Category Archives: Family History

Grandma Elsa’s Unfinished House Dress Quilt

Posted on May 17, 2022 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

When Grandma died, she left a few unfinished quilt tops.  This was one.  It’s nothing fancy.  No one wanted it.  I think it’s charming because when I pull it out, I remember Grandma’s dresses.  She sewed almost all of her … Continue reading →

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The Lone Palm at the Home Farm Comes Down

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Here’s a photo of the old Clifton Place, the 30 acre farm my parents bought when they started farming in Reedley in 1958, the year before I was born.  It was an older farm house on Road 52, about 3 … Continue reading →

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The Rudolf and Elsa Laemmlen Home in Reedley, California 2021

Posted on January 8, 2022 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

My brother Eric phoned this week for my birthday.  It’s been awhile since I’ve heard from him.  “By the way,” he said at the end of the conversation, “I sold the farm.” I suppose I knew that the day would … Continue reading →

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A Tool for Creating Your Life Chronology

Posted on December 27, 2021 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Every year on Christmas Eve, I prepare some sort of family heritage gift for each of the kids.  Some of the things I’ve done in the past include stories written about my grandparents, albums of their school pictures, I’ve typed … Continue reading →

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Christmas Eve Quilts!

Posted on December 24, 2021 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Every year on Christmas Eve, I prepare some sort of family heritage gift for the kids.  This year I worked on their Life Chronologies which need to be updated for the last 6 years.  I’ve simplified the process by creating … Continue reading →

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Our Laemmlen Family Christmas Party

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

In honor of our German ancestry, this year our Laemmlen family celebrated Christmas with a delicious German meal.  Everyone contributed.  We had Schnitzel and Brats, Spätzle, salads and warm homemade pretzels. I brought a loaf of Grandma Elsa’s persimmon pudding … Continue reading →

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Traditional Family Christmas Cookies

Posted on December 19, 2021 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

When I was a girl my Mom appointed me to be the family cookie baker each year at Christmastime.  I remember pouring over recipes in my Betty Crocker’s COOKY BOOK to choose the ones that looked the most delicious.  My … Continue reading →

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“If we don’t tell them, who will?” Speaking at the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Fall Social

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Here are the notes from my comments: 18 October 2021 DUP Utah North Center Company, Fall Social, Orem You are here because you descend from an ancestor who you love who did some amazing and hard things. I wish we … Continue reading →

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An Accounting of my 2020 Year

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

This has been one interesting year!  There has been nothing like it on record, in the history of the world.  In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters that have swept our globe and our hearts with emotions ranging … Continue reading →

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Writing My Fingers to the Bone in Bamako

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Ann Laemmlen Lewis

I started reading Old Friend From Far Away by Natalie Goldberg last February right before the trip that took us from Bamako to Accra, then Abidjan.  I was only one chapter in, when I decided to leave it on my … Continue reading →

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