52 Ancestors - Multiples

 

I am participating in 52 Ancestors writing project hosted by Amy Johnson Crow

Many of my ancestors married multiple times but Artellia Malissa Howard Brennaman McKinzie stands out. Artellia is my Great Great Great Grandmother on my maternal side. She was married 3 times. She had 12 children of her own and many step children. She also married rather quickly after death of each spouse. 

Artellia "Artie" Malissa Shaw was born in Ohio on July 8, 1833. She married her first husband Jesse Howard, a farmer, in Hancock, Illinois April 8, 1849. She was just 15 years old. She had 3 girls with Jesse. Jesse passed away in 1855.

Artellia then went on to marry Henry Smith Brenneman on March 4, 1855 in Adams, Illinois. This was also his 2nd marriage as well. Henry was a farmer had 11 children from his previous marriage. Artellia had 7 children with Henry. My Great Great Grandmother, Kimeta was Artellia's 4th born and first child with Henry. Kimeta would go on to marry the nephew of  Jesse Howard, Artellia's first husband, Willis B Howard. Henry died in 1866.

Artellia then married Joseph Mckenzie, a businessman, in 1867. Joseph was a grocery store owner and postmaster. Artellia ran the hotel and hat shop. Artellia had 2 children with Joseph. Joseph had 3 children from a previous marriage. In 1870, according to the census there were Howard, Brenneman, and McKenzie children of the household of Joseph Mckenzie. It was one large blended family. Joseph McKenzie died in 1893.

Artellia passed away in 1897 in Stillwell, Illinois. She was 63 years old. 

Spring Shelfie

 It is starting to feel a bit like spring around here. I like to decorate my shelves by the fireplace seasonally. This was mostly stuff I had on hand. I spent $3 dollars for paint and 2 stems from the dollar tree. I repainted the bird house. Lately, I have been really attracted to the color green in decor. I would like my shelves to be a bit fuller but I am liking the direction this is going.

I really like the bird tin. Both the bird tin and brass birdie were my husband's Nanna.

Weekly Roll

 

Inappropriate Thoughts

All my inappropriate thoughts have to do with government agencies this week. I got to call on behalf of my son a certain agency and they had messed up. I tried to set them straight but all they were concerned with was that their form was filled out. So, we filled it out even though it didn't need to be filled out because it didn't apply. So ,if you want to grease the wheels of government, just fill out the form.

Sourdough Update

I made sourdough waffles for the first time in my new waffle maker. I love the new bigger size. They turned out great.

We also had an abundance of starter so I made Venison for Dinner's Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed muffins but as a cake. It was good. It is not overly sweet.

52 Ancestors - Kitchen

 I am participating in 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks

My Grandmother, Marvel, had a tiny kitchen but it was packed full from the cupboards to the refrigerator.  She was resourceful and could make a full meal with what was on hand incase anyone stopped by. She was an awesome home cook. She frequently made up recipes or substitutions so rarely did you get the same dish made the same way.

I remember one summer when my cousin, Debi, was visiting and my Grandma was in the process of making zucchini bread. She must have been interrupted because my cousin discovered the zucchini shred in the colander in the sink and the bread already baked. To my memory, it still turned out good. I don't have her zucchini bread recipe. 

Below are some recipes my Grandmother contributed to a church cookbook - First Baptist Church, Loveland, Colorado 

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

Well we started the week with a little snow. Above is a little sunrise shot from later in the week.

Link Love

Signs You Avoiding People is Turning Into Something Worse  I am an introvert so I am not a big people person. During Covid I miss people but I am also afraid so I have been doing my daily errands at times when most people aren't. This is good food for thought

Alaska Woman Using an Outhouse Attacked by a Bear from below - Ya know I had to include this here. I heard audio of the woman talking about this and she really didn't seem to scared by it. 

How did ancient Egyptians bake? After 54 loaves, scholar finds answers I find this so fascinating

Attack of the Murder Hornets - New documentary on Murder Hornets on Discovery Plus. Much of the footage is not far from my home. 

Inappropriate Thoughts

Don't know if this inappropriate thought or a confession.  My husband loves to watch YouTube videos. I am not into that. Things like Dope or Nope etc.. Well he got me sucked into watching some YouTube videos about how Hi5 studios - Matthias  were broken into and how they keep finding all these weird things in the walls supposedly that have been left behind by a company called Syntec.  As a middle aged woman, I don't know why I find all this fascinating.  I don't think it faked I am about 75 percent on that. Matthias, Sam, and Woods are the main characters and are like the grown up version of Scooby Doo without the dog and Velma. They really could use a Velma. 

Booking It February

 I am joining Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This is probably a appropriate read in honor of black history month. I finally got my hands on a copy. It is an interesting story. 

The Vignes twins grew up inseparable in the ’60s in Mallard, Louisiana, a small town reserved for black residents with light skin. Stella and Desiree Vignes are tall and beautiful, and they dream of lives beyond the lynching of their father and housekeeping for white people, like their mother does. When they flee to New Orleans as teenagers, Stella discovers that she can pass as white, and so begins the fracture that will forever separate the twins. Stella disappears in California and continues to play the part of a white woman, keeping her past a secret from her husband and daughter. After leaving her abusive marriage, Desiree returns to Mallard with her daughter, Jude, who is “black as tar.” Jude, desperate to find a place where she fits in, goes to college in California and discovers she was searching not just for herself but for her mother’s sister. Told in flashbacks and alternating points of view, this novel asks what is personal identity, if not your past. A riveting and sympathetic story about the bonds of sisterhood and just how strong they are, even at their weakest. —Al Woodworth, Amazon Book Review

Walking - One Step at a Time by Erling Kagge

I probably wouldn't of picked this on my own but this was on Modern Mrs Darcy's read list last time. This book is part philosophical and the story of Erling 's own stories about his walks or his extreme walks. I really enjoyed it but I was trying to describe it to my friend and I feel like I fell short on describing it accurately. 

Why do we walk? Where do we walk from and what is our destination? We all have our own answers. Even if you and I walk next to each other, we can experience the walk differently. After having put my shoes on and let my thoughts wander, I am sure of one thing—to put one foot in front of the other is one of the most important things we do. - Erling Kagge

Atomic Love by Jennie Fields

This is a book about post World War II . There is atomic secrets, love, and spies. I thought this easy read book was good. I wasn't super fond of the ending but overall I enjoyed.