ancestors

3 Nov 2015 – Genealogy and DNA

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Have you ever thought of getting your DNA tested?  Well, I thought about it and actually did it!  My Mother always talked about the women in our family having a Native American heritage, so I really expected to see results that included Native American – maybe 10% or more!

 

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The structure of part of a DNA double helix. May be subject to copyright.

I took advantage of the tests offered by Ancestry which provides an estimate of the historical origins of my DNA.  Following are my results:

 Africa 73%

  • Benin/Togo 21%
  • Mali 17%
  • Cameroon/Congo 14%
  • Nigeria 6%
  • Ivory Coast/Ghana 5%
  • Trace Regions 10%

Europe 26%

  • Europe West 10%
  • Ireland 8%
  • Trace Regions 8%

West Asia 1%

  • Trace Regions 1%

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1 Nov 2015 – Buffalo Botanical Gardens

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One of my favorite places to go is the Botanical Gardens in Buffalo, NY.  I know this sounds crazy, but the place is really popping with exotic plants, waterfalls, and some of the best scenery around town!  My Sister in Law takes us for a visit every time we go to Buffalo, and I look forward to it!  Generally, the gardens feature selected displays, contests and seasonal plants and activities.

In this post, I am sharing some of my favorites photos from my visits.  Let me know what you think.  I know there are some nature lovers out there!  Enjoy!

 

 

 

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Between The Dashes

19 Sep 2015 – Alice Ruth Coleman

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Alice Ruth Colemand and Her Sister Elouise Parker

Alice Ruth Coleman (left)  and Her Sister Elouise Parker (right)

 

Alice Ruth Coleman, mother of Melzar Williams, was born 20 Feb 1893 in Mobile, AL.  She married Ervin Williams, from Mobile, AL,  in 1909 at the age of 17 yrs old, and Melzar was born in 1912 (at age of 19 yrs old).  They had another child, but he died from pneumonia after only living two months.  According to the 1910 census, Alice Ruth and her husband lived with her parents, and by the 1920 census, they lived with Ervin’s parents.  She was a laundress, and Ervin was a truck driver for the Grain Mill.  Alice Ruth had four sisters and two brothers.   Continue reading →

14 Sep 2015 – Braciole Rolled Steak in Spaghetti Sauce

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Another awesome recipe from my Sister-in-Law Joanne!
Ingredients:
  • 6 slices of thin sliced round steak cutlets and pound to make them thinner
  • 2 cups Italian bread crumbs
  • 1 egg beaten
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • You may add 1 tsp. basil and 1/2 tsp. oregano (fresh is better)
Directions:
  • Mix bread crumbs, egg, garlic and salt & pepper. If the mixture is to thick add another egg.
  • Spread on the steaks and roll them up, you can secure them with string or toothpicks.
  • Brown in 1 tbsp olive oil. Remove. Pour spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish. Then cover the steaks with sauce and place in a 350 degree oven and cook until steaks are tender.
Remove and take off string or remove toothpicks and slice in rounds and serve with a side of angel hair spaghetti sprinkled with grated Romano cheese.

2 Sep 2015 – Davis Avenue

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During the 1950s, my grandparents owned a night club for about a year on Davis Avenue.  By the 1960s, Davis Avenue was the hub for Negroes in Mobile.  There were grocery stores, night clubs, doctors, lawyers, barbers, hair salons…everything needed to support the community.

I couldn’t find a good picture of Davis Ave.  My mother told me that she never went on that side of town because the neighborhood had gotten really rough – people fighting, gun shots, stealing, etc.  I imagine it must have looked like this:

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