An Exciting Honor: 2011 Best Genealogy Blogs Nominees

It has been an unsually hectic day combined with disappointing news on my son's job front, so I decided to take some 'me' time and catch up on my blog reading.  I am two days behind and fear it will only get worse as the week progresses.  Imagine my surprise when I see on Geneabloggers that my blog has been nominated for the Family Tree Magazine 2011 Best Genealogy Blog in the new blog category.  I had to look at it twice to make sure I was actually seeing my blog listed!

I am extremely appreciative for the nomination.  Thank you to all my readers and supporters for the positive feedback that keeps me blogging.  Thanks also to those that nominated my blog for this honor.  I am still in shock, I think. 

Congratulations to all the nominees!  I am honored to be included in their category.  I recognized a lot of blogs, many are ones I read regularly.

Thanks to Tom at Geneabloggers for posting the nominees.  Check the list out and don't forget to vote for your favorite.  You have until 11:59 p.m., December 20th to vote.

Advent Calendar: Charitable/Volunteer Work

Did your family ever volunteer with a charity such as a soup kitchen, homeless or battered women’s shelter during the holidays? Or perhaps were your ancestors involved with church groups that assisted others during the holiday?

I have always felt that the Christmas season was a special time to share our blessings with those less fortunate.  Kirsten and Travis were very young when my husband and I tried to instill the value of helping others.  We started out by taking them to the grocery store and buying groceries (peanut butter, tuna, mac and cheese, soup, etc.) for the baskets at our church.  Our church, St. Peter Lutheran, would set baskets out and ask church members to donate food for what we called our Christmas families.  Families in need were identified in the community and then organizations would be assigned families to provide a Christmas dinner and gifts for.  Our church would have a food collection for more than just Christmas dinner.  Our church was very generous with their giving.  I remember the church started with 7-8 families and expanded to about 40 in recent years.

Later, as the children got older, we would sign up to purchase a gift for a certain child from the above Christmas families in addition to giving food.  The kids would usually pick a child close to their age to buy for.  Sometimes it would be a toy, book, or clothes.  Some years there would be a hat and mitten tree that the kids would decorate and items were donated.

So, from their youth my children have been giving to others.  I have seen numerous examples of my kids generosity to those less fortunate and it continues today.  I am a very proud mom.

Advent Calendar: Christmas Gifts-Larry the Lion

December 10 – Christmas Gifts:  What were your favorite gifts, both to receive and to give? Are there specific gift-giving traditions among your family or ancestors?

Some children had Zippy the Monkey, or Crackers the Parrot, but I had Larry the Lion.  I loved Larry the Lion.  I remember getting him for Christmas.  I must have been 5 at the time.  He talked by pulling a string and his mouth moved when he did.  The sayings I remember him saying are:   "Grrrrr, I'm Larry Lion"; "Grrrr, I scared myself" and "I'll protect you."  I remember his felt tongue, furry coat, and whiskers.  I also remember one of my teachers making fun of me because I brought him for show and tell. I never liked her after that.  (I'm over it-really I am)

When I was planning to write about Larry the Lion, I decided to do a little research on him.  He was made by Mattel and had 11 sayings.  You can find a vintage Larry the Lion on ebay for about $40.  The ones with the whiskers still intact are the desirable ones.

I don't know what happened to Larry the Lion, hopefully he went to a good home.  I do remember he was losing some of his fur and didn't sit up very well.  Ahh, what a nice childhood memory.

Advent Calendar: Christmas Cookies-Grandma's Date Nut Balls

December 8 – Christmas Cookies:  Did your family or ancestors make Christmas Cookies? How did you help? Did you have a favorite cookie?


This is one of my all time favorite cookies to make at Christmas time.  They are quick and easy and add a different texture to the cookie platter.  

Date Nut Balls
(A Recipe from My Grandmother Sarah Lilla Watt Glover Bell)

1 c. dates
1 c. sugar
1 stick of oleo
Combine and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool. Stir in 2 ½ cups rice krispies and 1 t. vanilla and nuts. Cool about 8 minutes. Roll in balls then roll in coconut (long).

