felt that a customer had had enough to drink he refused to sell him more and If the family needed the man's wages he refused to take his money. In later years Mr. Konst has lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.

On the 22d of February, 1868, Mr. Konst was married to Miss Anna Kramer, of Racine, Wisconsin, and to them were born three children: Anthony W., living in Capa, South Dakota; Margaret, the wife of A. Holden, a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; and Ella, who Is the wife of C. M. Erion, of Tacoma, Washington. The wife and mother passed away in 1885 and on the 1st of February, 1892, Mr. Konst was married to Mrs, Anna W. Rechner, of Howard county, Iowa, who by her former marriage had two children: George Rechner, now living at home with Mr. and Mrs. Konst; and Lilly, the widow of Richard Tietjen, of Alta Vista.

Mr. Konst is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, while his wife holds membership with the Lutheran church. In politics he is a democrat but cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. It is characteristic of him that he does not hesitate to support any cause or project which he believes to be for the best interests of the community, and the substantial traits of character which he has displayed have made him one of Alta Vista's esteemed citizens.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Advice

2011-12-31T21:00:00.000-08:00

My advice for future generations who may be researching my family begins with this:

DO NOT RESEARCH "MASCOT". It is not our name. It's a step name and a made-up one at that. My children are the first ever born "MASCOT" children. So don't waste your time, young Mascot generations to come.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Holiday Events

2011-12-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

Again, I'm going to defer to my Advent Calendar post, as it's my own made-up activity and I love it:

http://mmgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-calendar-december-9-grab-bag.html

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Gifts

2011-12-31T19:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Gifts

To reference gifts, I am going to defer to my Advent Calendar post on this subject.

Holiday Gifts.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Historical Events

2011-12-31T18:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Historical Events

The first real historical event that I remember was Watergate. I had no clue what it was but tried to hard to understand. A hotel. Named “Watergate”. Did it have a mote? Was there a true gate of water around it? The President lied. From what I’d heard Dad saying, all politicians lie, so why was this part important? Because he got caught? None of this logic worked on me.

Next up that I really remember were the yellow ribbons tied everywhere for the Iran hostages. I also didn’t understand that. Why did they have hostages? What was the point? And Reagan getting shot. He was fine. Why was it a big deal?

Then there was the earthquake, 9/11, and all the things since.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Thanksgiving

2011-12-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Thanksgiving

Growing up, our Thanksgiving table featured most of the same things that mine now does. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans. The changes are that I don’t make the ambrosia salad like my aunt did. My mother-in-law makes it for our get togethers and so I don’t even try making it. I don’t like the cranberry sauce shaped like the can, so I make my own, but other than that, right down to the olives on the fingertips, I like to mirror the Thanksgivings of my childhood.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Teachers

2011-12-31T16:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Teachers

Just a month or two ago, I wrote to a great teacher. I googled him, as I realized I never really know how awesome of a teacher he was at the time. He taught by osmosis and made learning just happen. I learned more in his science classes (6^th and 7^th grade) than in any other class my whole life. He was amazing.

And I didn’t even know it at the time. I just thought it was easy.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Favorite School Subject

2011-12-31T15:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Favorite School Subject

In high school, I enjoyed the humanities- family life, politics, that sort of class. I was best at classes where I was allowed to argue a point. In college, I began as a psychology major, but took a social psychology class and loved it so much that I decided to double major in psychology and sociology. Then I took a class in criminal justice and so I made that my minor. All classes to do with those three things were my favorites in college. (p.s. now my day job has not one tiny thing to do with any of that. At all)

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Worst School Subject

2011-12-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Worst School Subject

Well, that would be current events. Failing that (figuratively), physics was not a particularly strong suit. I called it, “All Word Problems All the Time” and rather than being an honors class like most of other high school classes, I dropped down to the “B” group where they used crayons and spelled everything out for me. I still got only a B.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Elementary School

2011-12-31T13:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Elementary School

I went to a few elementary schools. From K-3 I went to a very small, very close-knit school. I returned there for junior high, so when I think of elementary school, this is who I think of. We had a reunion on my 40^th birthday and it was amazing to see them all again. With the help of Facebook, I feel almost as close to them now as I did then.

