Thursday, February 9, 2012

Ancestral Village #2: Erdington, West Midlands, UK

Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham England.


Erdington High Street

Erdington Abbey

All about Erdington.
Erdington - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Erdington was an Anglian settlement set up in the Early Middle Ages and by the time of the Norman Conquest was a sub-manor of Aston. Its name derives from the Anglo-Saxon, Eardred ing tun meaning 'Eardred's people's farm' or perhaps the 'village of the Eardredings'. The settlers were either followers of a man called Eardred, or perhaps a clan called with the surname, Eardreding, meaning Eardred's people."
from: http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-e/erdington/

The History of Erdington
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/erdingtonhistory

Sarah, my maternal ancestor, who was from Erdington, England


In 1851 my maternal ancestor, Sarah French, who was born in 1831, came to the US with her parents Thomas French and Katherine "Kitty" Ewers, and with her siblings.

I believe that our blood ancestry shapes us and is a part of our being whether we acknowledge it or not, and I have always felt a particular fondness for Sarah, who was described as the best of wives and mothers by her family.

Sarah left England (which she yearned for ever afterword, and remembered as so green and beautiful), as well as a beau behind, for a new life in a new country, never to see her beloved England (or said beau), ever again; although she dreamed of both often according to the stories her children passed on about Sarah. Sarah was said to be very shy and  most at home with her family.

In the US, Sarah lived through an Indian uprising, the death of both her parents, several moves to different states, a horrific plague of grasshoppers on the Kansas prairie, and so much more. Her children considered her brave and resourceful.

I believe I carry some of the characteristics of my hardy English ancestors, and of my lovely ancestress, Sarah. I feel a love for both Sarah and her England, though I've never set foot on the shores of England and Sarah died about 70 years before I was born.

This post is dedicated to Sarah and to all my many ancestors from England.

 

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tree hugging improves your health








Tree hugging improves your health

As a person who has always valued and loved trees, as well as known how healing it can be to be near them, I find it heartening to learn that science is now proving what many of us always knew; being around trees is good for you.







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Saturday, January 28, 2012

Prefab Friday: A ‘House Boat’ for the Arctic |



This is an older article, but this is still a good home! I first heard about this house a few years back. I  really liked it then, and I really like it now.

PREFAB FRIDAY: A ‘House Boat’ for the Arctic


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Tuesday, February 22, 2011

High Mileage Trikes, $300 Pyramid House, and Other Great Inventions


Enclosed motorized Delta tricycle

$300 pyramid house

Mail box wood stove

Homemade wheel barrel

Emergency homeless shelter


Homemade camper super cheap

 
Check out the link where these inventions, and more, can be found at:
 

 

Friday, November 19, 2010

Beautiful Photos of Native Americans From the 1850's on.

It's a good time to celebrate the heritage, the culture, and the accomplishments of all Native Americans.





Nez Perce warrior.

This is thought to be a photo of Quanah Parker.

A man from the Crow tribe.

Quanah Parker



Nez Perce woman.

Nez Perce warriors.



Geronimo on horseback and other Apache ndians

Geronimo

Saponi woman.



Navajo woman.

Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce tribe.

Comanche warrior.

An unknown Native American woman.

Presidential Proclamation--National Native American Heritage Month | The White House

All About Native Americans

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Saturday, April 19, 2008

Daily Good Blog




This blog was created to highlight and share information and news about people and organizations who are doing good in the world; the people and the issues that need our help and support, and ideas related to humanitarian service.

There are so many ways of being a force for good in the world, so much that the human spirit is capable of accomplishing. From a tiny seed, great ideas and great movements are born.

In this blog, I'd like to introduce you to people who had an idea, an idea that would help to make the world a better place. And I want to highlight different organizations, and groups of people, that are doing their part to make this a better world for all of us.

I call this blog Daily Good because I hope to share someone doing good, or some organization making a difference in the world, every single day.

As for me, I'm a female citizen of planet earth, living in the United States, who believes that every person on the planet; man, woman, or child, of whatever color, age, religion, culture, or country, has the right to food, clean water, housing, clothing, education, medical assistance, and peace. At the very least. These are just the basics.

Today I'd like to share with you the work of an organization I have some familiarity with: Food For The Poor.
http://www.foodforthepoor.org/

It's heartbreaking to see the photos of children literally starving to death, or living in shacks made of sticks and pieces of cardboard. There is so much need. So many who pray for someone like you to help them live by sharing food or other resources with them.

Consider the current crisis in Haiti. Food prices have risen alarmingly in Haiti in the last year, and this in a country where around 80% of the population already lives in poverty.

For just $12.00 a month, through Food For The Poor, you can feed a family in Haiti for a month. Imagine! $12.00. Thats such a tiny amount of money to do so much.

And in the Food For The Poor food projects, $36.00 will feed three hungry families for a month.
Please consider feeding a hungry family this month through Food For The Poor.