I learned from a sweet friend on how to create my own custom blogger header. I LOVE my photos and I just posted about how to store them, for FREE! Then I realized I have ANOTHER tip that I wanted to share with ya'll! You can create your OWN custom header with precious photos of your own family members, but you will need Powerpoint! You can see mine a the top of my blog!
Here are the directions:
Open Power point
when you open, click on HOME & new slide. Click on the down arrow under new slide to make sure it's a BLANK slide.
Click on Design (up top), and then make sure it's in a landscape position!
Click on PAGE SETUP and make your slide 10" wide but 3" deep (height)
Now you can see of to the right on background colors etc.
Now click on INSERT and then picture. I sized mine down so that I could get TWO rows of photos on mine.
To add a TEXT for your site name, click on INSERT, TEXTBOX and type away!
Make sure you SAVE AS a Powerpoint (so that you can edit) AND save as a JPEG (so that blogger & other sources can read it!)
After you are done you can add it to your layout option of blogger. Make sure you do "size to fit" so it will fit in the top of your page!
There you go! Please comment & post if you used this so I can see your creations! It would be fun to see them! Have a GREAT day!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Tuesday's Tip: storing photos
When I was reading over at another blog, it reminded me of how important storage is. Not only have we given some photo cd's, dvd's of inside of the house etc to the parents & inlaws but I was investigating photo storage. I have ATLEAST 6 if not 7 generations of photos. (YEAH) I am adding to them more & more. I am a VERY amateur photographer. I love it but wouldn't call myself a pro.....AT ALL. We had one of our Digital SLR camera's stolen (with photos on it!) and we have had computers crash (boo) where things were NOT recovered :( (Like photos). I lost quite a few years of photos because we were all digital and have been for a while. We have seen families that we know have their houses destroyed by fire, by water and by tornadoes (we are in the deep south!). There are a few things I would take if I needed to flee right away, but one is my photos! Those are one of my most cherished possessions. I am going to investigate Dropbox. My brother who's a computer junkie and is self employed working on computers was telling me of a online source where I could load stuff up for $70.year. I investigated that........I did and then it donned on me that I have PICASA and other sources. Since I have a gmail account, Picasa is linked to Google for their photos and there's quite a bit of room there too. Also I just make them "private" and only for "me". I have multiple gmail accounts already.......so I am looking forward to "maxing them out".......just something to think about.
Monday, June 4, 2012
REMINISCING The Vaughn Heritage 2
Looking Towards Heaven (Pictured above is a well-loved man, named Dad and Grandpa.)
**Note** This is the second of 10 articles that were written by my maternal Grandfather, Alfred Tennyson Vaughn before his death July 25, 1999. I didn't know they existed, until I did some family searching on the net and they came up. They were published in 2000 after his death. Needless to say, since I didn't know these were out there, I was in tears when I saw them. They are a cherished gift from Grandpa, who was a wonderful writer and poet! We love and miss you Grandpa!
You can find the first parts of these series here:
Entiat #1
Entiat #2
Entiat #3
Entiat #4
Entiat #5
Entiat #6
That Old House
Entiat Pioneers
The Newcomer
Neighbors of the Valley
REMINISCING
The Vaughn Heritage
by
Alfred Tennyson Vaughn
Editor's note: This week, in the second installment of The Vaughn Heritage, we read about hunting practices and the move west from Missouri to Washington.
Hunting and the move West
If the hounds were quick enough, they would tree the coon. Following the sound of baying that told them where the coon was treed, the hunters circled around.
The light of the lantern would be reflected in the eyes of the coon, giving them a target at which they could aim. If the coon got to the water first, the hound that was foolish enough to go in after it would find itself seized by the nose and held under water until drowned.
There was nothing the hunter could do to save his hound, for the swamps were treacherous quicksand in places.
One incident, that father would sometimes chuckle over, was about the time grandfather sent the boys out to shoot a wild turkey.
They usually took turns at this task, and the hunter would return and load up the muzzle loader for the next hunt. Sometimes they would put a little extra powder into the load to give the next hunter an extra kickback when he shot his game.
