The History Detectives - Follow Friday

The History Detectives. Okay, so how many of you admit you watch it? It comes on your local PBS channel.  You've probably seen it a few times. It doesn't go as in depth as some shows. Except that usually, there is a family item that is the focus of the show, and the detectives try to see how it connects to the family.

But how many of you know that they have a very interesting web site?

They have a whole section of their website dedicated to genealogy and how to perform genealogy research properly! And you can view it here.

There are checklists to assist you, pedigree forms, family tree charts, and videos to help you get started in your own quest for your family history!

It is an amazing website. And it changes from time to time, so you will want to check back every now and then, just to see what's new!

Just another reason to support your local PBS (Public Broadcasting System).

Think First Thursday

So, you are doing the happy dance". You went onto one of the genealogy sites, and someone has a family tree up. Complete! And guess what? It's YOUR family tree! Yeah! The Happy Dance {{}}{{}}{{}}{{}}{{}}{{}}

So, you download the tree, and merge it immediately into your own tree. You are done! Yeah!!! Now you can start to share it with family all over the country! They are going to think you are some kind of genius for finding all of this information in one fell swoop!

But before you start sending it out, you start to look over it. And you think it looks alright. So, you copy it, and start emailing it out to everyone in the family. Now you're feeling pretty impressed with yourself. Right? Right?

And then great-aunt Suzy calls you. And she is laughing so hard and your big goof.

"Look deary, you've got great-grandpa born after his own death! And his mother born after he died!" (You aren't sure if you're angry now because of your gaff, or because great-aunt Suzy is laughing and giggling at you like a ten year old! She absolutely thinks it's hilarious! You're sure she's either going to fall from her chair and break a hip, or sit where she's at and pee her pants!)

Life is over as you know it! You are devastated! You merged that tree with yours and what can you do now?

First of all, laugh with great-aunt Suzy. It's a hard lesson learned. But it's not irreparable.

Simply go into your genealogy programs settings, and have it to restart at a date earlier than the date you merged the "found tree". Not a big deal.

But what it does do for you, is show you that people who simply copy other trees are not getting the real deal. That only comes with hard work. And it will come with sources, bibliography's, references, and citations.  Remember that a family tree without sources is simply a fairy tale!

Double check your own entries when making them into your tree. It is so easy to get dates "bass-ackward". (I call it dyslexia. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!) It happens to the best of us by accident. But for a few, they enjoy throwing some chaos into the kettle! Yeah, there really are people like that out there!

So, take a few extra minutes to double check your facts when you enter them.

And always remember, never, never, never merge a tree with your own researched tree! More than likely. it will only cause you some major work ahead that you can avoid simply by not making that mistake in the first place!

As always, your comments are welcomed.

Wordless Wednesday - Or How NOT to Take a Reunion Photo

Travel Tips Tuesday

At our recent family reunion, I had cousins flying in from California. They had a change of flights within California, and were then headed to O'Hare and then to the largest airport close to our rural area. Due to mechanical problems, the change of flight in California was delayed. That got them to O'Hare after their connection had left. This literally gave them no choice, due to financial constraints, than to wait it out, and hope that they could all three get on a standby before the next flight, which was almost 24-hours later.

Stuck at the airport, hoping for a standby, [they didn't dare get a hotel room for fear of losing a standby flight], they were forced to spend a very long time in O'Hare. Simply waiting. Now, for those of you who travel, you know that you never allow yourself to fall asleep in an airport, allowing yourself to be vulnerable to pickpockets and nefarious other creatures who lurk in such places. (Okay, silly, get the vampires and zombies out of your heads!)

Here are a few tips they could have used, especially since they were traveling in a group of three:

* Bringing along a small throw blanket/ lap robe, would have allowed some creature comfort while waiting, and could be rolled into a minuscule size within a tote bag; an inflatable pillow would also have been nice.

* They could have found a place where all three could sit together, and two could have napped while one kept watch. Reading or on the laptop, to pass the time.

* Snacks would have meant that purchases made in the airport could have been limited to drinks, sodas or water. At least for all except for one meal.

* A lightweight sweater would have kept them from the summer air-conditioning chill which happens when you sit still for long.

* A book, laptop, ebook reader, or tablet, would have provided diversion.

* Comfortable rubber soled slippers (those foam type, that look like shoes) would have helped with travel edema in the lower legs.

* Going ahead and planning for a possible layover, and including a motel/hotel room for one night in the budget would have saved 2 elderly relatives from sitting up in an airport for nearly a full day. Budget for a room on the return trip as well, just in case.

