Progress made this last week but somehow managed not to write anything. I finished going through the “Buddy Line” newsletter for the Underwater Swimmers School last week. So far this week, I took the info I pulled from the “Buddy Line” and filed it in the folders I have set up under different subjects as reference when I actually start writing. I think this information will really be helpful. I don’t know of anything else I should gather or research so no more excuses for not to get started. Hopefully once I start writing it won’t be so painful to keep going. I’m committing to have some writing done by next week’s check in. In a perfect world I’d get at least 500 words written five times by then. Wish me luck!
Tag Archives: family history
50 Jar Gifts: idea #34 – sourdough starter
This post marks my 1000th post since I started blogging. Wow, that kind of blows my mind. Thanks to all my loyal regulars. I really appreciate your hanging in there with me as I figure out just what this blog is all about.
image from tipnut.com
Is someone in your family famous for their sourdough bread and/or pancakes? Wouldn’t it be a great gift to share a start from that family sourdough to other family members? You’d want to include the recipe and instructions for caring for the start of course. What a great opportunity to share a family legacy to the next generation along with stories and memories of good food and company.
While my family has no such tradition that I know of my husband loves sourdough bread. I tried sourdough started a couple of years ago but didn’t keep it up well and finally let it go. I still have some of the original dry started that I order off the internet so I might start it up again sometime. But several months ago a neighbor taught a class on natural yeast, similar to sourdough but you keep it in the fridge. Natural yeast has a rich pioneer heritage and keeping it in the fridge makes it much more forgiving to neglect. I’ve made pancakes, muffins and pizza dough with good success. My first attempt at bread wasn’t good so I’ll have to try that again.
But either sourdough or natural yeast are great for sharing in a jar. You can do it straight or dry out some starter and create a starter kit with the jar included for reconstituting your start. If you don’t have a starter of your own and can’t find a friend with an active starter you can get a dried starter from various sources on the internet or follow the directions to make your own.
image from armommy.com
natural yeast image from foodstoragemoms.com
If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
50 Jar Gifts: idea #33 – hot drinks
80+ drink mix recipes from Budget101.com
It sure felt cold here today. Summer is a thing of the past (and the distant future) and cold weather has me longing for something warm to drink. I have memories of hot chocolate with graham crackers, hot lemon and honey (for colds). I also remember my Grandma liking Postum. I didn’t think too much of that but it reminds me of her. My Dad likes the hot cider mixes. As an adult I’ve done all kinds of hot concoctions to try to warm myself up. Today I did a lime and honey drink. What memories do you have of warm drinks on cold days? Here are a few ideas for packaging hot drink mixes.
from TheFrugalGirls.com
Homemade Cider Mix from The Blessed Hearth
peppermint hot chocolate mix from dailyleisure.com
salted caramel hot chocolate mix from seededatthetable.com
If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
Key West: update
To tell the truth I haven’t done much in the last week on this project. I need to jump back into writing and I’m procrastinating. At least I think that is the problem. I used a bit of a delay tactic today and started scouring the 14 years of the “Buddy Line” (a quarterly newsletter for the Underwater Swimmers School). I found one really good find that goes across multiple issues. A student shared his diary for 1957 while he was at the school. My Dad was an instructor at the time. He is only mentioned by name once but I think reading the daily entries we give me more insight into what it was like. I hope I’ll have more to report next week.
50 Jar Gifts: idea #32 – pretty storage jars
pretty storage jars from decoart.com
When I saw these pretty storage jars, I thought it would be a great way to share the knobs from an old family kitchen when it is time to remodel. What a great way to reminded us of happy times in grandma’s kitchen. The jars could also be from someones old collection. An old piece of furniture that has seen better days might also be a good source for the knobs and the memories. Use your imagination there are probably some other places you could get old knobs. Maybe even something from that wasn’t even knobs would work, machinery parts come to mind. These would make a priceless gift. Click on the photo below for a tutorial.
pretty storage jars from decoart.com
If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
50 Jar Gifts: idea #31 – slime
glitter slime monsters from the36thavenue.com
When my nieces where growing up we had a tradition of getting together for a Halloween party each year. This was partly motivated by one of my sister’s wish to greatly limit the amount of candy her girls ate. But it was lots of fun. I know they would have loved these cute glitter slime monsters. Even though they are grown-up now they might still have fun with them. A family party with a Halloween theme is a great time to share childhood memories of Halloween.
