May the New Year be as spectacular a year as the Blue Moon.
A full moon occurred on Dec. 2, 2009 and will appear again to ring in the New Year. The last time this happened on New Year's Eve was 19 years ago.
A blue moon is the second full moon in a month.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thoughts on the New Year
My granddaddy clipped from newspapers and magazines and pasted into a datebook articles, saying and advice. To a stranger, that book would give a glimpse into the soul of who he was, My daddy did it too although his clippings were apt to be found tucked many places including between pages of his bible. Mine reside on my computer to be brought up and used in speeaches or to give me private encourgement and joy. Here are a couple of them relating to the upcoming New Year.
"Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world." Ann Landers
"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but looking for potential." Ellen Goodman
New Year's Wishes for You
Happiness . . . deep down within your soul.
Serenity . . . that brings peace to your heart.
Love . . . that is deep, abiding and true.
Success . . . in everything you strive to do.
Courage . . . to never give up being the best you can be.
Health . . . inside you.
Family . . . beside you with close and caring friends.
Special memories . . . to keep and cherish.
Appreciation . . . of yourself and others.
A bright today . . . that will shine on your tomorrows.
A path . . . for all your journeys to follow.
Dreams . . . that do their best to come true.
Unknown
"Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world." Ann Landers
"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but looking for potential." Ellen Goodman
New Year's Wishes for You
Happiness . . . deep down within your soul.
Serenity . . . that brings peace to your heart.
Love . . . that is deep, abiding and true.
Success . . . in everything you strive to do.
Courage . . . to never give up being the best you can be.
Health . . . inside you.
Family . . . beside you with close and caring friends.
Special memories . . . to keep and cherish.
Appreciation . . . of yourself and others.
A bright today . . . that will shine on your tomorrows.
A path . . . for all your journeys to follow.
Dreams . . . that do their best to come true.
Unknown
Sunday, December 20, 2009
From Benton to Brooklyn to Wilmington
My goodness, you just never know where a comment will take you.
In September, I received a note from a gentleman inquiring about, "A place called Benton (1925-30) where a man who earlier had a place in Shermerville owned a house." I responded with what I could tell him and from then on I've been on a journey of discovery.
It turned out he too was interested in family history and lived in New York City where one of my elusive ancestors lived. I'd done some intense research on this line about six years ago, and then put it aside to attend to other projects and life altering events. While I'd dusted off the names every once in a while, my own research has taken a back seat to Village research.
Knowing full-well that a family historian knows local sources the average searcher doesn't, I asked my online friend a couple of questions about where to go to find New York area vital records and obituaries. His responses and his own digging for clues has led me on a two-month magical journey learning about my ancestors from early 1830s through 1900 New York and Brooklyn. I've also met family I've never known, shared our research and discovered some unbelievable coincidences.
One of those newly found family members lives in Wilmington, NC, where another of my ancestors lived at the same time as the family I am researching.
Last evening I sent a note to one of my new "cousins," who like my father was in the Navy. My sister lives in Wilmington, as did my father for the last few years of his life. In my note, I added a link to the story that began this blog - the story of the day I visited four Clark ancestors' homes in one day.
My "cousin" passed the link on to a friend of his who sent me a note today. A part of her note is included below.
That is more fascinating than you'll ever know. I tried to write a comment on her site, but was required to register with Google--too hard. So, here is what I tried to send her . . .
Judy,
. . . forwarded your site which I so enjoyed reading. My husband and I lived next door to the Duncan Clark House from 1978 to 1985 and know the owner . . . When we lived there, his Labrador was named Duncan in honor of Mr. Clark!
I am the historian for the Friends of Oakdale Cemetery. Our projects include trying to tend orphaned graves--those for which we know of no descendant. I suspect the friends are responsible for restoring the Clark grave markers. Their web site is OakdaleCemetery.org.
So, from an online historical question about my Village I have gone back in time to the home towns of two of my ancestors, and the final resting place of one of them. This has been an amazing journey.
Soon, my research will be placed back on the shelf so I can write about our Village founders for the Annual "Founders' Day Cemetery Walk and in doing so I'll tell the story of our Village and provide some of that "local knowledge" about a few men and women whose descendents may contact the museum in the future.
Thanks Robert for all your help, and for getting me moving forward on the Faron research steam engine.
In September, I received a note from a gentleman inquiring about, "A place called Benton (1925-30) where a man who earlier had a place in Shermerville owned a house." I responded with what I could tell him and from then on I've been on a journey of discovery.
It turned out he too was interested in family history and lived in New York City where one of my elusive ancestors lived. I'd done some intense research on this line about six years ago, and then put it aside to attend to other projects and life altering events. While I'd dusted off the names every once in a while, my own research has taken a back seat to Village research.
Knowing full-well that a family historian knows local sources the average searcher doesn't, I asked my online friend a couple of questions about where to go to find New York area vital records and obituaries. His responses and his own digging for clues has led me on a two-month magical journey learning about my ancestors from early 1830s through 1900 New York and Brooklyn. I've also met family I've never known, shared our research and discovered some unbelievable coincidences.
One of those newly found family members lives in Wilmington, NC, where another of my ancestors lived at the same time as the family I am researching.
Last evening I sent a note to one of my new "cousins," who like my father was in the Navy. My sister lives in Wilmington, as did my father for the last few years of his life. In my note, I added a link to the story that began this blog - the story of the day I visited four Clark ancestors' homes in one day.
