Posted in Blogging, Carnival of Genealogy, challenge, Websites, tagged Carnival of Genealogy, challenge, CoG, holidays, New Years, Websites on January 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The 63rd Carnival of Genealogy (New Year’s Resolutions) is posted at Creative Gene. Once again, Jasia outdid herself with this one! And for all of the genea-bloggers whose resolutions were to “host a carnival” or show some kindness to other bloggers – Jasia is looking for hosts for this year to help take some of the work off her back.
I urge you to go visit each of these blogs to read their New Year’s Resolutions and add a comment or two!
Posted in challenge, personal, tagged holidays, New Years, personal on January 4, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Miriam, at AnceStories2, posted a new word prompt for The New Year.
Do you remember the first time you were allowed to stay up and see in the New Year? How old were you?
Sometime when I was about 7 or 8. I think anytime before that, I fell asleep.
How did you and yours typically spend New Year’s Eve during your youth? Did you go to a Watch Night Service and participate in communion and prayer? Did you watch the ball drop in Times Square on television? Did your community have a fireworks show?
My family spent it several ways. During my childhood, my parents, grandparents and I would go to some friends of my grandparents so the grown-ups could all play bridge on New Years Eve. I remember that the Rodgers and Hammerstein version of Cinderella (with Lesley Ann Warren and Stuart Damon) played for several years on Dec. 31st – so I was in the family room at the friend’s home watching that. At midnight, my parents would come to wish me a Happy New Year. Other years during my youth we’d watch Guy Lombardo ring in the New Year and watch the ball drop in Times Square on the television. Then we’d all sing “Auld Lang Syne”.
Did you have first-footers, mummers, or bang pots and pans on your front porch? Did you wear party hats and use noisemakers?
We had noise makers and party hats! I didn’t know what a “mummer” was until our church youth group went to Philadelphia the summer before my Junior Year!
If New Year’s Eve involved feasting of some kind, what were the usual fare and beverages?
I don’t remember anything special about the food on New Year’s Eve. I’m sure my parents had champagne or something alcoholic to drink.
How do all of the above compare to the way you celebrate New Year’s Eve now?
Now I don’t go anywhere on New Year’s because I don’t want to be out on the road for safety reasons. We stay home and watch Dick Clark’s Rockin’ Eve (as I’ve done since I was a teen) and watch the ball drop. We have some wine or champagne. Unfortunately since we are in the Central Time Zone, I’ve become very cynical when New York rings in New Year’s because it’s not the New Year yet for another hour where I’m at! Last year Dallas started doing it’s own NYE celebration so after the New York broadcast we watch Dallas ring in the New Year!
What about New Year’s Resolutions? Did you make any when you were younger? Do you make them now? How well do you keep them? Was there any year when you really did a fabulous job at keeping them? What were your goals and how did you keep them?
I think most of my New Year’s resolutions as a child had to do with being “nicer” and picking up my toys, keeping my room clean, etc. As a teen most of them had to do with eating right and watching my weight. As an adult, I’ve decided not to set New Year’s resolutions because I don’t keep them. I feel that if I have to wait until the first of the year to set goals, then they aren’t a priority. I should be doing right by myself and others all year.
How did you typically spend New Year’s Day in your childhood and youth? Did you visit family and friends? Did your family host an Open House? Did you watch the Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl game or another favorite sport? Or did you go to your favorite ski resort?
New Year’s Day was usually spent with my grandparents, Glen and Vesta (Wilt) Johnson. We’d have a roast beef normally and watch the Tournament of Roses parade and the Rose Bowl (especially when Ohio State was playing!). We also watched the Cotton Bowl parade (when there was one!).
How does it compare to the way you spend New Year’s Day now?
I’ve had the Rose Parade on almost every New Year’s Day. Sometimes my kids will watch it and sometimes they won’t! For awhile when I lived in Ohio, I would have roast pork and sauerkraut for New Year’s lunch. In Texas I have blackeyed peas and cornbread! This Jan. 1st, we spent the entire day with friends, in what I’m hoping will become an annual tradition.
Are there any special customs from your heritage that are integrated into your New Year’s celebrations?
Nothing other than maintaining the childhood traditions of watching the ball drop, watching the Rose Parade and toasting in the New Year!
If you celebrate Christmas or another seasonal holiday before the New Year, when do you take down the decorations and put them away?
