The Quaker library in Dublin finally did e-mail me. They will be open as usual - one day a week. I planned our whole trip around those hours in 2006, and I'm doing that again!
I'm glad I went through a travel agent this time. Trying to plan the most efficient use of my time, this being a research trip, is daunting. I haven't yet figured out which museums and libraries are open on which days, but I've already booked a car for the first week and plan to stay in Dublin and use public transportation the second week.
I also need to finish up my list of things I need/want in order to finish my book. For example, for what trade did Thomas apprentice when he went to Dublin? Did Mary stay in Moate as a widow, or did she remarry and move to some other meeting? Same question for Elinor, Thomas' widow - and the answer could significantly change my draft plot. And whatever happened to Joshua's brothers, John and Abraham English?
Oh, now I'm getting excited!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A day for aunts
I didn't plan it this way, but yesterday became a day of aunts - and what a blessing it was.
First, I spent a couple of hours with my maternal aunt, Florence, who is recuperating from surgery. We chatted and visited until my uncle came home, not quite as long a visit as yesterday, when I spent the whole afternoon.
Then I came home to pick up my paternal aunt, Dianne, for a little road trip. She had invited me to go see a play in Sanford, N.C., and we made a fun "girls' night" out of it.
On the way, we stopped to see my great-aunt (maternal), Mary. She's very sick, but I hadn't seen her in a year and her town is on the way. She is amazing. Even when she tells me about her illness, she smiles. She was a missionary to China during World War II and spent two years as a prisoner of war. We talked about her careers after that, as a preacher and then a teacher. Dianne had never met her, and told me how glad she was that I had taken her along. It was hard to leave Aunt Mary, but we went on to Sanford to see the play at the Temple Theater.
Today is both Florence and Mary's birthday; Mary is 93 years old. I am so thankful for my wonderful family!
First, I spent a couple of hours with my maternal aunt, Florence, who is recuperating from surgery. We chatted and visited until my uncle came home, not quite as long a visit as yesterday, when I spent the whole afternoon.
Then I came home to pick up my paternal aunt, Dianne, for a little road trip. She had invited me to go see a play in Sanford, N.C., and we made a fun "girls' night" out of it.
On the way, we stopped to see my great-aunt (maternal), Mary. She's very sick, but I hadn't seen her in a year and her town is on the way. She is amazing. Even when she tells me about her illness, she smiles. She was a missionary to China during World War II and spent two years as a prisoner of war. We talked about her careers after that, as a preacher and then a teacher. Dianne had never met her, and told me how glad she was that I had taken her along. It was hard to leave Aunt Mary, but we went on to Sanford to see the play at the Temple Theater.
Today is both Florence and Mary's birthday; Mary is 93 years old. I am so thankful for my wonderful family!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Book browsing in the mountains
After my annual trek to the mountains, I usually detour to Little Switzerland to browse around The Book Exchange. This year, instead of climbing up the mountain to the little switchback town, I ventured into the town of Black Mountain to see what treasures I could find.
The book store was closed until after lunch, so I stumbled into an antique shop, just to see if they had any books at all. I found some in this corner, some on that shelf - they were scattered all around the two-story shop. The ones that finally tempted me were a first-year (not first edition) printing of The Grapes of Wrath, and The Robe - I hadn't really thought about it being a book before the movie. I also fell in love with a 1916 children's book with photographs, some in color, from around the world.
I ate at one of the cafe restaurants and had some kind of herbed tomato mushroom soup - mmm, divine!
Up the hill, the proprietress at Black Mountain Books really knew her business. She helped me identify my newly purchased Grapes of Wrath. Of course, the really good, antique books were priced beyond my range, but I found a couple of interesting titles to take home: another travel memoir of the Australian Outback, an Atlas of Irish History for research for my book, and a Companion Library edition of Robinson Crusoe.
The book store was closed until after lunch, so I stumbled into an antique shop, just to see if they had any books at all. I found some in this corner, some on that shelf - they were scattered all around the two-story shop. The ones that finally tempted me were a first-year (not first edition) printing of The Grapes of Wrath, and The Robe - I hadn't really thought about it being a book before the movie. I also fell in love with a 1916 children's book with photographs, some in color, from around the world.
I ate at one of the cafe restaurants and had some kind of herbed tomato mushroom soup - mmm, divine!
Up the hill, the proprietress at Black Mountain Books really knew her business. She helped me identify my newly purchased Grapes of Wrath. Of course, the really good, antique books were priced beyond my range, but I found a couple of interesting titles to take home: another travel memoir of the Australian Outback, an Atlas of Irish History for research for my book, and a Companion Library edition of Robinson Crusoe.
Bush Hill Eve recap
Our first Bush Hill Eve (and 24th Bush Hill Heritage Festival) was a hit. I dressed up in old Quaker garb and it was fun to see people do a double-take when they saw me out of the corner of their eyes. I had been worried about having enough information on my great-great-grandmother, Mecie English (Cynthia Armecia White English Parrish) to stay in character, but I needn't have worried because conversations were short. When I asked people "How art thou?" they just giggled and tried to use "thee" in a sentence. Sometimes they just giggled because their mouths were full - the old fashioned dinner cooked by the ladies at church was excellent.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Bush Hill Eve tonight
I'm excited about tonight, and a little rushed. I'll be dressed up as my great-great-grandmother, Cynthia Armecia White English Parrish, or just "Mecie" English during this Civil War re-enactment. I still need to research her a little, so I can talk about her family and what life was like at that time. She is not one of the characters in my book (too recent), so I didn't know much about her. I found her obituary at High Point library last week, which told me her parents and siblings - yay!
We made a video promo for the newspaper's web site, http://bit.ly/1zWMVT .
After rushing around all day, it will be a challenge to get into the slower-paced, "thee" and "thou" mode, so I can stay in character.
Some of the Civil War re-enactors canceled, but we'll still have the doctor and probably a few others there to man the "hospital." Our modern day church ladies will prepare an old-fashioned meal, Dan Warren will bring some genealogical information, and several historical authors will bring their books (including me). Should be a fun evening!
We made a video promo for the newspaper's web site, http://bit.ly/1zWMVT .
After rushing around all day, it will be a challenge to get into the slower-paced, "thee" and "thou" mode, so I can stay in character.
Some of the Civil War re-enactors canceled, but we'll still have the doctor and probably a few others there to man the "hospital." Our modern day church ladies will prepare an old-fashioned meal, Dan Warren will bring some genealogical information, and several historical authors will bring their books (including me). Should be a fun evening!
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Charging forward
Today I booked my trip to Ireland!! Planning to fill in more research for my book on the English family. I haven't heard back from the Quaker Library - sure hope they're open as usual. Lots to do between now and mid-October.
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