What’s In A … Nickname?
Nicknames are often a shortened version of a given name or, frequently with men, a surname. My close friends and family call me “Nik”. Everyone else calls me “Niki”. My…
-
-
Snow and Ice Storm Echoes of a Winter Past
January 6, 2025. Today, we woke up to two inches of snow on the ground. That wouldn’t be too bad except for the massive ice storm that came through yesterday….
-
How a School Project and a Bible Sparked My Genealogy Journey
I didn’t know I wanted to go ancestor hunting until my sophomore high school French teacher threw a family tree project my way. At 15, I was already a self-proclaimed…
-
52 Ancestors Reboot
This isn’t so much a recipe or genealogy post, rather a “let’s get this 2022 party started” post. When Amy Johnson Crow launch her 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing…
-
Wild Game and Root Vegetables
I have always enjoyed participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. This year, I’m putting a food heritage spin on the 2020 themes and writing monthly…
-
Of Cherry Trees & Family Trees
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The 2019 Week 1 challenge is “firsts”. There are a lot of “firsts” in genealogy … the first moment you fall in love…
-
One Strong Woman in the Minnesota Frontier
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 10 challenge is “Strong Woman”. I grew up listening to my daddy tell stories…
-
1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Pressed Penny
Every time I go somewhere and see a pressed penny souvenir machine, I dig for 2 quarters and a shiny penny. I’ve done this ever since I was a kid….
-
A teacher, a soldier, and a wedding in the Black Hills
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 7 challenge is “Valentine”. When JD and I were married, my dad presented me…
-
Phoebe, and its many spellings
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 6 challenge is “favorite name”. One of my favorite things about genealogy is discovering…
-
To Be or Not to Be … Married!
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 5 challenge is “In the Census”. When I was a kid, it was hard…
-
Bridging Generations and Countries with Food
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 4 challenge is “Invite to Dinner”. Food has always been a central part of…
-
The Longevity of Family Lore: The Ghosts
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 3 challenge is “Longevity”. As defined, longevity means long life or long existence. Today,…
-
My Favorite Photo of my Grandma
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 2 challenge is “Favorite Photo”. My Time Machine The hallway in my house…
-
My Love of Genealogy: An Origin Story
I’m at it again this year … 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, thanks to Amy Johnson Crow. The theme for week one is “Start”. Oh, so many ways to interpret…
-
How do you spell that?
I love that Amy Johnson Crow has given us themes for the 2015 52 Ancestors challenge! This week (week 15) is “How do you spell that?”. Ha! I have a…
-
Jake and Anna, from start to finish
Just one photo. Is that really all I get to pick for week 14 of 52 Ancestors? Too bad. I’m picking two! Each photo is of my great-great grandparents, Jake…
-
My doppelgänger, Aunt Goldie
“Same” is the theme for week 12 of the 2015 52 Ancestors challenge. I’m always fascinated at how characteristics and features get passed to us from our parents and grandparents….
-
Kiss Me, I’m almost Irish
The week 11 theme for the 2015 52 Ancestors Challenge is “Luck of the Irish”. I don’t really have an ancestor that fits the theme … we’re of Scottish and…
-
Walker Dog and Stormy Judy
Stormy Weather is an apropos theme for the Week 10 52 Ancestors Challenge. It’s March and, in southern Illinois, we would normally be headed into spring and well on our…
-
Grandma Schuster’s Recipes
I initially had trouble deciding about whom to write given the week 9 52 ancestors theme, Close to Home. I live in the same area where my ancestors on all…
-
Everything happens for a reason …
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Good deeds … the 52 ancestors week 8 theme … is an easy one for me. When my grandpa would tell stories about his family,…
-
Parallel Lives
Love is an apropos theme for week 7 of the 2015 installment of 51 ancestors … the week of Valentine’s Day. Of course, the theme draws me toward ancestors who…
-
Rev. Rowland Jones of Williamsburg, VA
Amy Johnson Crow at No Story Too Small gave us a new 52 Ancestors challenge for 2015. Each week, we have a different theme about which to write. It’s quite the challenge,…
