Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

This is another of the post cards from Aunt Christan. This card was never used and there is no date.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Kelley Family Reunion December 1984

Getting back to some genealogy! In December 1984 the Kelley family had a reunion at the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church. I'm sure the reunion was inspired by the Joel Kelley book which was published in September of that year. There was  a crowd of Kelley cousins. Everywhere we looked Dad was introducing us to a cousin. He was so happy to see all of his cousins, many he had not seen in years. We all felt that there would be many reunions to come, however, sadly that was the one and only reunion.

Dad and my Aunts talked about going to the Kelley family reunion in Bradley County, Tn when they were kids. I'm not sure if they still have a reunion there now.

Somehow the day of the Chattanooga Valley Kelley reunion our family forgot to take cameras. I remember one of the cousins took pictures of each family group. I remember Dad called the cousin several times and offered to send money to have an extra set of pictures developed for him. He always wanted copies of those pictures, but never got them.  I would love to have copies of those pictures. Maybe someday a Kelley cousin who was at the December 1984 Kelley Family Reunion at the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church will find this blog and contact me and e-mail pictures. What a great day that would be!

Monday, December 27, 2010

The Cats Enjoy Christmas Too!


Starsky enjoys his Christmas gift!

Bentley likes his fish too!

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Birds in the Snow!

Another view of our Christmas Day snow. The bird seed kept getting covered with snow.


Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas from Tennessee!

We had a beautiful White Christmas!
The first in many years.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

December 21,1985 - Our Special Day

December 21, 1985
Our Wedding Day
December 21, 2010 marks our 25th Anniversary

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Earliest Christmas Memory

My earliest Christmas memory was when I was about 4 years old. I don't remember all the details. I think my Mom was finishing up some baking and wanted my brother and I to get ready for bed. Remember how hard it was to sleep on Christmas Eve? My Dad came into the room and said he was going outside because he heard someone in the driveway. He came back in with a gift for me and one for my brother. He said that Santa was just checking to make sure we were going to bed on time. Santa gave him the gifts since we had been good all year but we had better get to bed, if we wanted him to leave the rest of our gifts when he came back. We got ready and went to bed.
I can't remember what my brother got but I do remember my gift. It was a gun and holster. The holster was black with white trim and a silver star, I'm pretty sure I still have it packed away somewhere. The gun I don't remember very well, I guess it broke as most toy guns do.
I guess that I enjoyed playing cowboys with my brother. Mom has a picture of us, my brother had a cowboy hat and gun and I had my gun and holster and a doll. I remember the doll except I remember her differently!
In the picture she has beautiful curly hair, in my memory she has no curls and almost no hair. You see I cut her hair! I thought her hair would grow back as mine did when Mom cut it. I remember crying when mom said that the doll's hair wouldn't grow back. I played with her anyway, and loved her. I was so sorry I had cut her beautiful hair.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Tree and Starsky

When  I wrote about our pets at Christmas a few days ago, I said we weren't sure what our new cats would do with the Christmas tree. Well as you can see Starsky likes the tree. He is so sweet and gentle, he didn't knock anything off the tree. This picture looks so much like the pictures of Jaguar under the tree. It seemed so natural for him to go under the tree and it seemed natural to us seeing a cat under our tree.
Bentley hasn't bothered the tree - Yet!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Christmas 1994

I've always loved this picture of my Dad holding my kids.
Dec. 1994

Friday, December 10, 2010

Holiday Parties

I can't remember our family having holiday parties, just the family get together for Christmas. There were always Christmas parties at church and school which were fun. Except  that I can remember one year at school the person who got my name didn't get me a gift. I had been so excited buying a gift for the person who's name I had and then I didn't get anything. Mom told me it was probably because the child's parents didn't have the money to buy even a small gift. Which I'm sure is the reason most schools don't allow gift exchanges. It was sad but, I survived.
The holiday parties which come to mind most are the ones from the company my husband worked for when our children were small. They had a company Christmas party on the first Saturday of December. It was on Saturday morning and it was for the children of the employees. They had Christmas shows to watch, crafts to make, snacks to eat and the best part for the kids was at the very end. Santa came and let every kid set in his lap. Our kids looked forward to the party! We have pictures somewhere!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

More Information on the Use of Xmas

I posted a Christmas postcard from the early 1900's a few days ago and it said Happy xmas. I know every year we hear don't take Christ out of Christmas. I must say here I believe in Christ and I write Christmas, so I don't want anyone to get mad at me. I remembered a few years ago reading on the internet about the meaning of xmas. I couldn't find what I read a few years ago but this link does give us some history to xmas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas
In some cases yes, people are taking Christ out of Christmas in other cases I think people are lazy and don't want to write it out. But when we look at things from the early 1900's and read about xmas being used for a thousand years maybe we should realize past generations knew more than we do.