* Pack medications, at least for 24-48 hours, in portable containers for inclusion in your carry on. (I simply pack my medications for a full week in the medication box that you can purchase at any pharmacy fr a couple of dollars.) Make sure you carry a thermal bag for insulin if you are diabetic and your insulin requires refrigeration. Along with a small container to dispose your syringes in. (For travel I would recommend using pre-filled cartridge pen syringes to keep from having to carry the insulin and syringes.)

* Pack those little things that can really help: Tylenol or Advil, for headaches or aches and pains; antacid tablets; anti-diarrheal tablets; wet wipes for keeping germs at bay; a portable toothbrush and sample sized toothpaste; a small tube of denture adhesive if you wear dentures; a comb; nail clippers and an emery board. Lens wipes can keep eye glasses as well as your cell phone, tablet, laptop, ebook reader, etc., clean. They come pre-packaged, and are then discarded after use.

* Use a carry on that isn't difficult to carry! Small suitcases can sometimes be cumbersome. So I use either a large tote, and forgo the handbag, or a backpack and do the same. I put a handbag in my luggage for everyday. No need to have both a handbag and a carry on. Make it as simple as you possibly can! A small back pack can be placed on the back when you are claiming luggage, or can be thrown over a shoulder, whichever is most comfortable for you. And one bag is always easier to keep up with than two!

* Be sure to take an index card, or you can print this out, and have your full name, address, home phone, an emergency contact of someone who is NOT traveling with you, along with their name, address and phone, placed in your carry on. Make sure you include a list of your medical conditions, allergies, and medications you are taking. Laminate this card. If for some reason you should be unresponsive, medical, or police personnel, can get you the care you need sooner, rather than later. List your Medical Power of Attorney if you have one. Or who is listed on your Living Will.

* If you have a medical condition that can lead to a medical crisis, be sure to wear your medical alert bracelet or necklace at all times!

* Never put your bag out of your site, except on the plane when you will place it in the overhead bin. Men, always carry your wallet with you. But place it in a breast pocket, and NOT in your rear pants pocket. Ladies, consider wearing a waist wallet fitted under your blouse, or a bra wallet, that attached to the front straps of your brassiere. Carry a small amount of cash and coins in your pants pockets.

* Never set anything down and then go back to get it. If it's valuable, it will be gone. If it's food or drink, consider it contaminated, and toss it away!

I hope this has given you some ideas that might help you when traveling. Please feel free to list your tips below!

Making Memories - On a Dime

Ever wonder what you can do with all of your photograph and document files on a budget, and yet make them into a permanent print file that wouldn't cost you an arm and a leg?

Well, here is one solution that I have used.

 

I worked with Lulu.com on many different projects. They are a POD (print on demand) company, that offers both high end and economical prints. I did the above book, which is a compilation of photographs for our family (made a super nice gift for the reunion, and for holidays).  

This book is 650 pages full of photographs of our family. Yeah, jam packed full!

 It is a soft cover book.

Now, to have done this book in color print would have cost over $200 a book! (Unless it was purchased in a large quantity, and would still have been over $100 each!)

However, by using a soft-cover, going with standard paper pages, and using black and white print (rather than color photos), I was able to cut the cost down to only $16.40 a book at my cost. 

See what I mean? High end style on a dime!

Family have been stunned to own a copy of this book! Photos many would never have otherwise seen, or known, are known made available to anyone who wants them.

Because the book contains photographs of both the dead and the living, I have made it accessible or by direct URL, so it isn't available to the public at large. And I was careful to ask permission to include all of the photographs that were used of the living. So, should you choose to do this, make sure you get permission first, to use photographs of living subjects!

I have used Lulu.com for printing of clients histories as well. (I've got over 300 private access family history's on Lulu.com right now.) Some have been retired, which means there have been more! But I find that depending upon the price the client is willing to pay, I can print cheaply, or I can spend a little more, and provide them with a quality printing that they are sure to enjoy for many years to come.

You can also use Lulu.com for smaller printing jobs. I have used them to print out pamphlets, or small booklets when speaking at the historical society. I've printed agenda's with just a few pages, and short history's on a location, in spiral bound (coil) books. You can even publish eBooks. And you can publish directly to online bookstores like Amazon.com from the printer as well.

So, go ahead and give them the chance to prove to you just how economical they be! And what a great job that they will do for you!

Lulu.com

It's Time for Church! - or Sunday Singing

Come on in! I've saved you a place next to me in the church pew.

Yes, looks like a beautiful Sunday, doesn't it?

Yes, we're lookin' forward to hearin' the special singin'.

Let's settle back. Oh, before it's warms up, here's you a paddle fan to keep cool.

How to Organize Your Research - Or Scintillating Saturday

How to Organize Your Research 

Or 

Scintillating Saturday

Okay, it's no big secret, but my new favorite way to keep track of ANYTHING is by using a Bullet Journal.

What, may you ask, is a Bullet Journal?

According to Google.com the definition for Bullet Journal is "The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above."

