The research and effort I have been putting into this project has been exhausting, and at times depressing. I had decided I needed to review all the tabs in my browsers I have open (dozens!) and get some closure on a few. I happened upon things I evidently found months ago and did not relate to at the time. I am easily distracted by shiny objects in the rearview mirror so anything can happen to my concentration. A few open tabs were enlightening, but this one was moderately entertaining. I can’t decide whether the old lady really was a brat and liked conflict or if she was settling some scores. Her will, to me, was a hoot! Continue reading “A widow who left 6 children a shilling each”
The genealogical journey – McCrystal/McCristle
When I picked up the threads of all my old research, I had no idea the journey I was embarking on. This has been an incredible 11 months. I had the basic DNA tests done from both My Heritage and Ancestry, became a Green Room member, bought a database program (Family Historian7) that I am happy with, found out that my James, in all likelihood, came from Northern Ireland, not Co. Cork as I believed for 3/4 of my life and so much more. Amazing what, after 20 years of ignoring a subject, can be revealed via the search engines and artificial intelligence if one just asks the right questions. Continue reading “The genealogical journey – McCrystal/McCristle”
Breaking down the brick walls – Where did we come from?
A misconception, call it misinformation:
When you absolutely know your ancestor came from a specific area and time of history, why would you (or in this case, “ME”) look anywhere else even when confronted with conflicting information?
Yep. I was completely wrong! Sadly, I was many miles from my hometown when many of the elders related to my family were talking to strangers researching their book about the Rock Fences of the Bluegrass area of Kentucky. Their reminiscing’s were documented as the absolute truth about where my ancestors came from in Ireland and the stories behind those journeys. Continue reading “Breaking down the brick walls – Where did we come from?”
2026 – a year to travel again?
For the past 7 or 8 months I have been back to digging into my ancestry.
by goodvibrations/Stocksy
I had given this research up in the late 20-aughts because I felt I had fully explored everything available and had reached a dead-end. The proverbial “brick wall”. I was tired of the blood running in my eyes as I battered at the wall and got nowhere. I had been using Family Tree Maker and even that program had been sold so many times and not updated or maintained. All roads pointed to “give it up”. Continue reading “2026 – a year to travel again?”
Food Sharing versus Food Waste Composting
I am not a radical in the food world. However, I do have strong opinions. This whole food composting, politically-correct idea is a bit off-putting for me. I know there are things that are appropriate to composting – rinds and peelings of fruit and vegetables, bones from the chicken or turkey (or beef and pork if you are into that), and some items that are not actual food.
Continue reading “Food Sharing versus Food Waste Composting”
Real Cornbread with Corn Kernels
Traditional cornbread muffins are made with cornmeal. However, if you don’t have cornmeal on hand or prefer fresh corn, you can still make cornbread muffins. This recipe is easy to make and the results are delicious. I’ve made them with whole wheat flour, but all purpose flour can certainly be substituted, though not as healthy.
Shrimp Scampi (ala Carlanne)
I love Shrimp Scampi so I mashed up several recipes in order to create my own style. So here’s a recipe for two people, whether for date night or just because.
Seasonal Peach Coffee Cake
Fresh from the oven, a warm Peach and Walnut Coffee Cake. It is peach season here and I am so into freestone peaches. At $4/pound, I cannot let any go to waste or get too ripe and soft. So when they get really ripe in the refrigerator, I whip out my recipe for Coffee Cake and make sure every bite of these lovely peaches is in one form or another. Give the recipe a try and let me know what you think in the comments below.
Gardening in an urban environment (V-2025)
We have around 500 square feet of deck, trex decking with a solid surround and angled cap. During the lock-down we decided to start our urban gardening.
We moved here with over 30 plants. Getting them loaded into the U-Haul truck, then unloaded here and moved to our deck was no small project. Slowly over the past 12+ years, some plants made their end-of-life transition. I mourned the loss of each one. There were 3 bushes, numerous perennials and a limited number of annuals, which for some reason came back year after year when we lived in downtown Seattle (Belltown). One I mourned was a Rosemary bush that had thrived in downtown Seattle but found Burien just too harsh to live with.
Continue reading “Gardening in an urban environment (V-2025)”
The Urban Gardener (V-2021)
Covid-19 caused us to tuck into our home and not really go out at all. While Hubby had an outpatient surgery scheduled for January 2021, that was the only risk we had to take since lockdown.
In 2020, for Mother’s Day, Hubby insisted I should not cook. We went into “Old Town” to a known restaurant (eaten there a number of times pre-Covid) and ordered a “to-go” Chicken Caesar salad. Not saying the restaurant is no longer a favorite, however the salad was seriously lacking in quality, taste and pretty much anything else you can think of (wilted, tasteless and unappealing visually). Continue reading “The Urban Gardener (V-2021)”