I vividly remember my Grandma and Grandpa Stone’s pink brick home on Eden Hill. Their home was perched atop a hill, overlooking their sweet cherry orchard, with a near panoramic view that opened to the west and the north. During my early years, I knew these Grandparents the least, because of their annual departure south to Bradenton, Florida. But what I DID know, was because of my Grandmother’s letters. She …Read the Rest
Family History
Wallaker Creek Fun
What did kids do during their free time in the 1950’s? There were no video games, or hundreds of channels on TV if you had one, nor computers. Kids had to create their own entertainment with the blessing of parents …Read the Rest
Twin Orr-chards Once a Traditional Farm, Now a CSA Farm
Last week I popped in at my cousin’s estate sale. She was selling items that belonged to her family that she reluctantly needed to let go, due to lack of space. She surprised me with our Grandma’s red Pyrex applesauce …Read the Rest
Not an Ordinary Tree By Any Means
So why do I say this is no ordinary tree? It is a century apricot. This tree was planted by my Great Grandparents, John Jacob Lipp and Ada Thalman Lipp. Apricot trees typically mark the first sign of spring in an orchard. It is …Read the Rest
My Centenarian Grandmother
Happy 118th birthday, Grandma Orr. My grandma spent a lot of her youth living with grandparents while her mother did laundry in the lumber camps around Honor in the NW Lower Peninsula of Michigan. She attended a one room country …Read the Rest
‘Tis The Season
Bells ringing in front of stores and malls toll in the Christmas season. Christmas tree sales popping up in front of store parking lots. Wreaths and garland gaily topped with red ribbon, hang on display racks in front of grocery stores. Cold weather finally …Read the Rest
A Chicagoan’s 1890’s Paradise: Epworth Resort and Assembly
It’s a cold day here in Wisconsin, so I am letting my mind wander to the hot days of summer. I wonder about living in the post Victorian era in Chicago with a hot summer like we had this …Read the Rest
NW Michigan Orchard Farmlife in the 50’s & 60’s
Horticulturist. That is what I said my father was. I discovered this fancy term for farmer from my guidance counselor after a secondary education assessment, a test to see what vocation would best suit my interests, talents, abilities. As an aside, …Read the Rest
Scottish, Irish, or Both?? Roots Part 2
Image via Wikipedia With Marc Gunn‘s Irish & Celtic Podcast running in my iPod, I begin another story of tracing my roots. I grew up always believing I was solidly Scottish on my mother’s side of the family. Then as my peer …Read the Rest
Tracing My Roots From Appleton,WI Part 1
“Who are these people and how are we related?”!! Being the next to the youngest child on both my mother and my father’s side of the family caused me to ask this question often as a young child and later …Read the Rest
The Good Ol’ Summertime
It is Sunday afternoon as I write this and it is VERY HOT! I am in northwestern Michigan, without air-conditioning, and trying to remember what I did before I was fortunate enough to have a home with air. I remember, many …Read the Rest