Xmas" is a common abbreviation of the word "Christmas". It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but it, and variants such as "Xtemass", originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation, /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for "mass",[1] while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ". copied from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xmas


Just something to think about. I'm keeping Christ in Christmas but I can see where this originated.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Memories

Our family Dec. 2003, my son was in the wedding of some friends from church.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Christmas Postcard - From Great Great Grandma

If you would like to read some wonderful Christmas memories follow this link Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories. I haven't linked my Christmas memories since I wasn't sure how many I would be able to do, and I might not get them posted on the right days.
 Saturday was Christmas Cards- I remembered this very special Christmas card which I am proud to have. It's a Christmas postcard.


I thought it was interesting that the card says

A Happy Xmas. I think the post mark is 1912, it is

hard to tell. This is a card from Janette Farrell to

her grand daughter Christan Ziegler. Janette died

January 13, 1913.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Santa Claus

This newspaper clipping was from a New Mexico newspaper, my mother's cousin saw it in the paper and mailed it to me. My kids had their picture made with this Santa that year. As I remember he was a very good Santa.
My son was 16 months and daughter was almost 4 years old.

Outdoor Christmas Decorations

 2009
2007
Growing up we didn't have any outdoor decorations at Christmas. My children inspired us to have outdoor decorations. When they were very young they enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights when we were out after dark. It first started with my daughter and then my son, when we saw how much they enjoyed the Christmas lights we would make at least a couple of trips out just to see the lights. As soon as they spotted the lights both would call out "pretty and gorgeous". It was so cute!
Then when my son got a little older he asked why we didn't have any outdoor decorations. So we would buy a few each year after Christmas. My husband and son would put them up each year. My son does most of the outdoor decoration now and my daughter does most of the inside. It is so nice that they want to decorate.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Christmas 1980

left to right - Granny, PaPa, and Aunt Christan
Christmas 1980 so long ago, Granny died in March 1981 and PaPa died Nov. 1981 so this was their last Chrismas. I still miss them both.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Pets and Christmas

Rusty
Christmas 1978
my dog before I married
Fluffy
Christmas 2003
Jaguar
Christmas 2003
Sweet Jaguar always got under (or in the tree) as soon as it went up as if to pose for her annual Christmas photo.
Fluffy
Christmas 2009
Fluffy was very sick during Christmas last year.
She enjoyed her Christmas present.
This year we don't have our tree up yet, I know we need to get busy. We aren't sure how our two new cats will react to a Christmas tree. Starsky will probably hide and Bentley may just pull the tree down.
It will be fun to see what happens!

Friday, December 3, 2010

First Christmas 1958

This is my brother and I in December 1958.
I was 4 months old and he was almost 4 years old.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas In The Early 1950's

Adults across the back - Mom, Dad, Aunt Agnes (Grandmother's sister), Granny, Aunt Gin, Uncle Bill, and Aunt Mildred
in chairs left Ted (Aunt Agnes's husband) and PaPa
kids Kathy, Linda, Martha
Picture taken and developed by Ziggie.
I think the picture was made in the early 1950's probably 1952 or 1953. You can just barely see the tree behind the adults.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Remember These Christmas Trees?

This picture was made sometime in the 1970's at my Aunt's house. She had this Christmas tree for YEARS!
and who is that young thin girl? 

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Blogs and Facebook Really Do Help!

I've been excited recently to have been contacted by e-mail and on Facebook by people who found this blog. The first to e-mail me was a Farrell cousin, we share the same Great Great Grandparents, T.L. and Janette Farrell. We have e-mailed several times sharing the information which we have. Which reminds me I need to e-mail her back, things have been busy.

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I received a message on Facebook from a lady who found my Kelley information and asked if I would look in the Kelley book for her Kelley relative Eliza Kelley Bonine. I looked through the Kelley book and did not find Eliza , however, somewhere down the line we maybe able to connect her to this Kelley line.