For 4^th grade, I split the year between a farm school where I was the rare English speaker to a two-room schoolhouse in Platina, California. My class had 12 children and we ranged from 2^nd to 8^th grade…

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: High School

2011-12-31T12:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: High School

High school was a unique situation for me. Pretty much after my freshman year, I was only there for classes. I was a good student, but few of my friends went to school and so I was there to learn and then left. My usual schedule was to get done with school around 3pm. I’d then go to work at Lockheed from 3-6. At 6, I’d head to a friend’s and they’d feed me before we would head to our hangout in downtown Palo Alto. My home was miles from there, which is why I didn’t spend much time at home.

We would “hang out” with a big crowd of punk rock kids and at some point, head to Lyon’s (a 24-hour Denny’s-like restaurant) where I’d do my homework and write my papers. I’d head to a friend’s house to sleep at about 3 or 4am and get a couple hours in before school started.

So high school was really a place of learning. I got a good education there, but I didn’t do all the sports/cheerleading/games, etc that most kids do. No prom for me! Although I did graduate early and got straight As (except for that stupid physics class...).

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Politics

2011-12-31T11:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Politics

Neither of my parents were particularly political growing up, but they did teach me to believe what I want to and to stand by it. And to do my research.

When I was sixteen, my dad voted by mail. He told me that if I researched every ballot issue and presented my vote to him with clear reasoning, he would vote how I wanted. I researched for weeks, even going to meet congressional candidates and current state representatives. I gave my views to Dad at the kitchen table (where all important family business goes down). He argued/questioned me on a few, but all in all agreed with my conclusions and, as far as I know, voted my way.

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Fall

2011-12-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Fall

Growing up in California, “Fall” is a bit of a misnomer, as we don’t really have “seasons”. What fall represented for me was going back to school, which rather than horror, prompted excitement. It was a new beginning with new school supplied, new clothes and a new attitude. Everything that was wrong last year would be right. It was a do-over. A fresh slate. And I loved it.

As adults, we don’t really have this. We don’t start a new job each year (or at least *I* don’t- been here for 16 now!) and we don’t get all new clothes and binders and pens and Peachey folders annually, either. Best we can do is have children and wonder why they don’t get as excited about a new pencil holder as we do.

Belated

2011-12-30T19:48:00.000-08:00

I'm way behind on my 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy and Family History. I just typed up several of my handwritten articles and they will post throughout tomorrow. I've a few more to go, which hopefully I'll complete tomorrow. My advent calender posts are just going to all be from 2010. 2010 was a fun Christmas and so those posts are going to be just fine to stand on their own!

Goals

2011-12-30T16:46:00.000-08:00

I was really good at my last goal of 2011: “Toss all of the above [goals] to 2012 when I find something really exciting on some other line that wasn’t on The List.”

REALLY good… I got sidetracked the first part of the year with a writing project on the Mariani family, which isn’t even my family. However, it resulted in a Lulu book and another half finished book on their actual family history.

But then THAT sidetracked project got sidetracked by the writing project for my Conner family after a trip to Grampa’s in August that featured 500 scanned pictures and a story to go with each.

So some of my 2011 goals that were supposed to be put to 2012 are likely going to be 2013. Here is the summary:

1. Write up what I know of John Shelton.- Not done. Moving to 2012.
2. Write up what I know about Laura Wilkinson.- Completed and published in the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society’s quarterly newsletter.
3. Write up what I know about William Mason Conner.- I have enough on William Mason to do a nice photo book. This will be a 2012 project.

4. Fill in some blanks about Thomas Conner.- Need to order Thomas’ death certificate.
5. Write the Mariani history as I know it.- 2012 project.
6. Source all of the above.- Sourcing as I go. Good girl, Debbie!
7. Begin a family newsletter for descendents of William Mason Conner.- Began a Facebook page and decided a newsletter isn’t really a good format for sharing these days. Terminated goal.

8. Find descendents of William Mason Conner.- found some on Facebook and sent emails on others. Got some responses and that is enough for now.
9. Teach a home school class on family history for young children.- In progress now. Enjoying it!
10. Toss all of the above to 2012's list when I find something really exciting on some other line that wasn't on The List.- As I said, this goal is MASTERED!!!

