By Eilene Lyon I just had to share this photo of "my" baby magpies. There are five all together that are in the process of fledging since yesterday. They hop out of the nest and preen, flap their wings, jump to the surrounding branches, or walk on top of the nest. A few have managed... Continue Reading →
Death Day
By Eilene Lyon “It’s not that I’m afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” – Woody Allen “Ugh. Death. What a depressing topic!” you must be thinking. I really do apologize for bringing up this indelicate subject on your lovely weekend. But this is a blog about learning from... Continue Reading →
The National Road: Both Obsolete and Ahead of Its Time
By Eilene Lyon On a genealogy trip to Belmont and Guernsey counties in Ohio last year, I encountered the National Road when I stopped at the wonderful museum in downtown St. Clairsville. During my travels there and heading west toward home, I enjoyed bits and pieces of this historic corridor that played a role in... Continue Reading →
History in the Making (A Poem to Build On)
By Eilene Lyon Generally, I will stay away from politics. This is a history blog, right? But history is in the making every day. Also, I am by no means a poet. With that in mind, I’ve begun this poem, but really think it needs more verses. I’m sure you can help! He Says... Continue Reading →
Celestial Blackmail?
Week 23: #52 Ancestors – Going to the Chapel By Eilene Lyon There’s no question that Great-grandma Clara was a staunch supporter of the Methodist Church. Her father (God rest his soul) had been a lay preacher in the faith, after all. She was abstemious, and thought everyone else should be, too. (I do hope... Continue Reading →
One Fjord is Never Enough
Day One/Two in Norway By Eilene Lyon After spending nine days in the Netherlands, we boarded a jet in Amsterdam for Bergen, Norway, to spend a week in the northwestern fjords. This was the flexible part of our trip, as we made no plans beyond the first day. View of the Norwegian coast near Bergen... Continue Reading →
The Agony of Not Knowing
Week 22: #52 Ancestors – So Far Away By Eilene Lyon We take for granted our ability to stay in touch with loved ones far away. We no longer have to pay long distance charges and we can talk as long as we like. There are even video-phone options. Back in the day when calls... Continue Reading →
Absurdities #8
By Eilene Lyon Auto makers have been coming up with weird names for cars and trucks for…well, forever. But the auto industry has nothing on the RV manufacturers. I live in a tourist town, so there is no shortage of RVs bumbling through the area, especially in the warmer months. (Full disclosure: we own an... Continue Reading →
Half a World Away
By Eilene Lyon While pondering this week’s 52 Ancestors prompt “So Far Away” (which I will post later this week), the phrase “Half a World Away” came to mind. Though we might use it figuratively to mean someplace rather distant, or a mental distraction (like this post), I wondered about the literal sense. What place... Continue Reading →