Family Reunion Memories
Summer 2008 from Susan
We receive so many lovely photos and thank-you notes that we set some of them out here on a special Family Reunion page*. :)
From Beth in Pittsburg
All five women in this picture were contributors to the cookbook. The lady in the middle, who is 98, has a recipe in the cookbook that she created and which won a prize at the Idaho State Fair.
"Dear Susan,
I have to tell you... I loved our family cookbook. When I opened the box I was amazed that these were actually the ones that I coordinated putting together. They were so wonderful I couldn't believe it. And they are all about our family so they are very personal too. Well today was our 100th family reunion (which is what they were created for) and the family loved them. It was a pleasure to have them there and see the reactions. The local news did a story on the reunion and the cookbook was a highlight of the story. It certainly was a hit and I was proud to have coordinated it especially since it came out so wonderfully. Thanks so much for making a place that such a wonderful product can be put together so well. Your site was the best! I will recommend this to everyone I know and I will certainly use it again in the future!
Thanks for all your help along the way too! I couldn't be happier."
Beth's Family Reunion video Click here to see a local news video of the Helmstadter Family Reunion. Then type "100th on the Fourth" in the search box at the top right.
From Jan in Asheville
"Dear Susan,
Our family reunion was this past weekend-June 20-22 in Asheville, NC. It was the first time all of the first cousins had been together for the same event since 1966. I must tell you that the highlight of the weekend was the Heritage cookbooks. I had included several family stories gleaned through emails, interviews, and phone calls, along with 114 pictures gathered through snail mail or emails. Even the men enjoyed reading them, especially the stories, and everyone loved the pictures and having a history of our family. Several people mentioned that they were looking forward to trying out several of the recipes.
We had a catered banquet on Saturday evening since many people had a long distance to travel. It would be great for families to have people bring some of their favorite dishes featured in the cookbooks if they were having a potluck. Several people did bring desserts, however, since they transport better and I printed out place cards on the computer with the name of the recipe, the cook, and the page where it was featured in the cookbook and placed a card by each dessert. That was a big hit and let me tell you, we really made a dent in those desserts.
We had a few games after eating-mystery photos put up on a large foam board and I ran off sheets for the guests to record their guesses and awarded prizes and also did a take-off on Jeff Foxworthy’s “You Might Be a Redneck and changed it to ‘You Might Be a Tolhurst if…” We concluded with a Memorial service for our departed family members-I had featured them on the last page of the cookbook with dates of births and deaths and a poem. Family members lit a candle in front of each of their pictures as the names were read and placed a white silk rose in a Vase of Remembrance.
I certainly would recommend your website for anyone planning on creating a cookbook. It really makes a treasured keepsake. My husband suggested it would be nice for a bridal shower, especially if mostly family members were in the wedding party and participating with the wedding activities. It would be a nice gift for the in-laws to share some of your family recipes and heritage.
I am including a picture from the reunion. I’m in the front in the pink and black with my husband on the left and my mother behind me. My granddaughters are in the front row-one has a red hair bow and the other is a little blond with a red dress and white collar. Hope you enjoy being able to put some faces with the people in our cookbook."
*All material is reproduced with the permission of the person who sent it.