That depends on how long the tree has been up and how tired of it we all are! Generally we’ve been taking the Christmas tree down soon after New Year’s – within a day or two.
Thanks, Miriam, for this prompt! I had fun answering the questions!
Posted in Blogging, challenge, Websites, tagged Blogging, challenge on January 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Some of the genea-bloggers are listing a “Year in Review” of their blogs for 2008. Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings discovered this meme at John Newmark’s Transylvanian Dutch blog. The idea is to take the first sentence from the first blog of each month. There will end up being 12 sentences. (Since I didn’t start my blog until April, I’ll only have 8 sentences!) So here we go . . .
So there you have it!
Posted in challenge, personal, tagged meme, personal on January 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Saw this meme at GenBlog by Julie Cahill Tarr and decided to also play along (as I’m trying to get back into regular posting!).
Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to – leave in plain font
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain. (does being in a car count?)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (for a mandatory audition to the 5th grade choir – I didn’t make it – go figure!)
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (how about just seeing it from a fairy boat?)
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted. (At Disneyland!)
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China. (no, but my husband has!)
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (my grandmother went to Dachau and Aushwitz when she lived in Germany in the 50s)
67. Bounced a check. (oops!)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial. (Anything having to do with Lincoln!)
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt. (not very big & it wasn’t very good!)
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (speeding as in – over the speed limit – or going fast because the speed limit was fast?)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem. (my mom has!)
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury. (no, but I waited several hours & then we were dismissed)
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby. (4 times!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee (wasp).
Posted in Blogging, Carnival of Genealogy, challenge, personal, Websites, tagged Carnival of Genealogy, CoG, holidays, New Years on December 23, 2008 | 3 Comments »
For the 63rd edition of the Carnival of Genealogy, the topic is New Year’s Resolutions!
As far as my genealogy research for 2009 - I resolve to:
As far as genea-blogging, I resolve to:
As far as my Graveyard Rabbit blog, I resolve to:
All I ask is to let me get through the holidays first!
(CoG graphic courtesy of footnoteMaven.)
Posted in challenge, Freaky Friday, personal, Photographs, Smile For the Camera (Carnival), tagged Indiana, Johnson, Photographs, photos, Smile For the Camera on December 16, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
written by Pete Townshend
I posted this picture on August 22, 2008 for Freaky Friday – 3rd Edition. It is a picture of my grandfather (older child) and another unknown child. I believe my grandfather was probably about 10 when this picture was taken and I am led to believe (due to the clothing) that the unknown child is a boy about 4-6 years old. My grandfather didn’t have any younger brothers. His foster sister was 12 years younger than my grandfather so it couldn’t possibly be her – dressed in pants.
So I ask – who are you little boy? Could you possibly be a relative?
Possibilities include: Floyd Tyler b. June 13, 1906. He was my grandfather’s first cousin, son of his paternal aunt, Olive Belle (Johnson) Tyler. That would mean (since my grandfather was born in Nov. 1898) that Floyd would have been 8 years younger than my grandfather. I haven’t determined if Floyd was born in Indiana but I do know he spent most of his life in and around Calhoun County, Michigan and was buried there. However, some of his older siblings were born in Howard County, Indiana.
Could this child be 
Earl Goul, born June 15, 1904 and six years younger than my grandfather? Earl was the second cousin of his as his grandfather, John Wesley Goul, was brother to my grandfather’s grandmother, Malissa Goul. Earl was born in Delaware County, Indiana but spent time and died in Madison County, Indiana (where my grandfather was born and raised).
A very good possibility – looking at the following photos – is that this child is my grandfather’s half-uncle’s son, Guy Leston Johnson. However, I would have to be off on the ages of both boys as Guy was 10 years younger than my grandfather. Here are the photos – the black and white was the earlier of the two photos.
Whomever he is, this unknown little boy will continue to be a mystery to me until I determine his name and relationship. Have you seen him before? Perhaps in that stack of photos your great-grandparents left you? Or in a framed photo hanging on a friend’s wall?
This is why it is very important to not only label photographs – but to list the relationship of those in the photo. Even if I had a name – would I be able to connect the dots back to my grandfather?
This post was written for the 9th Edition Smile for the Camera – Who Are You.
Posted in challenge, Inheritance, personal, Photographs, stories, tagged Christmas, holidays, personal on December 11, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Denise Olson, at Moultrie Creek is hosting the Christmas Tour of Blogs that will kick off on Dec. 15th. Genea-bloggers are encouraged to create a post describing their family’s Christmas decorations – past or present.
