Alphabet Soup...Oh Brother!

11th Edition of Smile for the Camera!

Prompt: The word prompt for the 11th Edition of Smile For The Camera is Brothers & Sisters. Were they battling brothers, shy little sisters, or was it brother & sister against the world? Our ancestors often had only their siblings for company. Were they best friends or not? Show us that picture that you found with your family photographs or in your collection that shows your rendition of brothers & sisters. Bring them to the carnival and share.  Admission is free with every photograph!

The next Carnival submission for March is on brothers and sisters and I immediately thought of this photo of my brothers and me. If you look closely, you will see wooden blocks spread across the floor and my two younger brothers are bare-foot. That was their usual mode of dress and boy were the bottom of their feet like shoe leather from running wild in the "country" where this house is located (and where my parents still live). The four of us were born within 5 1/2 years, consequently, we grew up together with similiar memories and experiences. I can't say that every moment was filled with loving, tender moments; but now that we are all grown with families of our own, we really enjoy being around each other and have truly grown to be friends! Derek and Craig still live in Texas (San Antonio), Ben lives outside of Denver, Colorado and I live outside of Washington, DC.  Whole family gatherings are not as often as we would like, but we do manage to squeeze visits with each other into our hectic schedules. At least the distance keeps Mom and Dad young by hustling them all over the US to "keep things even" and visit with each family. Thanks Mom & Dad--you have given us a great Legacy!

Our names are alphabetized from A-D; A being the oldest (that's me!)

Left to Right: Derek (3yr 5mo), Craig (4yr 4 mo), Benjamin (6yr), Andrea [me] (8yr)

My Brothers, My Friends

I love my brothers, my brothers love me. 

My friends, my heros, they always will be.

In sundry ways our uniqueness is clear.

I have gone gone far, but my heart is near.

They like playing sports and being outside.

I prefer play music and playing inside.

Sometimes we fight and scream at each other,

but always my friend for they are my brother.

Adapted from poem submitted by: Michele' Cobb

(Submitted by: scrapfauxfun)

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #2

Topic: Participate in carnivals. A carnival is a showcase of bloggers' posts on a given topic.

Carnival: 10th Edition of Smile for the Camera

Word Prompt: The word prompt for the 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera is Costume? No, not as in Halloween. Costume as in dress in general; especially the distinctive style of dress of a people, class, or period. Show us that picture that you found with your family collection or purchased that shows the costumes of the rich to the not so rich, from the civil war to the psychedelic sixties. I know you have them, so share. Admission is free with every photograph!

This photograph was one that I found in my paternal grandfather's ancestral home. They had many, many photographs and fortunuately for us, most were labeled! This one was labled on the back with the name, O'Toole. The only problem is that that is not a family name! I will need to research my paternal great grandmother's siblings and see who her sisters married because I have a feeling that it is from one of those families.

I think that this photograph dates from the early 1900's and I have always loved the photo from the first moment I saw it lying in the box! It was taken at a studio in San Antonio,Bexar County, Texas. The boy probably lived in San Antonio or my ancestral hometown, Castroville, Medina County, Texas (about 30 miles West of San Antonio).

The boy looks as if he is going riding! I love his short pants, black stockings, straw hat, riding stick and most of all, the black, button shoes! Adorable! I guess you wouldn't catch many modern day boys in an outfit like that!

Someday I hope to identify him by his first name and family!