A 2nd Great-Grandmother: Life of a 19th Century Lady (Adventures in Family History Play)

This portrait shows one of my 2nd Great-Grandmothers about 1860 (we all have 8 females of that relationship in our distant history); my Mother's Father's Father's Mother.  The summer of 1860 was when she married; she was 18, he was 25, a farmer with assets. She was not "too young" (for our taste) and the age spread was not very large (sometimes the husbands were 10, 15 or even 20 years older than the teenage brides--creepy in our present-day opinion). She was the oldest child in her parents' large family; when she married, her mother was still having children. 

She looks at us levelly, honestly, composed, across all the 160 years. By this time in her life, she has likely seen it all: her mother already had 10 other children; perhaps she has helped to delivers some of them. In early 1860, one little girl was born and died two months later; the first one the family had lost, amazingly. One of her little sisters, not born till 1863, I met in the last year of her life

in the mid-1950's. 

History is personal. I'm not calling her by her name, though I know it. Her photograph lay in a dusty cardboard box along with many others, newly discovered, after about 90 years. When rescued by one of my cousins, still on the home place farm, the box was in a damp outbuilding along with animal droppings. Our ancestor never in her wildest dream suspected that her photo-edited image could be electronically transmitted worldwide in 2020; there was barely electricity in her day, if at all.

There is something like a smart little rebel about her (not a political, Confederate rebel). I mean, independent, capable, not afraid of her shadow, not afraid of a dark cold night at the farm with strange noises outside. I bet she could shot a rifle if necessary. Her style looks individual--her hair flows; not bows and silly spit curls on her forehead. 

This lady's family experience echoed her mother's; she had 13 children over the next 36 years: 8 big boys and 5 girls; mostly born in the 1860's and 70's. It appears there was one little surprise boy in 1894 who did not live. Maybe the first that the family lost. The occasion may have been the motivation for these photos: First, the older parents, though he looks pretty good. He lived on till 1914. She looks "about done-in". She passed away in 1896, just 54 years old. Lots of hard work, a Civil War in the area, many deliveries, worry, concern for sick family, the steady drum beat of meal preparation, etc. (though I think she had "help" in addition to the girls.) and our spunky, spirited girl of 1860 has faded. 

We are in the process of trying to identify the subjects of these photos--using information available on Ancestry.com, US Census and other documents. Sadly, 120 years ago, no one thought to identify the photos---they all knew the names; 90 years ago, there was still a lady alive who knew them all. My great-grandfather lived until 1960.

One of these eight men is my great-grandfather: If the subjects are lined up by age, then he would be in the top photo, 2nd from the right (hand near his heart).

 But in the lower photo, "Mr. Second from the Left" looks more like photos of my handsome G-GF.

Speaking of YouTube: If I Disliked Bloomberg Before, I Detest him (tiny mike) Now.

He is cluttering up my YouTube selections with his crummy stupid lying commercials! Horrible little mean grey man with nonsense pop-up ads in the middle of my chosen content.

Snakes on his plane, please.

Self-Curated Content on YouTube: What does that mean to me? Part 3

I had to think about this topic for a few days; I was surprised.

At first, I thought I would simply list my favorite YouTubers; promote favorite videos?? No, that is not right.  My YouTube is not your YouTube; no one cares about one person's list of favorites (unless requested.)

The selections (content menus) change all the time. I don't understand this completely, but it represents flexibility in programming.

Instruction: If we would like a tutorial, we simply type in the search function the topic we want. Then receive several selections for the information we need.  I like sewing, stitching and some craft techniques: thousands of videos are "out there", some are very "niche" subjects:

A craft called "tatting"--a lace making method of olden times. I never knew anyone in person who still "tatted" (I am 71); try as I have done, I could never figure out how to make tatting from instruction manuals and photos.  After watching two or three instructional videos on YouTube, I've got it down. More important, generations of the unborn will be able to learn the skill in the future.

My current new obsession is a home improvement program "Farmhouse Vernacular": an adorable young married couple (both engineers with double engineering degrees) respectfully renovate a 1905 Kentucky farm house. They want the conveniences of today with the charm of the early 1900's. Rationally approached: planning, budgeting, sourcing tips, color theory, dogs, cats and cuteness.

Woodworking: we like to watch "Antique Furniture Restoration by Thomas Johnson" in Gorham Maine. With old-time technique and state of the art power tools, when necessary, he instructs and entertains very well. He is low-key and genuine; the New England antiques he works on end up ready to move into the next centuries. His "B-roll" is all about birds, sheep, chickens, goats and other things on this property; relaxing.

