Top Of The Mornin'
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
I know some of you were really ticked off disappointed that JJ wasn't my Letter J yesterday...because you know I could write about that little guy from here to Timbuktu! But I was saving him for today because he's Irish.
Here is a cute picture of him with his sister getting ready to party! Can't you tell he's excited? Before he gets to his first Guinness, he wants to share with you how Grandma J's paternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Spellman, happened to cross the pond. And to be sure, JJ's tutorials are far less wordy and more illustrative that Grandma J's. Just saying.
click picture to enlarge
This is the certificate we could have paid $29.95 for, because you can't print it out or even do a print screen without the people at the Ellis Island HOA Foundation smacking your hand, which is Grandma J's favorite way of stealing borrowing Internet data. Instead we had to take our own picture of the screen, which is when Grandma J said to no one in particular, "isn't this fun?"
click picture to enlarge
Margaret Mary Spellman boarded this ship, The Oceanic, in Queenstowne, County Cork, Ireland on May 31, 1900, arriving at Ellis Island June 6, 1900. Queenstowne was also the last port-of-call for the Titanic several years later. The ships manifest (which is hand written) states that Margaret Mary had the minimum $5.00 and was sponsored by an Uncle James of 35th Ave., New York, NY.
Grandma J's grandmother married the Frenchman.
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, just ask JJ....what say you? I will be picking the Blog Birthday winner, with the help of a random number generator, and posting the results this afternoon. Good Luck!
BIG BROTHER UPDATE...it's over! Dan is the winner! I think this is the only time my favorite houseguest won. I think it's the only time the final two remained best buddies..probably for life. Renny was amazing, and I hope some one nabs her for a sitcom because she's hilarious. Keesha will probably model for Playboy, and have a lucrative career. I can't wait for the next BB. Hopefully this Winter.I'm still on vacation. As you read this, I should be in sunny Southern California, romping on the beach....drinking strawberry margaritas, and eating real honest to goodness Mexican food. But I didn't forget you.
It's time again for
Vintage Thingie Thursday!
This is my paternal grandmother, Margaret Mary Spellman (maiden name), at the age of 89, in 1972. She departed from Queenstown, County Cork, Ireland on June 6,1900 aboard the Oceanic.
Just a teenager, from a large family, with very little...which was the norm at the turn of the century, she set out alone across the Atlantic to Ellis Island, New York. Her mother had passed away years before, but her aunt gave her a momento that belonged to her mother, Nora Daley (maiden name).
It was this simple cameo pin, which is over two inches in length. The details on the cameo are very fine. The onyx is chipped, and the pin on the back is very crude and rusty.
It wasn't "fine" jewelry, but it is truly vintage, and very heavy. Since I could never wear it due to the rust and weight, I had it professionaly framed, set on soft blue velvet. 
The frame is deep and sealed in the back, so I can't show you the back of the pin without tearing the back off. I love that I can display this on a wall like a piece of art.
