Tag Archives: family history

50 Jar Gifts: idea #28 – autumn leaf candle holders

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autumn leaf mason jar candle holder by sparkandchemistry.com

While the leaves in the valley are still green, the trees in the mountains are starting to change colors. The weather can’t make up its mind yet weather it is summer or fall, but I’m sure that autumn colors are just a few more weeks away. Does your family have a special tree? One with a tree house or just a favorite spot it sit in the shade and enjoy the summer? This idea would be a great way to share the memories and stories of a tree with special significance in your life. If you have a tree like that, how about gathering some leaves from it this fall and make a batch of these beautiful candle holders. I can imagine a family gathering (large or small), have a bunch of these candle holders gathered on a table or scattered around the room or even on a deck or patio. Light them and then turn out the lights. What a great atmosphere to share a family story with a connection to that tree or let others share their memories connected to that special tree. It would be a memorable event. Then let everyone take home one of the candle holders.

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos29

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

Key West: update

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My Dad and I got together today to talk more about his memories of Key West. It was good to talk and ask more questions. I recorded most of it for future reference. Part of the discussion was about how to approach the writing and the perspective to write it from. Gradually I think our vision is becoming clearer. I must have hope that we will figure this out if we just keep working at it and learning how to do it. Friday afternoon we will be getting together again. My parents are in town for the next couple of weeks.

Couple of other developments on Key West. Last week when I was researching I came across a book called “The Streets of Key West.” It included a 1950’s street map of Key West. I got the copy ordered through Barnes and Noble from a Goodwill in Florida. I think it will have some interesting bits of history. Found out today that someone as created a closed Facebook group for the Underwater Swimmers School. They emailed me because my address it their contact with my Dad. I joined the group and then realized that I really need to make a Facebook account for my Dad. No one knows me and there is no way for them to easily tell that I’m his daughter. So I’ll be getting a new email address for him and set up a Facebook profile for him. It could be a great source of information for this project and a good way to share what we are doing with those who would be interested.

Now I just need to get back to writing. I haven’t gotten to it so far this week and with a new puppy coming tomorrow it will be challenging to focus. But I must find a way. Anyone have any tricks or suggestion?

50 Jar Gifts: idea #27 – Apples

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Caramel Apple Kit from thegunnysack.com

We have a pear tree in our back yard and I’ve been dealing with too many pears for several weeks. One night Emma even helped out by helping herself to several while she was home alone. She also loves to pick up the windfall ones off the ground and run around with them. She is getting pretty good at bringing them to me. I think pears will always remind me of Emma.

Did your family have a fruit tree growing up? What memories do you have of apples or pears or other fruit, maybe at your grandma’s house. Here are some really fun ideas for jar gifts to do with apples. Some of them are easily adapted to other fruits. They would make a great jumping off point for sharing a memory of fall fruit harvests or other traditions centered around apples etc.

Apple Butter found on indulgy.com via Pinterest

homemade apple cider mix from The Blessed Hearth

Simmering Spices from ladybehindthecurtain.com

pie in a jar from ourbestbites.com

apple with caramel cream cheese dip by Jo and Sue

apple pie filling in a jar from mommyskitchen.net

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos28

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #26 – Football Season

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jar project from JoAnn Fabric and Crafts

Many families have a rich tradition for football season. There are bound to be some great stories centered around the game. Maybe one of these sports themed jar ideas would help to start the story telling process during the next half-time or drive to or from the game. My sister and I both played volleyball in college and our parents came to almost every home game and many of the away games. It would be interesting to know what their favorite memories are of that season of our lives. Maybe I should take the football theme and tweak it for volleyball and find an occasion to use it as a bridge to learning their memories of BYU volleyball. How about your family? Do they have a strong sports tradition?

Mason Jar Football Brownie Treats By Courtney Whitmore, on eHow.com

from Kasey Kilpatrick via pinterest put a team scarf and nail polish in the school colors in a jar

Football Cozy via blovelyevents.com

sports shaped cookies in a jar from the decorated cookie

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos27

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

Key West: update

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I found an introductory SCUBA class. It lasts about an hour and costs $25. Not bad. I think I’d better wait for my seasonal allergies to pass before I jump into the pool. Popping my ears doesn’t work to well when my noses is stuffed. Plus the last week or so my allergies are driving me crazy. Too much time outside one day sets me up for a really bad day the next day.

I’ve had mixed success on writing 500 words per day. I was good last Wednesday, but Thursday and Friday not a word was written. Monday I did my 500 words and worked on a list of possible stories that might be included in the book. On Tuesday I got my 500 words in but it was a late night rush to get it done. I did better today having just finished my writing along with some research on the building of the railroad into Key West and the Castro revolution.

