My Life Journal...Diana Lewis

I'm staying with the six page idea vs. the four page only because there's so much information. You can not only find it in the words but also the photos and these are some of the sweetest photos of Diana at Nob Hill. I'm sure all of us can find a photo where we ourselves or one of our family members are sitting in a "swimming pool", it might not have been a wash tub outside maybe it was the sink. I just love sweet innocent photos like these. Her mother was so well organized in noting all of her developmental dates and  foods, Virginia loved her daughter you can tell just by looking at the first few pages of the book. Enjoy the next six pages, 10-15 and be sure to share and let me know what you think. 

Photograph of pages 10 & 11

   Diana at 6 mo. On the floor of

The living room at Nob Hill.

Diana at 7 yr. in

Her “swimming pool”

Diana on the porch at Nob Hill. She was

Eleven months old & this was the picture I sent her Daddy

who was in Greenland. 

July, 1945

In the

front yard

of Nob Hill

at 13 ½ mo.

Here I was

14 mo. Old.

The picture

was taken by

Mother

and Daddy

in the

back yard at

Nob Hill.

Photographs of page 12 & 13

SLEPT

First Week  Diana slept days, cried nights

Second week the same as first week.

Next month She has her nights & days straightened out

REACTIONS

Notices sound of voices  Sept. 1, 1944

First tears  Sept. 20, 1944

Recognized Father and Mother  October 25, 1944

ACTIVITY

Lifts head  November 1, 194

Grasps objects has always been able to hold rattle

Plays with hands Sept. 12, 1944

Sits up (supported) Nov. 25, 1944

Sits up alone Feb. 27, 1945

Creeps June, 1945

Stands with help July, 1945

Walks October 1, 1945

First Words Daddy – Pretty

Walks alone October 1, 1945

Attempts to climb March, 1946

Words together April, 1946

Uses spoon and cup cup- Feb, 1946 – spoon –

You've a little way about you

That is very, very dear,

A pleasant way that always makes

Folks glad to have you near,

That brings a smile to welcome you,

A sigh when you depart,

And that little way about you

Has endeared you to my heart.

Janet

To Diana

From Deborah

(This is hand written in pencil on the back, penmanship looks to be that of a child.)

Easter’s the day for bunnies,

For brand-new BONNETS too…

But better still, it’s just the time

To say HELLO to you!

    To Diana from Grandmother Lewis

April 1 – 1945 

This is just

for your own little,

cute self alone,

On the very first

Valentine’s Day

you have known!

With Love From Great Grandmother Beers

(This was handwritten in black ink on the back.)

Photographs of pages 14 & 15

FOODS

First feeding was at the hospital. Her first orange juice and

cod-liver oil was at one month. Prune juice added 5^th week.

Note changes At the hospital she had a formula of

evaporated milk & water. Dr. changed this to whole

milk and water when she came home.

First solid food Vegetables from the garden at __________

on July 26, 1945.

Drank from glass at eight months

FAVORITE FOODS

At one saltines, orange juice       At two bacon, banana’s, milk

PARENTS’ COMMENTS

During 2^nd year Diana has a great interest in books. At 2 ½

she knew her nursery rhymes quite well and all the alphabet.

During 6^th to 10^th year reads books like mad

During 10^th to 15^th year reads books by the dozens

Tomorrow’s blog post will include a Western Union birthday wish from her daddy along with a sweet birthday card while he was in Ireland. The card is sweet and I have to admit being in a military family myself, my heart breaks when reading about parent and child separation. I know that I’ve been asked about composing a list of all surnames mentioned in the book and their location; I will be posting that on the last posting of Diana Lewis. I’m waiting because this book also has her wedding announcement clippings; those hold additional names, that I will be sharing those later also. 

eBay and Genealogy

    Some of us know you don’t have to leave home to shop or even do our genealogy research. But do we all know about the treasure chest of genealogy wealth you can find on eBay. To be honest I didn't really know what I had until a close and dear friend pointed that out to me.

     Years ago, during one of my husband’s deployments I found this wonderful site on the internet, eBay. Little did I know when I started shopping for story ideas for children’s books that I would find such a treasure.  I would go on in search of antique diaries, letters, journals even baby books. I was so surprised to see how much was there.  I didn't know where to start, from autograph books dating back to 1864, baby book full of memories from a baby girl born in Natick, Massachusetts later moving to Canada . Even letters between father and son during his military enlistment followed the years he served during war.