My "cousin" passed the link on to a friend of his who sent me a note today. A part of her note is included below.
That is more fascinating than you'll ever know. I tried to write a comment on her site, but was required to register with Google--too hard. So, here is what I tried to send her . . .
Judy,
. . . forwarded your site which I so enjoyed reading. My husband and I lived next door to the Duncan Clark House from 1978 to 1985 and know the owner . . . When we lived there, his Labrador was named Duncan in honor of Mr. Clark!
I am the historian for the Friends of Oakdale Cemetery. Our projects include trying to tend orphaned graves--those for which we know of no descendant. I suspect the friends are responsible for restoring the Clark grave markers. Their web site is OakdaleCemetery.org.
So, from an online historical question about my Village I have gone back in time to the home towns of two of my ancestors, and the final resting place of one of them. This has been an amazing journey.
Soon, my research will be placed back on the shelf so I can write about our Village founders for the Annual "Founders' Day Cemetery Walk and in doing so I'll tell the story of our Village and provide some of that "local knowledge" about a few men and women whose descendents may contact the museum in the future.
Thanks Robert for all your help, and for getting me moving forward on the Faron research steam engine.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thankful for so many things.
I have so many things for which to give thanks. Sometimes, I forget to stop and give thanks for all my blessings. Today, it is laughter - and a note written by my grandson Jake.
A great quote to take to heart - "If you can think of nothing for which to give thanks, you have a poor memory."
A great quote to take to heart - "If you can think of nothing for which to give thanks, you have a poor memory."
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Progress on the Memorial
Posted to keep everyone aware of the memorial.
Sunday, September 15, 2009
The Memorial is finished. It is all that I hoped it would be. The families of so many of the boys were there in person and others in spirit. Their boys, my boys, will be remembered.
To see photos of the dedication click here.
Sunday, September 15, 2009
The Memorial is finished. It is all that I hoped it would be. The families of so many of the boys were there in person and others in spirit. Their boys, my boys, will be remembered.
To see photos of the dedication click here.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Facebook | Your Photos - Ground Breaking
Memorial Day - Ground Breaking for memorial to Northbrook residents who gave their lives in service to their country.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tonight I am celebrating.
The Park District gave final approval for the memorial to 43 soldiers from Northbrook who died while in service to our country. I am so pleased - they will be remembered!
Groundbreaking on Memorial Day - dedication at Shermerfest. Five years of research = 42 names. Eight hours on Facebook = 43 names!
Jay, I remembered you today as I sat in your school and heard the resounding vote! Rand, you were in my thought too. The 1972 interview your mother gave to the Northbrook Star has stayed with me since I discovered it several years ago. In it, she said, . . . "I think he wanted to be remembered." Now he will be - as will all the others whose names will be on the memorial with him.
These men have been my passion for years - I can still recall the feeling that came over me as I stumbled upon the grave of Philip Arnold in small National Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois and realized that I was most likely the first person from "home" that stood beside his grave and honored him for his service. Wounded at Shiloh in April 1862, he died more than three months later in July while a patient at the hospital in Quincy.
I am so proud that all the funds have been raised and that:
The young dead soldiers do not speak
Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them? They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say: We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say: We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say: Our deaths are not ours: they are yours, they will mean what you make them.
They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say, it is you who must say this. We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.
by Archibald MacLeish,
1892-1982, American Poet
I will sleep well tonight knowing that these men, who are now a large part of my life, will be remembered for generations to come.
The Park District gave final approval for the memorial to 43 soldiers from Northbrook who died while in service to our country. I am so pleased - they will be remembered!
Groundbreaking on Memorial Day - dedication at Shermerfest. Five years of research = 42 names. Eight hours on Facebook = 43 names!
Jay, I remembered you today as I sat in your school and heard the resounding vote! Rand, you were in my thought too. The 1972 interview your mother gave to the Northbrook Star has stayed with me since I discovered it several years ago. In it, she said, . . . "I think he wanted to be remembered." Now he will be - as will all the others whose names will be on the memorial with him.
These men have been my passion for years - I can still recall the feeling that came over me as I stumbled upon the grave of Philip Arnold in small National Cemetery in Quincy, Illinois and realized that I was most likely the first person from "home" that stood beside his grave and honored him for his service. Wounded at Shiloh in April 1862, he died more than three months later in July while a patient at the hospital in Quincy.
I am so proud that all the funds have been raised and that:
- The Historical Society agreed to take on the this project
- The Northbrook Park District agreed to let us build in the Village Green
- The Northbrook Rotary Club was the first organization to step up to partner with the Historical Society
- The American Legion - named for one of the boys whose name will be on the memorial agreed to be our partner
- The Northbrook Civic Foundation who has given so much to our Village agreed to be our partner
- The Village of Northbrook honored their hometown heroes when they agreed to be our partner
- The Northbrook High School Alumni Association partnered with us. Several of the men are their classmates
- The families of several of the men donated as well as community members
The young dead soldiers do not speak
Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them? They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say: We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say: We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say: Our deaths are not ours: they are yours, they will mean what you make them.
They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing we cannot say, it is you who must say this. We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning.
We were young, they say. We have died; remember us.
by Archibald MacLeish,
1892-1982, American Poet
I will sleep well tonight knowing that these men, who are now a large part of my life, will be remembered for generations to come.
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