It seems that Uncle John was the victim of this prank, so after his hunt he loaded up with a double charge, figuring it would be a lesson for the other prankster.
When Grandpa decided to send Uncle John out for the next hunt, Uncle John tried to talk Grandpa out of it by saying it was Uncle Neely's turn. It didn't work, so after Grandpa went back to work, Uncle John "let" Neely take his turn, figuring that he was the one that overloaded the gun the previous time.
When Neely found his game and fired, the kick of the gun knocked him over backwards and swelled the barrel at the breech. It was a wonder Neely wasn't killed. Of course, when Grandpa heard what happened, Uncle John had to answer to an angry disciplinarian.
No doubt, there were many other pranks and games played in those days, just as they are today. But, let us get on with our story.
About 1888, when father turned 20, he decided to follow some of the older uncles westward to Oregon Territory. Father stopped over in Kansas City to work on some of the buildings that were being built for the World's Fair in 1890.
Dad worked long enough to get money for the train fare out to Spokane. This was near the time when people were campaigning to carve out a new state to be named after George Washington.
The question came up for a vote at the time Dad turned 21, so, Dad cast his first vote to make Washington the 42nd state of the union on November 11, 1889.
My great Grandfather, Joseph George Vaughn is seated bottom far left
Many of the Vaughn family had settled around Spokane and Ritzville, Washington. After working at odd jobs, Dad started working for the state hospital at Medical Lake, where he stayed for five years. It was while there that Dad met Mother at the social functions held for the hospital staff.
We were told that Dad had to choose between an Irish colleen or a Scottish lassie. And the Scottish lassie, Eva Jenny Stanley, became his choice in 1894.
They were married in Spokane and stayed in the Davenport Hotel on their wedding night. They then took the train to visit a family relative in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho on the weekend.
Mother and Dad never forgot to tell how their host kept entertaining them with stories of the past, right up to the time they heard the train whistle.
They got to the station just in time to see the train pulling out. Dad had to rent a horse and buggy to drive all night back to Medical Lake so they could be at work the next day.
My Mother was born in Chilicothe, Ohio, to a young couple who had three children. My grandparents died at a young age leaving the children to be raised by relatives. An aunt took Mother in. The others were raised by other members of the Stanleys.
Two uncles were medical doctors who worked for a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. When Mother was 15, she started nurses training at the hospital.
I remember two pictures taken of the hospital staff at different times. One picture included Grover Cleveland, and the other included William McKinley. Each was a governor of Ohio and each became president of the United States of America.
When Mother was almost 20, she went by train to Spokane, Washington, and then on to Medical Lake Hospital to become the personal attendant to Dr. and Mrs. Semple who were in charge of the hospital.
One experience Mother remembered was that the Semples loved Limburger cheese (famous for its peculiar odor).
Mrs. Semple had put the dish with cheese in the window and had forgotten it. Mother went all over the house looking for the source of the smell that filled the house. It was not until Mrs. Semple asked her for the cheese that she found that Mother had thrown it into the garbage because she did not know what it was.
Mother did not share much about her childhood. She remembered watching her grandmother spin cotton on a spinning wheel. She also remembered that hoop skirts were worn for dress in those early days. Mother did maintain correspondence with a younger sister until after the sister married and started to come west. She heard nothing more after that.
Not long after they were married, the folks moved to a wheat ranch near Ritzville.
Father told about some neighbors who kept very much to themselves and were kept under surveillance by lawmen.
Samuel Ralston, Father of Ann Ralston James (wife of Frank)
Later, they found that the parents of Frank James' wife lived there.
Frank James
Jesse James
Frank and his brother Jesse had been train robbers who were hunted down until all of the gang were killed. Next Week: Moving farther west and on to the Entiat Valley.
Military Monday: George Herzog
Today is Military Monday from Geneabloggers. Today I want to introduce you to my great-great grandfather, George Herzog!
