What an interesting family history and great photograph. Hopefully you'll get a picture soon of Rose so we can hear about her too!
Manise | 03.13.06 - 12:07 pm | #

WOW - Hello fellow Portugee! Ohh, I am touched not just by the story but the finding someone with Portuguese ancestry in this big wide blogging world!
Claudia | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 12:19 pm | #

That is such a cool story. A love affair - stolen even! with a queen.

Great photos, Mim, of the family and the shawl.
Carrie K | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 1:39 pm | #

That's a really cool story. And that does look like one formidable lady!
Peeve | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 2:50 pm | #

How wonderful that you have such an old photo and those handmade heirlooms! What a women!
jillian | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 4:03 pm | #

Thanks for sharing the great stories!
Chris | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 4:04 pm | #

That is a completely precious picture. Guard that thing like Fort Knox! Check out the hair bow. Too cool. Plus now I wish my last name was Brilliant. I would be Ms. Brilliant. I would probably even make my kids call me that.

I have some great formidable women in my background too - but unfortunately no wonderful pictures to illustrate my stories. You're so lucky!
stephanie | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 4:33 pm | #

Wow, F is also for fascinating! You are so very Fortunate to have these tangible precious bits of your past.
Norma | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 5:06 pm | #

now that is an interesting geneology .
Isela | Homepage | 03.13.06 - 8:43 pm | #

Ok Mim, that was just cool. Thanks for sharing. What a lovely addition to an amazing family tree you are.
Holly | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 7:19 am | #

Geneaology is so interesting. Very cool that you know your family, Mim.
Snow | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 2:23 pm | #

Your F post inspired me. Thanks for sharing your grandmother and your history.
Carla Rey | Homepage | 03.14.06 - 3:27 pm | #

Wow. we might be related! My mother's family came from the Azores as well, and Amaral is a family last name back there somewhere; I will have to check with the cousin that is into all this stuff. I do know that my great-grandmother came around the Horn on a boat in the 1870s and settled in Folsom, California, outliving three husbands.
Birdsong | Homepage | 03.16.06 - 1:43 pm | #

I'm so far behind on blog reading (Spring Break last week) but this is a really wonderful post. ALL of your posts are interesting and I have to read them. Sorry, yes, I have to. heh Thanks for telling this great story.
Laura | Homepage | 03.21.06 - 1:15 pm | #