Little Bytes of Life

NGS Call for Papers for the 2014 Family History Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:52:00 +0000

ARLINGTON, VA, 27 March 2013: Speakers as well as organizations interested in sponsoring lectures or tracks are invited to submit lecture proposals by 1 April 2013 for the NGS 2014 Family History Conference, Virginia: The First Frontier, to be held 7–10 May 2014 in Richmond, Virginia. Building on the records and history that draw so many back to their roots in the Old Dominion, we will explore the origins of those who settled within Virginia’s borders whether they came by land or sea.

Among the topics being considered are lectures on the history, records, repositories, and ethnic and religious groups of Virginia and neighboring states including Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee with special emphasis on migrations into, within, and out of the region down the Carolina and Great Wagon Roads, over the Appalachian Mountains, and across the south to Texas and beyond. Other regional topics of interest include the origins of the early settlers, land and military records (especially the French and Indian, Revolutionary, and Civil wars). Proposals are also solicited for the broader genealogical categories including federal records, the law as it relates to genealogy, methodology, analysis and problem solving, and the use of technology including genetics, mobile devices, and apps in genealogical research.

Interested individuals and organizations should follow published guidelines at the NGS website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/call_for_papers.

Speakers may submit up to eight proposals electronically through the NGS website, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/submit_your_proposal, no later than 1 April 2013.

Organizations wishing to sponsor a lecture or track of lectures should review the details and sponsor requirements at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/sponsor_a_session. The deadline to submit sponsored lectures is also 1 April 2013.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, Virginia-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists.

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FHISO 2013 Open Call for Papers

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:03:00 +0000

Salt Lake City, Utah, USA—Friday, March 22, 2013—Family History Information Standards Organisation, FHISO, has announced its 2013 Call for Papers Initiative (http://fhiso.org/call-for-papers), signaling the commencement of open standards development work.

Members of the international genealogy and family history community are invited to submit written proposals as contributions to the FHISO standards development process.

"Modern standards development work is dynamic and deliberate," said Robert Burkhead, FHISO Technical Standing Committee Coordinator and Acting Chair. "The result will be inclusive; it will be effective. It begins here. It begins with you and your participation."

"For the first time, the proposals will be published to the benefit of all stakeholders making up the international community," said Tony Proctor (UK), FHISO Organiser. "Collectively, the proposals will give rise to comments, member working groups and project teams. The information standards developed from this process will better support how we work and how well we work together."

FHISO is a community-driven organisation established for the purpose of developing genealogy and family history information standards on a modern platform that is

Open
Multi-stakeholder
International
Self-governing
Balanced

The FHISO work platforms have been developed. A submissions platform for the Call for Papers is available (http://fhiso.org/call-for-papers). As volunteers process the submissions, each will be posted for public viewing and commenting. A dynamic new platform to support working groups and project teams will follow.

It begins here. It begins with you. Become a member of FHISO today (http://fhiso.org/join-fhiso).

Contacts:
FHISO General Enquiries enquiries@fhiso.org; Membership – membership@fhiso.org; FHISO Media Relations - Anthony C. Proctor (acproctor@fhiso.org).

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RootsMagic Online Treasure Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:56:00 +0000

If you missed last year's RootsMagic Treasure Hunt, here's your chance to play!

RootsMagic has partnered with 15 of the best and brightest genealogy bloggers, some of whom will be reporting at the RootsTech conference. Each blogger will place one of 15 clue words on their website

From Thursday, March 21 through Wednesday, March 27, 2013, visit http://www.rootsmagic.com/treasure for a complete list of the blogs where the 15 clue words can be found. Visit each blog, collect all 15 clue words, and you could win software, prizes, or an iPad!

Enter at RootsTech or at Home

Once you've collected the clues there are two ways to enter. The first is at the RootsTech conference itself. Pick up an entry card at the RootsMagic booth (#401) in the Exhibit Hall. Write the clue words on the back of the card and return it to the RootsMagic booth in the Exhibit Hall by Saturday, March 23 at 1:20 pm. At that time, we will hold the prize drawings. You must be present to win.

We didn't want those who aren't able to attend RootsTech in person to feel left out so we're holding a second drawing and giving away more prizes including a second iPad. To enter this drawing, visit http://www.rootsmagic.com/treasure anytime between Thursday, March 21 and midnight MST on Wednesday, March 27, 2013. Fill out the online form to be entered into the second drawing. You may enter both drawings but one entry per person, per drawing. Winners will be picked at random and notified via e-mail by Friday, March 29, 2013.

Remember, the treasure hunt doesn't begin until this Thursday. Good luck!

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NGS Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 00:14:00 +0000

ARLINGTON, VA, 18 March 2013: The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH), Las Vegas, Nevada. The early bird registration discount ends tomorrow, Tuesday, 19 March 2013. In addition to enjoying a $35 discount, only early birds have the opportunity to order a printed syllabus. (Everyone will receive a syllabus on flash drive.) NGS members get even deeper discounts, so this is a great time to join.

Space is still available for most breakfasts and luncheons, the NGS Banquet, and Tuesday bus tours. The BCG Education Fund Workshop is sold out. To be placed on the wait list, e-mail the NGS conference registrar, Courtney Holmes, at cholmes@ngsgenealogy.org.

