Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Dear Diary

Do you keep a diary?
I think I did when I was little, but don't now.
But is a way our blogs are a diary? We tell
about our families, trips, happiness, sadness,
new finds.

I looked at the date and realized my Grandmother
who lived at 1515 died 56 years ago yesterday.
Before my brother and I were even born.

But I feel like I know her and I know her
parents Mama and Papa, her siblings,
Walter, Jamie, Clifford, Max, Esther and 
Annie.......because of Annie

Have you seen these record ledgers at antique stores?
They were used for many things.
My Aunt used them as a diary.
this is the one she used during WWII

She wrote them from 1900-1945
It is everyday life sprinkled with 
the same things I mentioned we blog about.
Trips, families, happiness, sadness and new purchases.

I can read about my Grandmothers "Bessie" 10th birthday in 
March 8,1902
some tell of elaborate parties some just the passing of the
day like in 1902.
My very favorite is this entry
It is a way I can also pinpoint so many pictures for the dates.
My Great Great Great Grandmother Hickman 2nd rt
with her 90 layer cake!
Reading the diary makes the day feel like I was there.

My Dad's cousin is scanning all the diaries so we
can share them with all the family.
I can read about the day my Grandparents 
moved into 1515.
My Great Grandparents 50th wedding anniversary.
The day my Dad was born.

How valuable is that.
So remember, your blog can be thought of as
your modern day diary.



25 comments:

Unknown said...

I am sure that you know all of your collections of family heirlooms are priceless! Both sets of my Grandparents have passed on now and I have very little to remember them by. Both of my families took things without askn and my mother and father didn't want to step in and cause hurt feelings! You are very blessed to have so many wonderful things!

Simply Shelley said...

What a family treasure! I just found one of those record books...someone had just took notes of different things in it. You are so blessed to have such a close connection with past relatives. Blessings

Ivy, Phyllis and Me! said...

Good Afternoon Ann, How wonderful that you have so much information about your ancestors and that you can match photographs to the diaries. This gives you a sense of who they were and you can certainly see what they looked like. These diaries are certainly a treasure.
Do you see any similarities?
Thank you so much for sharing them with us......it was fascinating.
Best wishes
Daphne

Olive said...

Hi Ann, I do keep a hand written garden journal now which is a diary of sorts. The blog is too as you said. This diary of your grandmothers is a lovely piece of history. xo, olive

On Crooked Creek said...

Ann,
That is truly amazing!!!
Love the penmanship!
Thank you for sharing these delightful diaries!
Yes, I kept one during High School.
We were High School Sweethearts, so there's much ado about "Mr. Ed"!!! :)
Fondly,
Pat

On Crooked Creek said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susie said...

Ann, You have a lot of history of your family. I think it's wonderful. I would have loved reading about grandparents. Or even my mother's youth. I like reading your blog because of the old photos and stories . xoxo,Susie

Paulette said...

How lucky you are that someone in your family kept an diary, such a blessing to have that diary.

Vintage Gal said...

Oh my, you are so fortunate that you have family diaries. My mother was an immigrant from Holland during the awful war and everything was lost. However, through family gatherings we heard all of the stories. They are ingrained in my memory and I am now the story teller of the family. ~ wow love this post

Anonymous said...

HI Ann! Oh, again, what a treasure you have in these diaries! I did keep diaries when I was little but have no idea what ever happened to them. My mother in law had passed away before I met my husband but I have read some of her little diaries she kept while in school and it helped me to think I knew her a little.
Thanks for popping in to see me.
be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

NanaDiana said...

What a wonderful, wonderful written history. I have a couple of those books that belonged to my Mom. She copied down songs off the radio on the pages. How wonderful that you feel such a connection to your ancestors- xo Diana

sweetvintageofmine said...

What a wonderful treasure to have!! Very few people have the family history that you have, what a blessing! So enjoyable reading your blog~~~Have a wonderful week~~Roxie

SImple and Serene Living said...

Ann, how wonderful that you have those diaries. So many of our family stories are lost.
Hugs,
Laura

Perfectly Printed said...

What a treasure to have these journals of your family history! chris

Unknown said...

I sure wish I kept my diary. Stored under my undies in my underwear draw all my teen years. I don't even know what I did with it. Sure was fun. I love to collect autograph books and wish I still had mine. You are so lucky to still have such wonderful documents. It is truly a treasure.

ann said...

You are so right about our blogs being our diaries or our journals. I ask my college students if they journal and the don't. I suppose Facebook has rather taken over.

Curtains in My Tree said...

that is wonderful you have her diary's, wonderful really

I have wanted to do that for my grandsons or maybe great grandchildren, since I +grew up in the 50's much different than children today, I even knew people who used out houses and had no electricity, we always had a bathroom and electricity

Debbie said...

I agree with you. Blogging is kind of like a diary of sorts.
How neat that you have such a history with your family through their journals.
enjoy.
xo

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Ann, the diaries are a precious gift. That is one of the things that I love about blogging. That my future generations can possible read about and get to know me. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann

Sue McPeak said...

What a special gift and family treasure you have. I loved seeing the hand written pages. The photo on the porch with the cake and grands is amazing. I do think our blogs are Diary/Journals. One of these days, I'm going to have mine published.

My Letter 'L'..The Leatherwood Lace Collar
Sue CollectInTexasGal
AtoZ LoneStar Quilting Bee

Gayla said...

Love this!

Heather said...

This is wonderful! How amazing and precious :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Ann! I hope you're having a great weekend and thanks for popping in to see me.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Terra said...

Wow, a 90 layer cake. How good your cousin is scanning these precious journals to share with family, and that will preserve them too.

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Hi Ann! You have the most extraordinary access to family history of anyone I know. Pictures AND diaries and even practically everything they owned! Love that huge layer cake!