South Shire Inn: Photo by Kris Williams Recently, I was fortunate enough to be booked at the South Shire Inn following an event in Bennington, Vermont. Having checked out the inn’s website weeks before my stay, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to take my grandmother along for a bit of a girl’s weekend. Designed Read More
Author: Kris Williams
Howdy
The Mystery of Alice McCurdy
Anyone who has spent years researching their family history will tell you to be prepared for hidden surprises. The lives of our ancestors were just as complicated back then as our lives are today. I think most of us tend to forget they were living breathing people until we start uncovering their lives through the Read More
What’s in a Name: Full Names, Nicknames & Initials
Searching for our ancestors can be just as frustrating as it is rewarding, especially when you hit a dead end. There are times you will be fortunate enough to have the name of your ancestor and still have no luck finding their documents. How can this be? Below is a list of things to consider Read More
Australia: Driving On the Left
In Australia Driving on The Left, Taken by @CaptnWing_n_it, December 2011 Having spent a lot of time in Australia, I’d say the biggest challenge I have faced has been getting around my fear of driving. Here in the United States, I love driving. It has always given me a sense of freedom and a chance Read More
Night In The Berkshires: The Porches Inn at MASS MoCa
After a big lunch at the Freight Yard Pub, my grandmother and I waddled into The Porches Inn at MASS MoCa to check into our room. This was the second time I was booked at Porches for work and the main reason I asked my grandmother to join me on the trip. I knew she Read More
Australia: Scratching The Surface
View From The Cape Otway Lightstation, Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia-Dec 2011. If you were to look at countries as part of a family unit, Australia feels like a long lost cousin. There are many similarities between the United States and Australia while there are many things that make us very different. As an American, what Read More
Italian Birds of Passage
Tracing my Italian roots has been difficult to say the least, especially when it comes to name changes or my ancestors names being misspelled. However, I was stumped with a new mystery when I came across three separate passenger lists that listed my 2nd great grand father, Andrea Cautilli. At first, I figured it must Read More
Life Advice From the Grave
My great grandfather, Abramo Donato Cantelli was born in San Donato, Italy on February 4, 1903. He was only six years old when he boarded a ship headed to America called the Canopic Line with his mother and two brothers. After two seasick weeks they finally landed in Boston where Abramo’s father was waiting for Read More
Breaded Brain, Chicken Liver and Sex Glands-Oh My!
Did the title catch your attention? I can promise you, breaded brain, chicken liver and sex glands caught my attention when I spotted them on a menu in a Serbian restaurant. No joke. As if the menu wasn’t enough to make your stomach turn, let me take you down memory lane… so you may enjoy Read More
Australian Food, Sweets and Spreads
Half the fun of traveling can be trying new foods… depending on the location. I can’t say I jump at the chance to eat fried guinea pig in Peru or fried brain in Serbia. In Australia, the craziest thing I have tried so far is Kangaroo. It was weird… and did not taste like chicken. That Read More