Since 2004, when we began our first blog adventure, when blogs were first a thing for us, we are again reinventing our site yet again. This is likely the third or fourth round by now. Who is counting?

It’s a very personal journey maintaining a blog for over twenty years. We don’t have much left of the old site. Bits and pieces. Enough to give us mental clues about what we did initially which was to post photographs with a few comments.

We started with one that was on the yahoo platform, fooled around with another hosting service, tried different editors, and then moved into WordPress world around 2012 or so.

People ask me, “are you a WordPress expert?” and I say, “Nope! Always learning!”

“This year, Ellen was stretched between recovery from surgery, keeping Rob as healthy as possible and supporting him through his hospitalizations, surgery, post-surgery, and the final outcome;, being there for Will in his major life moves and changes, and trying to keep up with work. In addition to our immediate family and friend network, work friends, managers and co-workers alike, provided a lion’s share of support during these major life events, locally.

Family and friends from around the globe contributed prayers, letters and e-mails of support, and kind gestures of food, companionship, and love throughout the family’s ordeals, for which we are extremely grateful and forever in their debt. They have both celebrated and wept with us, depending on the event. We are so grateful to you all.

Ellen launched a new website in early 2005, www.ellenspictures.com that now desperately needs to be updated! She is now focused on photography and is even joining a communications group at the local Episcopal church to volunteer in photography, layout and production of their printed publications.”

from a December 2005 holiday family newsletter…

The above clip tells the story of how we got started in writing and sharing widely. One of my dear aunties was a professional writer. She gave me lots of guidance about writers to follow and those are some whose works I continue to read to this day. Writing, like “IT and fooling around with data and maps” wasn’t something I intended to do – I just gravitated towards it.

Speaking of technology, with the emergence of new technology like AI and the bombardment of constant cyber threats (trust us, we know – we have very good site security and they are constantly being challenged) — we are now considering more the safety and security of our posts.

Bear with us as we move up to the present time…

Thanks for understanding the fact that we hold our near and dear experiences, as a part of history of a family tree branch… or two. Yes, genealogy is another hobby and no, not an expert at that, always learning!