He served in the Civil War, after he had immigrated to America. He was a Corporal in the Regimented Calvary Co. B., out of New York. His papers state that he enlisted January 2, 1864. I do believe that the last time he enlisted was the second time and I am still working on that. I have his enlistment and discharge papers attached. Also there is a photo of him in his War uniform. My Cousin, Cary has his metalsthat were on that uniform! My parentsmet up with him the last couple of years. While he was in Tennessee, he met his wife, Sara Satira Outlaw. From what I understand, they were true to their name and called Outlaw for a reason……ha! Oh the pandora’s box that we open when we do genealogy! He was a gifted painter and very artistic! Below you see a color copy of one of his beautiful paintings!
Nevertheless, here’s his statement from his claim of a pension:
He states the following in his Claim for Pension:
I was discharged from the service in 1865. At Albany, New York, I then went to Purely, TN, first. Afterwards, to Camden, near Bethel, TN. I remained there some over seven years. After that time, I went to California, where my brother and nephew are residents.
People in general, at the time, I lived in TN, where there were a great deal Prejudiced against Union soldiers. Consequently, after I came away from that State, I have never corresponded with any person from there, nor do I know of any one that could or would testify in my behalf. After my arrival in CA, I lived with my brother in Yreka for some time. Afterwards, I made residence on Bogus Creek, 22 miles north of Yreka and been living there ever since.
Some of the oldest settlers that lived on Bogus for the first three years of any residence there, and could testify to me, have left here years ago and their whereabouts is unknown to me at present.
I do not know of any names of officers, surgeons since discharge who would be able to Testify.
Signed,
George Herzog
Friday, June 1, 2012
Family Recipe Friday: Grandma's Sour Cream Cookies
Sour Cream Cookies
Mix together and set aside:
2 cups whipping cream
3 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar
Mix together in a bowl:
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp soda
2 tsp vanilla
Add ingredients to whipping cream and add to 4+ cups of all purpose flour. (Grandma would say, "use your own judgement").
Stir in flour. Put mix on floured board at 1/4 inch thick. Cut to desired shape.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.
Happy Baking.
Thank you Grandma....
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Treasure Chest Thursday: Gold Headed Cane
My grandfather, Alfred Tennyson Vaughn and the gold-headed cane
Cornelius Vaughn Jr, John Cornelius Vaughn, Cornelius Oder Vaughn, & Richard Cornelius Vaughn & the Gold-Headed Cane
The cane was passed down from Cornelius Vaughn Jr's father, Cornelius Vaughn Sr.
The Story of the Gold Headed Cane:
A gold headed cane was a status symbol, and was owned by plantation owners. Cornelius Vaughn owned one of these gold headed canes.
At a golden wedding celebration in 9/1/1890, at Medical Lake, Washington, Cornelius Vaughn passed down the gold headed cane down. So the cane was passed down from Cornelius Vaughn Sr. to Cornelius Vaughn Jr. and on to Joseph George Vaughn. Then just two days before he died, Joseph George called all of his children, as could possibly come, to his bedside. Those children that were able to make it were: Stanley, Flora, William, David, Elmer, and Alfred. Joseph George Vaughn then presented the gold-headed cane down to Alfred Tennyson Vaughn, the youngest of all the children. He asked that his name and those present, all of their names be inscribed on the gold head of the cane. This was not done because they decided that there were just too many names.
The tradition of the cane says that it should be passed down to a Male Vaughn heir who has a son with the last name of Vaughn for it to be passed down to.
Alfred Tennyson Vaughn had this cane in Seattle, until his death in 1999. His wife, Naomi kept it in safe keeping where it was passed on to another Vaughn relative, James "Jim" Fredrick Vaughn in 2001. After Jim's death in 2011, It was then passed on to his son, John Stanley Vaughn. John passed in 2019 and it's in safe keeping with another Vaughn relative.
Cousin Jim Vaughn with the Gold headed cane. He was the son of Stanley & Florence (Rice) Vaughn. Stanley was the oldest son of Joseph George & Eva (Stanley) Vaughn.
Alfred Tennyson Vaughn had this cane in Seattle, until his death in 1999. His wife, Naomi kept it in safe keeping where it was passed on to another Vaughn relative, James "Jim" Fredrick Vaughn in 2001. After Jim's death in 2011, It was then passed on to his son, John Stanley Vaughn. John passed in 2019 and it's in safe keeping with another Vaughn relative.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
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