On This Day: In Case You Didn't Know.... (originally posted 9/28/2009)

I was feeling nostalgic so I went to my original blog, A Trucker Wife and thought it would be fun to pull old blog posts every once in a while just to see what craziness was going on in my life.  On this day back seven years ago (2009?!?!) We were reminded that The Beatles rock.  
What were you doing in 2009?

____________________________

We had kids tag our neighbor's fence Saturday night. It sucks because it looks horrible but really if kids are going to vandalize something this is what they chose to say?

Yes, they do rock but this just cracks me up!

The police came by to write a report up for them to turn into their insurance and reassured us that from what he knows, there are no gangs in the Hampton Roads area using this sign. Whew, I was worried.

RECIPE: Grandmother Snook's Apple Walnut Cake

This recipe/posts received so much positive attention from family and friends that I had to repost it on my personal blog.  It's been said that my Grandmother Snook only baked her apple walnut cake for special occasions and I can see why.  It was delicious!  I also want to keep the tradition alive and also reserve it for special occasions.  My family however is very impatient!

(Originally posted on 7/31/2016 on my genealogy blog Discovering Family Roots. ) 

Mildred Snook (nee Swezy) is my grandmother on my dad's side.  She was born 1919 and died young at the age of 43 in 1953.    About 6 years ago in 2010 I received a letter from my cousin (actually first cousin once removed) who enclosed a few old family recipes.  Sometime after that I had misplaced the letter, I was devastated.  Even after moving from our old condo into the new house, I still could not find them.  Making up the spare room this past July I moved an old photo album and they fell out!  I was so excited!   I showed my father the Apple Walnut Cake recipe the following week.  He hadn't had that cake since he was about 12 years old.  It was a cake that she was known for.  I knew I was going to have to make it soon.

My grandparents Edward & Mildred (Swezy) Snook

My Grandmother Mildred Snook (Swezy)

This past weekend I finally made it!  I called my dad to check on a few things hoping he would remember, like how big were the chopped apples and what kind of pan did he remember her using.   Once it came out of the oven, I sent a picture to him and it let me know that it was just as he remembered.  Success!  The house smelled wonderful and my husband and daughter both agreed, it was delicious.  

  My father also said that the walnuts came from an English Walnut tree they had on their property.  It was the only in in Vernon.  Unfortunately that tree is no  longer here, it was in 1967 cut down to make room for the now Minerals Spa.  At that time it was 5ft in diameter.

I've included the recipe in my post.  If you plan on using it, I only ask that you please credit me & my blog in anything you post.  Thanks so much!

Garden of Abundance: Our 2016 Raised Garden Adventure

A little over a year ago we began the journey of looking for a new home.  We wanted to upgrade from a small 2 bedroom condo with no property to a bigger home with a little green space of our own.  One of my biggest requests was to have enough space for a garden.

In September of last year, we closed on a 4 bedroom house with a little backyard.  Perfect for our daughter, 2 mini dachshunds and a garden!   All fall and winter I researched raised gardens, spent hours on Pinterest, and drafted up plans for my garden.

Finally in April, my husband (with a little help from our daughter) built a raised bed for me.  

After 2 truckloads of compost/soil mix from our local garden store Enchanted Nursery & Stone. I had a awesome 4X8 garden ready and waiting for plants.  

Follow along as I document our 2016 garden adventure, if you have any questions along the way just ask and I'll be sure to answer them!  The next post will have the plant diagram, pictures of the plants, and more of the journey.  

CPA exam...Take 2!

After an amazing review and meeting with my bosses, I am jumping back into studying for the CPA exam.  It will take up so much of my time, energy, and money.

Let's talk money...

I looked at Roger, Wiley, Becker, etc study programs and they are so expensive, I'm trying to find a way to pay for one without breaking my family's budget.  Then add in the actual exam expense and this exam will cost me a few thousand dollars (and then some if I end up failing a few).

I've tried in the past to concur this but I haven't had success, but I'm not sure I was ever 100% into it. This time, I'm in a different place in my life.  I'm just going to jump in and do it.  I pray that I'll have the strength to get this done because this will be an amazing career advancement opportunity for me.  I plan on blogging my progress, to keep me motivated & accountable.  My online time will be limited as well as any free time I have at home, but it WILL be worth it....right??

If y'all could keep me in your prayers I'd love it.  I think I'll need all I can get!


Blessings,
Melissa

Genealogy Page is Open for Business

That's right!  The genealogy section of my blog is open!   It hasn't been updated recently but feel free to have a look around.  You can always click the genealogy link in the upper right corner of my blog to take you right there.

-----------

About 9 years ago I began an adventure that has led me to find many lost and unknown relatives.  It started with one simple question, am I able to get into the DAR?  That one question has now developed into a great passion of mine.

I have found not just one or two but many ancestors that have service in the revolutionary as well as many of the wars our country has fought in since then.  I have found great stories and great sadness, broken down brick walls, and met some family members along the way.

I'm not just focused on my own family history.  I also enjoy helping others on their own family history.  I assist them in finding records and documenting family graves around the Hampton Roads area and some near my home town in New Jersey.  

If you have any questions, I'm always happy to help out in any way possible.

Lis

Bible Journaling on Easter

I wanted to catch up and put the pages I have worked on so far in my journal in one place so that I stay current.  I focused and prayed over 2 pages today and I love how they turned out.

This one is my favorite from today.

 The rest I have done over the last 2 weeks.

I love working on these.  I really makes me focus on the verse/book I'm on and it relaxes me.  I know I'm not an artist but I'm not worried about that at all.

Have a blessed Easter.
Lis

Genealogy Page

Coming Soon!

It's been a while...

Life has a way of going out of control.  And I'm not talking about a bad way, just in general.  I mean here it is, 23 days in to March already and it's 83 days into the new year.  I've been working like crazy at work, at home and just in general while my blog sat waiting patiently for me to return.

To tell you the truth, I didn't know what to write about.  I needed to refocus and see what came to me. During that time I started bible journaling (I'm DEFINITELY no artist!!) and dove into a bible study led by Time Warp Wife.  I started up my genealogy hobby again (more on that later)  and planned out my garden for the summer.  Then it occurred to me.  I just listed off everything I want to write about.  

So That's what I'm going to do.  Over the next few days/weeks I'm going to fill in the missing pieces of the blog, introduce you to my hobbies and entertain you with my craziness I call life.