Boo! Halloween fun!

Do you have fun plans for the weekend?

Will your kids be trick or treating or will you be giving out candy?

Are you going to a Halloween Party or Costume Party?

We have fun plans for the weekend….I’ll tell you about them next week.

Hope you have a safe and fun weekend!

Jennifer aka Gigi

At the top I carved out a pumpkin & added colorful mums!

How about a Jack o Lantern? Here are some my son and his friends made...

Here are some ideas to make the weekend fun.

Why not try making cupcakes or Halloween cookies?

The Entertaining House
Check out this fun site for great ideas!

This Blessed Nest
Another site that is great!

The leaves should be beautiful in the North East this weekend.

I hope you get a chance to go out for a drive in the country.

Here are some pics from our last trip to the park...

Check out the fall foliage map from the weather channel.
We're almost at the peak!

Searching for your roots- Dr Livingstone I presume?

My ancestors the Livingston's were from Kilbride near Oban, Scotland

The Kilbride Church yard and cemetery, Scotland

My great great grandfather David Jamieson was married to Mary Livingston whose mother’s cousin was David Livingstone the missionary explorer who traveled to Africa and named Victoria Falls. Remember Dr. Livingstone I presume? Mary’s mother was Flora Livingston who married a relative Archibald Livingston. (I know!) Flora’s father was John Livingston. I have a Bible that was given to Mary Livingston from her grandfather John Livingston, 1850 Arigoan Farm.

The Psalms of David from John Livingston to Mary Livingston 1850

The farm is still there in Arigoan and so is the Livingston Cemetery.

The Livingston Headstone and the Arigoan Farm in Scotland

My Aunt Flora told me stories of how David Livingstone’s father was a tea merchant and when he would visit my relatives in Scotland he would read letters from David the missionary.

David Livingstone and family

Wool tassels that my ancestor made were used to barter to free slave girls in Africa. My aunt said she remembers seeing some of the tassels. As a teenager I had many wool skirts with beautiful plaids and one long grey skirt that were handed down. How I wish I still had those skirts. I don’t know what happened to them.

David and Mary Jamieson came to America and settled in Gloucester, NJ. They had 7 children.

The Jamieson Sisters and Archie at the beach!

My great grandmother Flora Livingston Jamieson married Dr. John Beek.

My great grandfather Dr. Beek's home and office
Gloucester,N J

(When I did my research I called the Livingstone museum in Glasgow and they told me it was common for the e to be dropped. When I told them about the Bible I had she commented my ancestors were very intelligent to be able to read and write at that time.)
more to follow...

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Scottish Plaids from Scotland to America

Do you have a favorite Tartan or plaid? Perhaps you have Scottish ancestry and know what your family tartan is? I found some great websites to check out for great history, gift ideas and inspiration.

Tartans are textile patterns consisting of stripes and colors crossed at right angles against a solid background making a unique pattern worn by the members of a Scottish clan, usually wool.

Some of my ancestors on my Dad’s side, the Livingstons(The Livingston Tartan above) and the Jamiesons ,came from Scotand. The Jamieson’s were from Glasgow (their tartan is under the Stewart Clan)and the Livingston’s were from Kilbride, near Oban. My great grandfather David Jamieson knew everything about wool and plaids, from the sheep to the spinning to the dyeing of the wool. He was an expert in the making the dyes and plaids. He was invited to come to the Centennial Exposition in 1876 in Philadelphia and they asked him to stay in America and manufacture his products. We still have some of the original dye formulas.

David Jamieson and Mary Livingston Jamieson

My family story will continue later this week but here are some neat sites for more info on the Tartans and the Wool Industry.

*When we were in Martha’s Vineyard we visited Allen’s Sheep Farm in Chilmark.

The lady inside had been to Scotland and told me there are still Jamieson’s in Scotland in the wool business. here

This is a great pic of the Allen farm from the NYTimes, Matthew Weinstein.

Check out these sites.

* http://www.thescottishweaver.com/ What’s my tartan? The History of the Clans.

*Check out tartan gifts including these mugs, clothing, bow ties, apron, mugs and plates.

*Pendelton-usa.com plates and mugs too and clothing.

*I love to read the Blog Adventures of Tartan Scot-the Life and Times of an Interior Designer. Scot Meacham Wood is so inspirational and also loves tartans. I think we must be distant cousins! (Below from his blog)

More of my story coming soon…Slainte! Cheers! Jennifer aka Gigi

Fun Walk in the Woods

This park is right down the street from our house. I want to go back when the leaves are at their peak! How are the leaves in your area?...I am in South Jersey...
Best wishes, Jennifer aka Gigi

My front door...