Mystery Monday!

Posted on March 10, 2015 by CJ Murdoch

Reminiscing…

Elvin of Co. Donegal

Time was I used to walk away
When wearied by the old folks’ chatter
About some joy of yesterday
To me, such memories didn’t matter

Elvin of Co. Donegal

I’d often heard the tales they told
And I was living in the present
I didn’t care for pictures old
Or bygone days, however pleasant

Elvin - Co. DonegalBut now my youth has slipped away
I’m drawing close to life’s December
And I have many a yesterday
Aglow with joys that I remember.

Elvin - Co. Donegal

By Edgar A. Guest

About CJ Murdoch

Looking For "Dead People"! My Journey Back In Time - Tracing my ancestors and researching the counties, cities and towns where they resided. Taking a “Glimpse” into their lives and stories and the times in which they lived; all in an effort to learn about their “Dash”! “I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his friend. He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning – to the end. He noted that first came the date of her birth and spoke of the second with tears, but he said that what mattered most of all was the dash between those years.” I have always been interested in researching my family tree and “hanging out” in cemeteries. Like most of us... I didn't ask enough questions when elderly family were still living. Oh, what I would give for 24 hours and a camera with my ancestors… just to sit and listen! I'm researching many family lines, including: Murdoch, Wilson, Berry, Love, Scott, Beattie/Beatty, Hendren, Sweeney, Robinson and Elvin; just to name a few. My families are predominantly from counties Antrim, Donegal and Londonderry. However, it seems that many of them, both maternal and paternal lines, originally hailed from Co. Donegal. I was born and raised in Northern Ireland and now live in Ottawa, Canada, making frequent trips back home to visit with my family. Of course those visits also include treks to the many burial grounds of my ancestors. My most recent trip back home was during the summer of 2019! Looking forward to August of 2020 when I will return. If you are interested in help tracing your ancestors I’d love to hear from you!
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3 Responses to Mystery Monday!

  1. heneker52 says:
    March 12, 2015 at 8:49 am

    What beautiful photographs Colleen and what a gorgeous poem, so evocative. I love your posts, they are always to me so wistful. xxx Cheers from Vicki in Australia (and keep warm over there!!) xx

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    • CJ Murdoch says:
      March 12, 2015 at 9:48 am

      Thank you as always Vicki. I’m incredibly lucky to have so many beautiful family photographs. Some from my immediate family and some from my newly discovered extended family. I just need more time to write; I tend to get side tracked with my research! I’m sure you know how that goes. Our temperatures are finally on the upside of zero; it was a “balmy” 8C yesterday; but still 4 feet of snow on the front lawn! 😦 Hope all is well with you! Hugs from Canada!

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      • heneker52 says:
        March 15, 2015 at 7:59 am

        om gosh….so darn cold, how do you stand it??? brrrrr… yes always getting sidetracked with research, and then I wrack my brains what to blog about, then I am on a roll again, at the moment I am having a form of “writer’s block” not that I call myself a writer in any way. I do have some lovely family pics I need to scan in and add, but none as great as you have, and only from my dad’s side of the family, none from mum’s East End London family she being a 2nd generation born Aussie her grandfather emigrating here in abt 1895 and her father being born here in 1902. Whereas my dad’s Kentish family arrived in 1839 only 3 years after settlement. Sadly although some great pics from Aus nothing from England for them. Was probably too early for photos for people working on the land, but may be some family in the UK…would be great to connect with someone from there….ah well…part of the addiction of this I think….lol….just think you do have spring and summer to look forward to soon…..just keep warm for now…cheers ….Vicki

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