Paula W
@toomuchbrudders.bsky.social
Happily retired. Voracious reader 📚💙(inherited Folio Society editions), family-tree researcher/storyteller ☘️, TooMuchBrudders.com family blogger. Married to 5th generation farmer. My grandson calls me Goose. 🇺🇸 🇮🇪 🇩🇪 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇬🇧
The story of “Rarity Cottage” in Toome, Co Antrim, as told by my newly found third-cousin: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/11/10/r... ☘️ #FamilyHistory #IrishGenealogy #poetry #writers #poem
Rarity Cottage | Too Much Brudders blog
A peek at the history behind Rarity Cottage in Toome, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland. A home with whipped cream-topped columns.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
The story of “Rarity Cottage” in Toome, Co Antrim, as told by my newly found third-cousin: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/11/10/r... ☘️ #FamilyHistory #IrishGenealogy #poetry #writers #poem
#NowReading Sole Survivor by Holly Dunn, the only survivor of the Railroad Killer. Gripping story by the Evansville, Indiana, woman who was determined to find a way to recover by helping others.
📚💡 #BookRecommendations
📚💡 #BookRecommendations
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
#NowReading Sole Survivor by Holly Dunn, the only survivor of the Railroad Killer. Gripping story by the Evansville, Indiana, woman who was determined to find a way to recover by helping others.
📚💡 #BookRecommendations
📚💡 #BookRecommendations
On World Pianist Day, here’s Cameron playing his great-grandfather’s piano: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/09/08/t... 🎹 #PianistDay #FamilyHistory #PinkPanther
The piano | Pink Panther | Too Much Brudders blog
When grandson Cameron started playing the theme from "The Pink Panther" on his great-grandfather's piano, suddenly life came full circle.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
On World Pianist Day, here’s Cameron playing his great-grandfather’s piano: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/09/08/t... 🎹 #PianistDay #FamilyHistory #PinkPanther
How much did I cost? My dad’s archives included a few receipts: toomuchbrudders.com/2023/03/28/t... #FamilyHistory
The cheap date | Receipt | Too Much Brudders blog
Over the decades, Dad tucked away a receipt or two that meant a lot to him. Having grown up in the Depression, he appreciated frugality.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
How much did I cost? My dad’s archives included a few receipts: toomuchbrudders.com/2023/03/28/t... #FamilyHistory
#BookRecommendations Six books I enjoyed reading a few years ago:
toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/30/a... 📚💙 #NowReading
toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/30/a... 📚💙 #NowReading
A boat, a cage, a murder, an affair | London | Too Much Brudders
Six books in November, both novels and memoirs, take us to London, a deserted isle, California, Arkansas, the Old West, and more.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:03 PM
#BookRecommendations Six books I enjoyed reading a few years ago:
toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/30/a... 📚💙 #NowReading
toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/30/a... 📚💙 #NowReading
Mystery photos (and a silly poem) from my dad’s work archives: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/11/11/u... #FamilyHistory #poetry #writers
Undated, unsigned | Manpower | Too Much Brudders blog
Some glossy photos and even a clever poem from Dad's years in Manpower at G.E. He started his career in a multi-year, multi-state program.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Mystery photos (and a silly poem) from my dad’s work archives: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/11/11/u... #FamilyHistory #poetry #writers
Farmer Gary’s grandfather (1888-1964) had very strong opinions about elections and voting. Gary quotes him often: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/08/20/t... 🗳️ #FamilyHistory #election #FarmLife
The vote | Susan B Anthony | Too Much Brudders blog
Susan B Anthony received a Presidential Pardon this week, on the centenntial anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Would she have wanted one?