So sit back and enjoy my tour!
This is the gold wreath – made out of newspapers and painted with gold spray paint – that my mom made for our home when I was growing up. It hung above our fireplace mantel. On the mantel were Christmas decorations.
This was the garland hung around the wrought iron railing by the front door.
Me in front of the Christmas tree probably about 1969-1970. Notice the end table next to the tree has the red Christmas candles on it. Our windows also had a single electric candle that we lit after the sun had gone down. For a few years we even decorated the fir trees in our front yard with lights. In the photo below, you’ll notice that our large, picture window had several of these “candles” on the sill.
My first real “adult” Christmas in my own apartment included a wicker chair strung with garland and red satin balls because I was too poor to afford a Christmas tree! The first tree I bought was in 1984 at the local Gibsons that cost $14! It was pretty lonely looking (sort of like the tree on “A Charlie Brown Christmas”) until the lights, decorations and tinsel was put on.
We moved into our home 20 years ago, so we have had two decades of creating new and wonderful memories at Christmas time. My husband would bring the tree and all the decorations down from the attic either the first or second weekend of December. After setting up the tree and stringing the lights, I would hand each child one ornament at a time to place on the branches. Of course as they grew older, they each had several of their “school” made decorations to use. For the very first ornament, I took a picture and once the entire tree was decorated (after I hung the garland or threw the tinsel), I would position them on the floor gazing up at the tree in wonder for a photo.
Generally the only other decorations that go up are the Santa Stocking, given to our youngest daughter many years ago by some good church friends, the Christmas Wreath (it has changed only a few times in 20 years),
and the gold “Jingle Bell” that hangs between our dining and living room. The bell belonged to my grandparents and as a child, I loved to pull the string and hear the tune as Santa and his reindeer (on the outside) spun around it. I was fortunate enough to end up with it many years ago. If you look at to the upper right of the tree over the floor lamp, you can see the bell.) My children have on occasion put lights in their bedroom windows and once I wrapped holly vines over the top of the living room arch.
I’ve either strung regular silver garland on the tree or “thrown” tinsel on each branch. However, the tree above (2003), I strung pearl beads as garland. The tree to the right (2006) I draped ribbon down from the top with bows tied on each length at different intervals. (The Jingle Bell is more visible in this picture.)
We’ve had the tree in two different places in our home. For the last ten years (at least) it has sat in this exact spot. This tree was purchased at an after Christmas sale, many years ago for half off the sale price! In 1999 some good friends were moving and gave us their pre-lit Christmas tree. It had so many white lights on it that we could feel the heat as soon as we walked into the room. Needless to say we gave it to our oldest daughter the following year and went back to using our well loved tree.
I hope you have enjoyed my tour of Christmases past and present. And may your family have a very Merry Christmas!
Posted in challenge, Life and Death, personal, tagged meme, personal on December 10, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Thomas at Destination: Austin Family remarked on another meme making the rounds. He said that it was pasted by Virginia at Valeehill Genealogy Blog. So of course since I have nothing better to do, thought I’d play along.
1. Do you like bleu cheese? (sorry, I’m a “spell” nut, I had to spell it the right way!)
Yes. I love the salad dressing, the bleu cheese dip that comes with Wing Stop wings & even the regular kind!
2. Have you ever done something you regretted?
Unfortunately yes. Sometimes I open my mouth before I engage my brain!
3. Do you own a gun?
I’m not going to answer this one way or the other!
4. What flavor of Kool Aid was your favorite?
I think we drank red (either cherry or strawberry) and grape when I was a kid. Now I prefer lime or mandarin orange or black cherry.
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
No
6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Hated them as a kid – then liked them at ball games, amusement parks, etc. Now I know why – I’m not a fan of boiled hot dogs (hate microwaved ones!) and enjoy grilled hot dogs or brats or hot italian sausage!
7. Favorite Christmas movie?
It’s a Wonderful Life
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coffee with hazelnut fat free cream.
9. Can you do push ups?
Haven’t in awhile but yes I can
10. Favorite hobby?
Genealogy
11. Do you have A.D.D.?
No – I can sit for hours and do nothing!
12. What’s one trait you hate about yourself?
I’m a control freak (just ask my family!)
