1940s Census Online Now

We have been having some interesting sessions here, trying to find our parents and their families on the 1940s US Census forms, which just became available for view on the world wide web. This is just one more valuable tool when searching for your ancestors, along with birth, death and wedding certificates; personal letters; family bibles and so on.

I think as we get older we have more of an interest in our families so that (maybe) we can understand ourselves better.

As one of our priests used to say at church, you don't have to like your family, but you do have to know them.

To find out more about the census, visit http://1940census.archives.gov/

1930's Autograph Book Tells the Tale

I found this 1930's autograph book in an antique store in Verona, PA. The cover of the book is etched with a lake scene and the words "Conneaut Lake", an amusement park in Northwestern Pennsylvania. The book includes some very precious little poems, written to Elinor, the book's owner.

Here are a couple of the poems which have not stood the test of time!

Dear Elinor:

"When you get married and your husband gets cross, pick up the rolling pin and say I'm boss."
~~ Cecilia, August 22, 1936

"Butter is better, cheese is cheese, but what is a kiss without a squeeze?"
~~ Your Pal, Shirley

"Roses are red, violets are blue, but sugar is not half as sweet as you."
~~ Mother, August 23, 1936

"When you get married and have twins, don't come up my house for safety pins."
~~ Your neighbor, Margaret

"I think you have a pretty face, and with me a space. School starts in September, I hope you can remember."
~~ Dave, May 17, 1938

Lettuce Gone Wild

As you may know, the Northeast section of the country was warned about a huge snow storm this week which was predicted to freeze early-blooming flowers, pull down branches from trees, and do countless other forms of damage.

For a day the weather people had us reconsidering if we should go where we were supposed to go, or stay home to avoid the bad roads, a typical winter mentalilty when you live in this area.

Here in Pittsburgh we ended up with only rain and cold weather, thankfully. We had no significant damage from the late snowstorm.

But to prove I do listen to weather forecasters even when I know better, I pulled my delicate lettuce plants in from the front porch and kept them in the front hall for a couple of days, just till we were out of danger, that never came.

The lettuce seems no worse for the incident, and I think it's about time to cut some leaves off for a fresh spring salad.

Finally, salad!!!

Spring Plantings

Ah, spring. I couldn't resist buying a small pot of a variety of lettuces (is that a word?) the other day. I was browsing the garden section of a big box store and was the only one there which was nice. Beating the soon-to-be rush for plants and flowers, I spent some time just looking over things.

I decided to plant my little lettuce plants in the crock I have sitting on my front porch every year, which usually is bright with impatiens. The crock doesn't have a drainage hole (I know, not good) but flowers seem to do OK in it. Where it sits is usually covered by the porch roof so a lot of rain misses this particular pot. And I am careful not to over water it throughout the summer.

It's hard to find flat sunny spots in our yard where I could put in a garden. The back deck, where I have tried to grow things, gets morning sun but not enough to really grow robust veggies.
But this spot on the front porch does get a lot of afternoon sun so I'm hopeful we will be noshing on lettuce throughout the summer. Wouldn't that be nice?

Tales from the Bird Feeder -- March 2012

My bird feeder has been busy lately, with the regular suspects coming to visit and some newbies too. I saw a goldfinch in all its glory this week. I know they stay around for the winter here, but mine didn't so it was good to see his bright yellow feathers. I also spotted what I think is a house finch, which is also new to the feeder.

I took a class this month on hummingbirds and Baltimore Orioles to learn more about attracting them to our yard. We did have luck with two or three steady hummers last year, but Orioles have been elusive (as are bluebirds which I think may totally be out of my range. Too bad.) Jan Bronder, who owns the Songbird Sanctuary in Blawnox, PA said to look for these two species of birds here in the Northeast beginning around tax day, April 15. I don't know if the warmer weather this year means they will come back earlier, but I will be ready with nectar for both just to be sure.

I have noticed the birdsong much more this spring and I hope you have too. Who needs iPods to listen to while walking when you can hear the lovely birds welcoming spring? So beautiful. I am trying to get better at identifying birds from their songs because even though the leaves haven't come out on the trees yet, it is still hard to find a singing bird on the branches.

Spring has Arrived!

In the previous post here at Boom This!, dated March 6, I wrote about how spring had not quite happened. But today, there's no doubt that a change in the seasons has been made.

It's 70 degrees out and my crocuses are blooming. They wouldn't come out if it wasn't spring, now would they?

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful day wherever you are.

Not (quite) Spring yet

I pass this local farm stand several times a week. We always laugh at how bare the welcome sign gets the closer we are to winter and bad weather. Signs advertisng corn, tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins and more give way to winter's offerings: eggs and cabbage and maybe straw. Soon, the signs will be advertising more items once again, but it's hard to be patient since snow came our way this week. But in keeping with March's unpredictability, the weather is supposed to be warm (50s and 60s) the rest of the week and snow will soon be a memory.