So here are my 12 for ‘12 goals:

Finish rough draft of Dukes of Mixager.
Edit Dukes of Mixager.
Publish Dukes of Mixager.
Finish rough draft of Chicken Wings and Peas.
Edit Chicken Wings and Peas.
Publish Chicken Wings and Peas.
Put together photo book of William Mason Conner.
Order death cert for Thomas Conner.
Order Civil War records for Miles Price.
Write up John Shelton and do research on Shelton line.
Write at least one post per week on genealogy blog AND family blog
Do NOT get sidetracked by other projects!

Advent Calendar - December 16 - Christmas at School

2011-12-16T04:00:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 16 - Christmas at School

Originally posted 12/16/2010:

When I was 9, we lived in a teeny, tiny town in Northern California. By “teeny, tiny” I mean it was population 50 (FIVE ZERO). My school had two classrooms: one for Kindergarten through 2nd grade and one for 3rd through 8th. I was in 4th grade and so in the older class. We had 12 children. For high school, they had to be bussed into town an hour and a half away.

The times were different then (although just the 1970s) and my class put on a Christmas pageant telling the story of the birth of the baby Jesus. I can’t believe there wasn’t a big stink about it, but I guess in a town of 50, the 38 people left that weren’t IN the pageant were mostly fine with it. Had it been larger, I’m sure my parents would have objected, as we are not religious, but what’s the point of making a point to 38 people?

So we did a play in the front of our classroom one night. I was the angel who blessed the Baby Jesus (a doll) with one line. My mom, who like me does NOT sew, had to come up with a costume. So we went with one of Dad’s white t-shirts and my hip 1970s tall white Wonder Woman boots. I had one line (I can’t remember it now, but I know that I rocked it then.)

But right after my scene was over, I forgot that they were changing the set around and accidentally ended up on the show side of the divider for the next act. So I panicked inside for a bit and then went with it and pretended I was an angel from above looking over them. I made “praying hands” and kept nodding and smiling at all of the actors on stage.

Awkward…

Advent Calendar- December 15- Holiday Happenings

2011-12-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

December 15- Holiday Happenings

Originally posted 12/15/2010

As I went through my genealogy database for December birthdays, I didn’t have a single one for ancestors. I have a living cousin who is very special to me born in December (hi, Paul!!!), but I don’t want to give too much info on the living (unless it’s me), so I turned to marriages in December. There are numerous distant cousins who would be celebrating their anniversaries, but nothing I felt like writing about. So I moved to deaths and scrolled through looking for someone who spoke to me this Wednesday morning.

As my eyes came to Victoria Helen Robbins, I knew I found my gal. She was the first wife of my great grandfather, Cora Edwin Shelton (aka Charles). I’ve told Cora’s story before, but I haven’t delved much into his first family. As I looked at Victoria’s December 5, 1907 date of death in Oakland, Alameda County, CA , I just knew that she’d be the next person I learn more about. I pulled a FTM report for her and suddenly, her story came a bit to life. Or at least the end of her story.

In my version of Family Tree Maker, on the Facts tab, you see birth date, death date, and any other stuff you’ve put in. The Relationship tab, houses information about others. As I’ve learned from telling a story, 5 Dec 1907 is great information. It truly is. But really, can it be more boring? “Victoria Helen Robbins died on 5 Dec 1907 in Oakland, CA.”

Is that fun? Does that make you love Victoria Helen Robbins? Not me. I never loved her.

Until the relationship tab showed me that she had a baby on November 30, 1907. A baby that died that same day. And her 4 days later. Now her death means a bit more.

I know she grew up in Prairie du Chien, WI. And I know my great grandfather was supposedly in WI at the time of his mother’s death in 1906. I don’t know how he ended up in WI, but I’m having to fill in some lines with possibilities- there is an elder Shelton in Prairie du Chen- possibly an aunt or even grandmother of Cora.

I know he was a troublemaker. At the divorce, did Mom say, “John, I can’t handle that boy. You take him.” I know he was with John and his new family in 1880. Did John then say, “Oh my holy hell that boy is trouble!” and send him to live with great aunt Harriot? No idea. He’s not in a census there, but I haven’t looked harder. I just like to guess for awhile and then prove myself entirely wrong.