All full-conference registrants will be entered in a drawing to win a seven-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square, courtesy of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel. The prize will also include a free spot on one the Ancestor Seekers Salt Lake City research trips. Be sure to attend the opening session to find out if you are the winner. The winner must be present at the opening session to claim the prize.

To register online, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration and complete the registration form.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, VA-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists. Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

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Tuesday's Tip: Access Selected Ancestry.com Immigration Records for FREE Until 3/17

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:12:00 +0000

From now until March 17th, Ancestry.com is offering free access to select databases in their U.S. Immigration Collection.

Whether they began in Ireland or Italy, you can explore your international roots with FREE ACCESS to select global immigration collections — including some just-added records. And as a valued subscriber, we're letting you in two days ahead of everybody else.

Learn about an ancestor's voyage to America in passenger lists. Or find out if they traveled by land in border crossings.

Fascinating immigration stories are here for you to discover. Start now

*Free access expires March 17 at midnight ET

So... take a peek and see who you can find while the lookin' is free! I'm still sifting through John McGraws who immigrated from Ireland to the U.S. during the Potato Famine, which is like looking through a needle in a haystack, but I do hope you have much better luck!

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NGS Conference Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:08:00 +0000

Early Bird Registration Discount Ends Soon
2013 Family History Conference

Las Vegas, Nevada, 8–11 May 2013

Building New Bridges

ARLINGTON, VA, 11 March 2013: The NGS 2013 Family History Conference will be held 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino (LVH), Las Vegas, Nevada. Register for the conference today! The early bird registration discount ends on Tuesday, 19 March 2013. In addition to enjoying a $35 discount, only early birds have the opportunity to order a printed syllabus. (Everyone will receive a syllabus on flash drive.) NGS members get even deeper discounts, so this is a great time to join.

Space is still available for all conference social events including the Tuesday bus tours, luncheons, and breakfasts.

The opening session at this year's conference will be held on Wednesday morning, 8 May 2013, at 8:00 a.m. The keynote address will be presented by Marian Smith, Chief, Historical Research Branch, USCIS. Using immigration and naturalization as examples, this presentation will explore the importance of national policy changes to ancestors, their records, and your genealogical research.

All full-conference registrants will be entered in a drawing to win a seven-night stay at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square, courtesy of the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel. The prize will also include a free spot on one the Ancestor Seekers Salt Lake City research trips. Be sure to attend the opening session to find out if you are the winner. The winner must be present at the opening session to claim the prize.
To register online, visit the NGS website at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration and complete the registration form.

Founded in 1903, the National Genealogical Society is dedicated to genealogy education, high research standards, and the preservation of genealogical records. The Arlington, VA-based nonprofit is the premier national society for everyone, from the beginner to the most advanced family historian, seeking excellence in publications, educational offerings, research guidance, and opportunities to interact with other genealogists. Please visit the NGS Pressroom for further information.

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Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 17 - My Old Friend Santa Bank

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:19:00 +0000

As I was unpacking the Christmas decorations a few days ago, I was greeted by an old friend whom I hadn't seen in several years: Santa Bank.

I don't remember when Santa Bank came to live with us. He's been a part of the family for as long as I can remember.

I also don't know where Santa Bank came from. I assume that he was a gift to me when I was a small child. His left foot says that he came from "Mexico." I wish I knew how he got from Mexico to me.

He's got a few cracks and chips, and part of his nose is missing. He's obviously been well-loved.

Somebody raided Santa Bank a while back (probably me), as you can see from the injury to his backside. He's still got some coins rattling around inside, but I just leave them there. These days, you just never know when a few extra coins might come in handy.

Santa Bank hasn't come out to visit for quite a few years. He's old and fragile (like me), and I was worried that he wouldn't survive my daughter's curiosity.

Hopefully Santa Bank will survive long enough for my daughter's children to forget where he came from.

* * *

This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories," and was originally posted on December 17, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 15 - Holiday Happenings!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 20:04:00 +0000

Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.

~Menachem Mendel Schneerson

In tribute to the ancestors whose birthdays and anniversaries may have fallen through the cracks during all the holiday chaos.

The birthdays

Mary Irwin

Luvinia (Swanay) Martin

Fethias Smith

George W. Swanay

Joseph F. Brown

Mararet (Delaney) Harms

Almina (Hughes) Blanton

Sarah Jane (Swatzel) Dunn

Margaret (White) Kopp

Hannah Thompson

Serena (Baxter) Brown

Myda McGraw

Mary Jane (Grogan) McGraw

Eliza Jane (Thompson) Swatzel

Mary "Polly" (Hays) Swanay

Polly (Brown) Hartman

Susan Dunn

Peter Swatzel

Susannah (Kiser) Swanay

The Anniversaries

Malinda Taylor and Patrick Erwin

Melissa Cunningham and Barnett Baxter

Susannah Kiser and Albert Swanay

Mary Brown and William Walker

Ann Long and Nicholas Haile

Julia A. Blanton and Samuel M. Dunn

Martha Thompson and Barnett Babb

Hannah "Bridget" Grogan and Peter Bradley

A special happy birthday "aloha" to my cousin and her husband and daughter, all of whom celebrate December birthdays. Also, birthday greetings go to a certain first cousin, once-removed, and her husband; and anniversary greetings to a special couple who shall remain unnamed. Hopefully you all know who you are. :-)

* * *

This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories," and was originally posted on December 15, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 14 - Fruitcake (It's in the Genes)

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Holiday Lament (The Fruitcake Song)

On some level, I think even fruitcake knows how awful fruitcake is.

