Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I've always loved this holiday as a harbinger of spring and the wonderful Celtic music everyone plays. Today everyone is Irish! We all done the green of spring, whether our ancestors wore it or not and cheerfully celebrate.

The celebration of St. Patrick's Day began in 1737 in Boston. The city of New York still has the largest parade and celebration. May the luck of this day be with everyone who reads this!

An Irish blessing:
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow
And may trouble avoid you wherever you go.

I've been doing genealogy research since my grandmother got me started at the age of 14. That's well over 40 years. It's been a fun, challenging and overall interesting experience. I'm not sure why I do it. It's almost an obsession. I enjoy fitting the pieces of the puzzle together, digging up minute details and fitting into the picture. I've met some really interesting distant relatives along the way. I guess I feel that we can't go forward without knowing where we came from.

So for those other researchers who stumble upon this post, here is my family. Feel free to contact me if you're also researching any of these names.

Tipton, Hill/Hille, Wagaman, Byer, Greisher, Armstrong, Aikelbarger, Tinkle, Lake, Defibaugh/Tiefenbaugh, Lantz, Pritchard, MacClelland, McArthur, McGlaughlin, McKinney, McLaughlin, Myers, Winstandley, Heyward, Stewart, Orr, Redman, Baker, Hambleton, Marchant, Wyn/Wynn, King, Dunning, Ebden, Brooks, Cunningham, Ford, Hugh, Fitch, McEwen/McQuown, Clark, Herron, Johnson, Kitchen, Bennett, Dalton, Dinsinger, Hollenbaugh, Staub, Koser, Sicher, Walbert, Mayer, Dietemer, Schwarz, McIntyre, McIntire, Harwood, Marsh, Snyder, Locke/Lock, Bishop, Perren, Gale, Bly, Eaton and a few more.

Ron's family: Houston, Whitehead, Schramm, Kreger, Gregory, Wilson, Borah, Roy, and Cochran.

So many of our ancestors culturally revered their ancestors in some manor, I guess this is just my way of honoring them.

Is It Spring Yet?

We still have lots of snow on the ground. Hard to believe it's mid March. Ron's been busy making lots more wooden bowls and things for his etsy shop. I really like this pear bowl. He always seems to be working on something new.

While he's been hard as work I've been off playing. Went to the annual Herb conference at MSU. It's really nice to visit old friends and meet lots of other herb enthusiasts. Now that I'm back home I'm busy getting ready for spring. Starting lots of seeds and cuttings for the new growing season. I'm planning on growing even more heirloom tomato varieties this year. As well as more peppers and vegetables. I'm also adding a few more perennials. The list of herbs I'm starting continues to grow. Hope I have room for all this!

Our new greenhouse is working out pretty well. We're still having to heat it on really cold nights. But with more sunny days it's heating up fast and I'm seeing lots of new growth on the plants that were dormant for the winter. Some of the seeds I've started are already up. It's always heartening to see that flush of new bright green growth. I'm starting to feel like spring is really going to come, in spite of the snow still on the ground.

Some of My Etsy Favorites

I love this photo taken by Catherine. She's fairly new to etsy and does some wonderful photography. Cat is also our daughter-in-law's sister-in-law - that makes her family. She's very talented and I know she'll do well.
Cat's etsy site: racergirl
The listing for this photograph. Let The Sun Shine
This would be beautiful framed and added to any decor.


YappsCottageDecor, does some really wonderful goat's milk soaps. These guest soaps have the essential oils of some of my favorite herbs. Rosemary, lemon grass, tea tree and orange. I've been using goats milk soap for years. It lathers beautifully and leaves your skin feeling soft. Great in our cold, drying winters!

This lamp from Nonnie60 on etsy has to be one of my all time favorites. You can find it at Stained Glass Lamp 1. You can find more of Nonnie's stained glass and jewelry on her site at: Nonnie60. She does some really beautiful work!





This fussed glass pendant from Chris1, Blossoms is really lovely! Fussing and working with glass is an art form I find really interesting. Chris does some really nice work. Vist her shop on etsy here: Chris1



I have a real soft spot for pottery, especially Raku. This Raku stoneware decorative bowl is wonderful! Pearl is really talented, you can see more of her work by visiting her etsy shop, Fehu Stoneware.