Blogger Carol Wilkerson over at iPentimento/Genealogy and History had posted a couple pictures which I saw on Facebook of Edgemon's from Ten Mile,Tn. area. I left a comment asking if she was related to the Edgemon's. Carol is related in a round about way. I need to spend some more time searching through the Edgemon information for her Morrison connection.

There was also a lady who e-mailed me from a comment I left on RootsWeb several years ago on the Ziegler line. She is related but I need to type out all of the Ziegler information from a book or maybe I can scan it, since I don't have it on the computer. This will take some time also.

So many things to do and so little time to get it done.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010 Added to Our Thanksgiving Memories

Hope that everyone out there had a great holiday. Our family enjoyed Thanksgiving with my Mom, she is 86 years old. We feel very thankful to still have her with us. We have a small family, mom, me, my husband, two kids, brother and his wife. The food was great and we had a wonderful time.

We had our usual favorite foods, turkey and dressing, pepperoni rolls, pecan pie,sausage balls, cake mix cookies,  hash brown potato casserole, sweet potato pie,fruit salad and broccoli salad. We even tried a new recipe for sweet potatoes. To save on calories  and sugar (which we need to do more of) there were no marshmallows.
Bake the sweet potatoes and scoop out the potato and add crushed pineapple, cinnamon, all spice, ginger, cloves and a small amount of butter. Mix and place in a casserole dish and bake at 400 for 20 minutes. It is so good I think we will add this to our list of favorites.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 9 Cake Mix Cookies

Thought I would share one more recipe with you before Thanksgiving. This recipe was given to me by my sister -in- law years ago. Several years later my mother-in-law gave me the same recipe so I'm not sure which one of them got the recipe first. It is very easy and SO GOOD!
Take the basic recipe and use your imagination.
Cake Mix Cookies
Yellow cake mix
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons water
add
chocolate chips, nuts .....
We love lemon cake mix with the basic recipe and sprinkle with confectioners sugar!
Chocolate cake with chips and nuts, chocolate cake and peanut butter chips.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

Fall in Tennessee

This photo doesn't do justice to the fabulous fall colors in these trees. We don't have the sudden color change like in New England, with the vibrant colors. However there is something to be said for still having color on some of the trees in the middle of November. Sorry this was taken quickly while driving by.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 8 Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie is a delicious Thanksgiving pie. Mom always made pecan pie for my Dad. When I married my husband loved pecan pie. He always said his mom made the Best pecan pie. When we made our annual trips home from New England in November his mom always made pecan pie which we all enjoyed at the Thanksgiving meal. Then as we were leaving she would call him into the kitchen and give him a whole pie. She did this for many years after we moved back home. She told me "I don't want to hurt your feelings, I know you can made Paul a pie. I just want to do this for him because I know how much he enjoys the pecan pie."It never bothered me. I thought it was a special moment shared between a mother and son.

She wrote out several of her recipes, including the pecan pie, and sent them to me a short time after we married.  Several years later she gave everyone a small photo album with some of the favorite family recipes.

As you can see from the recipe card it has been used many times. I've seen recipes for pecan pie which were the same or nearly the same. I think the reason this pie was so mouth watering was it was made with Love!


                                 We miss your pecan pie!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories -part 7 What I'm Thankful For

Thanksgiving 2010 is one week from tomorrow. I have enjoyed putting together my memories of Thanksgivings past. As I have looked through pictures and remembered so many Thanksgiving celebrations it has become clear to me that the most important thing is FAMILY!
I was looking at some pictures of Thanksgiving 2000 with my husband's family and it struck me there are so many of our family no longer with us 10 years later. My Dad, mother -in- law's second husband, my mother -in- law, my sister -in- law's husband, my brother -in- law and 4 aunts and 1 uncle.  So this Thanksgiving the thing I'm most thankful for is the family we still have with us. Even if we don't see each other at Thanksgiving.




                                                 Thanksgiving 2000
                                 My sweet mother -in- law, you are missed!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 6 Special Thanksgiving Recipes!