Anyway, back to our lady of the hour, Victoria. At some point soon before this baby and this death, she traveled from WI to CA. Far from family and friends. I know they had children with them (2 boys and 1 girl). And I know that (as I mentioned) he was known to be quiet, keeping to himself and moody. What a freaking lovely trip that must have been. Plus she was pregnant. Then she had the horror of losing a baby and then her own live.

Now I want to know “my” Victoria better. I want to learn all about her even though she isn’t my own great grandmother. She fits in nicely with my family, so I’m adopting her.

Updated 12/15/2011: In researching Victoria, I found that she and Cora had quite a few children, but most died. Their first is buried next to Victoria's grandmother Sarah Chapman in Milwaukee. Victoria's parents were William Robbins and Jane Ellsworth. They lived in Prairie du Chien until about 1890 and then moved to Milwaukee.After Sarah died, Jane (a widow) left and went to her brother's in California. Jane's brother was Eliphalet Ellsworth, who came to California and had a profitable farm in Napa. Cora, Victoria, and the children went with her. All of them are buried in Napa, California.

Advent Calendar- December 14- Fruitcake

2011-12-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

December 14- Fruitcake

Originally posted 12/14/2010

Yikes, no. I admit to only actually having it twice, but neither time appealed to me. And I do not like those green and red cherry things. I did have someone once share a fruitcake recipe and it made it sound much better than others, using real fruit and cloth wrapped in rum or some such thing. But the time it would take to make would not be worth it, just to see if there was a fruitcake I enjoyed.

I will be reading the blogs today to see what others have to say. Maybe I just haven't had a good one!

Advent Calendar- December 13 – Holiday Travel

2011-12-13T06:40:00.000-08:00

December 13 – Holiday Travel

Originally posted 12/13/2010.

We never had to travel far for Christmas. Our family was near enough and then, in the past 25 years, everyone has traveled to us. I'm a homebody for Christmas and have no desire to spend much time away from my Christmas tree and Christmas decorations.

We did travel this year in December, though, for a 5-day visit to Disneyland. We had a wonderful family vacation that we will all remember for years to come. But we are home for Christmas.

Advent Calendar - December 12 – Charitable/Volunteer Work

2011-12-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 12 – Charitable/Volunteer Work

Originally posted 12/12/2010. Updated below.

Sadly, we have never made charity a priority as we should. We do Toys for Tots each year- the children now choose and buy a gift with their own money. And I sell children's books and donate all of my commissions from September through December to a charity.

But we've never done soup kitchens or the like. Just simple canned food/toys for tots, etc. This year we will be caroling at a retirement center and apparently that is charitable, but I find it charitable on their part more so than ours...

12/12/2012- This year we volunteered for a food drive in front of a local grocery store. We asked for people to buy certain foods as they did their shopping and then bring to us out front. We also had bags ready if they just wanted to give us $10. My 5-year-old son was a kick in the pants. Completely in their faces. "WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT FOOD IN OUR FOOD BANK?" And he remembered if you said you were going to do it on your way out and then didn't. And call you out. In front of God and everyone. All the way to your car.

We also helped out at an underprivileged children's party. So we are stepping up our volunteer game.

Advent Calendar- December 11 – Other Traditions

2011-12-13T06:33:00.000-08:00

December 11 – Other Traditions

Originally posted 12/11/2010.

We love to watch Christmas movies. As a kid, it was all those on ABC, NBC, or CBS. Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown. We always got the TV Guide and I'd go through it and mark the dates and times for Christmas movies. Now with DVR, DVD etc, we pretty much have all bases covered, but we still like the above classics. Add in Christmas Story, Elf, Christmas Vacation, and Funny Farm and I'm all set with Christmas movies.

Advent Calendar- December 10 - Christmas Gifts

2011-12-13T06:32:00.000-08:00

December 10 – Christmas Gifts

Originally posted 12/10/2010.

Our gifts always started on Christmas Eve, where we could open ONE gift. It was a teaser gift- usually pajamas or a stuffed animal to sleep with.

Then in the morning, we went first to the stockings, then to the Santa gift, and then to the others. We gave and received gifts from everyone- never drew names or the like. We still don't do the name drawing thing.

Now a'days, likely due to my learning to be crafty, most gifts are homemade. Not for Marc and the children, but for just about everyone else. I love spending time on gifts, since I'm not so great at shopping. Plus, people buy what they want for themselves- they don't need me doing it. So I give them my time and my love and create things for them. And it's these same kinds of gifts that I love to receive. Homemade and filled with love.