I wrote the recipe as it was given to me. I smile when I see the ingredient oleo in a recipe. I know that recipe is an old one. Oleo was a term used in the forties and fifties. It was short for oleomargarine; which we now know as margarine. I don’t have a lot of my grandmother’s recipes but this is one I enjoy making at Christmas time.

Advent Calendar: Santa Claus

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

One of the best days of the year was when the Sears Christmas Catalog arrived in the mail.  I remember my sister, Linda, and I combing through it and oohing and aahing over the cool things.  The sparkly Barbie clothes, a Barbie Dream House and beautiful jewelry were always drooled over.  I would start my list to Santa from this catalog.


After my list was complete I would anxiously wait until Santa came to town and we could go visit him.  One year, I was 7, we went to the Village Hall to see Santa.  I was ready, I had my list in my head.  I sit on Santa's lap and notice his wedding ring.  Where had I seen that before?  I remember it looking familiar to me.  Next, I noticed his white eyebrows.  Weird, they look painted on.  I told Santa what I wanted and went on my way believing I would get at least one thing from my list.  Santa had been pretty good to me in the previous years.

Later that day I was playing at home and the doorbell rang.  I don't remember if I answered the door or not, but I do remember standing at the bottom of the stairs and coming to the realization that the man at the door was Santa!  He didn't have his Santa suit on, but there were those stupid painted eyebrows!  And now I knew why the wedding ring looked familiar.  The man at the door was a friend of my dad's.  My dad taught high school and this man was a teacher, too.  It was at that moment that I knew there wasn't a Santa Claus.  I remember asking my parents, later, if there really was a Santa.  They were reluctant to tell me, but being stubborn (yes, I admit it) I wouldn't give up and they finally admitted to it.

So, Mr. Wright next time you play Santa, please wash your eyebrows!

Advent Calendar: Outdoor Decorations and The Festival of Lights

December 5 – Outdoor Decorations:  Did people in your neighborhood decorate with lights? Did some people really go “all out” when decorating? Any stories involving your ancestors and decorations?

Travis and Kirsten, Christmas 1992

Resting at Friendship Park

Christmastime in Battle Creek is a wonderful experience.  The city has what is known as, "The International Festival of Lights".  At the completion of the Christmas parade, held the Saturday before Thanksgiving, a switch is flipped and the downtown area is bathed in glorious Christmas colors.  In past years, before the recession, the light displays were spectacular.  The last couple of years haven't been quite as phenomenal, but it still puts me in a Christmas mood when I see them. 

Battle Creek River looking east, Kellogg House is in the background-1992

Sometime during the holiday season we would bundle up the kids and drive downtown to walk along the river and see the light displays.  I always enjoyed going when there was a covering of snow on the ground.  The special displays I enjoy are the 12 Days of Christmas display near the Kellogg House and an international Christmas display near Friendship Park and the river.  The Kellogg World Headquarters is decorated all in red lights.  The top of the building and lines of trees sparkle.

Kellogg's World Headquarter

Christmas 2010

Clara's Restaurant at Christmas 1992

Clara's Restaurant is a favorite stopping place for a hot drink or dessert.  The restaurant is in the old train station and sits on the river.  You can get a window seat and enjoy the lights from indoors.

The street we live on does a nice job with outdoor decorations.  You will see everything from classic lights on the roof line, to icicle lights, to Santa on the roof and a blow up Snoopy Snow Globe.  I like to decorate with white lights only, my husband likes the multi-colored ones. (opposites attract!)  I, or I should say my husband, decorate the bushes in the front of the house and then the roof line.  Wreaths are placed with garland on the front windows.  The front door is draped in lighted garland and 2 topiary trees welcome holiday visitors.  When we had a light post out front, it was decorated with red ribbon to look like a candy cane.  The Christmas Tree in the center of the front window completes the look.  Oh and what color lights are we using this year?  White, of course.

