Hello all!!

So, I technically wasn't tagged by anyone to do this one....

But....Mary Katherine, Lia and I had so much fun coming up with stuff for Lia's version of this tag, that we decided to repeat the process on MK's blog, and then on mine!

Keeping it consistent with the other two girl's post, I shall start with one fact of my own, and let the other two each share 8 facts. Taking MK's example, I will also be adding personal commentary!

Let us begin!

1. I am a Heinz 57 European when it comes to my ancestry. 

You ready for this?

On my dad's side we have:

Polish (Russia Polish and Galicia/Austrian Polish)
Italian (Naples/Rome)
Possible ancestors from Ukraine and Russia.

On my mom's side we have:

Scottish (Clans Mackinnon, McAlister, and Campbell). Proud to be a Jacobite!
Canadian (Scottish. They took a 300 year detour through Canada to get to America).
German
English
Welsh
Mohawk (Native American)
Ancestors from Netherlands, Ireland, and France.

So excluding the Spanish and Belgium, I pretty much hit all the major countries of Europe between my two parents....(and who knows....maybe my dad's side has it after all...his side still needs a lot of exploring....)



2. If she laughs too hard, she will start hiccuping and it’s the funniest thing ever!

I have the worst hiccups on the planet, I swear...and yes, my hiccups have caused giggle fits, which of course worsens them, and it's a destructive cycle...


3. She’s obsessed with Celtic music

I blame it on my overly Celtic roots. I grew up identifying myself as a Highland Scot first, so I was raised on Highland bagpipe music. Irish music (both a capella and instrumental) naturally followed, and then the Celtic-inspired novelling music, and then the Welsh music, and now the Celtic medieval music...

Needless to say...I wasn't surprised in December when Spotify reported that my most-listened to genre was Celtic. Not in the least. 




4. She wants to own a farm one day.

I have agriculture and farming in my blood. My parents have always wanted a farm of their own (even though they've been unsuccessful at getting the land and money).

I personally love historic farming. I'm talking 19th century with animal power and hand tools. After 2 internships, I'm begging for more. But if my career dreams never flourish, I'm sure I can find a way to get a piece of land and have my own animals and crops on it, even if it's only a homestead.


5. She knows how to tap dance!

I do!! Believe it or not, I'm a former dancer of a local dance studio. I danced for about 3 years (between the ages of 8-11).

Besides tap, I also learned Broadway jazz and ballet at the studio. My favorite though, was tap. After I left the studio, I picked up some Irish dance steps and I learned how to square dance. And I do dance 3 modern dances (Cotton-Eyed Joe, Cha-Cha-Slide, and Cupid Shuffle), the rest are too obscene for my tastes.

Because I practiced at home so much, I never forgot any of the steps...I still break out dancing when I'm bored, though I'll switch it up with ballet and Irish dancing.


6. Can Cotton-Eyed Joe like nobody’s business. 

Haha!! I dearly love Cotton-Eyed Joe though...the song as well as the dance!




7. She doesn’t like watermelon

Okay, clarification....I like the watermelon taste...in small quantities. I don't like the watermelon texture at all. It's like gritty strings and I don't like it. Not to mention the juice runs everywhere and makes everything sticky.


8. She joined her church choir as a soprano and is loving it!

I joined last December, just in time for Advent. I loved singing from the pew and I was super excited that I could finally have the time to join my home church choir.

I am not looking forward to my first Holy Week Triduum though...it makes my voice hoarse just thinking about it.


9. She constantly has to slap sense into me.

*shrugs and grins*





10. Loves The Lords of the Rings and wants to be a shield maiden.

Yes, yes indeed. I'm sure you all know of my obsession with Eowyn by now...

I love Tolkien - and the Lord of the Rings - to death. I recently picked up The Simillarion and The Children of Hurin from the library to read, and I'm super excited to read them!

I do have a warrior streak in me - I'm sure it's from the fact that there is at least one ancestor of mine in every major American conflict since the French and Indian War.

While I'm not handy with a sword yet, I have had some self-defense training and some training with guns. I am in desperate need of more though. And I have a great desire to whip myself into shape physically. However, I have this alarming trend of overdoing it and hurting myself rather badly. And my hand-eye coordination could really use some work...


11. A fan of whatever-team-it-was-that-won-the-Super-Bowl-this-year.

THAT’S THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, THANK YOU.




12. She likes Coke (the drink, not the drug) and pink lemonade and tea. But no coffee, poor lamb.

Thank you for that clarification....

No, no coffee. I honestly don't like the taste. I had a coffee flavored beer recently just for kicks and giggles....didn't really like it. Roasted/char tastes don't really agree with my tongue, I find.


13. She reads a lot of historical fiction and fantasy, but will read just about anything as long as its well written and cleanly written.

Very accurate! I'm not afraid to go for an occasional military, thriller, dystopia, an epistolary book (a book of letters), or other book. Of course, it goes without saying that I have to be interested in the story....

The biggest things that make me DNF a book are positive situations involving dark magic and lust. As long as those aren't in there, there is a good chance I'll pick it up to read.


14. She loves gummy candy.

Gummy bears, gummy worms, and gummy peach rings are candies that I don't get very often and I love them to death. Other favorite candies include Starburst, 3 Musketeers, Snickers, Skittles and Jelly Beans.




15. She is often mistaken for a much younger person, though she is one of the most mature girls I know. 

*blushes and smiles*

The struggle is real. To understand what I mean, check out this recent post I did on my personal blog.


16. She likes to watch period dramas and chick flicks, but also Marvel movies and animated films.

Nailed that one on the head!

To be honest, I was NOT a movie person when I was a child. If something happened to the characters, I would run and hide until the danger was over. Not joking.

And then sometime during high school, that changed. I think once I figured out that there were tricks to doing some the scenes, something clicked and it wasn't scary for me anymore. You know, like when someone turns on the light and takes the sheet off the ghost.

As for movie tastes, as long as it's fairly clean and has a good story, I'm game for it!


17. Loves the country and would probably not survive if forced to move to a big city like NYC or LA. 

AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH.

Let me put it to you this way. I didn't survive living in a small city when in graduate school. Now I don't mind going to visit a city, even on a regular basis. But to live there?? In a city of any size?? FORGET IT. I'm a country girl until I die. Period. Exclamation mark.

Copyright: Catherine Hawthorn

I'm going to leave this tag open...as I have no idea who has been tagged for this tag or not. And with Camp NaNo looming, I'm sure y'all appreciate the break.

Let's talk! Which fact surprised you? What ethnicities make up your ancestry?

Scribbingly yours,

Catherine