One thing I found helpful this week, that I finally did last time I chatted with my Dad about Key West. I used my phone to record the conversation so I could refer back to it and not worry about taking notes. I also took a short video clip with my camera of how to clear the water out of your face mask. I highly recommend it. Both have been helpful. With today’s technology it is super easy to do.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #25 – Jack-O-Lantern Jar

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jar-o-lanters from Southern Living

With September here and summer officially over with the passing of Labor Day, I’m sure that Halloween will be just around the corner. I so want to make some of these Jack-O-Lantern jars. They would look great on my front porch to welcome trick or treators. The jars could also create a great opportunity to share stories of your own childhood Halloween traditions or a fun Halloween story from an ancestor. These are simple enough to make that you could gather some of the younger family members and have some fun making them together. Start saving empty jars and try this out. Click the image above for directions. Here are a few more Halloween inspired jar ideas.

from notsoidlehands.com

frosted glass jars from creatinglaura.com

from gleefulthings.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos26

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

50 Jar Gifts: idea #24 – bird feeder

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from the GardenRoofCoop.com ideas for four different jar bird feeders

Do you have a birdwatcher in your ancestors? A bird feeder would be a great way to share that joy of birdwatching along with stories about that family member. Some of the ideas use old plates or saucers as part of the bird feeder. I can imagine spending a quiet morning watching the birds and sharing family stories. If you have some old plates to use that could make another connection to the past. Here are a few tutorials on how to make bird feeders from jars:

from Old Time Pottery

from RunnerDuck.com

from LittleHouseLiving.com

ideas for several kinds of bird feeders via simply-living-simply.com

from celynnssunflowerpatch.blogspot.de

from q-made.blogspot.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos25

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

Key West: a new challenge

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practicing in the pool at U/WSS in Key West

Yesterday I spent some time chatting with my Dad about his memories from the Underwater Swimmers School. As he was explaining how different parts of the SCUBA equipment work he came up with and idea that is both exciting and scary. He wants me to take a SCUBA class. That is not something that I’ve ever thought of having on my bucket list. While the thought is kind of scary and invokes claustrophobic images in my head, I think it would really give me some insight into this history and even other volumes of my Dad’s Navy experience. So I’ve add finding a class to my to do list for the week.

I’ve been working on writing at least 500 words on this project everyday. It is rather haphazard now but I’m doing it and that is a very good thing. My parents are heading back to Idaho tomorrow. I’d hoped they would stay down until the end of next week so I could get with my Dad some more but my Mom really want to get back home. They will be back in a couple of weeks.

I had no idea where this story project was going to take me when I started. It is stretching me in so many ways I never imagined. It is good to learn and do new things especially as I get older. I don’t want to get so old that I’m not willing to try to do new things. What ways have your family story projects helped you to learn new things?

50 Jar Gifts: idea #23 – hanging vases

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Mason Jar Hanger by Midwest Finds via MasonJarCraftsLove.com

When I think of my Grandma Jenson I often think of flowers too. We had a family reunion recently and when Grandma Jenson came up the conversation also included memories of her lilac bushes and hollyhocks. She was also very proud of her Amaryllis and other houseplants. I great way to share memories of Irene would be to put some lilacs in one of these great hanging jar vases and give them to a family member along with a story about Grandma either verbal or written or both. Tell the story and include a written copy along with the vase. Chances are every time that family member say that vase they would think of Irene. Do you have an ancestor or living relative who loves flowers? Here are several different ideas for hanging vase jars.

beaded jar vases from PrettyHandyGirl.com

tutorial by intimateweddings.com

this tutorial by 17apart.com includes a frog for the top of the jar

upcycled baby food jars from HGTV.com

If this idea inspires you, let me know. I’d love to share your project here too.jar gift logos24

Want some more ideas? Visit my Pinterest board dedicated to jar gift ideas.

Writing Challenge: day 58

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The last day of the Armchair Genealogist‘s writing challenge has finally come. Kind of unbelievable. At times I wondered if I’d ever get through it but I was determined, no mater how long it took me to complete this. One of my goals with the challenge was to make a regular habit of doing something toward my Dad’s Key West history. For the most part I’ve accomplished that. I’ve also learned how much I still have to learn about writing creative non-fiction. But I have a plan for continuing to move forward with the history and improving my writing skills. Here are highlights of Lynn’s advice on the last day of her 28 day family history writing challenge:

  •  Take a lesson from this challenge and enlist the help of others.
  •  Continue to improve your craft.
  •  Find your ideal time.
  •  Plan your writing.
  •  Seek deadlines and accountability.
  •  Believe you are a writer.

The last one hit me the hardest. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “I’m not a writer.” I am now vowing to never utter those words again. I certainly won’t become a writing if I keep saying that. To accomplish my goals I need to become a writing. The other one that needs some attention is finding an ideal time to write. While I’ve gotten this done almost everyday during the challenge, I haven’t been consistent with the time. So I’m setting a goal to figure out when that is and try it and adjust until I really do find the best time to write everyday.

Thanks to all of you who have stuck with me through this challenge. I think I’ll do at least weekly updates on how the Key West history is doing.