what attic?

I was so excited today to start our remodel that I began pulling the aluminum siding off and setting it aside to take to the scrap yard. I was making good time too, until I was almost to the top and came across a window. Mind you, we have lived in this house for nearly 8 years, and my husbands family has known the people who lived here before us even longer...so you would think I would know about a window.  We have this cellar off the back of the house and it was always cool because it sets lower than ground level. I never thought about the low ceiling or that the roof was in line with our porch....that has at least a 13' wall.

My diligent work and the found window.

When I peeked in the window I found an attic. Not much of an attic, but I was still very surprised and the attic was just the beginning of my surprises this afternoon. This is what I found:

Does this look enticing or what?  

Yes, I decided to climb through the window and find out what was in our unkown attic. It was probably 3 feet tall and covered with 1900's insulation - wood chips. No wonder old homes burnt like kindling when they caught fire! Elauna was my helper on the ground, and she would collect my "treasures" as I dropped them out the window.  I had been told that there used to be an old general store at our location, and much of what I found would be from at turn-of-the-century store as some of the items were for bulk or merchants.

Some of my treasures.

My helper with more of our finds.

Amazing colors and preservation.  Love this piece!!! 

From Cinci - old bucket tin.

This tin is from around 1900. One on Ebay selling for $325. I think I'll keep mine!

Love this paper sign. The colors are like new. Wow!

Native Purity maple syrup. Found several without labels - this one OK.

Found two. I will try to salvage. Very old Piqua Milling Co paper bag.

Apricots

Seal Rock Apricots

It is a good thing I have a roast on for dinner because I'm going back outside to work more on the siding. At least now this distraction is past and I can move on.....until this old house throws another curve my way and I get to salvage some more. How exciting!!!

a family journey

I love genealogy and family history. It has been a hobby of mine for years, though it fell to the wayside since having children....and the priorities therein. I recently found out my uncle has been working on information too since his retirement, and I have really enjoyed emailing him and learning more about the family.

We have a unique family history in that we have photographs dating back to the 1800s of family members and so much of our history has been captured visually. The side of the family I am currently researching is on my mother's side and they came from Kentucky.

Risner Family

My great-grandmother Carrie is in the middle row, second from the right. She was the oldest of eight siblings and after her family moved to Ohio, she lived in Tipp City.

Carrie's brothers Carl and Espy

It is so neat to see how people lived 150 years ago, and know the origins of a family. Here is the homestead in Bath County, Kentucky.

Homestead at Sherbourne, Bath County, KY

If you are interested in seeing more of our research as it progresses, check out our share site Kinfolk and Memories. We will be adding content over the course of the next several months, and I am so very excited to see this work come together.

in the library

We love books at our house. We blame it on our parents because they wanted us to read for some reason. Truly though, when you find the joy in reading you can teach yourself to do anything, and your imagination can take you so many places. The mind is so fascinating. So if you haven't read a good book lately, pick one up and snuggle by the fireplace (and if you don't have a fireplace at home, head to your local Panera). As much as I love technology, there is still something about holding a book in your hands and flipping the pages that feels so down to earth.

Books everywhere....I love the hues of old books

the library

Claire with her book

Yes, he is reading Cinderella

I love history, especially local history, and I have a gem of a book in my library. My mother bought me this book, History of Miami County Ohio 1880 by W. H. Beers. I love reading it because is recalls the everyday life of men and women of another era, and they were the pioneers of the very county where I live. The stories are true accounts. Some of the stories are hilarious (Rival Lovers, Corn Husking, Temperance Talk...because corn husking was always done with whisky). Other stories make me appreciate the time in which I live (Capture of the Moffit Boys, Killing of Dilbone and his Wife, Scalping of Mrs. Martin). Why is history important? A better question: why is it important that history is not rewritten to suit our culture today? Because people who gave their lives for faith, family and country deserve to have the truth remembered. I'm a little passionate about this. I live in America, but American history is being rewritten to exclude the Christian foundation upon which our country was built. Twelve stones in the Jordan.....remember the truth!

Ma'am, please don't smile.