Birds: we like to watch birds around the feeder. "Cornell Lab Bird Cams" provides us with a view of their well-stocked feeding station whenever you like.  Watching this channel generates suggestions for bird feeders all around the globe....

Travel:  Live-cam bird feeders in Costa Rica! Best advertisement I can think of--big colorful birds that gulp fruit.    "ProWalks": a series of videos shot in many locations: long street journeys on foot through famous cities like Rome, Paris and London, etc. "Watched Walker" is another. "Kraig Adams" simply hikes with his drone to wonderful places, staging amazing shots of his progress.

There is Rick Steves programs, who some like.

My favorite subjects revolve around sewing: I watch this subject like others watch The Crown. I like "sewing-life" content: instruction, information, suggestions and chatter. "Kittenish Behavior", "Tom Kat Stitchery", "Inside the Hem".

In a month or tomorrow, new content will emerge or I may get tired of the ones I have enjoyed. 

News or current affairs--pick your favorites, nearly all are available. I feel better informed than, back in the old days, I depended on the "nightly news" or newspaper format.

YouTube and Me. Part 2: Self-Curated Content; what does that mean to me?

The first experience I remember with television: Spring and summer, 1953, happenings in the British Royal Family such as the death of Queen Mary and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth. I clearly remember news coverage of those events on our own TV set. I was 5 1/2 then. Before that, I remember weekly news and feature magazines like Life, Look and Saturday Evening Post. We were Post subscribers.

Ours was a family that mainly watched news programs and some evening shows my parents liked. Groucho Marx, Burns and Allen etc. You had only to choose from what was offered (it wasn't much and it was in black & white), but people liked it. My Father of the one who liked TV, Mom: not so much (so no Soap Operas or game shows).  Kids? We played outside.

Our family experienced a "TV drought" in 1959-60 when we lived in West Germany. No American TV: we listened to the radio--literally, old American radio shows like Amos and Andy. We woke up to The Breakfast Club from Cedar Rapids, IA!  Sometimes you could listen to the Russians trying to "jam" the broadcasts of Voice of America and Radio Liberty! Of course, there were music shows--from classical to brand new American Rock and Roll on Armed Forces Network.

Popular American movies were available on our base; saw most of them. Again, in college, I saw every $1 feature film shown on campus; and well into the 1970's. Maybe because I was young then, but movies today are so poorly made, it makes me sad. Why bother?

On our return to the States in 1961, I probably binged on TV for the next 5 years, through high school. But a sudden, mindful change was about to happen: when I went away to school, I vowed to myself that I would "live my own life, not let TV and popular movies live for me."  (That's what Books are for!) I never went to the TV lounge at the dorms.  That was 1966-thru the present, mainly.

It seems that "more options" became available beginning in the 1980's with video recorders, players and content available for loan or rent. Seems like yesterday.   Cable TV? the novelty came and went for me. I don't enjoy being "trapped" in other peoples' media selections; watching some packaged program.

Mostly, if you've seen this Blog, you know, I read Books. You can pick up the book and put down. If you like the content, you can finish the book. If not: put it down and donate the book.  Find another Book, read it, organize my thoughts and enter it into the record (Blog).  Self-crated content.

It Starts with "Several Years Ago, We "Cut the Cable"...". YouTube and Me: Part 1.

Separating ourselves from Cable TV seemed "edgy" at the time. We were tired of the ever increasing bills vs. the declining quality of information and entertainment available.  We can rent or borrow DVD's for movies.     Hubsy misses sports offerings somewhat, but not much.

I can't remember precisely when or how we began to lean heavily on YouTube for diversion and information: probably it was the content available during the eruption of the Hawaii volcano in 2018; we were "glued" to the reports from USGS and the stunning videos of gushing lava every evening as we ate our dinner.

We expanded our Nature viewing to other volcanoes, wildlife, undersea, etc.  This was in the days when we mainly watched together on a pretty good screen in the basement. I don't usually mind watching something Hubsy will enjoy--"togetherness, etc."

At some point, Hubsy visited relatives and Colorado for a couple of weeks; on my own, I began to shop the vast amount of content available on YouTube. I like crafts and sewing tutorials; I like to watch people refinish old furniture---but I prefer a less scripted approach than the usual "canned" presentations you see on Public TV or Cable. I like to see "real" people doing things they are passionate about, in their own way.

