Where did the time go . . .

April has been a busy month for this blogger. I had every intention to post thoughts, ideas & stories about my Family Museum, but was distracted by many things.  One of which was looking for some photographs of a family friend whose mother and my dearest friend passed away several years ago. He told us that after his mom passed away, he realized he had only a few pictures from his childhood and of his mom. So we told him I had a box full of pictures and will be thrilled to give them to him.

Well . . .  I can’t find them! I searched everywhere, cleaning out closets, going through boxes & files along the way, but didn't that box. This search also made me go through our Memory Boxes. I thought maybe his pictures got mixed in our boxes. After going through all of them and even making new ones, I still didn’t find his pictures. But I haven’t given up. That box is probably right under my nose, but for the life of me, I can’t find it. But I will!

Also during April, I had received by mail (I hadn’t received a formal letter address to me in the mail for years). It was from a local community’s Genealogical Club and they want me to address their members about how they can create their own Family Museum. The gentlemen who wrote the letter saw my book at the local library and invited me to give a lecture. How thrilling. I had not yet given any talks on my book so this is a challenge I am ready to take. But now I have to put together a Power Point Presentation. Wish me luck. I have never put one together before so I am learning as I go. Thankfully, our library offer classes on how to do this, so you bet I will be there. After I have accomplished this fete, I might offer this how-to class online for everyone who wants to create their Family Museum. So stay tune . . .

Then yesterday was my daughter’s birthday
and we celebrated all day long, going out on an excursion to historic Smithfield, home of Virginia peanuts & bacon. We took the ferryboat across the James River.
It's a lovely town filled with Victorian homes, antiques stores & restaurants. We browsed through the stores where I
saw this unique way of displaying antiques.
We had a delicious lunch, then drove around the town, got back on the ferry to home.

We grilled some great German Sausage and served it with Sauerkraut. Yum! She opened her gifts and we
just enjoy the fine weather and dining out on our
veranda, talking and making plans for our next excursion.

So here it is, almost the last day in April and I felt it was a good time for me to write and post a blog and to let you all know that I will do better next month. I have so many stories and pictures to share about why it is so very important to have a Family Museum. Until next month . . .     

February . . . a busy month!

Almost one week into February and the month is off to its usual winter pace with the Ground Hog predicting another 6 weeks of winter. Burr!

Super Bowl is over and I am always glad to see the underdog win. Go Eagles!

 

  

As this month progresses, here in my household are several celebrations.  Starting with Monday, our Cockatiel “Jazz” turned 23 years of age. That is 92 in people years. He can’t fly anymore but he certainly takes his place in our family, letting us know in no uncertain terms what he wants. Happy Birthday, Jazz!

My husband’s birthday is next and is also on President Lincoln’s Birthday, so we celebrate it with a homemade Log Cabin cake and of course, lots of candles, now numbering 78, and gifts.

Then comes Valentine’s Day. What does this day mean to you? For me and my family, it is a good day to acknowledge each other in a loving way with perhaps a box of candy, some fresh flowers, maybe a pizza? How about a bottle of Champagne with that slice of pepperoni pizza? Sounds good to me!

Next is Mardi Gras. Purple, green & gold beads, King Cake, Beignet & Chicory coffee! If you go to New Orleans, want a special occasion it will be.



On February 16^th, a new Chinese Year begins, this time it is the Year of the Dog. If you like astrology, Chinese predictions are fascinating. https://chinesenewyear2018.com/

In essence, whatever animal sign you are, it is the spirit of that animal that lives in your heart. I should know because my family is an eclectic group of animals: hubby is an Ox, methodical and stubborn. Me, I am a Tiger, there is not much more I can say here. Our daughter Tiffeni is a Dog, and this is her year, so watch out world, here she comes. And Charlie is a Rabbit. At 6’2 with eyes of blue, he is gentle and fun. I will offer a bit more on Chinese astrology later.

 

Then the weekend of the 17^th to the 20^th, Tiffeni will be giving a lecture on Friedrich Froebel at High Point University in High Point, NC. Froebel is the founder of Kindergarten and Tiffeni is a pedagogue and dedicated to bringing his educational methods back into our schools. When you have the time, check out this website to learn more about Froebel.  http://historyofkindergarten.com/

While she is there, I will be making a visit to the Reynolda House Museum in Salem, NC.  http://reynoldahouse.org/ 


This is where I got my inspiration to create my Family Museum. I explained the entire story in my book, available on https://www.amazon.com/Create-Family-Museum-Save-History/dp/0788457640/ref=sr
or from the publisher https://heritagebooks.com/ Hopefully, I will be able to have my book offered in their museum store.

 

 

And as this month unfolds, we will soon launch our website Goesel Woodshop. In several of my past blog posts I have mentioned how my husband makes toys and other fine wood products. When the website is finished, I will announce it here on my blog and then you can see our wonderful products.

 

 

That’s it for now, so Happy February to you all. And don’t forget, each holiday offers a memory to save and do so, whether it is a gift or photograph, put it in your Family Museum. Haven’t started it yet? Now is a good time as ever to do so.

 

 

 

New Year Resolutions

New Year Resolutions? Did you make any, even one? According to recent statistics about half of you made at least one New Year's resolution. But the statistics are not promising, nor are the ones we make to our self. So what are some of these impossible resolutions made and not kept?

I researched the internet to find out.

WOW! Too many to list and really, I think you all know what most of them are, so I won’t repeat them here. But there were two statements I did find that relate to my blogs purpose, one from an unconstructive point-of-view, the other, constructive.

The first one: “Out with the old, in with the new: may you be happy the whole year through. Happy New Year!”
You may ask, what is so off-putting?
When things get old or are not used anymore, people tend to throw them away. Don’t! Things of age do have value and that value is in its history: who owned it, how was it used, what stories about it could it tell if given a chance. If everything old is replaced with something new, it cannot replace character such as charm, oddity, originality, personality, relevance. Of course I am not talking about, say a toaster or jigsaw puzzle that is missing a piece. I am talking about heritage; legacy, tradition, custom, culture. Did you stop to think that what is in your hand heading for the dumpster may contain all this? You bet it does and it should be saved. Therefore, “Keep the old, replace only what is needed.”     

Which takes me to the second statement: “A new year is like a blank book, and the pen is in your hands. It is your chance to write a beautiful story for yourself. Happy New Year.”
This is a good New Year resolution!
Open that box in the attic, basement, storage unit, or where ever. Take out the thing that has been regulated to the dark and shed a new light on it. Write down the history of the item, what you can remember is a good exercise for your little grey cells. If you are at a loss, ask someone else in the family. Take a picture of it, share it with them and have some fun being a detective. And once the mystery is solved, take care of it. Clean it, restore it, and give it a new life. And then show it off. Create a special place for your special things.

Need help? My book, Create a Family Museum and Save Your History is available on the publisher’s site https://heritagebooks.com/ and on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/             
The book will show you how to create a Family Museum in your home.

So as you end this year and begin a new year, make those resolutions, if for anything, at least as a check list of what you want to change or accomplish. It is always good to make lists, to write down what is important to you and especially to your family. And get them involved, too. After all, your family’s history is and should be on displayed and appreciated.

                                                                                                          Happy New Year!