Dislike of fruitcake supposedly dates back to the American Revolutionary War.

Legend has it that Commander-in-chief George Washington approached Benjamin Franklin one day to ask for barricade ideas to stop advancing British forces. Franklin suggested using his mother-in-law's fruitcake... apparently his uncle had broken a tooth on one the previous year.

It is doubtful that Washington took Franklin's dubious advice.

Another legend proposes that George Washington, upon hearing from one of his men that they were out of ammunition, suggested that they fire fruitcakes at the British. Apparently many British soldiers were killed or maimed that day.

Finally, there was the story published in the New York Times in 1983, which tells of Russell Baker, the lucky man who inherited a family fruitcake that had been baked in 1794 as a Christmas gift for George Washington. Washington apparently sent it back with a note of thanks, explaining that "he thought it unseemly for Presidents to accept gifts weighing more than 80 pounds, even though they were only eight inches in diameter."

Mr. Baker coined the phrase, "Fruitcake is forever."

* * *

I can only guess that my Colonial ancestors also had an aversion to fruitcake, since I have such a supreme distaste for it, myself.

If fruitcake is forever, then dislike of it must be in the genes.

* * *

This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories," and was originally posted on December 14, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

* * *

Funny song from the original holiday musical revue, "That Time of the Year." See http://www.thattimeoftheyear.com/.

"Fruitcake is Forever," Russell Baker, New York Times, December 25, 1983, Section 6, p. 10, column 3 (subscription required to view the article).

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 10 - Christmas Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:18:00 +0000

My father is the type of person who just decides to do something... and then does it.

Now, I'm not talking about simple things. I'm talking about big, complicated projects, things about which he has little or no knowledge of how to do prior to doing them. Like, "Gee, I think I'll make ships in bottles now." Or, "Hey, I'm going to make a stained-glass, Tiffany reproduction lamp now."

That sort of stuff.

One year - probably around 1978 - my father decided that he was going to build a banjo. To my knowledge, he'd never built a banjo - or any type of musical instrument - before. He'd done other kinds of woodworking: wooden candy dishes, gavels, ship-in-bottle stands, and such. But never a musical instrument.

For months I watched as a banjo began to take shape. I remember the wooden skeleton hanging from the garage rafters waiting for its"guts." Dad meticulously carved out the ebony fingerboard and peghead, where abalone and mother-of-pearl would carefully be inlaid. A detailed design was carved into the wood on the back of the neck. A small, mother-of-pearl swan (representative of our last name, Swanay) was carved and inlaid in the heel.

I had seen my father work on lots of projects before, so to me, this was just another of Dad's many hobbies. I assumed that he was building himself a new instrument; after all, he was the banjo-player in the house, so it made sense.

However, on Christmas morning, I was stunned when Dad handed me a large, black instrument case. Inside was the banjo, and inlaid in mother-of-pearl on the peghead were my initials, "EMS."

All along, he'd been making this instrument for me.

* * *

At the time, I had no idea why my father gave the banjo to me. After all, I didn't know how to play it (although I did try to learn afterwards), and I really didn't like listening to banjo music. I suppose that not many non-banjo-playing teenagers would know what to do with such a gift.

Dad told me later that he'd wanted to give me something special that he made himself. Something I could give to my children one day.

Thirty years ago, I didn't get it. But I do now.

And if I forgot to say it then... thank you, Dad. I love it.

To this day, it remains the most special Christmas gift I ever received.

* * *

This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories," and was originally posted on December 10, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 9 - Divine Divinity

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:10:00 +0000

Divinity, done right, is divine!

Nearly every year at Christmas, my grandmother would serve a strange, white confection called Divinity.

What is Divinity? It's kind of a cross between fudge and a meringue cookie. I did a little research, hoping to find that it was an old, French-Canadian treat handed down for many generations, but I was disappointed to learn that it's actually thought to be American in origin:

Although recipes for various nougat and sweet meringue-type confections (with and without nuts and fruit) can be traced to ancient Turkish and 17th century European and [sic] roots, food historians generally agree that Divinity (aka Divinity fudge, Divinity candy) is an early 20th century American invention. Why? One of the primary ingedients in early Divinity recipes is corn syrup, a product actively marketed to (& embraced by) American consumers as a sugar substitute at that time. Corn syrup was affordable (economical), practical (shelf-stable), and adapted well to most traditional recipes. Karo brand corn syrup, introduced by the Corn Products Refining Company in 1902, was/is perhaps the most famous. It is no coincidence that early Karo cooking brochures contain recipes for Divinity (from The Food Timeline).

I never much cared for Divinity as a kid. My grandmother - who supposedly got the recipe from her mother-in-law "Zee" (Faivre) Dagle - made it in a loaf pan and served it in slices. I didn't like it this way; it included nuts and candied cherries, and reminded me too much of fruitcake. I prefer Divinity in small "dollops" like cookies.

With Divinity, a little dollop'll do ya.

* * *

Keep in mind that Divinity is NOT the easiest treat to make. There are many factors to consider besides ingredients: weather conditions have to be absolutely right, the planets perfectly aligned, your chi unblocked, etc., etc. You might want to check your horoscope first, too.

Seriously though, humidity and barometric pressure play a big factor.