I spent most of my growing-up years in Rexburg where it wasn’t uncommon to have snow for Halloween. You had to plan your costume for warmth as well as looks. The last few years we have done costumes for our puppies in training. We have a Guide Dogs for the Blind Halloween party that includes a costume contest. The best costume we have done so far was the three of us dressed up as M&M. Still have to figure out what we will do for this year with Fable.
glow-in-the-dark slime by apumpkinandaprincess.com
There are lots more slime recipes out there. All would be great with the monster packaging above or just straight in the bottles. The edible slimes sound especially interesting. I hope I find some time to try this out. Click on the image below for a great guide to everything slime.
The Ultimate Guide to Slimes by funathomewithkids.com
If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
Key West: update
I met with my Dad again yesterday to work on his history about the three years he was an instructor at the Navy’s Underwater Swimmers School in Key West, Florida. The goal was to try to make sure that I understand all the equipment etc. that he used. I’m amazed at how much I have learned about SCUBA and what he did there. I’m sure there is still more to know, but it is time for me to get back to writing. That is where I will figure out what I need to know.
Someone started a Facebook group for the Underwater Swimmer School. I created a Facebook account for my Dad so he could be apart of it. Not too many members yet but one was a student while my Dad was there and he remembers him. He even remembers that my Dad was known as Red in those days. He commented on how he lead them in PT drills (I think that was the term he used). I’m not sure what that means. Looks like I already have another question for my Dad.
50 Jar Gifts: idea #30 – firefly lantern
firefly lantern by Ashley Hackshaw at Lil Blue Boo
This idea brought back memories of longing to catch fireflies as a child. I don’t remember ever living where fireflies were common and feeling like I was missing out on something really magical. If you have memories of catching fireflies, these lanterns would be a fun way to share those stories with your family and give them something to remind them of your fireflies. If you are lucky enough to live where there are fireflies it would be so much fun to have a firefly catching outing and then follow it up with a lantern to take home and remind them of that special night. Another option for those with families with lots of firefly catching experiences would be to dim the lights at a family gathering and give everyone a chance to share their stories by the light of these “firefly” lanterns. Make an audio recording to help capture the memories and then share those stories in written form with your family.
firefly lantern tutorial
Click on either of the photos for a detailed tutorial on making the firefly lanterns. If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
I think I need to put catching fireflies on my bucket list.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
50 Jar Gifts: idea #29 – soup mix
Love Soup Mix in a Jar from allrecipes.com
I like soup year round but maybe your thoughts turn to a big pot of soup simmering on the stove as the weather starts to cool. Do you have memories of eating warm and comforting soup, stew or chowder? How about sharing those stories with your extended family along with the fixings for soup all packaged up neatly in a jar. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Painted Desert Chili Mix in a jar from Food.com – photo by PaulaG
minestrone soup in a jar from Prep Ahead and Dine In
Mulitgrain Chicken Soup from ourbower.blogspot.com
Potato Soup Mix from Inner Child Fun
If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.
Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.
Key West: update
This week I got to meet with my Dad twice to talk about his memories of Key West and the Underwater Swimmers School. On Monday we went through some letters and documents, making sure I understood what they were about. I recorded most of that meeting for future reference. At one point we were talking about a TAD (temporary additional duty) and he asked me to turn the recording off. Then he told me some details about that assignment that was very surprising and very off the official record. Not sure how we are going to handle that story. I’m pretty sure all the people who might be adversely effected have died and it is a story that I really want to include so I hope we can figure out a good way to include it. I’m not sharing any detail here in respect for my Dad.
We got together again today and worked on getting things in chronological order, if we end up writing it that way. I put together some hanging files in a file box to organize it. I’ve got most things organized on my computer but that doesn’t help when working with my Dad. He wants and needs to see the things and seeing it on the computer just doesn’t seem to work for him. I’m really glad about how much he is involved in this project. I’m learning more about him and the interesting things he did when he was in the Navy.
telling family tales 