Yep, that about sums it up. It's a place where you can keep track of EVERYTHING . My personal Bullet Journal contains everything from my To-Do list, to my Client Appointments, to my Hydration Tracker, to my menu and shopping list. I even keep my checkbook register in it!

But the really neat thing, is that you can use it to keep track of ANYTHING, and that's where it comes in handy with genealogy research. Because my Bullet Journal  keeps me on track with my latest research projects as well. 

I break my new, blank, journal down into several sections. Some are just a few pages long. Some are a couple of hundred pages long (yeah, my latest journal, which I am in love with, holds over 600 pages!~ I'll fill you in on where to get one like it at the end of this post.) By breaking my journal down into sections, I can easily locate whatever list I am wanting to see at a moments notice.

The one thing that you will see, should you decide to use a Bullet Journal, is that it is an ever evolving process. Until you find what actually works best for you. Mine is still evolving, but I'm getting close to what is perfect for me!

I have seen journals that use tabs, yes, just like those you used to divide your school notebook with, or use to divide files with. I found those to be too bothersome, and they stuck out, causing me to always catch them on something in my handbag. (Yes, I carry my journal EVERYWHERE with me!) So, I found an example of one that color coded pages, using colored pencils to marks each page.

 from Pinterest.com

You will note that each section is has a different color. You will then take and mark each page with a small square of that color, directly below the key page here. So that when viewed from the side as you thumb through the pages, you will easily locate the pages that match that color. As an alternative, I have seen some that use Post It Sticky Tabs. My problem with those is that they tend to come loose eventually, and have to be replaced frequently if your journal is a large one that lasts awhile.

On my genealogy list I keep two lists: Working On, and To-Do. My Working On list contains the names of ancestors I am working on, so that should I come across some bit of information, I will readily know that this is someone I should jot down the information on. (Of course, under this section I leave extra pages in case I find this new information while I am out and about!) On my To-Do list are things that I am constantly doing: such as writing my family newsletter; sending out emails with announcements; writing this blog; etc. These are things that I am always working on.

As I said, I keep my journal with me at all times. You don't have to. It can be something that you use only when you are at home, or at your desk. I use mne more as a life organizer. It helps keep me focused, and I find I get more work done when I have a list to check off, thus the great thing about the Bullet Journal. As I complete each task, I simply check off the box, and I know it is complete.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I also use mine for my Bible Study, and for my personal diary. Just some food for thought!

Now, can you imagine what it would mean to you to come across such a thing from one of your ancestors as a Bullet Journal? (First of all, I'd think they were a pretty organized person! LOL) But the greatest thing of all, is the intimate look you would have of your ancestor's daily life! Not just their To-Do list, but their diary, their budget, their diet, their thoughts on philosophy and religion, and on and on.

When I keep this journal, I am able to locate my latest research at a simple glance. And i carry it with me everywhere I go, so no matter where I am at, I can reference it. Yes, it is a low tech work tool. And I know I could do the same thing with my tablet, or even my iPhone! But I also doodle, and draw pictures in it. I add photographs. And ticket stubs. Receipts. Funeral programs. Wedding invitations. Newspaper clippings. These are things that when kept separate, just don't make a lot of sense later down the line. But when placed in my journal, will coincide with that day's notations. Not only will I know what the item was from, so will anyone who may years from now look at it.

So, maybe you'd like to give it a shot?

Here's my latest journal:

 I love it because it's 5"x8", and has LOTS of pages! It is leather, so it will be around for a LONG time to come. The pages are gilt edged, so they really look nice. And there are two ribbon bookmarks, which make it alot easier to get to those well used pages, like my regular To-Do lists. The pages are unlined, so I am free to draw and doodle around my entries as much as I want without lines getting in the way. And the pages don't bleed when I use colored markers or fountain pens. (I have a passion for fine writing instruments, and fountain pens are a lost art tool these days!) This is available for $11.99 on Amazon.com.

In the past, I have used leatherette journals from Walmart, which are at a comparable cost. I have used soft cover art journals. Again, at a comparable cost. And I have even used....

 

...a composition notebook on more than several occasions. These are excellent for when you are on a tight budget. I have purchased these by the case. Right now you'll find them on sale at most local Walmart's, Sam's Clubs, and Costco's for only 50-cents each. Yes, 50-cents. These are a little larger than I normally like, but if you aren't sure if you would use a Bullet Journal and want something to try out, this is the way to get started!

Take a look on Pinterest.com for Bullet Journal ideas. And you'll even find some free templates if you want to print out some journals instead of trying to come up with your own.

This is what keeps my whole world organized. Not just my day-to-day life, but my business, my research, my job, everything. EVERYTHING. 

Who, knows, if you give it a try, it just might work for you as well!

Let me know what you think!