     For the past few months I've been working tirelessly trying to get all of the photos, letters, documents, diaries, journals and baby books scanned. Along with now working to transcribe all of them, this is an ongoing adventure that has many twists and turns with every page I turn and letter I open.  But an idea that I encourage all of you to at least visit.  If you don’t have the interest in searching other surnames, families, than search for your surnames or one that you’re currently working on. You might even find that one piece of information that completes a chain of events in the lives of your ancestors. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

     I've decided that over the next few weeks I will be posting some pages, photos, cards and newspaper clippings from the baby book I mentioned earlier. "My Life Journal" will share the life of Diana Lewis born 17 July 1944 in Natick, Massachusetts. So I invite you to check in and see what some of her life was like and find out about the family and all included in this book.

     

Treasure Chest Thursday

    
Best little orange box in town that is actually a big box of memories. The old, “Town & Country Shoes,” shoe box was recently given to me by my mom on a holiday trip back home. While we were visiting my parents, we sought through some old family photographs and I was able to bring some of them home. That’s right I brought them home in this “orange shoe box”, but don’t worry I’ve placed them in acid free sleeves and boxes. So my Thursday Treasure Chest is the “orange box” pictured below and I’ve decided to scan a few of the photos in and share, no laughing.




      

The sweet bonnet girl is non other then my mom, Deborah Sue ELFRANK Langston. The rough and tough cowboy and boot wearing cowgirl happen to be my uncle Fred Leroy ELFRANK and my mom.


       

The beautiful lady and handsome man pictured on the left are my grandparents, Martha Colleen CLINTON Elfrank and Fred Henry ELFRANK. Now for the other couple on the right, remember no laughing, yes that’s one of the “Seven Dwarfs” and myself.



Yes that’s me in a pink lace dress, my poor daughter was in shock with this one, it was my junior prom.
 

Just remember some of your treasures might be in a simple shoe box. So pull them out, clear the table, spread them out and share.

Scanning Made Easy

     All of us have that special or favorite genealogy research tool that we use. I’ve recently discovered a new one for myself, “Flip-Pal”. If you haven’t had the opportunity to use one or even see one demonstrated you are missing out. This is a wonderful, light weight scanner that you can carry with you no matter where you go, and it’s so easy to use that my kids can even help.  My favorite new tool that I can’t live without is my

“Flip-Pal”.

     Just imagine sitting on the couch in front of the TV, with your family watching a show while scanning pictures. That’s right sitting on the couch holding the Flip-pal in your lap, with a shoe box of photos to your side. With the simple placement of the photo, face down, on the scanner and a press of the green button you’re done, or you’re scanned.

     Once you’ve scanned your box of photos just pop out the SD card on the side of the scanner. Insert the card into your computer and click to download and save. Once your photos are on your computer you simple erase what’s on you SD card, eject it out of your computer a put it back into your “Flip-Pal”. Now you’re ready to start scanning some more.

     It’s so simple to use, wither you’re a genealogist, scrap-booker or family historian I urge you to visit the site. Click on the link here on my blog and let me know what you think. 

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday - Corn Palace 1962 vs 2010

This picture was taken by my grandparents during a family trip. It’s the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota; it was taken during the warmer months of 1962. 

This is a picture I took of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, South Dakota during one of our family trips in 2010. They were actually putting up new designs when we were there.

Matrilineal Monday - Great Grandmother Emma Josephine HARRENBURG

   

   Now I would like to introduce you to my Great Grandmother Emma Josephine HARRENBURG (Hopper). This is my dad’s grandmother, on his father’s side, her parents were Cornelia Josephine GRAY, born in Alabama, and her dad was Charles HARRENBERG, born in Missouri.

  

   Great Grandma Emma Josephine HARRENBURG (Hopper) was born 31 AUG 1890 in Missouri. She married Robert Nathanial Elmer HOPPER on 11 NOV 1912 when she was 22 years old. She lived in Cape Girardeau with my Great Grandfather after their marriage. She had five children Mary Angelina HOPPER, Charles Garrett HOPPER, Robert Eugene HOPPER, Carrie Lee HOPPER and my grandmother Lena Katherine Elizabeth HOPPER. She passed away 31 May 1966 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

     Just like my past post on my Great Grandmothers, I wasn’t around when they were with us. So I had to rely on what I remember about any stories, which was not a lot. So I turned to my dad to ask what he remembered about his grandmother. He remembers her being a very head strong lady set in her ways. She was a professional piano player that spent most of her childhood in schools in Germany. It was probably her love of the piano that drove her to trying to convince my dad to play the piano; he didn’t have any real desire to play and never did. One of the fondest memories that he has of her was during Christmas, she would make the best hot coco, and he still believes there’s no other hot coco like it.