Advent Calendar: Holiday Foods

December 2 – Holiday Foods:  Did your family or ancestors serve traditional dishes for the holidays? Was there one dish that was unusual?

Food was always a big part of the Christmas holiday when I was growing up.  My mother is an excellent cook and made most things from scratch.  I acquired my love of cooking from her.  I don't remember any traditional dishes being made, but I remember the goodies my mom would bake.  Fudge, cookies, and fruit  breads were always around during the holidays. 

These two recipes are one's I use today, they are both from my mother.

Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
1/2 cup oleo(margarine)
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
3 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream margarine and sugar together.  Add egg.  Add sour cream and vanilla.  Mix flour, soda and salt together.  Stir into creamed mixture .  Chill for 30 minutes for easier rolling.  Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut out with cookie cutters.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Cool and decorate as desired.

Milk Chocolate Fudge Mix 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup evaporated milk, and 1-7 ounce jar marshmallow topping in heavy 2 quart pan.  Bring to boil, stirring constantly.  Reduce to medium when bubbles appear all over the top.  Stir 8 minutes.  Remove from heat and add 2 cups milk chocolate chips.  Stir until melted.  Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1 cup chopped nuts.  Pour into greased 8 inch pan.  Cool thoroughly.

Advent Calendar: Christmas Tree Trimming

Did you have a real tree or was it artificial? How big was the tree? Who decorated the tree? What types of Christmas trees did your ancestors have?

Christmas 1991

Travis Puts the Angel on the Tree with help from Dad



For this first day of the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories I tapped my children and asked them to guest blog on their memory of our tree trimming activities.  Here are each of their memories:

Kirsten remembers:
The tree trimming party was arguably our biggest small event.  While every extended family get together involved massive amounts of food, the tree trimming was just for us, and still had lots of food.  Mom would make anything we wanted, from the culinary exquisite to the lowly and delicious...mozzarella sticks.  As I've grown up, I've always remembered our tree trimming parties fondly.  Although some of my favorite memories are the ones that weren't so funny at the time, the year Travis knocked over the lamp and broke it, or how we would fight over who got to put the angel on the top of the tree (you'll note that the photo for the story is of Travis putting the angel up).  Christmas at home will always have a place in my heart.  If I ever have a family someday, the tree trimming tradition is one I will definitely keep in the family.
~Kirsten

Travis remembers:
A great memory of the holidays was our tree trimming party. Well, it was filled with a big helping of mom's type A personality from time to time.   Even with her having the Christmas tree lights evenly spaced out it was always a fun evening. Putting on Christmas music and having a large spread of appetizer snacks and decorating the tree is something I will always remember. The biggest part of the evening happened at the end when it came time to put the angel on top of the tree. Every year my sister and I wanted to do it and would lie about who did it the year before (I still think she got to do it more times than I did). It got to the point that we had to write down each year on the box who put it up so we wouldn't have to go through the same process every year.  Christmas is always a special time of year and I absolutely love all the traditions my family has.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it home last year but cannot wait to make it back this year and be apart of the family traditions again.

Mom:
I loved reading my children's recollections of our tree trimming party.  They're pretty accurate and my type A personality would surface from time to time!  But, I have proof we shared the angel topping.  I guess it was for sentimental reasons that I kept this.  I use to write it on the box top of the angel box.  When I got rid of the box I tore this off and stored it with other Christmas decorations.  As you can see, they got equal time!  2001 was the last Christmas before Kirsten left for college.  Once they got into high school they weren't as enthused about it!  Recently, I have been putting the tree up myself.  It isn't the same, but the memories we made come back the minute I begin decorating.  I look forward to making new memories as I welcome new family members into our family.

(Just for the record, I do have pictures of Kirsten topping the tree, but I am in the middle of redoing all of the kids photo albums and couldn't put my hands on it in time for this post!)