Why does Divinity sometimes choose not to set? "Divinity is a tricky confection to make under the best circumstances--almost impossible under less than good. The recipe in one community cookbook advises a short consultation with the local meteorologist: "Please remember candy doesn't set unless the barometer reads 30 in. or over; doesn't make a difference whether it's raining or not, just watch your t.v. for the barometric pressure." Divinity like most other Southern canides shows up around the winter holidays. It is sort of a companion piece to fudge in Christmas gift boxes. ---Biscuits, Spoonbread, and Sweet Potato Pie, Bill Neal [Alfred A. Knopf: New York] 1996, p. 138 (from The Food Timeline).

My advice: mix, mix, mix some more. And just when you think you can't hold the mixer any longer... keep on mixing. But, be careful not to mix too much. There's a very fine line between too much and not enough mixing of Divinity.

I never said it was easy.

About 3 years ago, I attempted to make Divinity myself for the first time. Unfortunately, my first attempt did not go as well as I'd hoped. The first few spoonfuls weren't firm enough and spread all over the wax paper like big, gooey cookies. After beating for a few more minutes, the mixture firmed up quite a bit, and finally began to stiffen.

Yucky goo is not divine!

Also, with humidity at 89%, and barometric pressure at just 30.14, our weather conditions were not ideal for Divinity-making. Sadly, my Divinity refused to set properly, and is just a bit too soft on the outside for my liking.

Strangely enough though, it tastes exactly like I remember my grandmother's Divinity tasting. One bite, and I was transported back to about 30 years ago.

It was a divine taste of Christmas past.

* * *

DIVINITY

2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup water
2 egg whites, stiffly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup chopped nuts
red and green sugar (optional)
Also optional: candied fruit pieces, chocolate chips, crushed peppermint pieces

Mix sugar, corn syrup and waterh in a heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until sugar is completely dissolved; then cook without stirring to 260⁰ (a little dropped into cold water forms a hard ball).

Remove from heat and pour, beating constantly, in a fine stream into the beaten egg whites. Add vanilla and continue beating until mixture holds its shopa and becomes slightly dull. Fold in nuts and other optional items (if desired).

Working quickly, drop from a greased spoon onto waxed paper in individual peaks. If it flattens out (like gooey cookies), beat the mixture for another minute or so. Do not overbeat or mixture will be too stiff. Top with red and green sugar (optional). Makes about 48 pieces.

Alternatively, fold in candied cherries or other goodies and pour into a loaf pan. When firm, serve in slices. OR, spread in a greased pan and cut into 1" squares when firm.

Store tightly covered to keep the humidity out.

Enjoy!

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This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 9, 2009. Slight modifications have been made. It was also published in the Geneabloggers Holiday 2009 Cookbook, which you can still download for free from Lulu.com.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 8 - Christmas Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:05:00 +0000

Photo of Snickerdoodles by Flickr user Evening Edge.com

My mother wasn't much of a baker. In fact, I'm fairly certain that she didn't like to cook at all. That being said, if she ever baked Christmas cookies, I don't remember her doing it.

When I got older, I started doing some baking on my own. Each Christmas, I would make fudge, rum balls, and various quick breads (banana, date, pumpkin) to give as gifts or to help pack on the calories at home. I would also bake one of my favorite cookie recipes: Snickerdoodles. While not specifically for Christmas, they do taste wonderful, and with a few red and green sprinkles tossed on before baking, they look very festive on your holiday table.

Plus, there are no peanuts (or nuts of any kind), to which my daughter is highly allergic. It's amazing - and scary - how many foods contain some form of peanuts.

* * *

SNICKERDOODLES

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsps sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375⁰. Grease a cookie sheet. Stir together flour, soda, cream of tartar, and 1/2 tsp salt. Beat butter for 30 seconds; add the 2 cups sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla; beat well. Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture, beating until well combined. Form dough into 1-inch balls; roll in a misture of the 3 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon (and sprinkles, if desired). Place balls 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet; flatten slightly with the bottom of a drinking glass. Bake in a 375⁰ oven about 8 minutes or until light golden. Makes about 66.

(From the Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, Ninth Edition, 1981, p. 162.)

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This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 8, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories: Day 3 - Christmas Tree Ornaments

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:29:00 +0000

My daughter showing her newly-unwrapped ornament.
Notice the look of excited appreciation on her face.

It's no secret that I love Christmas tree ornaments. I must wind up with at least a dozen or more new ones each year. Some I buy - I'm addicted to those Hallmark Keepsake ornaments - and some are given to me by friends and family.

Needless to say, we've amassed an extensive collection of ornaments.

As I mentioned in my Day 1 post about Christmas Trees, I inherited quite a few old, family ornaments when my mother and grandmother passed away. There are many that are in bad condition, and I should probably just get rid of them. But then, most were handmade by family members and have sentimental value, so I keep them, even if I don't use them.

And yes, I suppose I hang onto them for all the wrong reasons, but I just haven't been able to let them go. No need to report me to "Hoarders," though, I promise.

But there are many other heirloom (to me, anyway) ornaments that I do use each year. One year, my grandmother decided to go with a gold and white themed tree, and made all of her ornaments by hand. I still have her gold bells, snowflakes, and icicles, and I use them each year.