News, Current Events and expanded discussions!! Podcast shows! All by myself, as a little old lady in a suburban basement, I found Joe Rogan: he's edgy, many of his guests I don't care about; but when his program is interesting, I am glued to it. His podcasts are 3 hours long!  Many national and international news networks have live, 24-hour a day content. Take your pick.

Not long after that, we got a much better TV to replace an old clunker in the bedroom. A new era in entertainment, education and escapism! 

I'm shocked at how many people my age are still harnessed to "newpapers", "magazines", cable TV and so on. They either complain about it or choose to "die on that hill".      I am also aware that the Blog that I maintain is an antiquated format; only 10 years old and who reads blogs anymore??? I was not raised with a video camera in my face; I am not comfortable seeing myself on the Sam's Club video. I could never perform a YouTube!

Next time, I will reveal my favorite YouTube programs and performers, not that anyone cares because, obviously, we should all be curating our own content--as we are free to do. What a world.

End of Part 1.

Once You Start Reading about Rome, You Can't Stop. My way of saying "another Rome book"

This is not a representation of Maximinus 

I have mentioned before that I live in an area rich with "second hand", "paperback exchange" and used book stores, as well as a good public library; often, I find interesting, eclectic reading opportunities free for the picking.

Such was the case with "Maximinus Thrax--From Common Soldier to Emperor of Rome" by Paul N. Pearson. (first published by Pen & Sword Books, UK in 2016).

During the 3rd Century CE, Rome switched Emperors every few years, always a bloody mess.
This is the story of one of those.  Maximinus was not Roman. He was from Thrace (Turkey); he was a 7 to 8-ft tall young man (probably with glandular condition), super-strong; discovered by the Emperor during military games in the area. Max. was inducted into the Roman army and trained as security guard (so he was near the center of power).

It's a good story. He advanced; popular with the soldiers and concerned for their welfare. A coup made him Emperor while on campaign in Germany.  His reign was short and he never got back to Rome as Emperor.

We saw the bust in the Capitoline Museum, but was not aware of Max at that time, so no photo of him from my camera.  In the Metropolitan Museum in NY, there is an 8-ft bronze found near the ruins of his troops' barracks in Rome: the Ogre of the Met, so-called. Perhaps Max; there is some evidence.          Rome. The mysteries never cease.

"Bernini-His Life and His Rome" by Franco Mormando

I needed to learn more of the life, times and context of the greatest of the Baroque artists; this volume provided the information.

What a rollicking life: Gian Lorenzo Bernini's father was a known and respected sculpture and painter who married his mom when she was only 12 years old! We would be shocked and call the police! In those days (1600-ish): on the edge but legal and not too strange. She outlived him by decades after having many children.

Gian Loranzo worked in his father's studio and seemingly was recognized as a prodigy early on.
His was Type A before there was "Type A". Hyper energetic, driven, workaholic, hardly took time to eat--but loved to eat fruit--Bernini worked those around him as hard as he worked himself. He did not collaborate well: he took the credit for the work made by his studio. He was handsome and charming with courtly manners. Early on, he was made a Knight by the Pope.

He had a younger brother, Luigi, whose skills as an architect and stone mason were needed in the studio. But Luigi was quirky, to say the least: he had sexual peccadilloes. When Bernini figured out that Luigi was sleeping with his mistress, Costanza, he drew his sword and chased his younger brother all the way from the Vatican to Santa Maria Maggiore, mindless of passersby and the cops!! He could get away with this because he was the famous Bernini, closely allied to powerful Popes.

Much later, Luigi forced himself violently upon a young man within the confines of St. Peter's; a shocking crime. He could have been condemned to burn. Gian Lorenzo, in his 70's by then, bailed him out by providing quantities of free art for the Pope and Cardinals. 

The St. Ludovica Albertoni in Trastevere was one of the pieces. There are many other amazing stories worth reading the book to learn. Bernini's sojourn in France, for example.

Wonderful book--scholarly enough but (and I have mentioned this before) written with a modern voice to inform and entertain an ordinary reader.

Bernini was buried in Santa Maria Maggiore under a simple plaque---no elaborate tomb....but when in Rome, look around: All of Rome is his Tomb Stone.

Oh. Remember Costanza? After Bernini chased his brother through Rome with the sword, he instructed one of his retainers to take her a bottle of wine----then slash her face with a knife. After that, Costanza's husband continued to work in Bernini's studio just as before, as if nothing had happened.