A new Granath family photo

The Granath family, circa 1940, Hobbs, New Mexico.

I dont have an exact date for this one, but we can guesstimate from ages to be sometime after 1940? Anyone have any other ideas? Please correct me if I'm wrong!

I'll try to identify as I can:
Obviously, "Pappy" Walter Edward at the front right, and Blanche just above him. Ruby is next to her, holding baby who might be Tim?. My mom, Dolores Peggy Jane, is the one in the striped dress at the front. Above her to the left I think are Alta and her husband Holger Thompson is the far left by the bush. The rest I will have to get some help with.

The location was Hobbs, New Mexico, probably near their home.

Wow, it has been a very long, dry genealogy research period for me! I've been cleaning my office and have found a stack of documents that I promised to publish LAST year, so here is one finally. This one is a very special wedding gift that I received from my sweet Aunt Ruth Opal Granath Jahr. It is a tiny wedding keepsake book that belonged to my grandparents. As you can see, it details their wedding facts. Here is it in pdf form to share with my Granath relatives. How very sweet!

2011 Genealogy and Writing Resolutions, revisted.

Being such a newbie at Genealogy blogging, I had a little free time this evening and started browsing for genealogy blog prompts. I really liked the Carnival of Genealogy topic "Our genealogy research/writing plans for 2011!" After reading through almost all 30 of the listed fellow bloggers and their goals, I decided that my goals in my last post were entirely too vague and short-sighted... I have a long and distinguished history of NOT completing any goals I ever set for myself, but there is something to be said for seeing them set out in an online blog.

Seeing how "getting organized" is not very measurable, I guess I need to work doing a little more definition here. Ok, I was trying to keep it simple and doable, but what fun is that???

So here are my Genealogy Research and Writing plans for 2011:
1) Get a current backup made of my research, photos and documents.
2) Get my computer genealogy files all rearranged, renamed and sourced into Rootsmagic.
3) Upload my tombstone photos to FindAGrave and my Granath photos to Facebook.
4) Find a genealogist on Random Acts and ask for a search for Alfred’s burial place.
5) Create a workable website for Granath and Ogle.
6) Write my first biography mini-book, about my mom.
7) Volunteer once a month at the Tomball genealogy library.
8) Attend at least 3 seminars or classes at Clayton Genealogy Library downtown.

Whew! There you have it. Looks like I’d better get busy!

New Years Resolutions...

Well, I failed miserably at the 12 Days of Genealogical Christmas postings once I came down with the 'flu. I had lots more to say (dont I always???) but will pick up there next year, I guess.

On to more inportant things genealogical! Resolutions! I accomplished one already, which was to sign up for a couple of the new Rootsmagic webinars. I chose "Creating a Family History book with Rootsmagic" and "Sources and Citations"... both of which I desperately need.

Which brings me to the rest of my genealogy resolutions for 2011:

Get a Granath family reunion plan going for Summer 2011.
Get a Granath book on CD ready to show (handout? preorder?) at that reunion.
Get my Granath sources correctly entered into my database before either of those events occurs (after the webinar)!

On another note - a really really AWESOME thing happened shortly before Christmas - I have been searching for about 4 months for a distant Granath cousin who had posted on a genealogy forum, and I couldn't find him. Just about the time I was ready to give up, he checked back into the forum, and found me!! We have been shooting back emails and photos ever since. It was a wonderful break through for me and really inspired me to get started again. Thanks so much, cousin Mark !!

Advent Calendar - December 11 - Other traditions

Another holiday tradition in our family involves giant stockings. We all love those really really big stockings and at one time, there were 12 of us with them. Santa has to come up with all kinds of things to fill those stockings, but usually included a coconut in the toe, and giant sized apples or oranges with the stems on them at the top, with candy canes of all colors hanging on the outside. Favorites in the stocking were unshelled nuts of all kinds, golden chocolate coins of all countries and books of Lifesaver rolls. A recent tradition has been added by our family of a bag of favorite chips at the top and a box of Queen Anne cherry chocolates. And yes, it has to be that brand, because they're liquid inside with a real cherry not gooey and not marachino. As you can tell by my posts, alot about our Christmas traditions revolves around food!

Advent Calendar - December 9 - Christmas gifts

What were your favorite gifts, both to receive and to give? Are there specific gift-giving traditions among your family or ancestors?

My favorite gifts have always been those that were either handmade with care or those thoughtfully purchased and made individual for me.

My family has a tradition of allowing each child to open one gift on Christmas eve, and once they had grandchildren, my mom started purchasing special Christmas pajamas for all the grandkids to open and wear. Traditionally, we open our gifts on Christmas morning, everyone all at the same time, with Grandpa or Dad doing the passing out.

Advent Calendar - December 7 - Christmas cookies

Baking was such an integral part of Christmas at our house that I really believe that we created some type of delight every single day of Advent! The cookies abounded. There were so many and such variety that I really believe we must have tried every recipe that my mother came across. My all time favorite though, had to be peanut butter, not just to eat but to make!

When rolling the soft dough, if my fingers could make it a perfect ball, then taking a fork and pressing oh so gently one way, then the next would create an absolutely round cookie with a perfect grid on top. What fun that was! We would make a batch of those that way, then another day, we would make the same recipe, but use our thumb to make a little groove on top. These cookies were baked and then, when soft out of the oven, we'd carefully press a chocolate kiss into the thumb groove. The warmth of the cookie made the kiss melt just a little into the cookie itself and that was a tiny taste of Heaven on earth!!

I do believe that I will create that memory in my kitchen this very evening! YUM!