Except that one year when Marc surprised me with a pet hamster. That was pretty awesome.

Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag

2011-12-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar- December 9 – Grab Bag

Originally posted 12/9/2010. Updated 12/9/2011 at the bottom.

Last year we began another new tradition with Advent Calendars. I noticed the December before that we were so busy doing fun things that we didn't have time to enjoy the fun things. So last year, I made one fun thing a day (even if it was a coloring page).
I put the ingredients for the fun thing (or a slip of paper outlining the fun thing) in paper bags alternating red and white and lined them up on the bookshelf. Every morning the children got to open a bag and find out what our thing was that day. They liked it so much, that we are doing it again this year, but with fancy boxes instead of lunch bags.
Here are some of our fun things:

Decorate the house
Make Christmas cards
Movie Night
Disneyland treat (Signa chose candy and William chose suckers)
Dinner at the Rainforest Cafe
Outfit at Build-a-Bear
Decorate the Tree
Drive around and see lights
Go caroling
Make wrapping paper
Go out for ice cream
Go shopping
Decorate cookies
Go see Santa
Make reindeer food
Have hot chocolate and cookies
Have a gingerbread decorating party

12/9/2011- we are doing many of the same things this year, but with more focus on crafts and less on OUTINGS that cost MONEY. The kids don't seem to care which it is, so I figure if I can save a buck AND get a free decoration, why not?!?! So far I have new ornaments (salt dough and outdoor bird feeders), new garland made of paper, and lots of snowflakes all over. We do have some fun outings planned, though. I've been posting our daily activities on Facebook.

Advent Calendar- December 8 - Christmas Cookies

2011-12-08T06:33:00.001-08:00

Advent Calendar- December 8 - Christmas Cookies

This was originally posted 12/8/2010.

I already shared the recipes for my mother-in-law's fig cookies. My own mom has made chocolate chip cookie bars and Russian tea cakes every year for as long as I can remember. She makes big batches and gives away giant platters as gifts and never ever does anyone say, “Gee, that’s too many cookies.” They are so delicious that before you can finish saying the second “e” in “Gee”, the cookies are GONE.

Advent Calendar- December 7 - Holiday Parties

2011-12-07T07:21:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar- December 7 - Holiday Parties

Originally posted 12/7/2010. Updated at the bottom.

We have family get-togethers, but not “parties”. Our get-togethers are loud and crazy and exciting. Everyone is excited because IT’S CHRISTMAS! The children want gifts and ate too much candy and the adults catch the excitement from their children. The sound is deafening and wonderful.

We have three such events these years. The first is with Marc’s family. We drive to his mother’s where she makes ambrosia salad (and other things) and the children all get car-loads of gifts. The second cousins all play with each other like they won’t see one another again for a year. Which is true of most of them. They do make up for lost time, though, and we are all sad when it’s over and promise to do it more often next year.

We then have a new tradition of going to my brother’s for Christmas Eve. We sing and eat and sing some more. Now with my new nephew, it will be even more wonderful to spend time there helping him have traditions to remember his whole life.

And then Christmas Day at our house with chili and crazy excited children and hopefully a new Sally for the porch!

Updated 12/7/2011- This year, we are hosting Marc's family Christmas party at our house. There is no Christmas Eve at my brother's, though, since he is headed to his wife's family for a week or so. We are also going to have a fun Gingerbread House Decorating Party with the kids' friends and their parents. So lots of parties this year!

Advent Calendar December 6 – Santa Claus

2011-12-07T07:17:00.001-08:00

Advent Calendar December 6 – Santa Claus

Originally posted 12/6/2010.

Santa has always come to our house on Christmas Eve. He fills our stockings with trinkets and leaves a gift for the children. He used to leave gifts for us, but when we had children, he switched to giving them gifts instead. I’m sure he must have known that this is what makes us happiest. Plus one year, he brought us a family present, so I can't feel too disgruntled.

Santa eats a cookie and has egg nog while he works at our house. He also sometimes leaves crumbs and beard around here and there. We look for it every year. And this wasn't just the past few years that we've had children.

