Home Sweet Home

Ed and I would appreciate you letting us know if you can help with our huge family project for this summer.  We'll need some volunteers when the big day comes, but, FIRST, we have to find a house.

Memories on Memorial Day

Last night as my husband and I watched the great Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol in D.C., my mind began to travel back in time to those in my family who served our country.  Let Freedom Ring!  The concert and program were amazing.

First, I will touch on my biological father, largely absent from my growing up years.  For some reason, I can't locate his photo anywhere, but here's the scooop:

He and my mother were divorced when I was a baby.   Dewey Earnest Winters was in the armed services even before he met my mother; when World War Two ended, it was only a short few years before he was back in the thick of the fighting in the Korean War.  He got shrapnel in his leg.  I now own the flag that was presented at his funeral and I was able to get his military records and medals, also, through the National Archives Web site.  I honor my father, Dewey, today.

Brother of Dewey Winters: A.W. Winters and Wife

Thanks to the volunteer who had this posted.  I have misplaced my own photo.

Missing the mark in Florida

I, for one, am famous at hearing and storing snippets of conversations, snippets of news broadcasts, and snippets of things that are posted by others, (yes, even the newspaper).  From these snippets, I form an opinion or deduce what I think are the facts.  Sometimes, this data ain't correct.  The conclusions I've drawn are erroneous or incomplete.

For example:  Staff's Restaurant in Fort Walton Beach is a landmark building.  The Staff and Gerlach and Bass families have been offering food up for locals and tourists since 1913.  It was established on the waterfront of the Intracoastal Waterway which meanders through the area and in Fort Walton Beach is often referred to simply as "The Sound".  Still, to this day, the fresh seafood arrives, almost literally, at Staff's back door.  That seafood is the hallmark of  Staff's menu, along with its rich, homemade chocolate cake.

My brother who has been living out West for the last several years, was in town and invited my sister and I (old homies that we are), to dine with him at Staff's.  As we approached the building, we could discern no sign of activity or patronage.  People weren't flocking to the doors and the parking lot was curiously empty.  I opined, "maybe they're closed or gone out of business; I think I heard that they were going to close their doors".  "I think I heard"?!!!  How many times those exact same words have escaped my lips? 

Well, we were hungry and it wasn't quite tourist time yet, so we got out to test my lame theory.  The restaurant was open and we went in and were ushered to a nice table near the window.  As soon as we got settled, I asked our serving person about the "rumor" that Staff's was closing.  He informed me that the newspaper had kind of got it wrong.  Staff's was the only restaurant to not receive compensation from BP for the oil spill of last summer.  They had applied but had been turned down.  If they didn't get those funds then some type of shake-up might indeed become necessary.  Calamity had indeed struck the Gulf Coast of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana in 2010 and Staff's was located on "Miracle Strip Parkway", the part of State Highway 98 that goes through the City of Fort Walton Beach.  Tourism is vital to the economy in these parts.

So, for now, anyway, the good news is that Staff's Restaurant is staying open.  We picked up a little newspaper-like leaflet, there, detailing the history of the eatery and the families who helped to settle Fort Walton Beach.  My brother ordered gumbo and ate every bite; I got grilled shrimp and fresh steamed veggies and my sister ordered fried oysters.  We passed a pleasant hour together, caught up with this and that and topped it off with a three-way split of the wonderful chocolate cake.  Our experience included a chat with one of the family members who jointly keep the restaurant going, but before I go spouting off my bits and pieces approach to news reporting, again, I will go to the source, first, and get the real story.  It's so much more personal.  Of course, that isn't practical in every case.  So, what do you suggest?

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Population change - Māori population change - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Population change - Māori population change - Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Quite a fascinating bunch of studies and graphs, here. Will have to study up on NZ history and stuff!

Church Humanitarian Aid, Japanese Church Members Helping People Suffering From Disaster

Church Humanitarian Aid, Japanese Church Members Helping People Suffering From Disaster:

This was updated March 29th. Our family prayers for the Japanese people are frequent and sincere. I hope they feel our love as they struggle and strive to stay safe and recover their families and their lifelines.

Church News and Events - Atlanta Georgia Temple Open House and Rededication

Church News and Events - Atlanta Georgia Temple Open House and Rededication

I would love to go to the Open House! Quick trip up and back.

A bit of melodrama

A Find of a Lifetime: Jefferson Books Quest Ends at Washington University « Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

via monticello.org

What a stretch! I mean from Thomas Jefferon's environs to St. Louis! I love to hear about stuff like this. The project was indeed something to celebrate.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Japanese Magnolias are Blooming

Spring is three weeks away.  Usually, we can count on some coolish weather continuing through at least the first two weeks of April.  I have the A/C on because for some weird scientific reason, the house gets warm or retains the warmth of the day, longer.  Outside, it is rainy, humid, but definitely not hot or cold.  I look forward to all the flowers blooming, the azaleas in their full glory, the trees getting tender green leaves, etc. etc..  I don't look forward to warm weather even though we've had one of the coldest winters I can remember.  It just so happens that when the humidity is high, I am constantly sweating, truthfully dropping large drops from my hair to my face, big liquid tears of perspiration drenching my hair, neck, body, etc.

Here are some of the spring photos I've taken in Northwest Florida in years past.

