Book in Progress

ATTENTION DESCENDANTS OF JOSEPH MARTIN HAWKINS:

A LEGAL MATTER:

I am writing a book about LaBlithen Hawkins which includes her short marriage to Joseph Martin Baker. It  is not flattering to him. I would like to discuss this with any of his living descendants. None of them will be included in the book, nor any of his deceased descendants will be in the book. I am trying to avoid any legal issues that might arise as a result of the book’s publication.

If any one reading this knows one of his descendants, referral to that peson(s) will be appreciated.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

If I could be with my dad today I would remind him of some of my favorite memories.

Prayer bones: Every night, for as long as I remember, he would call us to family prayer each night by calling, “It’s time go get on your prayer bones.”

Turn out the lights: I loved to read, even in bed with a flashlight under the quilts. We went to bed early on the farm. He could always see my light shining through and told me to turn it off and go to sleep.

Conversations: When Dad played taxi and took me to various places, visits about most anything were common. I had all his attention, except for driving. I cannot repeat a single conversation. I just remember that we did lots of talking.

Good neighbor: Dad was the best. We had a tractor which he often put to use in rescuing a neighbor’s auto from a muddy ditch or rut in the middle of the road during the winter.

Stormy nights: While our family and the neighbor’s family sat inside a storm shelter, Dad and the other father stood outside and watch the storm going over. If it got bad enough they came inside with the women and children.

Picking cotton: That was a back-breaking job. Now and then, it required a stretch. If we took long Dad would call out, “Quit your star-gazing.” It was time to bend over and stuff our sacks with more cotton.

Firewood: Dad always waited for COLD weather to head out to the woods to cut firewood. I guess he couldn’t stand to do it in hot weather. We never had enough work gloves. Those we had were filled with holes. He gave me the best ones to carry wood to the trailer. As the oldest, I was the one elected to help him.

Going to Grandma’s House

This is a well-written book edited by Ken and Janice Tate, published by House of White Birches in 2006. It is a collection of stories told by people and their visits to their grandparents homes.

National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day in the United States. The idea originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County, West Virginia. She wanted to support the cause of lonely elderly people in nursing homes.

President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the holiday in 1978.

The only grandparent I ever knew was my maternal grandmother who passed away when I was only 10 years old. I remember very little about visits to her house.

This book of nostalgia stories show me what I missed. Examples are Charley’s Bluff, The Long Bus Ride, Heaven at Granny’s, To Grandad’s by Train, Tater Bug Pie, and When Granny Was a Flapper. Tater Bug Pie is one of my favorites. If you get the book, you’ll see why. * See variation.

You should see the beautiful pictures. They are better than most books, full color and old-fashioned in subject, as you would expect for the topics included. One of my favorites is on pages 62-62. It is an old home with two rockers on the front porch. There is a clothes line with three patchwork quilts hanging to catch the spring air. I know it is springtime because the couple are wearing jackets and there are flowers blooming on the lawn.

There is not need to wait until September to share good times with our grandparents. My children have many memories for which I am grateful. I will share one which will share a page in the book I plan to write.

The family owned a 120 acre field outside of town. One area was sectioned off as a pasture. During Easter week, the pasture was just beginning to be green and welcoming. Grandmother boiled eggs and the children colored them for an egg hunt. The oldest grandchildren hid the eggs while the younger ones were at the house.

The whole group went to the field for the children to search for the hidden eggs. There were so many eggs, even the older children could not remember where they hid them.  When the baskets were filled and counted, a few were eaten right there in the field. Grandmother had salt and pepper shakers.

Back at home, a lot of the eggs were pealed and used in potato salad and deviled eggs and in sandwiched.

 

*  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sunny-anderson/sunnys-tater-tot-pie

 

MyraSaidIt

Family History

Family history is also called genealogy. There is one big difference between them. Family history is genealogy plus stories which makes the project much more interesting. Genealogy is basically names, dates, and places. Information is usually recorded on family group sheets and pedigree charts. Wikipedia has a good article on the subject. FamilySearch.org is a great resource for information. There are many others as well.

According to USA Today, genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States. I don’t know what I expected the second to be, but they said it is gardening. That puts genealogy as the second most visited category on the internet. Imagine that. Has it become an empty nesters hobby? Perhaps empty nesters also enjoy gardening even if only for flowers.

I prefer family history which makes those ancestors of mine “live” in my heart. Part of the information often ignored in the past concerns financial circumstances. Have you noticed employment information? Property ownership/value or rental? Education level? Have you searched for deeds? What about burial records?

I have also begun investigating what was happening in the world around them during their day

I invite my visitors to visit my website myralarsen.com and read an article I posted on this topic. I do not wish to summarize it here and it will be much better if those interested will read it there.

In case you do not have time to visit today, I wrote some about my search for cousins who are also descendants of my great-grandfather Shadaway. Make a note to visit this week.

Therefore, I have a family history challenge for my visitors, try it – you’ll like it. Like my posts and share. We just might make it the number one hobby in the U.S. Spread the word.

BTW: I am trying to keep up with my other goals of posting on my website every Saturday and my blog every Monday. Maybe I got that backwards. However, this time, one was late and one is early! Oh well, at least they are both accomplished. How are you doing?