Have you planned your Thanksgiving menu? I guess most of us have favorite dishes which we make for the holidays and rarely if ever make them when it isn't Thanksgiving or Christmas. The recipe I want to share today is one of my family favorites.
There of course has to be some history before we get to the recipe.  My husband was in the Army, while we were dating he was in Turkey. While there he had a friend named Dan, and during the holidays Dan's mother sent him a box of "GOODIES". All the guys got boxes from their families and they shared. I sent my husband (then boy friend) several boxes during the year he was there.
Dan's box contained some rolls, which my husband said were SO GOOD! Even though they were a bit old from the long mail trip! They were yeast rolls with pepperoni and cheese baked inside. After my husband and I married we had Dan over to eat. I asked him to get the recipe from his mom and he said there is nothing to it just put pepperoni and cheese in a yeast roll recipe and bake! So that was all I had to go on. We have enjoyed them for 25 years! They are best right out of the oven. I have looked in cook books and on the Internet and haven't found them. This is the recipe I use. The last two years my daughter has made the rolls, she has watched and helped for years but she decided she wanted to make them herself.
Pepperoni Rolls
3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening, softened
1tsp. salt
1pkg. regular or quick-acting dry yeast
1/2 cup very warm water (120 to 130 degrees)
1/2 cup very warm milk, scalded, then cooled to 120-130 degrees
 1 egg
sliced pepperoni
1 in.cubes cheddar cheese
Mix 2 cups of the flour, sugar, shortening, salt, and yeast in 2 1/2 qt. bowl. Add water, milk and egg. Beat on low speed, scrapping bowl frequently. Beat on medium speed 1 min. Stir in enough flour to make dough easy to handle.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface, knead until smooth and elastic about 5 minutes. Place in greased 2 1/2 qt. bowl, turn greased side up. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, about 1 hour.
Punch down dough. Divide into about 18 pieces. Place 3 slices pepperoni and 2 cubes of cheese in center of each piece of dough and pull dough up around pepperoni. Roll into ball making sure cheese and pepperoni are covered. Place seam side down in greased muffin pan. Cover and let rise until double, about 30 minutes. Heat oven to 400.
Bake until golden brown 12 to 18 minutes. I rub a little butter on top when done.
Enjoy!!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 5 Thanksgiving at Our House

I can't remember what year it was but we, my husband, kids and I, had Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Since my husband and I moved back home we have always had Thanksgiving at my parents house except for one year.  My brother and his family were going to his wife's family for Thanksgiving dinner. Mom's health had not been good and Dad didn't want mom to over do herself, which she would. So Dad said there was no need in me cooking a meal and bringing it over to their house. He said that he and mom would go out to eat. I told him that they should come to my house but he didn't want mom to have to cook anything and she would if they came over to my house.
Wow! flash back to the Thanksgiving of 1981! My parents eating out on Thanksgiving! When they could come to my house. Here we were just the four of us with our BIG Thanksgiving meal. I remember standing there saying this just isn't right. My husband said next year we are going to your Mom and Dad's house and I said I agree. The next day I told my Dad that it just wasn't the same without them on Thanksgiving and next year we are fixing the meal and bringing it over here. He said OK!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 4 Thanksgiving 1981

First I have to say there are many wonderful, happy memories of Thanksgiving, I hope that no one thinks I'm just telling the sad times.
November of 1981 was a stressful and sad time especially for my Mom. Her mother had died in March of 1981 and her Dad was in poor health. He had a stroke in late October and was in the hospital for two weeks. He died on November 14,1981.
Thanksgiving we knew would be sad. My brother and his wife went to have Thanksgiving with her family.
My Dad knew how tired Mom was after being at the hospital so much. He said there was no need in her cooking a turkey for just the three of us. He said we would go out to eat. Eating out on Thanksgiving!! What a strange thing to do, I know lots of people do it now, but in 1981 it just wasn't that common.

Mom, Dad and I went to Shoney's to eat. I just felt like crying through the meal. Looking around at the people, most were older people, a few young people. There were probably many reasons the people were eating there and not with family. The first Thanksgiving without my grandparents was probably the saddest.
I remember telling Mom and Dad, "I will fix Thanksgiving dinner next time. I just don't want to eat out on Thanksgiving." I don't think that it bothered Mom and Dad like it did me.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Veterans Day

Dad

                                                       Uncle Eugene
                                        Uncle Jake
                                          Uncle Bill
                                           husband - Paul

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories - part 3 Thanksgiving in Tennessee '86-'88

Every Thanksgiving has been spent in Tennessee so what makes the years 1986, 1987, and 1988 special?
My husband was in the Army and we were living in Leominster, Mass. in 1986 and on base at Ft. Devens, Mass.  in 1987 and 1988. The only time we came home was for Thanksgiving, we were home for two weeks. Boy, was I homesick by the time November came!
It is nice to remember those years. My brother and his wife had the family over for Thanksgiving dinner in 1986. My nephew was a small child, he is now 26 years old. My cousin who was there is now a grandmother of two and two more grandchildren on the way. Sadly there are those who are no longer with us, my Dad, Aunt Mildred, Aunt Christan, Uncle Harry (who died Dec. 1986).