Since we don’t have a real chimney, we have a special key for him that we hang on the door outside. It only works for Santa and it’s VERY fancy. The kids sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn and we hang the key and tuck in for the long night.

Advent Calendar - December 5 - Outdoor Decorations

2011-12-07T07:13:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 5 - Outdoor Decorations

Originally posted 12/5/2010. Updated at the bottom.

We mostly lived in the country and I don’t remember ever doing any outdoor decorations. Now that I have Marc, he goes all out. Last year, in addition to the lights on the house, he created a Jack Skellington who appeared on the porch Christmas morning. Created out of pipes and boxes and junk.

I heard rumors that Sally will be appearing this Christmas…

12/6/2011- No Sally last year, but we did get the evil wreath. And an inflatable Oogie Boogie. Here we are this year. Holey jeans and flip flops in December...

Advent Calendar - December 4 - Christmas Cards

2011-12-07T06:30:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 4 - Christmas Cards

Originally posted 12/4/2010. Updated 12/4/2011 at the bottom.

My mom ALWAYS sends Christmas cards. Always. It’s a big ordeal as she writes notes in each and sends to everyone, keeping in touch annually. She makes me proud.

I strive to do this. I have at least addressed and put together holiday cards every year- it’s just that I know of at least two years in the past where I never mailed them. By the time I got around to buying stamps, it was time for Valentine’s Cards.

But hopefully those years are over and I now have my fancy homemade cards ready to go and the post woman is supposed to bring my stamps any day now (delivery is my new favorite word).

12/4/2011- This year I had Snapfish do my cards. I really decided that I didn't have time to make them this year and that if I committed to it, I'd be committed. FOR it... so the cards are here and I just need to address them.

Advent Calendar - December 3 – Christmas Tree Ornaments

2011-12-07T06:26:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 3 – Christmas Tree Ornaments

Originally posted December 3, 2010 . Edited 2011 to add picture of my brains.

As I mentioned on the Christmas Tree page, our tree growing up featured a lot of red glass bulbs and then a mish-mash of keepsake ornaments. I inherited most of those "keepsakes" (i.e. Homemade in Kindergarten) and they now hang proudly on my tree every year. There are many that I admire and smile at as I hang them- the felt ornaments, now completely falling apart, the pinecones with googly eyes glued on to make them look like owls, the silly toys that have doubled as ornaments for years.

But my personal favorites (patting myself on the back here, but oh well) are the pair of Debbie’s Brains. They are so ugly and so stupid, but I made these in grade school and I love them. Each one is a melted piece of circular plastic with broken glass inside. There is a curly ribbon tied through them so that they can hang on the tree. They are so ugly.

And I love them the best. Even more than the ornaments my own kids have made. Shhhhhh.

Another item I have that I consider a family heirloom and, in fact, it sits on my desk year-round is the first Christmas decoration that my parents bought together. It’s amazingly tacky and I amazingly love it.

Advent Calendar - December 2 – Holiday Foods

2011-12-02T07:51:00.001-08:00

Advent Calendar - December 2 – Holiday Foods

This was originally posted on 12/2/2010.

These days and for many past, we stay home on Christmas Day and have an open house. I started making Christmas Chili about 20 years ago and never stopped. I do it in a slow-cooker and it is ready all day for whoever stops by. Sadly, I do not have a recipe, as I just put stuff in until it’s just right. This is the year I will try really hard to write it all down for prosperity.

As a child, we usually went to my aunt’s for Christmas Eve and somewhere else for Christmas Day. Food for children on Christmas is really actually superfluous; why eat when there are TOYS and COUSINS! So I remember nothing about actual food, except that ambrosia salad was always part of the deal. Grandma made it. My aunts made it. And now, my mother-in-law, Millie, makes it just for me at every family party. I looked through Millie’s recipe book she made us and didn’t find the ambrosia salad recipe. I’m guessing she just throws it together for me, but here is one from the internet that looks much the same.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/coconut-ambrosia-salad/Detail.aspx
Coconut Ambrosia Salad
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
3 1/2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 cups shredded coconut
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
1 cup maraschino cherries

In a large bowl, combine the oranges, pineapple, whipped topping, coconut, marshmallows and milk. Mix together well and chill 1 hour before serving. Garnish with cherries.