toomuchbrudders.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Farmer Gary’s grandfather (1888-1964) had very strong opinions about elections and voting. Gary quotes him often: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/08/20/t... 🗳️ #FamilyHistory #election #FarmLife
My parents married on a three-day pass before Dad was shipped off to Korea. My mom wrote about that Missing Year, 1953: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/03/08/t... #poem #FamilyHistory #poetry
The missing year | Too Much Brudders blog
For my parents, 1953 was "the missing year." Newlyweds, they were apart as Dad served during the Korean Conflict while Mom waited. And prayed.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:32 PM
My parents married on a three-day pass before Dad was shipped off to Korea. My mom wrote about that Missing Year, 1953: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/03/08/t... #poem #FamilyHistory #poetry
Thinking of my parents today, on their wedding anniversary: toomuchbrudders.com/2019/11/04/l... ❤️ #FamilyHistory #poetry #ThreeDayPass
Love Story 1952 | Anniversary | Too Much Brudders blog
Today is Mom and Dad's 67th wedding anniversary. Hal and Joan Vayo married on November 4, 1952, in New Haven, Connecticut.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Thinking of my parents today, on their wedding anniversary: toomuchbrudders.com/2019/11/04/l... ❤️ #FamilyHistory #poetry #ThreeDayPass
The story of the Martin guitar from the 1870s my grandfather acquired? My niece wrote a school paper about it: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/03/25/t... #restoration #FamilyHistory #music #heirloom
The Martin guitar | Restoration | Too Much Brudders blog
The detailed restoration of this 1870s Martin guitar made for a great subject for niece Lucy's high school English paper.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The story of the Martin guitar from the 1870s my grandfather acquired? My niece wrote a school paper about it: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/03/25/t... #restoration #FamilyHistory #music #heirloom
It’s All Souls Day and yes, my Mom wrote a poem about it: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/02/a... #poetry #FamilyHistory #AllSoulsDay #writers
‘All Souls Day in Cellophane’ | Too Much Brudders blog
On All Souls Day, we figure out which holy day comes first - All Saints or All Souls - and read one of Mom's heartfelt poems.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It’s All Souls Day and yes, my Mom wrote a poem about it: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/11/02/a... #poetry #FamilyHistory #AllSoulsDay #writers
Hoping a poet can enlighten me: Is a “twig” a type of poem (like a haiku)? My mom wrote these a half-century ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/11/01/t... #poetry #writers #poem #FamilyHistory
A twig ... or four | Too Much Brudders blog
A twig poem times four from Mom, written over the course of two days nearly a half century ago. Which one is your favorite?
toomuchbrudders.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Hoping a poet can enlighten me: Is a “twig” a type of poem (like a haiku)? My mom wrote these a half-century ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/11/01/t... #poetry #writers #poem #FamilyHistory
Mom loved the tree that grew outside her bedroom window in New Haven, and mourned its loss in a storm 75 years ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/03/13/t... 🌲 #FamilyHistory #Nature #Connecticut
The tree | Too Much Brudders blog
A giant spruce tree grew up in New Haven right alongside Mom. Close to the time she was ready to pull up her roots, the tree's did as well.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Mom loved the tree that grew outside her bedroom window in New Haven, and mourned its loss in a storm 75 years ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/03/13/t... 🌲 #FamilyHistory #Nature #Connecticut
They were married on this day in 1892 and proceeded to have a rather large family! Here’s their story: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/10/30/a... #otd #FamilyHistory #genealogy #Maine
A la douce memoire | Too Much Brudders blog
The prayer cards read "A la douce memoire de Rose Anne Gilbert," honoring an immigrant who worked hard and raised an impressive family.
toomuchbrudders.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:54 AM
They were married on this day in 1892 and proceeded to have a rather large family! Here’s their story: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/10/30/a... #otd #FamilyHistory #genealogy #Maine
November 1, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Five books this month, full of monsters and daemons: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/31/d... #FolioSociety #Halloween 📚💙 #BookSky #NowReading #ClassicLit
Monsters and a daemon | Too Much Brudders blog
My copy of Frankenstein used the archaic spelling of demon throughout. And so daemon it is. All month long.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Five books this month, full of monsters and daemons: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/31/d... #FolioSociety #Halloween 📚💙 #BookSky #NowReading #ClassicLit
As much as anything went viral back in 1916, the story of Master Sergeant Frank Vayo drilling his four young sons (a la Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music) hit newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/30/s... 🗞️ #familyhistory #military #maine
From Mess Sergeant to Master Sergeant | Too Much Brudders blog
From Mess Sergeant to Master Sergeant, the story of Frank Vayo's 30 years in the U.S. Army. And his famous sons.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 30, 2025 at 9:48 PM
As much as anything went viral back in 1916, the story of Master Sergeant Frank Vayo drilling his four young sons (a la Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music) hit newspapers throughout the U.S. and Canada: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/30/s... 🗞️ #familyhistory #military #maine
We had a Swearing Jug back in the ’60s.
