Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

from

Our House to Yours!

"Rule Breakers" In The Family?

Violet and Cecile White

I found this photograph of my grandmother Cecile White Howard (1917-1983) and her sister Violet White Hicks (1920-2005).    The sign in the middle says "DANGER  KEEP OFF". I don't know the story behind the picture, but it would appear we have a couple of daring rule breakers in the family!  I wonder of Grandmother White (Stella Holyfield White) knew.

If any White family cousins know the story behind this photograph, I would love to hear  (and share) it.

Blog Caroling

I'm happy to join in the blog caroling tradition started over at Footnote Maven. It's my first time "singing" on the blog.  What fun!

This is the time of year full of  high school choral concerts in our area.  There is a lot of talent in our area and it is a treat to hear the students sing.  

I am sharing Hark the Herald Angels Sing performed by a local high school choir a couple of years ago.  Enjoy!

Please, No More John Whites!

My research focus recently has been on my White family line out of Surry County, NC.  Another research and I are working hard to untangle the White families.  A daunting task to say the least.

My line looks like this:

Cecile White (my grandmother)  (1917-1983)

 James Abe White     (1891-1967)

 Thomas Jefferson White   (1851-1922)

 Joseph White    (Abt 1802-Abt 1881)

John White      (b. Abt 1770)
                                                         

These relationships are well established.  It's with Joseph's father John White where the research starts getting difficult.  There are John Whites in multiple NC counties and VA.  In the NC Will Index there are 34 John Whites listed scattered throughout NC.  Not one of them is the right one!

"My" John White and his sons came to Surry County likely in the late 1820's.  But where did they come from?   With which White family do they connect?  Many (unsourced) online trees have the family coming from Warren County, NC or possibly Granville County.  This is a very real possibility and one I'm checking out.

The search continues......

Addicted to Genealogy?

Who me?

(I hear my family laughing in the background.)

Are you?  Not sure?

Visit Dee at Ancestrally Challenged and read her post 100 Signs You Are Addicted to Genealogy.  It is a fun read!

I particularly liked #71:

Your ideal genealogy tool would be a time machine so you can go back in time to talk with your ancestors and get all those burning questions answered.

Did I mention I am a Dr Who fan, too?

Advent Calendar - Our Christmas Tree Tradition

I am participating in the Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories this month. I'll be sharing Christmas memories throughout the season -- some old and some new. This is a re-posting of a post I did  December 2009. It's one of our favorite traditions!

We have a unusual Christmas tradition in our family. We name our Christmas tree every year. It started many years ago we as my husband and I got a Christmas tree that leaned. We spent a long time trying to get that tree straight in the stand only to realize the trunk of the tree was straight about 2/3 of the way up. Then the trunk went off at an angle. We had a leaning tree. (Thank goodness the cats did not try to climb it!) We dubbed the tree Eileen.

Believe or not the next Christmas we had "Eileen, Too." Yep, that tree leaned, too.

The next year? We had George Straight.

Ever since then, we've named our Christmas trees. The names are never planned in advance. We let the tree "speak to us". This year we have Homer (because we got it at Home Depot) with us for the month of December.

How Is Your Holiday Shopping Going?

Need a little help?

Don't forget to check out Esther's Place - Heritage Gifts by Lisa.  (There is a button on my sidebar to take you there.)

You will find great personalized gifts such as Coasters, Decorative Tiles and Scrabble Tile Necklaces.  The Wine Glass Charms are proving very popular.  All feature photographs of your ancestors and/or relatives.

Here is a fun idea!  What mother would not enjoy having a scrabble tile necklace the the sweet face of her child/baby on it?  Teenagers also enjoy this necklace with their own photograph on it. Me?  I'm partial to my  great grandparents' photographs. (Of course, I am the family historian!)

Scrabble Tile Heritage Necklace

Not sure what a family member will like?  Not to worry.  Gift Certificates are now available.

Since these gift items are custom orders, don't wait too long to place your order!