The drive down from Mass. was always an adventure. I think it was Nov. 1987 we came through New York City. Wow! I had to read the directions a friend had given my husband. We made it through without getting lost!!

November 1988 we decided we would drive both cars and leave my car in Tennessee. My husband was getting out of the Army in Feb. 1989 and we thought it would be one less thing to worry about when we left Ft. Devens in Feb. 1989. Especially since at that time we didn't know where we would end up living.
After many prayers and job searches  we ended up back home in Chattanooga!

On our drive down in '88 we stopped to get gas. I pulled out and started back on the Interstate and realized that my husband was no where in sight. This was before cell phones! I had to talk on the CB radio! which my husband had put in both cars special for this trip. I pulled over and waited for him ( he was at the gas station looking for me). We made it home safely.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories part 2 Thanksgiving with Great Grandma

Growing up many Thanksgiving days were spent with Great Grandma Ziegler, not sure how unusual it is to be able to spend Thanksgiving with a great grandparent. I would love to hear from others who spent holidays with great grandparents.
Grandma and Great Aunt Christan came to my grandparent's house for Thanksgiving. My Mom and Grandmother cooked the meal. There were other family members there some years but almost always Grandma and Christan were there. Grandma looked forward to coming to "Johnnie's  for Thanksgiving". She always called my grandfather, John Huff Ziegler, Johnnie. It was a celebration of Christan's birthday, Nov. 17,1906, and Grandma's birthday Nov. 30, 1873  , and Thanksgiving all in one. I can't remember for sure but I think they even came the Thanksgiving of 1971, before Grandma died in March 1972.
I don't think I have any pictures of those Thanksgiving celebrations sure wish I did.
My kids were born after all of their great grandparents died so they never knew them. Most of all I wish my grandmothers could have seen my children.
The best part of Thanksgiving was waking up smelling the turkey cooking. Now I'm the one getting up early to get the turkey cooked. Hope my kids enjoy waking up smelling the turkey like I did. Now I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Thanksgiving Memories part 1

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to visit with family and enjoy their company and also enjoy a great meal.
November of 2007 was a special Thanksgiving meal with my Dad's last surviving sister. My Aunt didn't have any children and her husband passed away in June 2005. One of my cousin's in south Georgia e-mailed and said he was coming up to have Thanksgiving with Aunt Betty and wanted us all to come.
We didn't get together on Thanksgiving Day but it was a special day. Many of the cousins came and brought food and shared the day with our Aunt. It brought back many memories of family gatherings at her house. She was always the one who put together all the family gatherings.
left- Aunt Betty, right - my Mom
Aunt Betty had been sick for sometime and taking treatment for cancer. My Mom, kids and I went back to see her again just before Christmas. She died on Jan. 7, 2008.
She was the glue that held the family together, it hasn't been the same since. We miss you!

I have learned if you have a chance to visit family, you should because you never know when it will be too late to see them again.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Thank You!

Thank you to all the people who stopped by yesterday to wish a happy 2nd anniversary. You all made it a wonderful day. I even got a few new followers, which is ALWAYS fun. Genealogy and blogging just seem to go together! It has been fun working on this blog and getting to know other bloggers, those working on genealogy and other fun blogs.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Today Is A Special Day!

Today is special here at Genealogy Fun! Two years ago today I started this blog. I really didn't know what I was doing, still don't sometimes. Blogging has been fun and educational. I have learned so much from the other bloggers.
I started blogging two years ago today but my first follower didn't come until Jan. 2009. Terry Snyder at Desktop Genealogist Unplugged was first, and Becky Jamison at Grace and Glory was my second. They were helpful and encouraging. Sure miss your post Terry! Becky also encouraged me to get on Facebook which has been fun. I have 49 followers now!
I recently had a Farrell cousin contact me after finding this blog. It has been fun e-mailing and sharing information. I haven't broken any brick walls but I am still hopeful that will happen.
Today's post makes 300!! My goal has always been to post 5 days a week but that doesn't happen very often. I am grateful for the time I've had to work on Genealogy Fun.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Genealogy Snobbery

Please check out the great blog post at GeneaBloggers on Genealogy Snobbery. I love genealogy, family history, family research, I'm not a professional, it is just a hobby. I have received encouragement from many other Genealogy bloggers. Sometimes, however, you can feel the snobbery!  Your blog is just not worthy of them reading. Some of their post are all about how others are doing everything wrong. You wonder how many have stopped because they feel like they could never make their blog live up to these standards. Thankfully there are few of these people. Thank you to all the Genealogy Bloggers who have been encouraging to me.

