Write Everything You Know About Your Ancestors

This is a great family home evening activity or Sunday afternoon activity!
Identifying your ancestors is fun and so much easier today. You can begin right now by picking up a pencil and writing down information on a piece of paper.

Begin with what your already know by writing information on yourself and work back one generation at a time. The most important family history information you already posses -- your memories and the memories of your loved ones. Gather information about yourself, your siblings, your parents, your grandparents, and your great grandparents. Make a list of each member in your family that can help you identify your ancestors. Typically, information about close relatives is readily available simply by talking to them, and searching through information in your home.

Write down specific information, such as: names, dates, and places of important events such as birth, marriage and death, where they lived (ancestral village), Occupation, even a physical description, if you know it. Try to gather 3-4 generations (or more) of information on your ancestors. Don't be concerned if you're missing information because you can go back and fill it in later.

P. Larsen, Crash Course in Family History ed.4 Easy family History, St, George.

Terry M. Nelson Funeral

Rada LeSueur and Alice Stout (sisters)

Randy Nelson and Nick Steele, also half of Edna Nelson

Terry's Wife Nelda and a Manning family member

Alice and Landon Stout

Josie and her husband Abu

Pretty Josie

Deltha Nelson (Mom) and Alice

Frank Mirgler & Darvall Nelson in foreground and Todd and Deltha Nelson in background

Eric and Logan Steele

Barbara, Ann & Jeanne paying respects to their father

Alice Stout and Andrea Steele

Barbara Steel and Keith Nelson

Darvall Nelson and Jim Paschal

 

         

Getting to the Source

I have never really understood how to write or keep sources. What information do I use? Are different sources formatted differently? Do I use the source for the person, or each piece of information about the person? and the list went on and on and on, but I digress.
I know that Roots Magic has some free webinars on different genealogical subjects on their website.I've been meaning to go there and see what is available. Yesterday was finally that day, and what do you know, but they had a presentation on sources. It was an hour and a half, taught by Bruce Busbee, President and CEO of Rootsmagic. He also helped to create the program. It was very helpful. I know that it will make me a better genealogist and when someone asks me where I found something I will be able to tell them.
I just want to tell Roots Magic if they are reading this, thanks for supporting the community you serve!

My First Webinar!

Since I haven't posted anything genealogy related in a while, I thought I would update you. Yesterday evening I attended my first webinar sponsored by Roots Magic and taught by Lisa Louise Cooke the producer and host of the free podcast Genealogy Gems, that I listen to. She spoke about Google search tips and tricks.

At first I was a little nervous because I had never done this before. But, let me tell you it could not have been easier. After I subscribed, Roots Magic sent me an email with my personal log in number. Once it was time for the webinar, I just found the email and clicked on the link, and voila` I was there. Another thing I want to point out is that these webinars are free.

It was so nice to hear a friendly voice, and boy was that voice smart! Once the webinar was over I was so excited to use the new search techniques Lisa talked about. I have been to lectures on Boolean search techniques before, but they never clicked. Mostly because they went to fast. But Lisa explained it well enough and went slow enough that I was able to keep up, as I was furiously scribbling notes.

Last night, all night long I was dreaming of Google searching my ancestors and being so excited that I found something. I would like to think that this was a message from my ancestors to me, telling me that there is stuff out there about them. I only need to took for it in a new way. I am also excited to share what I have found with my non-genealogy minded friends.

So please keep reading, and I'll keep posting and maybe one day I will turn you into a Gen Head. Which is my made up silly name for people who LOVE genealogy and family history as much as I do.

Battle Creek Falls

Now that the weather is getting a little better, I have started to train for the Grand Canyon hike outside. First up, Battle Creek Falls. This hike is way close to my house and it is nice because you are hiking next to a river, and you get to see two waterfalls.

I also got some shots of the mountains and the valley.

And of course there is a picture of the long and winding road. Sing it Paul!

It was a fun day to be out in the sunshine after such a long winter. My friend Sarah Garcia and I are going to hike it again today.

Oh Christmas Tree and Adventures in Candy Making.

Last night John and I got our Christmas tree. It is beautiful; a seven foot noble fir. I named him Lewis. I have always named my Christmas trees. I don't know why, something weird about me I guess.
When we were at the Christmas tree lot all the trees were $50 or more so we decided to leave. The attendant asked why we were leaving and we told him that we did not want to spend $50 on a tree. Then he said that he could negotiate the price.  He then asked us how much we wanted to spend. $30 I said. Thinking that that would be a fair price and not the insult that $20 would have been. He countered with $40. and then John said $35. We settled on $37.99; okay, sold!

On the way home we stopped and picked up the pizza we ordered and John ran into Skyler Judd, a guy that he lived with for a time on his mission in California. That kid knows so many people. I can't take him any where.

Once the tree was up and dinner was over I started my endeavor, to make some divinity for Christmas boxes. I boiled the sugar, water and corn syrup and waited until they reached "hard ball" stage. then I whipped the egg whites to stiff peaks. When i tried to combine the sugar mixture to my egg whites, it was a mess. The sugar had cooled too much. I called mom to ask her what I did wrong. She told me to not let the sugar cool. Okay, thanks. I said. I put the pans in the sink with some warm soapy water, but the sugar was not budging. Eventually I had to boil some water and pour it into the pans and scrub with a knife and sponge, because the water was too hot. An hour after I had begun, I was ready to begin again.

My second attempt, although better was still not perfect, and I beat too much air into the mixture making it not want to stick together. Hopefully my third and all subsequent attempts here after will be successful. Today I am going to make truffles; also something I have never done before.
Wish me luck.

Good Day

Today was a day of cleaning in preparation to christmasify our house. I cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom including the fridge. I can't tell you how many times I did dishes today. Well, maybe I can it was 4. I never do dishes that much. I also swept and mopped the floor.

I was going to move onto the bathroom but then John came home and he wanted the carpets cleaned before we got our Christmas tree. He borrowed his friends, Zach's carpet cleaner and we figured out how to work it. Then I cleaned the carpets. They look a lot better. I was able to get most of the oil stains out. Once Christmas is over we will have to clean the floor again.

In addition to all this cleaning, I threw a chicken in the crockpot with potatoes and carrots. Six hours later we were eating a wonderful dinner. Today I felt like a good wife.

After dinner we headed over to Barnes and Nobel to once again look at the Nook e-reader (it is on my Christmas list) and once again decide that there is something missing. John and I decided that an ipad would be better. It is more user friendly, I can get books from other sources than just the company I purchased the e-reader from and it already has color. one con is that it is back lit, but they have different colors that make it easier on the eyes and a night time and daytime feature. In the world of e-readers this is just the beginning. you wouldn't want to buy a first generation car, so why would you want to buy a first generation e-reader?