Metcalf Family Mews

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
lightly beaten egg

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in 6 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles course cornmeal. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk, use regular milk). Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky – do not over mix. Turn out dough onto a floured surface and shape into 6- to 8-inch round about 1 1/2 inches thick. Quickly cut into pie wedges or use a large round biscuit cutter to cut circles. The secret of tender scones is minimum handling. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, being sure the sides of scones don’t touch each other. Brush with egg for shiny, beautiful brown scone. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes to 20 minutes, or until lightly brown.

Variations of scones: apples, currents, ginger, orange, almond flavoring, cinnamon, apricots, fresh blueberries, cranberries, or even chocolate chips.

psst… Starbucks’ make great scones… but you didn’t hear it from me. Yum……

I love things that bear the touch of time, chips and all – they’re more beautiful than perfection. ~ Unknown

Pick one female ancestor and write a mini-profile (500 words or less).

Seven national crimes:  I don’t think. I don’t know. I don’t care. I’m too busy.  I leave well enough alone. I have no time to read and find out. I am not interested. ~ William Boetcker

Did you receive any advice or words of wisdom from your mother or another female ancestor?

I really thought hard on this one… but couldn’t think of anything in particular that my mother or grandmother said to me that left a deep lasting impression; nothing profound. It wasn’t in their words but in their deeds.

I do remember silly things like: “Life is like a ice-cream cone… once you think you have it licked… it will drip all over you” and “the hand that rocks the cradle… rules the world.” It took me years to figure that one out. I only wish more mothers taught their children, that someday, the decisions they make will effect other peoples lives.

The best thing about the future is that it only comes one day at a time. ~ Abraham Lincoln

A collection of these cards could be Christmas gifts for family members and friends – with brief highlights of the past year.

Create a free Footnote Page or a Genealogy Trading Card at Big Huge Labs for a female ancestor. Some of you may have created your own card back in September 2009 following Sheri Fenley’s post over at The Educated Genealogist. This time, the card is for your female ancestor. Tell us about whom you’ve selected and why and then post a link to what you’ve created.

If you have the will to win, you have achieved half your success.  If you don’t you have achieved half your failure. ~ David Ambrose

Your grandmother’s? How and where did they meet? How long were they friends? What activities did they share?

My mom’s best friend was Mrs. Baker and no, I never used her first name ever. I do know it but out of respect for her, I only use her married surname.  I know it’s a sign of my age, but I think it’s a time honored tradition and I for one, respect it.

Mrs. Baker was the mother of my friend and neighbor. They talked everyday, I have no idea about what, for I left the room.  But they had been very good friends for a very long time. She had several other friends that she shared things with, but I’d say that she was her best.

My Grandma Phebie had a best friend named Gloria, she was a great friend to my grandma and all of her children. I’m sure it took many years for some of the grand-kids to figure out that she wasn’t really related.

Nothing is more effective than sincere, accurate praise, and nothing is more lame than a cookie-cutter compliment. ~ Bill Walsh

in Ireland  a century ago, people would hold two types of “wakes,” one for the dead and the other, the Irish held for those sailing off to America , never to return. Their families were possibly to never see or to hear from them again. Which is a type of death.

A wake is to celebrate the life and share in the passing of someone we love, someone we are to never see again, in this life. I can’t imagine making a decision that would tear me away from my family for the rest of my life. People, families setting out for what they perceived to be a better place. The “unknown” if you will.

Do you know the immigration story of one or more female ancestors? Do you have any passenger lists, passports, or other documentation? Interesting family stories?

All is perspective. To a worm, digging in the ground is more relaxing than going fishing. ~ Clyde Abel