D.L. MacLaughlan Dumes

He’s dressed in his house finch costume and he’s enjoying his Halloween seed treat.

He’s dressed in his house finch costume and he’s enjoying his Halloween seed treat.

60 years ago for Halloween I was Helen of Troy, figuring a strong-minded mythological lady was a good choice. Didn't know at the time that an aspect of Helen's legend placed her in Ancient Egypt. Three weeks later I went to a lecture on Tutankhamen's tomb and decided to become an Egyptologist.

60 years ago for Halloween I was Helen of Troy, figuring a strong-minded mythological lady was a good choice. Didn't know at the time that an aspect of Helen's legend placed her in Ancient Egypt. Three weeks later I went to a lecture on Tutankhamen's tomb and decided to become an Egyptologist.

Paul is quite the model.

Paul is quite the model.

Yes, it's autumn, and we've had a couple frosty nights, but in the greenhouse it's a toasty warm paradise for begonias and their pals.

Yes, it's autumn, and we've had a couple frosty nights, but in the greenhouse it's a toasty warm paradise for begonias and their pals.

Yes, it's autumn, and we've had a couple frosty nights, but in the greenhouse it's a toasty warm paradise for begonias and their pals.

My 4x-great-grandmother Barbara Sørensdatter died in 1842 at age 67 while on the road north of Varde, Denmark. A stranger named Windfeldt had her brought back to town and petitioned for permission to have her buried. She was a widow and pauper, apparently estranged from family. A real mystery!

My 4x-great-grandmother Barbara Sørensdatter died in 1842 at age 67 while on the road north of Varde, Denmark. A stranger named Windfeldt had her brought back to town and petitioned for permission to have her buried. She was a widow and pauper, apparently estranged from family. A real mystery!

My 4x-great-grandmother Barbara Sørensdatter died in 1842 at age 67 while on the road north of Varde, Denmark. A stranger named Windfeldt had her brought back to town and petitioned for permission to have her buried. She was a widow and pauper, apparently estranged from family. A real mystery!

X In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.

X
In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.

My grandfather's sister, Marie Petersen, and George Schmidt were briefly married from 1917-1920 in Chicago and had a child, Louise, born in 1920. I realized today that in these awkward family photos they were divorced, with George Schmidt managing an unusual (for the time) display of co-parenting.

My grandfather's sister, Marie Petersen, and George Schmidt were briefly married from 1917-1920 in Chicago and had a child, Louise, born in 1920. I realized today that in these awkward family photos they were divorced, with George Schmidt managing an unusual (for the time) display of co-parenting.

Settling in for the night.

Phil and Paul settling in for the night.

A cousin surveyed the site of an ex-auto dismantler and found what he thought was a security camera. It's a funeral urn! Diane Nguyen (birth name Ngoc Phuoc), born 27 Apr 1958 in Saigon, died 3 Feb 2014 in Gardena CA. "Husband and children are deeply saddened." So where are they and why is she lost?

A cousin surveyed the site of an ex-auto dismantler and found what he thought was a security camera. It's a funeral urn! Diane Nguyen (birth name Ngoc Phuoc), born 27 Apr 1958 in Saigon, died 3 Feb 2014 in Gardena CA. "Husband and children are deeply saddened." So where are they and why is she lost?

Petersen, oops!

Fred Peteren, age about two, in Chicago around 1933 in his father Clarence Petersen's race car, speedy number 39.

Fred Peteren, age about two, in Chicago around 1933 in his father Clarence Petersen's race car, speedy number 39.

My cousin Edgar W. Jatho and his two grandmothers, about 1960 in New Orleans. Elia Hanks Barthe (left) had Louisiana roots back to 1825, and Adelaide Gadpaille Jatho (right) had ancestry going back to France and Jamaica. Edgar was a wonderful and enthusiastic host to our 2008 Jatho Reunion in New Orleans.

Edgar W. Jatho and his two grandmothers, about 1960 in New Orleans. Elia Hanks Barthe (left) had Louisiana roots back to 1825, and Adelaide Gadpaille Jatho (right) had ancestry going back to France and Jamaica. Edgar was a wonderful and enthusiastic host to our 2008 Jatho Reunion in New Orleans.

My grandfather's younger brother Clarence Petersen was an ardent fan of race cars, and he ran Petersen's Garage to cater to similar fans. Here he is about 1940 with some friends and compatriots displaying trusty car number 31. Clarence is third from right in jaunty white trousers.

My grandfather's younger brother Clarence Petersen was an ardent fan of race cars, and he ran Petersen's Garage to cater to similar fans. Here he is about 1940 with some friends and compatriots displaying trusty car number 31. Clarence is third from right in jaunty white trousers.