     I’ve only touched the surface as to what Emma Josephine HARRENBURG (Hopper) was like. I have the strong suspicion that there’s a lot more that I’ll learn about her as time goes on. I’ll be sure to share those findings as they come to the surface of my search into her and her family. 

Orphan Photo - What a Nice Hat on Man

The hat makes this picture along with the expression on the man behind him. I really don’t know a lot about this photo; expect this is one I bought off eBay and there was possible celebration of sorts. 

Is Adolf Hitlers Name on this Photo - 1931

     I'm in need of some help with this wonderful photo that has some information on the front and back. I'm sure some of it is quite interesting, that's why I'm asking for some help. If you remember a couple of days ago I posted a picture on "Tombstone Tuesday", well this photo is out of the same photo album that I purchased while we were stationed in Germany.

     I've believe on the bottom of the photo the first word is Ansbach, which is a town in Germany, and the year at the end of writing is 1931. If you'll notice in the actual photo there is an "X" over one lady's face and a red arrow with a word drawn down to another lady's face. 

     Now for the back of the photo you will probably be able to quickly spot what appears to be a familiar name, "Adolf Hitler". The number of the top is possibly a house number, 1662, I'm not really sure yet. Now for the rest of the information on the back, I'm at a complete loss. This is where I'm hoping that some of you might be able to help me out. 

Wordless Wednesday - Fred Henry Elfrank

This is a photo of my grandpa, Fred Henry Elfrank. It was taken in front of the capital building in Victoria, Canada on June 1963.

Tombstone Tuesday - Ghostly Germans

If there was any photo of a tombstone I could find that would give me the heebie-jeebies this one would be it. The information I have on this photo is very limited. I’m still researching on the family.  This was one of the photos in an album I purchased while in Germany. So as you can imagine I’m still working on the German penmanship. I just couldn't resist posting this; I defiantly did a double take the first time I saw it.   

Matrilineal Monday - Great Grandma Essie Mae STEWART (Clinton)

     

     Great grandma Essie Mae STEWART (Clinton) was born 4 November 1880 in Daviess, Indiana. Her parents were Stewart and Dicey Bugher. She married Edd Clinton on 8 August 1897; they migrated to Missouri around 1910 and settled in Sikeston, MO where they raised corn, soybeans, melons and some cotton. Around the mid 1940’s they purchased a stock of farm in the Perryville, Mo area. That is where Great grandma Clinton passed away on 30 January 1957 at 76 years of age. Great grandma and Great grandpa Clinton had seven children; Kenneth, Ora, Frank, Nellie, Eldon, Edra and Martha.

   

  I picked my mom’s brain again and asked what she remembered about my Great grandma Clinton. Once again I wasn't around so I never got the opportunity to meet her. As stated above she lived on a farm and they weren't a wealthy family, as far as money goes. She was a farming wife in every since of the word, lived off what the land had to offer. My mom recalls that when she and her brother, LeRoy, would go to visit. She was never allowed to go down to the barn with her brother and grandpa. That was not a place for girls as far as her grandmother; my Great grandma Clinton was concerned. I’m just guessing, but I’m pretty sure Great grandpa Clinton wouldn't have mind. She remembers helping with the little lambs and bottle feeding some of them with Great grandma Clinton.

    

  Now for the swinging chicken, I remember the story on this one also. Remember Great grandma Clinton was a farmer’s wife without question, when it would come time to prepare a chicken she was the one to collect. She would go out to the chicken coop and grab the best one for the night, pick it up and swing it in the air, above her head until it snapped. I picture a cowboy twirling a lasso above his head, but instead it’s my Great grandma with a chicken.

    

 The house they lived in was built by my grandpa, Fred Elfrank and my Great uncle Scott, it’s pictured below. When mom was reminiscing about what she remembered one memory was of the porcelain pot that set in the corner of their bedroom. She didn't want any form of plumbing in the house; they had a bathtub and sink basin but no toilet, just the porcelain pot. I guess some change was okay but they wanted to take it slow. Mom recalls great grandma sitting in the corner rocking chair rocking back and forth shaking a mason jar making butter; no they didn't have a churn. She also kept baby chicks in the fenced in on the back porch.

  

   Like I said they weren't a wealthy family when it comes to money and as for the photos, they were taken on a special occasion. It was her and Great grandpa Clinton's 50^th wedding anniversary that brought together many friends, the pictures were one of the gifts that they received from their children. I’m so grateful that this was a gift they received, because now I have received that same gift, and now I’m sharing that gift with all of you and my kids.  

