D.L. MacLaughlan Dumes
@dmacdumes.bsky.social
Retired web developer, focusing on genealogy, historical photography, books, gardens, cats.
- Genealogy: https://sakionline.net/family-folio/
- Gardening: https://sakionline.net/garden/garden-journal.html
- Sixties music: https://krlabeat.sakionline.net
- Genealogy: https://sakionline.net/family-folio/
- Gardening: https://sakionline.net/garden/garden-journal.html
- Sixties music: https://krlabeat.sakionline.net
A tufted titmouse faces the camera. He sees into our souls.
November 21, 2025 at 2:13 AM
A tufted titmouse faces the camera. He sees into our souls.
"The Beatles Anthology" premiered thirty years ago tonight and we heard "Free As A Bird" for the first time.
November 20, 2025 at 12:31 AM
"The Beatles Anthology" premiered thirty years ago tonight and we heard "Free As A Bird" for the first time.
Mildred Glawe was my mother's first cousin, and this portrait dates from 1907 at the Wilschke Studio, 35th and Archer, Chicago. The arm of the wicker chair looks precarious but there may be a parent perched behind Mildred propping her up, if the shadows are any indication.
November 20, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Mildred Glawe was my mother's first cousin, and this portrait dates from 1907 at the Wilschke Studio, 35th and Archer, Chicago. The arm of the wicker chair looks precarious but there may be a parent perched behind Mildred propping her up, if the shadows are any indication.
Eastern bluebird, head-on and profile.
November 19, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Eastern bluebird, head-on and profile.
A Northern Flicker visits the bird feeder.
November 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
A Northern Flicker visits the bird feeder.
Paul has been having an issue with our ceiling fan ever since I changed its speed and shut it off. He looks at it and runs into his room to hide. Brother Phil is blissful and unaffected. Paul is eating well, sleeping, purring, and playful as long as he's out of sight of the fan. Very odd phobia!
November 19, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Paul has been having an issue with our ceiling fan ever since I changed its speed and shut it off. He looks at it and runs into his room to hide. Brother Phil is blissful and unaffected. Paul is eating well, sleeping, purring, and playful as long as he's out of sight of the fan. Very odd phobia!
Handsome boys! Paul and Phil wish everyone a fine evening.
November 16, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Handsome boys! Paul and Phil wish everyone a fine evening.
Clothilde Dressel, daughter of Ludwig Philipp Heinrich Dressel and Bertha Ottile Helmling, born 1889 in Karlsruhe and probably taken between 1915-1920. While damaged and faded, it's fascinating that Clothilde is posed at the side of the frame and the mansion in the background has central focus.
November 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Clothilde Dressel, daughter of Ludwig Philipp Heinrich Dressel and Bertha Ottile Helmling, born 1889 in Karlsruhe and probably taken between 1915-1920. While damaged and faded, it's fascinating that Clothilde is posed at the side of the frame and the mansion in the background has central focus.
Found some new ancestral Dressel family members: Ludwig Philipp Heinrich Dressel and his wife Bertha Ottille Helmling in Karlsruhe. These portraits were probably taken around 1881 when they married. Ludwig is the nephew of my 3x-great-grandmother Anne Marie Dressel Schuchmann.
November 13, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Found some new ancestral Dressel family members: Ludwig Philipp Heinrich Dressel and his wife Bertha Ottille Helmling in Karlsruhe. These portraits were probably taken around 1881 when they married. Ludwig is the nephew of my 3x-great-grandmother Anne Marie Dressel Schuchmann.
In 1945 my grandfather George Bruns bought several items at a Boston auction including a leather-bound book, used in East Brewster, Massachusetts at Mrs. Nickerson's rooming house. The guests not only signed the book, they often drew pictures in it. This is what they wrote on November 11, 1918.
November 11, 2025 at 4:14 PM
In 1945 my grandfather George Bruns bought several items at a Boston auction including a leather-bound book, used in East Brewster, Massachusetts at Mrs. Nickerson's rooming house. The guests not only signed the book, they often drew pictures in it. This is what they wrote on November 11, 1918.
This house finch managed to grab a snack before the snow started.
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 PM
This house finch managed to grab a snack before the snow started.
Possible snow tomorrow and definitely a hard freeze expected in the next few days. But for today the brightest thing in the west patio garden is Acer 'Tamukeyama' with its brilliant scarlet foliage.
November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Possible snow tomorrow and definitely a hard freeze expected in the next few days. But for today the brightest thing in the west patio garden is Acer 'Tamukeyama' with its brilliant scarlet foliage.
Fall colors. we've had a couple of frosty mornings but the begonias are still going strong.