On the other hand when I'm cleaning up files I often find hidden treasures. Here Phil and Paul were kittens and they really do smile.

On the other hand when I'm cleaning up files I often find hidden treasures. Here Phil and Paul were kittens and they really do smile.

I did a strange thing and saved this mystery photo as "who-are-these-ladies.jpg" but that's not helpful. I usually indicate somewhere what the source of the photo was and what context it has, but no clue here. Taken sometime 1900-1905, ancestors from Ukraine and Lithuania? Must not do this again!

I did a strange thing and saved this mystery photo as "who-are-these-ladies.jpg" but that's not helpful. I usually indicate somewhere what the source of the photo was and what context it has, but no clue here. Taken sometime 1900-1905, ancestors from Ukraine and Lithuania? Must not do this again!

Paul says hi.

Paul says hi.

Similar fashions, 1881 and 1878: dark velveteen wedding gowns (suitable for post-wedding), floral strings around the neck, flower crowns, long veils, gentlemen with chains, corsages, open jackets. Emilie and Helmuth (left) are distantly related, Catharina and Hans my great grandparents. What finery!

Similar fashions, 1881 and 1878: dark velveteen wedding gowns (suitable for post-wedding), floral strings around the neck, flower crowns, long veils, gentlemen with chains, corsages, open jackets. Emilie and Helmuth (left) are distantly related, Catharina and Hans my great grandparents. What finery!

Similar fashions, 1881 and 1878: dark velveteen wedding gowns (suitable for post-wedding), floral strings around the neck, flower crowns, long veils, gentlemen with chains, corsages, open jackets. Emilie and Helmuth (left) are distantly related, Catharina and Hans my great grandparents. What finery!

Correction: Jacqueline married my grandmother's nephew James Jatho. Bluesky needs an edit button!

Census records confirm: this is John Gratz, born in 1860 in Hilbringen, Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz. He came to the USA with his parents Nicolaus and Margaretha in 1866 and was a cigar maker in Chicago. Photo probably about 1910. His granddaughter Jacqueline married my grandmother's brother George Jatho.

Census records confirm: this is John Gratz, born in 1860 in Hilbringen, Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz. He came to the USA with his parents Nicolaus and Margaretha in 1866 and was a cigar maker in Chicago. Photo probably about 1910. His granddaughter Jacqueline married my grandmother's brother George Jatho.

I met people via Usenet, which was an online discussion board pre-social media in the late 1980s. Many of the folks I met are still firm friends and one is my husband.

Northern Cardinal visits.

Northern Cardinal visits.

1787, Lupow (Pommern): Christian Krescheke (Krischke, later Zischke) married Anna Maria Gohr. My 2x-great-grandfather Wilhelm Heinrich Gohr left no vital records but was born 1800-1810. Because of a DNA match with Anna Maria's descendants I think one of her brothers may have been Wilhelm's father.

1787, Lupow (Pommern): Christian Krescheke (Krischke, later Zischke) married Anna Maria Gohr. My 2x-great-grandfather Wilhelm Heinrich Gohr left no vital records but was born 1800-1810. Because of a DNA match with Anna Maria's descendants I think one of her brothers may have been Wilhelm's father.

Musicians and guitars.

Musicians and guitars.

This charming photo from 100 years ago in Kimball, Minnesota shows a newly-married couple who can't hide their happiness. Emma Augusta Wilhelmina Gohr was born in 1907, Harry Emanuel Olson in 1895. Just a hint of tint! Emma was related to our Gohr folks, who emigrated to Chicago from Pomerania.

This charming photo from 100 years ago in Kimball, Minnesota shows a newly-married couple who can't hide their happiness. Emma Augusta Wilhelmina Gohr was born in 1907, Harry Emanuel Olson in 1895. Just a hint of tint! Emma was related to our Gohr folks, who emigrated to Chicago from Pomerania.

Phil, with the gorgeous tail.

Paul, post-brushing session.

Phil and Paul are ready to welcome the weekend.

Paul is a rock star.

Paul is a rock star.

Lots of color in the south patio garden with coleus and blue torenia.

Lots of color in the south patio garden with coleus and blue torenia.

This little flower girl was at the wedding of my cousin Margaret Petersen and her husband Arthur Lehrmann in Milwaukee in 1930. It's only labeled 'Jeanie' so we don't know whether she was related or a family friend, but she was a charming addition to the festivities.

This little flower girl was at the wedding of my cousin Margaret Petersen and her husband Arthur Lehrmann in Milwaukee in 1930. It's only labeled 'Jeanie' so we don't know whether she was related or a family friend, but she was a charming addition to the festivities.

On the turntable tonight.

On the turntable tonight.

New camera, nicer photos. This Geranium 'Azure Blue.'

New camera, nicer photos. This Geranium 'Azure Blue.'