Who Are You?

Well, after taking some time off from blogging due to the extremely busy holidays, I'm diving in head first for 2009!

I suspect these people in this photograph are possibly my Wozniak or Wieczorek relatives who resided here in the Chicago area (or maybe they were just visiting?) around 1890-1900. I wrote about them before my unknown ancestors, so now I am asking for your help in identifying just exactly who they are. There are and were many Wozniak and Wieczorek Polish immigrants residing in the Great Lakes area at the turn of the twentieth century. I know that my Great Grandparents Joseph and Mary Wozniak were married in Poland prior to their immigration in the late 1800's, so perhaps it is one of their family members. This is one of many brickwalls I have in regards to my Polish ancestors. My aunt owns the original and I've asked if she knows who these people are but she has no idea and there are no notations on the back of the photograph. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I really want to start 2009 off on a great note! Thanks

Join the fun Blog Caroling....

Thank you to footnoteMaven for starting the traditon of Christmas blog caroling!

I love to sing despite not always knowing the words to the song. So this is the easy part, post the words to the song and raise your voices to the heavens!

I have so many "favorite" Christmas songs, but one of my favorites' is definitely The Little Drummer Boy. I remember watching Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing this at Christmas time on Bing Crosby's Christmas special when I was a little girl...

THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Come they told me, Pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, Pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, Pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the king, Pa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honor Him, Pa rum pum pum pum

When we come.

Little baby, Pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy too, Pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, Pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give our King, Pa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you? Pa rum pum pum pum On my drum.

Mary nodded, Pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, Pa rum pum pum pum

I played my drum for Him, Pa rum pum pum pum

I played my best for Him, Pa rum pum pum pum,rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
The He smiled at me, Pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum

For those of you who would actually like to HEAR Bing and David sing the song together here is it is, courtesy of YouTube:

Dear Genea-Santa....

Dear Genea-Santa,

I have tried very hard to be good this year working on my genealogy research. It wasn't always easy to actually do "real work" around the house. Sometimes I would get tied up with my family tree and forget to dust and clean and yes, I even ordered out for dinner probably a few too many times. I bet I spent a little too much money for all those vital records I ordered too, but I did use my "allowance." I could have saved a little more money if I would have made the trips to the county clerk's office instead of using PayPal too.

Santa, I really did try to be good and make new family connections, cite my sources, digitized some family photos, and continue my family research. Because I was nice instead of naughty, I would like to ask for a couple of presents for Christmas this year.

First of all, I would give up my allowance for one WHOLE year, for my great grandmother Eva Belle Hanaway's family bible. I just know she would have kept one and she would have added all of her children's information as well as her parents. She might have even stuck some family black and white photographs inside too. I really don't know where it is, but it might be in one of my cousins attic just collecting dust. Maybe one of your elves could help look for it!

Second, because I love taking pictures of my children and my family, I would love to have a family picture of my great great grandparents Katharine and Charles Ball with their daughter Alma. That's right Santa, all three of them together, in the same picture. I know it would be real old and in black and white, but that's okay. They don't have to be smiling in the picture. One of these days, I might get desperate and photo shop them together which might look a little strange because the only picture I have of Great Great Grandpa Charles is when he was about 18 years old and the pictures I have of Great Grandma Alma is when she is over forty years old. See what I mean about it looking a bit strange?

Last of all Santa, because my family has the best times just sitting around eating and laughing together, I would love to spend a little time with any of my ancestors you can gather anytime you want (if only in my dreams!)....yep, you see by spending some time together and sharing stories and laughter I'll have some great memories to write about and keep in my heart. I promise I'll even COOK!

Thank you Santa. I love ya!

Pam

Christmas Stocking Stuffer

Santa with Mike and Steve

1991

Picture owned by P. Taylor

All of my children and the rest of my family must constantly endured having their pictures taken and not only for special occasions either. My camera is like another appendage! It is always handy and I use it all the time!

I was so blessed that these two little adorable boys actually sat still while I took this picture! My oldest son Michael is on the left and my nephew Steven is on the right. Mike was three years old and Stevie was just one in 1991 when they sat with Santa without much FEAR. How lucky was I to have captured such a great look on Mike's face! It really was the start of him always giving me or someone else the "look" of having yet another picture being taken of him, for he likes to goof around all of the time. Now, seventeen years later, I must still count out loud to three so he will look at the camera and smile. He has me trained all right.

So, with the Mike and Steve's permission, I am posting this picture for Smile for the Camera. Mike has already told me to file this one in the "archives," but I think I'll frame it and stuff it in his stocking this year!
Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Eight things about me...

Thanks to Elizabeth over at Little Bytes of Life for tagging me with the newest meme going around the genealogy bloggers internet... here it goes...
Here are the rules:

*Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

*Write a blog post about these eight things and post these rules.

*At the end of the blog post, list eight people to get tagged.

*Leave a comment on their blogs telling them they have been tagged.

1. I have been a foster parent since 1987 and have had over 45 children come live with me,
seven of whom I have been blessed to have adopted!
2. I really do love working in both an academic library (full time job) and a public
library (part time job).
3. Being that I work in the library, I also love to read. So many books, simply not enough
time!
4. I have the "gift of gab," I have no problem with public speaking.
5. I love going to the movies. I generally see musicals, comedies, and animation movies. I
usually stay away from violent dramas with horrible language and blood and gore. Not my
style. I just saw Four Christmases with Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn and I loved
it!
6. My favorite food is cheese lasagna with extra sauce and meatballs on the side---Yummy!
Oh, and because I need to eat healthy once in awhile, better give me an Italian tossed salad
with my lasagna!
7. I love going to the beach! Of course, I will bring my large beach umbrella (can't get a
sunburn), my beach chair, a cooler of ice with bottled water and cheese, a beach
bag filled with crackers, a large print book, my MP3 player filled with my favorite tunes,
insect repellent, beach towels, sun glasses, and of course my cell phone! I go PREPARED!
8. When I am driving I do not speed, therefore it usually takes me longer to get anywhere,
which drives my children crazy! It does save me from getting a speeding ticket!

Well, I wanted to tag eight bloggers, but apparently I waited too long. Everyone I visit and even some new ones, have already been tagged. I will try harder next time to respond faster to play tag with a new meme! Happy Holidays Folks!