Sonya Schryer Norris

Oh Won’t You Enjoy Tea in My Parlor This Afternoon?

I’m currently reading American Home Life, 1880-1930 : A Social History of Spaces and Services edited by Jessica H. Foy and Thomas J. Schlereth. The book came out of a conference on “home history” – the formal historical study of the home. The first chapter was a fascinating look at the parlor in American homes.ContinueContinue reading “Oh Won’t You Enjoy Tea in My Parlor This Afternoon?”

Cheaper than a Movie

Hubby got a call from a city council member about an upcoming agenda item they thought he’d be interested in and he decided to go to the next meeting and say his bit about the matter during the open comment section. This was last Monday. Oh. My. Goodness. I’d never been to a city councilContinueContinue reading “Cheaper than a Movie”

First Bloom

Van Horn-Eagle Rocks

My mom got this in the mail, it’s for my grandma.

Canada Tidbits

As much of my most extended and long-ago family still lives in Canada, and as I started out so woefully ignorant about Canada, I have done a little research. Here’s more of what I learned: 75% of Canadians lives within 100 miles of the United States Only 2% of the Canadian population is Native AmericanContinueContinue reading “Canada Tidbits”

Philippians 4:12

This was on my grandfather’s memorial card. I would like it to be true of me, too, true enough to have on my own memorial card: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any andContinueContinue reading “Philippians 4:12”

Lumbermen Vs. Timbermen

Remember how I started out with “Canadian History for Dummies” as a point of reference? OK, I have now graduated to the kind of reading I need for specifics, a detailed history of the industry and economics of the Ottawa River Valley in the nineteenth century where my fourth great grandfather Simon lived. His townContinueContinue reading “Lumbermen Vs. Timbermen”