         

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Day Trip Suggestion

 

Mississippi Rails--Tony Howe Art

At the Baker Block Museum in Baker, Florida, there are a couple of books about the role of the railroad in Southern Alabama and Northwest Florida.  I'm pretty sure that some of my ancestors had ties to the railroad in the area, so, when I picked up a copy of the Hurlburt Patriot and saw an article about Foley, Alabama's railroad station, I was eager to read it.

The Train Depot, along with the Foley Archives & History Museum is located in Foley, Alabama, just north of Gulf Shores and west of Pensacola.  Not only is the museum interesting for children, but the kids wil lalso like an old fashioned ice cream parlor, just down the street.  A park is located next to the museum.

Directions from Fort Walton Beach to Foley Archives & History Museum: 

• Go north on SR 85 to I-10, go west beyond Pensacola and into Alabama.
  
• Head south on Highway 49.  The museum is located at the intersection of Highway 59 and Laurel Avenue (Hwy 98). 
  
• You can also simply drive west on 98 till you get there! 
  

To contact, call phone number is 251-943-1818.  Admission is FREE.  Open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m..  Model Train exhibit, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2p.m.

Food is available for purchase at the nearby old-fashioned drug store and ice cream parlor provides light refreshments.

If you are doing background research on your railroad man, be sure to view the beautiful pictures of trains and such check these sites:

1. Train Paintings
2. Rail Art by Shane.

Learn how to retrieve pensions for railroad your ancestor who worked on the railroad: Click Here.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

Kevin needs help.

My son, Kevin, is age 24; he broke his ankle a couple of weeks ago and needs surgery asap.  He doesn't have insurance.  If you can give even $1, it would mean a lot to our family.  Donate today, please.

The baby is Kevin's little nephew, Josh.  The tattoo is fake.  Kevin is into physical fitness; can you tell?

Gather and Tether Your Data

Round up all your boxes, notebooks, CD's, scraps of paper, file folders, etc.--anything that pertains to your genealogy, get it all together in one area.  Then, and only then, will you be able to organize (or more appropriately, perhaps, re-organize) your "stuff" [as President Obama would say].  Surely we can confine our research to a few shelves, a couple of filing cabinets, or several drawers.  IN THE SAME AREA.  If we have to run from room to room, from downstairs to upstairs, or whatever, we are wasting precious time that could be better spent finding our ancestors.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

State of the Union

President Obama uses the word "investment" as if our government has money with which to make an investment.  Our government's investment should be to trust private industry to develop according to the market.  I'm sure that a lot of hearts just fell to the floor when he indicated he didn't want our country to invest in the oil business any more.  What, we're going to punish Sarah Palin and all those who stand with her, in maximizing Alaska's resources?  We need refineries built and refreshed; our country still has plenty of this resource, don't you think?

We are going to be force fed, if the President gets his way, with green energy.  I'm all for conserving our natural resources, re-purposing old stuff instead buying new stuff, and using "clean energy".  What I'm not all for is the federal government buying up all the land and lakes and mountains.  I'm not all for the government taking the role of protecting us from things that might be bad for our health.  Of course, there are many ways to approach valid concerns and take moderate steps in cleaning up our world and our lifestyle.  I'm not sure any of those ways really need to be regulated by the President and his cohorts.  Bureaucracy starts at the top and trickles down or floods down, rather, the tentacles of federal power spreading and invading into every corner of our lives.

No salt, no fat, no dirty coal, no oil; how long before Big Brother wants to control our television watching habits, our reading styles, our religious practices, etc., etc., etc.?

Read the text of the speech the President gave tonight and look for the code.

Is it really the business of Congress to protect us from wearing earphones in both ears?

Meridian Magazine - The First Archaeological Support for the Book of Mormon

Meridian Magazine - The First Archaeological Support for the Book of Mormon

I would have been an archaeologist in another life, I think. How fun to jet around the world and walk the pathways of the ancients. It is both historically satisfying and tangible to those who are involved in the field, I would imagine. To reach out and touch an altar where perhaps Lehi once officiated, is this spiritual or what? I mean, that is the message her, right? I haven't read the whole article, so I guess I'd have to get more scholastically involved here, before I get too excited. Still, the prospects are exceedingly enticing.

Debbie Berberi's Photos - Wall Photos (7)

Debbie Berberi's Photos - Wall Photos (7): "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

I have rediscovered this morning, in a quiet hour at the computer, that my daughter is a premiere photographer.

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!

Apples 35 Piece Jigzone 5D14315E186 Jigsaw Puzzle - JigZone.com

Apples 35 Piece Jigzone 5D14315E186 Jigsaw Puzzle - JigZone.com: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

A wonderful way to relax...

Learning Resources

via learning.beta.familysearch.org

This is the new look. The Beta FamilySearch. There are lessons, a wiki with tons of information oh where and how to search for your ancestors, and the Library Catalog is still a standard feature, though as I understand it, reworked and updated. Record collections are growing at this site in leaps and bounds.

Posted via email from Margaret's posterous

NASA | SDO: Exploring the Sun in High Definition

The Genealogue: ScanStone Secrets Revealed

The Genealogue: ScanStone Secrets Revealed: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

This is an older blog post but a futuristic look at what could be accomplished with digitizing records. Genealogists, everywhere will say "THANK YOU" as this hits the Internet.