** Chocolate Baroque ** NEW*NEW*NEW*

Graphicus owner, Glenda Waterworth, has - together with husband Adrian - launched a new company on the 1st April 2011.  The new website is terrific, with lots to interest crafters, groups to join, forums to chat on.  Highly recommended, take a look!

For those of you who follow my  family history research adventures, that intrepid traveller - my daughter Rachel - and I are off to Ireland at the end of this week to have a look where our 'olds' lived and worked.  We are basing ourselves in Dublin, but will spend some of the time having a look at County Tipperary.  Here's hoping that the weather is good, the Irish hospitable, and the Irish pubs live up to expectations!  Will report back upon our return.

Only just made it!!!!!!!!!

No, not an arty item, but just managed to squeeze a post in for March.  Its the last-day syndrome again!  After several photos taken by OH and a few - minus bottom third of face - taken by self,  I decided that I just daren't scare anybody with my own face on my new page at Chocolate Baroque.  Decided Holly the Hound was a much safer bet.  So I prepared the photo to send, and I don't know what's happened, but the photo has gone to PLACE UNKNOWN.  I don't know where to go to retrieve it even!  Definitely 'wearing purple with a red hat' today.  When I've sorted myself out I'll post again.  Now where did I ..... ?

Rob's Card 2011

A card to post at last, but I still have no talent for photography!  I thought this card - for my son-in-law Rob didn't look too bad for a quickie-make.  My photo makes it look horrific!  The cutting room floor doesn't help much, either!

I was actually going to post 2 cards tonight, this and a card for my youngest daughter Rachel.  I took 2 days over it and   

... now I can't find it anywhere.  I shall have to  start from scratch and do it all again.  Will try to post a photo of the Journal that I've made.  Tomorrow.  When I'm less fragile.

And They're Off!!

Well, not quite this minute, but won't be long.  That intrepid traveller - my daughter Rachel - and I are off to look for clues in Ireland to where our Olds lived.

I started researching our family history  roughly 6 years ago.  I never expected the research of the Irish lot to be easy at all.  It wasn't.  I still tear my hair out sometimes when I'm not sure if one body belongs to the family or not.  Dad's side of the family were easy in comparison.  No lies,  nothing way out of normal, and they only left one mystery that I doubt will ever be solved - the name of my Gx3 Grandfather's father.  His mother died  when he was 3 years old, and never parted with  that information

Whether it was the difficulty of researching the Kennedy line, or the challenge perhaps, but they have grabbed my attention and won't let go.  Once upon a time I was the most organised of folk, but now I have box upon box of notes on the back of envelopes, in my craft room, falling out of books that I'm just about to give away,  etc.  I do the same research over and over because I can't find that scrap of paper with the death reference on it.  They throw up questions that I can't answer at all legs of the research, and lie abominably.  AArgghh!

To go  with the family tree, I  am doing a journal.  I completed the book yesterday, and have got the first chapter ready typed to go in.  The pages will be decorated slightly.  If I can ever find out how, I shall upload the cover to the Graphicus wotsit.  At least I'll try.  I've just spent a whole afternoon trying to improve my blog in readiness.  5 years ago I would have done it in minutes.  As I get older it seems as though I 'unlearn' stuff!

Ballingarry Roman Catholic church in Co Tipperary - I have just posted a link for a photography site of this place. It is where our Kennedys lived for part of their lives.
Link: http://www.from-ireland.net/tipp/graves/bgarry1/index.htm

There is only one mention of a Kennedy grave as the photographer was researching different names, but at least the church is pictured and the main street too.

And the good news!!!

10 02 09

Whilst idly looking through the Family Search (Mormon church) site, and throwing in names of rellies (just in case) I spotted another Kennedy which I thought I might own. I was right! On checking parentage for this person I found a brother - John, b1813 - for my GGGrandfather Patrick (b1809). Now a bit tipsy on the strength of the find I searched further and discovered 2 sisters Ellen and Mary (b1805 & 1806 respectively). Totally drunk on the excitement of it all, I recalled that on the family page it had stated 5 children, but I could not find the fifth. Now that is good news!

Exciting Times

We are at a really exciting point in the family history research calendar - this week the 1911 beta census went online. Aren't I sad?? Whilst relatively expensive at present with its search free/view pricey, I just couldn't wait to see where ggrandfather Michael Kennedy had taken himself off to. I found him on the census in the workhouse! It was the last place I expected him to be, and I felt saddened by this. I consoled myself with thinking that he might have been in the hospital part. He did die there, I knew, but that was about 15 years later! Second shock followed fast. Four or so lines above Michael's entry was an entry for his brother John! Last I knew of him, he'd emigrated to New York with his wife and co. Checking my dates, I found that he had died in 1914, in England! What was going on?? Two more shocks soon reared their heads - marital status for Michael stated married!! When was this, and to whom, and where? Something else to check out! John's status was widower! When and where had this happened? Did I need all this extra work? Shall really have to get down to it. The plot thickens.