Back in the late 1970's, my mother made dozens of red bows from a wired, velvet ribbon. Quite a few of them have survived, and I put them on the tree each year for a blast of red color. Plus, they're like little reminders of my mom on my tree.

Probably my favorite old ornaments are the "icicle men." They're these odd-shaped, clear, plastic figures, with sharp, pointy heads and red noses. They are not cute. When I was a kid, we would hide them deep inside the tree - presumably because of their lack of cuteness - and make a game of finding them. I still do this, although for years, I've been the only one who cared to look for them later. I'm hoping my daughter will want to play along this year.

I have several ornament "collections" to which I add each year. In my younger, single days, I collected the Hallmark Barbie™ Christmas ornaments. I stopped collecting them (and hanging them on the tree) when I married my husband; he thought they were much too silly and girlie. I suppose I'll eventually give them to my daughter when she gets a little older, or let her put them on a tree in her room if she ever cleans it enough to fit a tree in there. Or I'll put them on the back of the tree where no one ever looks.

For my husband, I buy an airplane ornament each year. He really could care less, but I thought there needed to be some ornaments that had some meaning to him on the tree. I also pick up whatever moose ornaments I can find. My husband has been a moose-collector since he used to regularly travel to Newfoundland on business.

A few of our special ornaments.

My daughter has received those "Baby's 1st Christmas," "2nd Christmas," etc., ornaments every year since she was born. Unfortunately, "5th Christmas" seems to be the limit, so I have to be more creative now. I hang those low on the tree where she can see them. We also have several family pictures on the tree, which she enjoys.

Last year, I was sick as a dog at Christmastime, and finally dragged myself out of bed about 2 days before the Big Day. I let my daughter decorate the tree mostly by herself while I "supervised," so all the ornaments were hung down low. It was hilarious seeing a 9-foot tree with all the ornaments on the bottom half, but I honestly think it's been my favorite tree so far.

We have many cherished ornaments on our tree each year. I'm looking forward to seeing them again... as soon as my husband brings in the boxes from the garage!

* * *

This post is part of the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 3, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Day 2: Holiday Foods

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:58:00 +0000


I was unable to find any old photos of holiday foods-past, but I did find this picture of my cousins and I having breakfast in Christmas bibs, c. 1967. That's me in the front with the creepy doll.

Unfortunately, I really don't have many memories of special holiday foods from when I was young. Is that odd? I guess you could say I've always been a girl who eats to live rather than the other way around, so food just doesn't stand out in my memory.

However, I do remember a few things. My grandmothers were both fantastic cooks (aren't they all?). Watching them cook was fascinating to me; how could they make so many different things at the same time? It was amazing to see everything come together in perfect precision. Ding! Dinner is ready, and on the table... just like magic!

I've since learned that this is NOT as easy as the grandmas made it look.

My maternal grandmother made the best stuffing with her turkey. I think this was my favorite part of the meal. She never did give me the recipe, but I've managed to find one that comes very close. It's the only stuffing I'll make, and thankfully it does not contain necks, gizzards, oysters, or anything else that a kid (or a grown-up) might consider "yucky."

This past Thanksgiving - after 9 1/2 years of marriage - I learned that my husband likes raisins in his stuffing. Ick. I told him I'll have to make a special batch with raisins in it for him next time.

This same grandmother - and my mother too, I think - also made a delicious, white confection called Divinity (which I will write about in an upcoming post). I made this for the fist time 3 years ago, and found it very difficult to make, probably due to our humid conditions here on the California coast. Trust me: the weather must be ideal, and the planets perfectly aligned with nothing in retrograde in order to make the best Divinity. You might want to check your horoscope and a Magic 8 Ball first, too.

My paternal grandmother was an expert pie-maker. She made many different types, but her pumpkin pies were always my favorite. I have fond memories of standing in her kitchen "helping" her bake cookies. Mmmm... the smell was heavenly.

* * *

With the exception of this past Thanksgiving, I haven't had to prepare a big holiday meal in a several years, thanks to family members who've invited us to dinner. When I do, I typically prepare the same things each time. Turkey and stuffing, "loaded" cranberry sauce (loaded with bourbon), sweet potatoes with extra marshmallows, mashed potatoes, rolls... the whole deal. I'm a terrible piemaker, so I'll usually buy a pie and maybe a cheesecake for dessert. If I'm feeling very adventurous, I'll make the cheesecake myself.

Honestly though, I'm more of a "cake girl." My father loved him some pies, but I just couldn't get into them myself, except for pumpkin. I suppose there are "cake people" and "pie people," kind of like how there are "cat people"and "dog people." If you're wondering, I'm a dog ~~people~~ person.

I discovered last month that my daughter is also a "pie person," like her father. And I'm horrified to say that she actually likes that nasty cranberry sauce blob from a can... you know, the one that still looks like a can when you take it out of the can? Yeah. Gross. She's Daddy's Girl all right.

I used to do a lot of baking at Christmastime. When we were particulary short on funds, we would give baked goods as gifts. We found out the hard way that these cost a bundle to mail, so there wasn't a huge financial savings with this strategy.

I found a great recipe for fudge that you can make in your microwave in about 5 minutes (and, it tastes good!), so we enjoy a lot of fudge. Chocolate of any variety doesn't last long in our household.

Quick breads are also a favorite of mine (banana, date, pumpkin), and sometimes I'll toss in some rum balls just for fun. The rum balls are great to take to work for those days when you really don't feel like working. Pass them around the office and let the holiday cheer begin!