Orphan Photo

I’m at a complete loss on this photo as for location and names. It does look as if there are a lot of people lined up to watch some event that is taking place in an open field.  I believe that is a camera she is holding in her lap. And the sun glasses look like they could be aviator glasses. There isn’t anything noted on the back, this was another one of those wonderful finds off of eBay.   

Wordless Wednesday

This is a photo that I bought off eBay; I don’t know the name of the couple. Maybe they are at New Year’s celebration; they look like they are enjoying it.

Wordless Wednesday - 1963

This is a photo of my grandma, Martha Colleen Elfrank,

taken on a boat going to Victoria, Canada June 1963.

Tombstone Tuesday - Elfrank

This is the tombstone of my grandparents. Martha Colleen Elfrank a strong willed and lovable woman. Fred Henry Elfrank, a loving grandfather and hero.

Photo of the Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t know who these girls are but on the back of the

photo is a US Army Examiner Base 1718 stamp.

2013 Resolutions with some Reflections

     It’s time to welcome in the new year of 2013; I’m sure most of you already know that. I’m just trying to figure out if I’m supposed to reflect back on my two months of blogging. Maybe I should blog about my resolutions of what I hope to accomplish with my blog and genealogy research. Since I don’t have a lot of blogs to reflect back on why not combine both, the reflection and my resolutions.

     I wasn’t really sure about blogging when I was first approached; it was defiantly new and kind of scary for me, as some of you know. But a wise lady told me that you just have to jump in and give it a try, step out of your box. That I did and I’m so glad because I have truly enjoyed every aspect of it, as I hope you’ve gotten a joy out of reading my blog. I still have a few things to look into that I made reference to on previous post. Finding out more about the small cemetery our neighborhood, I still need to find a Halloween photo of my dad; I need to look into a “Military Genealogical Society”.  I think those are the stones left unturned that I still need to flip over, so I’ll carry those over to my resolutions for 2013. Reliving my Christmas past with the blog prompts from http://geneabloggers.com was very entertaining. There were so many things that I had forgotten about, the store front at Hutson’s, plastic bread bags on our feet and the Jell-O recipe. What’s nice is there were so many more memories that came to light and I enjoyed sharing those with my family, we all had a laugh or two.

     I, like all of you want to complete my genealogy research on my family and my husbands. As I said earlier I need to carry over the Halloween photo hunt for my dad, uncover the mystery of the neighborhood cemetery and look into that “Military Genealogical Society”. I hope to attend one of the large, informative, fun and wonderful genealogy conferences again this year either the NGS or FGS. Finish my genealogy class and take some additional genealogy classes. I plan on completing the scanning of all letters, diaries, photos and other documents that I’ve collected over the years. Then transcribing them for others to view, who knows maybe I have information on a surname you or someone you know might be searching for. I want to promote my blog, business and myself more in this coming year thru education with the youth, giving speeches, client work and through my blog. First and foremost have a blast doing all of it because without the fun and enjoyment of genealogy research it just becomes work and none of us like work.

Halloween Treat found in December

     Who knew I would be bringing home a treasured shoe box of memories from this last visit back home. My mom and I sat down at the dining room table last week, during our family Christmas, and went through an box of old and some not so old, photos.

     It was quite funning hearing the comments from my kids about their grandparents, great-grandparents, even my husband and I. We had a wonderful time laughing and trying to remember who some of the people were and where some of those photos were taken. If you remember last month I posted about seeking a photo of my grandparents or parents during Halloween. Well jack pot we found one in that old shoe box of photos. It took her only a few minutes to remember that it was a Halloween photo, I’m so happy. It was taken in 1960 and I believe it was at her house in the living room, she was dressed as a little girl with her dolly, sucker and even a big silk bow in her hair.

     So for those of you who were on a search like I was, don’t give up I’ve at least found one.

                                

Advent Calendar - Holiday Travel

     Traveling during  the Christmas holiday is something that most families due; either by car, plane, bus or even train. We did a lot of traveling during the holidays while stationed in Germany. One year we flew to Paris during the Christmas holiday. Some might think that would have been the most memorable; sure we enjoyed it but nothing like Garmisch.

     When traveling through the mountains in Germany it takes your breath away. It was an endless picture of nature at its best. The closer we got to Garmisch and the German guesthouse it only got better. There were blankets of white as far as the eyes could see.  The kids would even stop arguing and watch the snow fall. We couldn’t believe how big some of those flakes were. When they would hit the window you could see each flakes design.  It was about a four to five hour drive that the kids would do again and again. That should tell you how much we enjoyed those trips.

     We do miss it and plan on visiting the same area again. Who knows maybe in many years to come we will travel that way again with our kids and grandkids.