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From Medieval Feasts to Your Thanksgiving Table: The Story of Plum Pudding
A Historic Winter Celebration Dessert That Deserves a Comeback When the holiday feast wasn't complete until the mother brought out the flaming pudding! The Surprising History Long before pumpkin pie became the Thanksgiving standard, there was plum pudding—a rich, spiced dessert that graced American holiday tables as early as 1796. But this festive treat's story begins much earlier, in 15th century England, where it started as "plum pottage," a hearty mixture served at winter
Julie Tonseth
Nov 202 min read


My very first blog post..
I posted this on an older blog site that I was using for my DIY renovations on my house. I guess this is what the universe was trying to...
Julie Tonseth
Sep 187 min read


Old World vs. New World: Finding the Magic of Christmas Markets
Christmas markets capture a kind of magic you can’t find anywhere else — equal parts tradition, community, and holiday sparkle. While the tradition began in Europe centuries ago, American cities have created their own festive versions that echo the Old World charm. But how do the “classic” European markets compare to their “new world” counterparts?
Julie Tonseth
Sep 164 min read


20 Fun Quiz Questions - For your family reunion!
Planning a family reunion? Make it unforgettable with our 20 fun family reunion quiz questions for family history. This activity goes beyond dates and places, helping you capture stories, heirlooms, recipes, and memories from every generation. Use these engaging questions to spark conversations, uncover family legends, and strengthen connections while building a richer, more meaningful family tree together.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 283 min read


Grass Where Their Names Should Be: Searching for the Graveyards of Relatives and Finding Missing Headstones
The pursuit to find graves of my ancestors has led me to Maple Grove Cemetery in Wichita, KS. There I found my 2xgreats were buried without headstones.
Julie Tonseth
Aug 192 min read


1872 Rural Sweden & Illegitimate children
My great-great-grandmother, Emma Charlotta Berggren (1851–1946) , had a pretty rough life. Although I’ve mentioned her before, I want to...
Julie Tonseth
Jul 303 min read


1851 Map of California Gold Rush Area Counties
The landscape of California's Gold Rush counties in 1851 was vastly different from what we see today. For instance, Calaveras County extended from the Nevada state line all the way west to Stockton, including what is now Amador County. One of the most fascinating facts from this era is that my small town of Mokelumne Hill was the largest town in the county at the time!
Julie Tonseth
Sep 9, 20242 min read
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