November 5, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Fall colors. we've had a couple of frosty mornings but the begonias are still going strong.
We adopted 12 week old kittens Paul and Phil from our local animal shelter when they were just a few weeks out from being on their own in 2020, separated from siblings and their mom. But they were a team even then. They began to explore their new home with synchronized steps and tails held high.
November 5, 2025 at 4:20 AM
We adopted 12 week old kittens Paul and Phil from our local animal shelter when they were just a few weeks out from being on their own in 2020, separated from siblings and their mom. But they were a team even then. They began to explore their new home with synchronized steps and tails held high.
Visitors today: male northern cardinal and tufted titmouse. The trees are putting on a nice colorful show,
November 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Visitors today: male northern cardinal and tufted titmouse. The trees are putting on a nice colorful show,
Our library at dusk. It was once a dining room but makes much more sense as a library and a cozy place to muse and imagine.
November 3, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Our library at dusk. It was once a dining room but makes much more sense as a library and a cozy place to muse and imagine.
Sometimes you have no choice but to accept what others know. My New Orleans cousin Edgar Jatho handed me these photos together, baby Audrey Torpie (b 1927) and Grace Torpie (about 1938): "Grace was Audrey's mother." No documentation exists for Audrey's birth, and Grace was unmarried, so there it is.
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Sometimes you have no choice but to accept what others know. My New Orleans cousin Edgar Jatho handed me these photos together, baby Audrey Torpie (b 1927) and Grace Torpie (about 1938): "Grace was Audrey's mother." No documentation exists for Audrey's birth, and Grace was unmarried, so there it is.
Phil poses with his beloved blue spoon. It's his favorite toy. He carries it around, flips in on the floor, hides it in boxes, and brings it to me when he's done playing.
November 2, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Phil poses with his beloved blue spoon. It's his favorite toy. He carries it around, flips in on the floor, hides it in boxes, and brings it to me when he's done playing.
My great-grandmother jennie Müller Jatho was a first cousin of Dr. Charles Müller In Charleston SC. His wife Maria Rebecca Amme was the daughter of Anna Catharina Klesieck, and Anna's sister here was Catharina Charlotte Klesieck Jessen. Someone spent a pretty penny on this painting from about 1850.
November 2, 2025 at 1:27 AM
My great-grandmother jennie Müller Jatho was a first cousin of Dr. Charles Müller In Charleston SC. His wife Maria Rebecca Amme was the daughter of Anna Catharina Klesieck, and Anna's sister here was Catharina Charlotte Klesieck Jessen. Someone spent a pretty penny on this painting from about 1850.
He’s dressed in his house finch costume and he’s enjoying his Halloween seed treat.
November 1, 2025 at 1:55 AM
He’s dressed in his house finch costume and he’s enjoying his Halloween seed treat.
60 years ago for Halloween I was Helen of Troy, figuring a strong-minded mythological lady was a good choice. Didn't know at the time that an aspect of Helen's legend placed her in Ancient Egypt. Three weeks later I went to a lecture on Tutankhamen's tomb and decided to become an Egyptologist.
October 31, 2025 at 1:48 PM
60 years ago for Halloween I was Helen of Troy, figuring a strong-minded mythological lady was a good choice. Didn't know at the time that an aspect of Helen's legend placed her in Ancient Egypt. Three weeks later I went to a lecture on Tutankhamen's tomb and decided to become an Egyptologist.
Paul is quite the model.
October 31, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Paul is quite the model.
Yes, it's autumn, and we've had a couple frosty nights, but in the greenhouse it's a toasty warm paradise for begonias and their pals.
October 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Yes, it's autumn, and we've had a couple frosty nights, but in the greenhouse it's a toasty warm paradise for begonias and their pals.
My 4x-great-grandmother Barbara Sørensdatter died in 1842 at age 67 while on the road north of Varde, Denmark. A stranger named Windfeldt had her brought back to town and petitioned for permission to have her buried. She was a widow and pauper, apparently estranged from family. A real mystery!
October 28, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My 4x-great-grandmother Barbara Sørensdatter died in 1842 at age 67 while on the road north of Varde, Denmark. A stranger named Windfeldt had her brought back to town and petitioned for permission to have her buried. She was a widow and pauper, apparently estranged from family. A real mystery!
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In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.
In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.
October 24, 2025 at 9:03 PM
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In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.
In 1938 my great-grandmother from Chicago, Catherine Petersen Mikkelsen, visited her older brother Peter Hansen Petersen in Omaha. Someone took this very nice snapshot of the two of them. Peter, a farmer, wore overalls most of the time but did dress up occasionally.