My daughter loves to "help" me cook now; she even goes into her play kitchen to try to "cook like Mommy." She gets so excited when something "she made herself" comes out of the oven.

And enjoying these holiday foods through her is what truly makes Christmas special for me.

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This post is the first in the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 2, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar - December 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 20:08:00 +0000

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Sunday, December 2
Jewish Genealogical Society of the Conejo Valley and Ventura County
1:30 - 3:30 PM
Getting The Most Out of Ancestry.com - Crista Cowan
Annual Chanukah and Membership Renewal Party with Genealogical Gifts

Thursday, December 4
Monterey County Genealogical Society
6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Annual Christmas Potluck

Tuesday, December 11
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
6:00 - 8:45 PM
Christmas Potluck and Installation of New Officers

Saturday, December 15
Ventura County Genealogical Society
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Annual Christmas Party

Saturday, December 15
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
TBA

No meeting in December
San Luis Obispo County Genealogical Society

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Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - Day 1: The Christmas Tree

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:15:00 +0000

Our Family Christmas Tree, circa 1976. Notice the tinsel.
I still have this chair, although a lot less new-looking.

Getting our Christmas tree was one of the holiday highlights for me. We always had live trees, usually about 6'-7' tall. Or maybe they just seemed tall to me because I was smaller at the time.

In my younger years, I vaguely remember going out to a tree farm somewhere to get our trees. We would tramp around in the bitter southern California cold (ha!) until someone declared that he/she had found the perfect tree. The tree-cutter-person would cut down the tree for us, and we'd haul it home... probably in my father's pick-up truck, but I don't really remember. It was a looong time ago.

Once we got the tree home, my father would stand it up in a bucket of water in the garage, and meticulously pull out all the dead pine needles. He would give the trunk a fresh cut on the bottom, and then bring the tree inside.

Next were the lights. When those little "twinkle lights" came out, we all thought they were so beautiful. Unfortunately, putting them on the tree could be such a chore. Back in the day, if one, single light bulb was burned out, the entire strand refused to light. Dad would carefully unroll the lights, and we would all hold our breath and pray that they would light up when plugged in. But it never failed that at least one strand would have a bad bulb, and Dad would have to test each light with one of those light-tester-thingies to find the offender. Back in those days, if one bulb failed to work, the whole strand failed to work.

This could take hours.

Once the lights were on, we were finally free to add the decorations. I remember that there was a specific order in which the decorations should go on: the "balls" would go on first, with the large balls at the bottom of the tree, medium balls in the middle, and smaller balls towards the top. The "unique" decorations would go on next. These included various doo-dads I'd made in school, as well as some that my mother must have bought. I don't actually know where they came from, but I still have many of them.

One of my school doo-dads. Even as a kid, I was not a talented crafter.

The finishing touch was always the tinsel. Back in the day, this was considered very stylish. I remember there being two types of tinsel: one was a plastic variety that would stretch when pulled, and flew off the tree every time anyone walked by. The other was a metallic sort, that stayed on the tree, but frequently fell apart in your hands. I preferred the plastic kind, even if it did fly off with the slightest breeze.

Actually, I hated tinsel, but it was going on the tree, whether I liked it or not.

There was a definite "technique" to applying tinsel. Like most kids, I suppose, I liked to grab a handful and throw. This method was, unfortunately, frowned upon by my mother (and most other adults). The "correct" method of applying tinsel was one strand at a time. ONE STRAND AT A TIME. One strand. At a time. One. Strand. At. A. Time.

It took FOREVER to cover a tree "correctly" with tinsel. But even I had to admit that it was kind of pretty - in a weird sort of way - once it was finished.

The final touch was the angel on top. She wore a gold, fuzzy dress and had a halo of lights behind her.

Our tree would go up well before Christmas and would stay up until at least New Year's Day. After that, the decorations would come off, and the tree would mysteriously disappear. It was depressing.

The Christmas tree smell that filled our house was heavenly. I hated artificial trees and swore I'd never have one.

* * *

Our Christmas Tree, c. 2008 (2012 isn't up yet).
No tinsel. The chair is in the next room.

Fast forward about 30 or so years. Ironically, my family now uses an artificial tree. We bought it the Christmas after my daughter was born, and strangely enough, I love it. It's 9 feet tall, and very realistic-looking. It even has fake dead needles that we don't have to meticulously pick out.

There were several reasons behind our decision to go artificial, but the main reason was allergies. I have them, and so does my daughter. No need to be miserable at Christmas if we don't have to be. Plus, it came with all the lights on it already, eliminating a step that I never enjoyed much anyway.

Unfortunately, my husband HATES this tree, if only because he has to lug it out of the garage and put it together each year. Poor baby. He's lucky that we don't have to tramp around in a Christmas tree farm in the bitter southern California cold. He wants a 2-foot tall tabletop tree (that ain't gonna happen, Grinchy).

The ugly school doo-dad is still on our tree (usually in the back).

My daughter thinks it's hilarious.

The gold bells and snowflakes were made by my grandmother.

The red bows were made by my mother back in the '70's.

After my mother and grandmother passed away, I inherited nearly all the family Christmas ornaments. You will still find many of these on my tree each year. I have also collected ornaments of my own, most of which represent something that happened in our lives during the year (like "new home," "baby's 1st Christmas," etc.). These serve as special reminders of our lives together.

