Author: Joan Weise

One of my earliest memories is of a Christmas in the early 1940s at my Grandma Quist's house on Newberry Avenue in Libertyville, Illinois. Joan at about 3 years old The year was probably 1942 or 43. I was around 3 years old. This is one of those life pictures imprinted on my brain. This… Continue reading Week 51: Holidays

Although "lines" has many definitions the only one that keeps coming to my mind is the ancestral lines I've been researching. For this post I'm going to look at my ancestry tree and record how far back in time each "line" goes. Let's see how this works! Paternal lines: John Sawyer, 9th great-grandfather, born in… Continue reading Week 50: Lines

I've written before about sewing when I used the Stretch and Sew method on stretchy knit material. I did a lot of other sewing from the time Renee, my oldest daughter was a baby to helping her out with making her second marriage wedding gown. First baby gown for Renee When I was having my… Continue reading Week 49: Homemade

I come from long lines of hardy ancestors - people who emigrated to America to start a new life, who lived into their 90s, who trekked across the states to relocate their families and established farms that lasted for generations. But when I think of strength I always think of my Mom, Anne Louise Quist… Continue reading Week 48: Strength

There are so many things to be thankful for but let's get down to basics. Carl's Declaration of Intent I am thankful that Grandpa Carl Quist had the courage to get on the ship in Sweden when he was 16 and travel to America with the intent to become a citizen.I am thankful that when… Continue reading Week 47: Thankful

Back in the day birthdays were simple events - have a few close friends over, open gifts, play a few games like Pin The Tail On The Donkey, break a piñata and eat cake. Or maybe Grandparents and Aunties came for gifts and cake with ice cream and coffee. But always cake with candles, blow… Continue reading Week 46: Birthdays

Amazingly, it's Week 45 of the Generations 52 Weeks 52 Ancestors Challenge. I've managed to write something for each week's challenge but not necessarily 52 different ancestors. I've just enjoyed letting the challenge words trigger some remembrance about anyone or any situation in our family history. I'm pleased with myself for writing every week! While… Continue reading Week 45: Stormy Weather

My sister, Bobbi It's a shock when you stick a butter knife in an electrical socket and you get "zibbered"! My little sister did that when she was about four. What happened, Bobbi?! It zibbered me, she replied. She's the same kid who, along with her cousin Karen, knocked on the beehives in the backyard… Continue reading Week 43: Shock

My Mom, Anne, was born in November of 1920. She would be among the first women to grow up in a country where women were able to vote. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in August of that year giving women the right to vote after decades of protests, marches and struggles to… Continue reading Week 44: Voting

The challenge word from Generations Cafe this week is SPORTS. As I watched the World Series this year I recalled how often "sports" events have impacted my family life. First I'll have to say that I am not athletic. I flunked swimming and tennis in college. Most of my family are not active sports participants.… Continue reading Week 42: Sports