13. Middle name?
Again – not going to answer due to privacy – but I’m sure if you googled me enough – you’d find out!
14. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
I should be Christmas shopping
I would really like days where no one else is in the house (at least 9-3!)
Why is it so cold?
15. Name 3 drinks you regularly have?
Coffee, water, starbucks pumpkin spice latte
16. Current hate right now?
ignorant and stupid people
17. Favorite place to be?
Location: at the farm; people to be with – my family!
18. How did you bring in the New Year?
Wow that was almost a year ago & you expect me to remember? Watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV
19. A place would you like to go?
1st – Scotland (Highlands!), 2nd – the rest of Great Britain, 3rd – Australia, 4th – New England, 5th – every place my ancestors lived to search through court houses, cemeteries, etc.
20. Name three people who will complete this:
Hasn’t a lot of folks already done so?
21. Do you have slippers?
Yes but I also use my flip flops as slippers
22. What shirt are you wearing?
Black and purple long sleeved sweater over a blue tank top (I’m cold!)
23. Do you like sleeping on satin?
I did – but then I found it’s just too slippery
24. Can you whistle?
yes – but not anything spectacular.
25. Would you be a pirate?
Only if there was fun & humor involved and no one would get hurt, no countries would go to war and Jack Sparrow kept me laughing!
26. What songs do you sing in the shower?
Since my family seems to think they can still hear me if I sing in the shower, I usually don’t. but if I do – it’s generally some song running through my head at that particular moment.
27. Favorite girl’s name(s)?
I can’t be biased – so I will say all my daughter’s first and/or middle names.
28. What’s in your pocket right now?
Have no pockets!
29. Last thing that made you laugh?
The sight of my daughter’s shoes (tons!) lining the hallway while she cleans her room!
30. Favorite bed sheets as a child?
Since white was always the color – had to be the denim blue sheets I got when I was a teenager!
31. Worst injury ever?
Well I got hit by a car – but not injured! Probably when I broke my pinkie toe last year – I couldn’t stop laughing at the sight of it sticking out at a 90 degree angle (until the ER dr. set it!) & now cold weather makes it hurt! Plus I couldn’t do my normal fitness routine for months!
32. Do you like where you live?
I like my home because that’s where my family is & where we’ve raised our kids for over 20 years. I’m used to the schools, city, etc. However if I could transplant it all somewhere else, I would.
33. How many TVs do you have in your house?
Three – 2 that we watch & one that is old & one of our gaming systems is hooked up to it.
34. Who is your loudest friend?
I’m probably louder than my friends!
35. How many dogs do you have?
one – she’s my daughter’s.
36. Does someone have a crush on you?
Well, I hope my husband has more than a crush on me!
37. What is your favorite book?
Here is where I’m supposed to say the Bible right? Ok, let’s just say that’s a given & nothing beats that. Now, the book I’d sit down & read again & again would have to be any of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series books.
38. What is your favorite candy?
Hershey’s Chocolate – you mean there’s other types?
39. Favorite Sports Team?
Cowboys!
40. What song do you want played at your funeral?
Since I’m hoping my loved ones won’t give me a traditional funeral – I’ve stated I want them to have a party! I hope they’ll play a lot of my favorite bands – Alice Cooper (ok – how about “I Love the Dead”!), Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, etc. Nothing to get them all weepy & all of it to make them smile & have fun!
Posted in challenge, Life and Death, Photographs, Smile For the Camera (Carnival), tagged Champaign County, Goul, Ohio, Smile For the Camera on December 8, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Roma Goul – cousin of my grandfather, Glen R. Johnson. I would stuff the stocking of a Goul relative in hopes that they would be able to give me more information on this woman. She was obviously a part of my grandfather’s life since he had her picture in his possession.
Roma D. Goul was born in 1904 in Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio to William Harry Goul and Ada Josephine McAdams. She had four sisters – Geraldine (b. 1901), Vaughna C. (b. about 1908), Verna (b. between 1909-1910) and Dora (b. 1 Oct. 1910 and d. 22 Dec. 1910). Her parents were married in 1899 in Champaign County, Ohio.
This post was written for the 8th Edition of Smile for the Camera.
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 | Janet Jennings on Tracking Julia |
 | Grant Davis on Sunday’s Obituary: Marth… |
 | Colleen on Sunday’s Obituary: Marth… |
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| Janet Wisehart Ambs on Wilt Cousins |