One recipe that is here in her book, though, is for Italian Fig Cookies, which she features
at her Christmas party every year. We all love these cookies (adults, not children, which is just fine by me!)

Italian Fig Cookies
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup shortening
2 tablespoons butter
½ cup milk
1 beaten egg
1 8-oz package (1 ½ cups) dried figs
¾ cup light raisins
¼ cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup sugar
¼ cup hot water
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash pepper
Confectioners’ Glaze
Sprinkles

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, 1/3 cup sugar, and baking powder. Cut in shortening and butter until pieces are the size of small peas. Stir in the milk and egg until all is moistened. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 2 hours or until easy to handle.

For filling, in a food processor bowl, process figs, raisins, and almonds until coarsely chopped. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the ¼ cup sugar, hot water, cinnamon and pepper. Stir in the fruit mixture. Let filling stand until the dough is thoroughly chilled.

Roll each half of the dough into a 12-inch square. Cut each square into twelve 4x3 inch rectangles. Using a heaping tablespoon of filling for each rectangle, spread filling along one of the short sides of the rectangle. Roll up from that side. Place rolls, seam side down, on an ungreased cookie sheet. Curve each roll slightly. Snip outer edge of curve three times.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until done. Remove and cool. Spread with Confectioners’’ Glaze. Immediate sprinkle with decorative candies. Makes 24.

Confectioners’ Glaze: Combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and ¼ teaspoon vanilla. Add enough milk (about 1 tablespoon) to make it spreadable.

EDITED TO ADD:
Olives! Really, how in the world could I forget olives! Olives and ambrosia salad were ALWAYS at our Christmas parties. That is the only food sustinance that the children got. 10 olives (one for each finger) and a bowl of ambrosia salad. Thank you, Greta's Genealogy Blog, for reminding me.
http://gretabog.blogspot.com/2010/12/advent-calendar-day-2-holiday-foods.html

Advent Calendar- December 1 - The Christmas Tree

2011-12-02T07:48:00.000-08:00

Advent Calendar- December 1 - The Christmas Tree

I'm participating in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com/) this year, so I'll be posting on Christmases past. Today's theme is the Christmas Tree.

This was originally posted on December 1, 2010 and updated at the bottom.

As a child, we always had a real Christmas tree. We would go as a family to the tree lot (or a few times when we lived in the country, we’d go to the forest) and pick out our tree. Our trees always had a significant amount of the glass red bulbs meshed with homemade and keepsake items. We’ve kept that tradition in my own grown-up household, with the substitution of a fake tree since that fateful Christmas when a friends' neighbors' house burned down on Christmas morning.

Our trees were usually in the 4-foot range, but when you are a child, four feet is the top of the world. And family made it seem even bigger.

We usually get a wreath from the tree lot just so the kids have the tree lot/tree smell experience, although we have been known to skip that tradition.

One tradition that is all our grown up tradition and began almost 25 years ago when we had our first Christmas together and found we had no tree topper. Marc scavenged and found the perfect thing for us. And I hope it will be passed down for generations to come.

Sitting atop our tree every year is the Terry the Pterodactyl. The orange pterodactyl model has been perched on our tree since 1986 and I can’t imagine Christmas without him.

Updated 2012: Terry is celebrating his 25th year atop the Mascot Family Christmas Tree (yes, that is Frankenstein with a Santa hat on him in the background- that's just how we roll). We put our tree up early this year, due to having the kids at Gramma's for 3 days. We had time and energy for it... Signa also got a highly-coveted purple tree this year. (Not sure why the pictures are sideways- will have to fix later. Stupid iphone)

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Nicknames

2011-11-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

I’ve had many nicknames through my life, but my longest running was given to me by my dad: Shorty. I don’t know where it came from, but I know that to this day, I can count on being Shorty when I talk to Dad.

Marc has always called me “Moo” so that would be my second longest-running nickname. And the reason for the cow in his pocket at our wedding…

52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History: Smells

2011-11-14T04:00:00.000-08:00

When I think of childhood smells, all my mind stops at is the smell of Dad’s baking sourdough bread. He had a starter going for months, if not years, and he’d bake the bread in our wood-burning stove and the smell of that delicious bread would permeate the whole house.

I made sourdough starter. It promptly turned a scary black and smelled like death itself.