A joyous Christmas to all. This past sunday our Church’s choir presented a musical program based on the theme “Out of Darkness and Into Light”. It seems that the more I learn, the more enlightened I am, even when it comes to history and ancestors. Being able to learn, be kind, expand, hope, and give are becoming part of a great whole that includes my awe and gratitude for a leader who I esteem as my Lord and Savior.
This video clip by Spire Music/Rob Gardner made me think of dark, light, awe, and a great whole centered on Jesus Christ.
Monthly Archives: December 2012
Turkey Dressing: A Family Legacy
FOOD
Yes, food is a lovely and delicious thing. Not only essential, but a strong element in developing and maintaining a family’s legacy. Jeff Anderson writes:
“Food is much more than our body’s fuel; it is an integral and sacred part of human culture that unites families and transcends generations. Many families strengthen their bond and maintain their identity by passing on recipes from generation to generation.”
For full article see <http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/preserve-your-familys-living-legacy-12-12-12/>
There seems to be one recipe that stays alive for me – it’s DRESSING. No, not the tasty liquid stuff you put on top of green leaves, but the one made in a pan with turkey drippings.
As far as I know, the recipe has been handed down word of mouth for at least 3 generations. The ingredients are simple but how much to use of them contributes to the legacy. I don’t think they’ve ever been measured and recorded. Here’s an attempt:
- 1 round skillet of cornbread (cooked ’til brown in a cast iron pan)
- bread pieces torn in little pieces (some hotdog buns for good flavor)
- turkey drippings (a lot)
- 1-2 onions (I think white ones are best, Vidalias aren’t strong enough)
- 2-5 stalks celery (crispy fresh stalks are preferable to old, wilty variety)
- 1-4 eggs, raw
Tear up all the bread and mix together. Blend (meaning: whiz in a blender until you can’t tell what it is) the onion and celery with the turkey drippings (from a turkey that’s been cooking for about 8 hours in a low oven inside a foiled sealed roasting pan). Add the blended-up liquidy mixture to the bread – and this is important – mix with your fingers. Add enough turkey drippings/broth to moisten all the bread sufficiently so it has the consistency of partially congealed jello. Add eggs and salt and pepper to taste. Stir it all up (again, make sure to use your fingers). Bake for about 40-50 minutes in a 350F oven until it starts to brown on top.
Navy Service Record FOUND!
It was great. I had a large craft paper envelope with “Charles HOPKINS Personal History” written on it. I knew I’d been collecting bits and pieces but my early onset dimensia (actually, I believe I developed it in the womb) had me wondering, “What’s in this?”. It was almost like Christmas, hey wait, it IS the season!
Below is a short slide show of some of Charles E. HOPKINS Navy memorabilia:
Bow Ties – It’s Natural for a DEAN
Smith DEANE and Caroline MAINOR DEANE sitting with their family behind them.
John Wesley DEAN is wearing a bow tie holding his oldest son J.R. DEAN. Bessie BURKHALTER, John’s wife is in the second row to his right with a dark skirt. Mildred DEAN, near her mother, is the older sister of J.R. on the front row wearing a white bow in her hair. Mildred and J. R. are the oldest siblings of Cecil Bradley DEAN.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
I was listening to Ella sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” while messing around the house last week. The words of the lyrics jumped out at me, probably because I’ve been thinking about so many ancestors and relatives that I hope one day to see. It’s the lyric that goes:
“Someday soon, we all will be together if the fates allow. Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow. So, have yourself a merry little Christmas now.”
The song was written in 1944 for the movie “Meet Me In Saint Louis”. It was war time. The following video was produced by the ND National Guard which shares a bit about the hard times and circumstances in which this song became known and why it became a hit.
Below is a clip of Judy Garland singing the song from the movie:
Looking for Photos & Service Records
Charles HOPKINS in center of photo with other uniformed men.
On the last post I asked about the navy service record of Charles HOPKINS. A reader named Ollie promptly replied that I could search for it at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/
If any one beats me to it, please let me know what you find.
Also I’m looking for photos of:
- Ancestors
- Meaningful Family Objects (send story as well)
- Documents of Ancestors – letters, wills, deeds, etc
You can take a picture of any pictures/items you have with your smart phone, I-pad (tablet) or camera. Please send it along. There is interest in sharing these visual notes of history, not to mention the important role of teaching through image.
A Man in a Uniform – I Think I Love Him
I do love this picture of Charles Eugene HOPKINS walking down the street in his U.S. Navy attire. What street is it? I don’t know, perhaps someone can piece together some clues. What age? Well, it was before I was born. Does anyone have his navy service record? Ginger
Tree, Tree, Tree
The Live Oak Draped with Spanish Moss is a Beautiful Thing
I was in my family history class last sunday when I excitedly shared that I had been working on this website. I said, “Look up mykindredtree.com”. My friend started typing, then stopped and asked, “Did you say My Kindred Dead .com?” “NO”, “Tree”.
A few minutes later another class member walked in late and I said, “So, look up my new website, mykindredtree.com”. A few seconds after her fingers started their tapping she looked at me and asked, “My Kindred Dead?” “NO”, “Tree, Tree, TREE!”
I suppose the words “Kindred Dead” have become a phrase of sorts when talking about family history. It was by design and purpose that this site includes the word “Tree” in it (it didn’t hurt that the URL was available as well).
Well, the Mighty Live Oak Tree has far reaching branches, is huge, and has a strength that can survive tremendous storms. No wonder families are like trees. Ginger
Aunt Fannie INGLETT
Born 5 years after the Civil War, Frances (Fannie) lived her later years in Tampa Florida with her daughter Nina, my grandmother Essie INGLETT BARKER’s sister. Bill
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Smith DEANE & Caroline MAINOR
Smith DEANE & Caroline MAINOR
These are my great grandparents. I never met them, but they were from South Georgia and lived near the Willacoochee and Withlacoochee Rivers. My father, Cecil Bradley DEAN, used to fish in both these rivers as a young boy.
My Kindred Tree 