The artificial tree doesn't have that wonderful Christmas tree smell. But that's what pine-scented candles are for, right?

* * *

This post is the first in the "2012 Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" series, and was originally posted on December 1, 2009. Slight modifications have been made.

NGS 2013 Family History Conference - Attendee Registration Now Open!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 18:42:00 +0000

Are you "all in" for the 2013 NGS Conference yet? I am so looking forward to attending this conference, which will be close the the "left coast" for a change! Be sure to also check out the NGS Conference Blog for up-to-the-minute news and information.

* * *

Registration is now open for the NGS 2013 Family History Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. The conference will take place 8–11 May 2013 at the Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. For additional information and to register online, go to http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration (NGS members are entitled to a discounted registration fee).

The hotel and conference center are under one roof. The LVH is ten minutes from McCarran International Airport and is convenient to I-15 and I-515. Visit http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/accommodations for detailed information about the hotel.

The conference will include programs for all skill levels of research experience and will feature tracks on DNA, ethnic research, the law, migration, methodology, the West, women, and more. More than seventy-five nationally recognized speakers will provide over one hundred and fifty lectures on a wide variety of topics. The conference registration brochure, with complete details, is online as a pdf file (http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/cs/attendee_registration) and the lecture schedule is available on the NGS website in a searchable format (http://members.ngsgenealogy.org/Conferences/Program2013.cfm).
This year the NGS Family History Conference will feature an extra-large lecture hall, Thursday morning breakfast gatherings, and an Internet café.

An exhibit area with more than one hundred exhibitors will be open Wednesday through Saturday and will feature the latest in genealogical software, online research providers, and DNA testing services.
Tours and meals have limited seating, so register early!

We look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas.

Regards,
NGS Staff and Board

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MyHeritage Acquires Geni.com

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:46:00 +0000

MyHeritage acquires Geni.com and raises $25m in new funding round

Family history network buys rival and advances international expansion with new funds

LOS ANGELES, California, PROVO, Utah & TEL AVIV, Israel – November 28, 2012 – MyHeritage, the popular online family history network, announced today it has acquired long-time rival Geni.com and closed a new USD$25M funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), with existing investors Index Ventures and Accel Partners also participating. Geni.com Founder David Sacks and BVP Partner Adam Fisher are joining the MyHeritage Board of Directors.

The acquisition reinforces MyHeritage’s position as a global power player in the family history industry and accelerates its vision of helping families everywhere build and share their legacy online. The purchase of Geni.com is the eighth and largest acquisition made by MyHeritage since the launch of its online family history network in 2005. It extends MyHeritage’s network to 72 million registered users, 1.5 billion profiles and 27 million family trees, containing the most internationally diverse family history content in the world.

The new investment round will be used by MyHeritage to boost growth of its historical content services and expand commercial operations worldwide. In addition to acquiring significant record collections from Europe and rolling out global crowd-sourcing projects, the funds will enable MyHeritage to explore additional M&A opportunities and ramp up its international marketing operations. The latest funding round brings the total funds raised so far by MyHeritage to USD$49 million.

“Exploring and curating one's family past is both a timeless and universal hobby pursued by hundreds of millions of people around the world; I personally grew my own family tree to include more than 2,500 people,” said BVP Partner Adam Fisher. “The freemium model of MyHeritage/Geni not only makes online family history accessible to the casual user, but underscores the importance of user generated data to the product offering itself, which grows every day. As the international market leader with an aggressive expansion plan, we see tremendous value in their subscription business and are excited to work closely with Gilad and his team as they build on their success.”

“Today’s news is a major turning-point for the family history industry, giving us significant new resources to extend our market leadership and deliver new value to families worldwide,” said Founder and CEO of MyHeritage, Gilad Japhet. “Well established as an innovative and social brand, Geni.com is a natural addition to MyHeritage and together we look forward to taking collaborative family history to new heights. Over the past few years our dedicated workforce has transformed MyHeritage from a garage start-up into a successful, dynamic and global company. With new funds, impressive new talent from Geni.com and new world-class leaders on our Board, we look forward to fulfilling our potential and accomplishing our mission to bring family history to the masses.”

Founded in 2007, Geni.com is well known as a pioneer in collaborative family tree building with its focus on creating the World Family Tree, and enjoys a large following in the US. Geni.com will continue to operate as a separate brand based out of its California office, which will also serve as the main engineering hub for MyHeritage in the US, alongside its main content offices in Utah. The entire staff at Geni.com will join the MyHeritage team.

The services of MyHeritage and Geni.com will initially run independently. MyHeritage plans to give respective users the option to collaborate on family history research by enabling two-way information flows between the sites that will facilitate new family discoveries and provide greater value to the users of both services.

Users from both sites will be able to discover long-lost relatives and new ancestral connections through MyHeritage’s Smart Matching™ technology, which finds common matches between family trees. To add new color to the ancestries of Geni.com users, MyHeritage will apply its recently launched Record Matching™ technology that matches historical records, such as birth, death, census and immigration records, to individuals in Geni.com family trees. Geni.com users will be able to enjoy extended offerings provided by MyHeritage including DNA kits for genetic genealogy.