Wordless Wednesday


Pictures from our last vacation, June 2009, to Destin, Fl. Wow makes me wish I was there!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Kelley's 1963

My brother and I with Mom, back in 1963. Another of the photos given to me by my Aunt.

Chattanooga National Cemetery -Tombstone Tuesday


Monday, November 1, 2010

The Kelley Family - April 1966

My Dad's sister gave me this photo several years ago, I'm so proud to have it. We did not have a copy of this photo. Mom and Dad didn't always have the extra money to have pictures made but my Aunt made lots of pictures, I can remember she and my uncle making pictures at all the family get togethers.
Betsy reminded me that I didn't tell you who this was. Left is Me, my Dad, my Mom, and my brother. There aren't a lot of pictures of the four of us so I am proud to have this one.

Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Cemetery

This is a brief history of
the Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church Cemetery. This is from a book listing all those buried at the cemetery, my Aunt was so kind to let me borrow the book and make copies. Many of my Kelley ancestors are buried there. In fact for many years my dad said that this is where he wanted to be buried, next to his mother and dad. At some point he changed his mind and is buried in Chattanooga.
The Long family mentioned are also related, my Great grandmother Newby (Olivia Jane Jennie) was a Long.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Tombstone for T.L. and Janett Farrell

A few days ago I ran across this picture of my Great Aunt Christan Ziegler standing next to the grave of her grandparents. T. L. and Janett Farrell are buried at the Mount Zion Cemetery in Athens, Tn.
I am not sure that I have been to this cemetery but hope to some day.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

If I Had a Genealogy Time Machine, Thanks Lorine

Thank you Lorine over at Olive Tree Genealogy Blog for your post If I Had a Genealogy Time Machine....



This sounded like such a fun game, it may become a regular post here at Genealogy Fun, hope you don't mind. The following was copied from Olive Tree Genealogy Blog
 We call it "If I had a Time Machine..." and it requires you to say what you would do (genealogy-wise only) if you could travel back in time.
The rules are that you can't save a life, and you can't ask questions of your ancestors. In other words, no interaction with the people in the past. You also cannot bring a camera or scanner with you!


But you *can* rescue objects (a family bible, church records, trunk full of family documents....) and you *can* bring one item back with you to study in the present. http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-i-had-genealogy-time-machine.html
The first thing that came to my mind was a scrapbook my Aunt showed me about a year before she died. I'm not sure if she or my Grandmother put the book together. I'm not sure how much genealogy information could be gained from the scrapbook. I thought of this book because it was such a special scrapbook of pictures of my Uncle Eugene who died in World War II. There was a newspaper clipping saying that Eugene had been killed and a church program from the Memorial service which they had for all the young men who died during the War.
To follow the rules of the game, I can't ask questions, so I can't go back and ask my Aunt for the scrapbook. I can't take a camera or scanner to copy the book. I can rescue objects (scrapbook) and bring it back to the present. Here's my problem, I wouldn't want to go back to the day my Aunt showed it to me and just take it.
Wow! So maybe go back to the day the scrapbook was completed and "rescue" it, bring it to the present.

To be honest I would be happy with copies of the things in the scrapbook, but no one knows anything about the book. It would be a genealogy treasure to have this book or the information in it as a tribute to Uncle Eugene to pass down to future generations. I just hope that where ever the book is now it is seen as a treasure.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Starsky



It's hard to get pictures of a black cat! Most of the time Starsky will close his eyes when the flash goes off.
These are pretty good.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Help!

 Help! Bentley may be in jail! Not really, Bentley loves to play! When there is a jacket over the back of a chair he likes to go up under it and reach through.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Morning Glory

 Notice the bee on the left and the butterfly on the right in this picture.

                                 Hope you enjoy the last of my flowers!