Time Out!

I need to take a time out and set aside my family and work on my husband’s for a minute.  Especially since I received a gift from a cousin in my e-mail when I woke up this morning.

Take a look at this!

Left to right:  William Charles/Carl, Anna (Strauss), Jacob Frederick, Eberhard, Emily (about 1885)

This handsome family is my husband’s great grandparents, Eberhard and Anna (Strauss) Ast.  The children are the first of their children (six, I believe), none of which is my husband’s grandather.  But look at what a beautiful family this is!  And how about those clothes?  Love it!

And then another.

Herman and Bertha Ast, about 1898

That is my husband’s paternal grandfather and his younger sister!  Since they look to be about two and four, I’m guessing this was taken in about 1898.  And again, great clothes!

I never had the pleasure of meeting Herman as he had died before  I came into the picture but I did spend some time with Bertha.  And this little cutie looks exactly as I remember her with that twinkle in her eye.  WHY didn’t I take more photos? 

But another cousin gave me this picture of Bertha when she was a little more grown up – see the twinkle in her eyes?



And Herman was quite a looker when he was married in 1915.



What’s especially poignant is that as I was preparing this post (April 24, 2016) I realized that Eberhard died on this date in 1912.  Maybe someone was trying to tell us something?

Thanks again for the photos, cousins!