Aha! I told Brenda I owe them a nickel and she has asked me to give it to my favorite charity - isn't it lucky we have our Holiday Linner tomorrow! I will bring the nickel wrapped and dressed! Jana -----Original Message----- From: Neil & Brenda Ross [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 12:09 PM To: Jana Black Subject: Ratafia Jana According to my Practical Cookery for All cookbook, published by Oldhams Press Limited many eons ago, "Ratafia is a flavouring. Tiny biscuits for trifles, etc., flavoured with almonds." The book also says "Ratafia Essence. This is sold in bottles ready for use." I had never heard of it before so I am learning something new, too. Brenda Ross

I think I remember that in period English novels (maybe Jane Austen?) ratafia was something ladies drank -- perhaps nonalcoholic? Esther M ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jana Black" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 6:48 PM Subject: [MarinGenSoc] FW: Ratafia > Aha! I told Brenda I owe them a nickel and she has asked me to give it to my > favorite charity - isn't it lucky we have our Holiday Linner tomorrow! I > will bring the nickel wrapped and dressed! > > Jana > > -----Original Message----- > From: Neil & Brenda Ross [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 12:09 PM > To: Jana Black > Subject: Ratafia > > > Jana > According to my Practical Cookery for All cookbook, published by Oldhams > Press Limited many eons ago, "Ratafia is a flavouring. Tiny biscuits for > trifles, etc., flavoured with almonds." The book also says "Ratafia > Essence. This is sold in bottles ready for use." > I had never heard of it before so I am learning something new, too. > Brenda Ross >

Hello everyone! 1) Take a look in tonight's IJ - on the editorial page (A6) to read the essays from our "Lovelines and Bloodlines" student family history writing contest for the third Place Winners! Tomorrow night, the IJ will run the second place winners and on Saturday night, you will read the First Place entries! Then, at our upcoming General Meeting, be sure to come and hear the kids in person read their essays and help us offer appreciation and awards. If you are not local, never fear, the essays will be posted on the Marin GenWeb site soon. With 9 children and their teachers and families attending, I invite everyone to bring "goodies" for snacks - please let Celinda or me know if you are willing??? 2) I have received word from Edward Black Sr. (no relation :) who is a volunteer transcriber for the US GenWeb Project Archives letting me know he is fast at work transcribing the 1870 Marin Census! He expects to finish about the first of the year and we will link to it immediately. Cathy has already reminded me that the down side of having someone unfamiliar with the families of Marin do the work is that they may not be able as she and Carolyn have, to identify misspelled names. Nevertheless, access at all is better than none, and as always, you need to use anything online as a "clue" and be sure to get the actual records for yourself to prove your work! I will let you all know when the Census is posted. 3) All the info and the sign up form for genealogy classes taught by yours truly at Marin County Office of Education is here: http://www.cagenweb.com/marin/mcoe.htm You can simply print out the form, fill it our by hand and mail it to Marin County Office of Education if you are interested. Happy New Year Everyone! Jana Black Program Chair MCGS