Here are several family stories of cussing … including one with a priest: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/10/05/t... #familyhistory
Here are several family stories of cussing … including one with a priest: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/10/05/t... #familyhistory
The Swearing Jug | Cussin' confessions | Too Much Brudders blog
When her husband and kids started cussin', Mom put her foot down and created The Swearing Jug. Hit 'em where it hurts, right?
toomuchbrudders.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
We had a Swearing Jug back in the ’60s.
Here are several family stories of cussing … including one with a priest: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/10/05/t... #familyhistory
Here are several family stories of cussing … including one with a priest: toomuchbrudders.com/2020/10/05/t... #familyhistory
If you’ve ever been to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, you’ll recognize this iconic popcorn wagon: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/11/16/a... This talented artist and my mom together created a delightful children’s book. 📚💙 #Lauzon #Pittsfield #Massachusetts
A friend named Lorraine | Lauzon | Too Much Brudders blog
Mom and Mrs. Lauzon were dear friends. One wrote stories, the other illustrated. They'd hoped to publish a children's book together.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:16 AM
If you’ve ever been to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, you’ll recognize this iconic popcorn wagon: toomuchbrudders.com/2022/11/16/a... This talented artist and my mom together created a delightful children’s book. 📚💙 #Lauzon #Pittsfield #Massachusetts
October 27, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Oh, how my mom loved Halloween. 🎃 And pumpkins. And poems! Here’s one she wrote in 1999:
toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/25/h... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory
toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/25/h... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory
'The Man Who Kept Watch Over Pumpkins' | Hallowe'en | Too Much Brudders blog
Oh, boy, did my mom love Hallowe'en! Here's a poem she wrote in 1999 about an old man and his two pumpkins.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 25, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Oh, how my mom loved Halloween. 🎃 And pumpkins. And poems! Here’s one she wrote in 1999:
toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/25/h... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory
toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/25/h... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory
🎃 A Halloween poem from my mom, written 50 years ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2019/10/29/d... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory #nature
'Did You Ever Bump A Pumpkin?' I pumpkins | Too Much Brudders
Pumpkins are delicious, but not just in pie. Wildlife creatures have known for centuries to dig in when they come upon a pumpkin.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:55 PM
🎃 A Halloween poem from my mom, written 50 years ago: toomuchbrudders.com/2019/10/29/d... #poetry #Halloween #familyhistory #nature
The story of my grandpa’s cousin in Ireland, who fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/22/s... ☘️ #IrishGenealogy #familyhistory #WWI #Dublin #BattleoftheSomme
The Royal Dublin Fusilier | Battle of the Somme | Too Much Brudders blog
Grandpa Cassidy's cousin Philip was born in Dublin and, sadly, perished in the Battle of the Somme during World War I. Here is his story.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The story of my grandpa’s cousin in Ireland, who fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916: toomuchbrudders.com/2025/10/22/s... ☘️ #IrishGenealogy #familyhistory #WWI #Dublin #BattleoftheSomme
He was accused of being an arsonist. He was an entrepreneur. He was born 150 years ago. He was my great-grandfather: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/03/22/t... #otd #familyhistory #Maine #onthisday
The Maine man | George Vayo | Too Much Brudders blog
George Vayo was my father's paternal grandfather. Here is his story of life in Maine, from the late 1800s through the mid 1950s.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:21 PM
He was accused of being an arsonist. He was an entrepreneur. He was born 150 years ago. He was my great-grandfather: toomuchbrudders.com/2021/03/22/t... #otd #familyhistory #Maine #onthisday
When sisters became Sisters:
toomuchbrudders.com/2023/05/07/t... #familyhistory #religiouslife #Indiana
toomuchbrudders.com/2023/05/07/t... #familyhistory #religiouslife #Indiana
The Sisters | Saint Benedict | Too Much Brudders blog
In the early 1900s, two sisters of Gary's great-grandfather became Sisters in the Order of Saint Benedict at a convent in nearby Ferdinand.
toomuchbrudders.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:53 PM
When sisters became Sisters:
toomuchbrudders.com/2023/05/07/t... #familyhistory #religiouslife #Indiana
toomuchbrudders.com/2023/05/07/t... #familyhistory #religiouslife #Indiana