Geni.com Founder, David Sacks, a renowned entrepreneur, and most recently the Founder and CEO of Yammer (sold to Microsoft in June 2012 for $1.2 billion), will take a seat on the Board of Directors. David’s contributions as a visionary in the family history field, combined with his sharp eye for product, make him a strategic addition to MyHeritage management.

“What we've learned over the years building Geni is that there are three key assets that customers want in the genealogy space: records, private trees, and the world family tree. This deal brings together all of these pieces to form the most complete offering in the genealogy space. Together with MyHeritage, we look forward to continuing Geni's mission of connecting humanity through a single family tree”, said Founder of Geni.com David Sacks.

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Hannah Mather Crocker Book Receives Another Award

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:48:00 +0000

The following was received this afternoon from from the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS). Questions should be directed to amagno@nehgs.org.

NEHGS WINS AWARD FOR
HANNAH MATHER CROCKER BOOK

This marks the second national and regional award for the Hannah Mather Crocker book.

November 14, 2012, Boston, MA – The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) announced today that its book, Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston by Hannah Mather Crocker edited by Eileen Hunt Botting and Sarah L. Houser, received the 2012 Society for the Study of American Women Writers (SSAWW) "Edition Award." This award is given every three years in recognition of excellence in the recovery of American women writers. SSAWW praised the book for its interdisciplinary and collaborative nature, and the way it brings American women's voices to a larger audience.

Published for the first time by NEHGS in 2011, the book features Crocker's diary entries of daily life in early nineteenth century Boston and its environs from the 1620s to the 1820s. A leading female writer and women's rights advocate, as well as the granddaughter of influential New England Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Crocker provides a significant resource for women’s historians, scholars of feminist political thought, and early American historians alike. Crocker's history chronicles Puritan law, colonial and provincial history, interactions with the British, French, and Native Americans, the establishment of Boston churches, and Boston's economic growth, paying special attention to women's work and culture. This book also presents Crocker's treasury of poetry including a poem by Phillis Wheatley dedicated to Hannah, and a comical recipe for chowder.

D. Brenton Simons, President and CEO of NEHGS, said, "This book gives us a charming, anecdotal view of a city and its peoples now long gone. It will be prized by historians, genealogists, and readers interested in Boston and its early history as recounted by a native daughter."

Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston by Hannah Mather Crocker was recognized earlier this year for its design with a New England Book Show Award. It also received a glowing review in a recent issue of The New England Quarterly, noting, "Botting and Houser have made a notable contribution to the literary and historical legacy of Hannah Mather Crocker. . . After more than a century in an archive, it can now benefit general readers, genealogists, teachers, and scholars."

Reminiscences and Traditions of Boston by Hannah Mather Crocker is available for purchase in our book store and online at www.americanancestors.org/store or by calling 617-226-1212.

###

About NEHGS
Founded in 1845, New England Historic Genealogical Society is the country's leading resource for family history research. We help family historians expand their knowledge, skill, and understanding of their family and its place in history. The NEHGS research center, located at 99-101 Newbury Street, Boston, houses millions of books, journals, manuscripts, photographs, microfilms, documents, records, and other artifacts that date back more than four centuries. NEHGS staff includes some of the leading expert genealogists in the country, specializing in early American, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, and Jewish genealogy. Our award-winning website, www.AmericanAncestors.org, provides access to more than 135 million searchable names in 3,000 collections.

Wordless Wednesday: Don't We All Feel This Way Sometimes?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:03:00 +0000

* * *

Many thanks to Second Life genealogist Eirik O'Taku for expressing himself at last night's book club meeting. Can you guess what we were discussing?

"Don't We All Feel This Way Sometimes?" Digital image. Photographed on 13 November 2012 at the Just Genealogy Fire Pit in Second Life.

About Wordless Wednesday.

Tuesday's Tip: Check the U.S.D. 1812 Ancestor Database

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:00:00 +0000

During this year of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, why not find out if you had an ancestor who served in the military or performed other worthwhile service at the time of the War? One way to do this is to visit the ancestor database of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.

From the homepage, select Ancestor Database from the top navbar (click to enlarge any of the images).

Enter your ancestor's name in the search box. You can also include more information, but in my opinion it's always best to start your search with a wide net. In this example, I searched for my ancestor Leroy Taylor by using only his name.

If a member of U.S.D. 1812 has previously applied for membership referencing your ancestor, that ancestor's name should show up in the results box.

When you click on the name in the results box, you will get a screen listing the information known by U.S.D. 1812 about your ancestor, including the spouse's name (if known) and the patriot's child through which the member applied. Depending on how old the application is, some of the information may be incorrect, as it is here for Leroy Taylor.

Unfortunately, I don't know for certain if you can get a copy of the application referencing your ancestor, but my guess is yes. I could not find a definite answer anywhere on the web site.

If your ancestor is listed - and you're a woman* - consider honoring him/her by applying for membership in the U.S.D. 1812. Click on the Membership link from the top navbar for more information. Most of the state societies, including California, have a web site where you can find a list of local chapters; click the States/Chapters link to find one near you, or fill out the Membership Interest Form.

*Men: please visit the General Society of the War of 1812 (no database, sorry).

If you live in the California Tri-County area of Ventura, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo, please note that we are in the beginning stages of forming a chapter in this area. Please contact me for information.

Good luck searching for your War of 1812 ancestor!

FTDNA Announces Holiday DNA Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:30:00 +0000

It's the most wonderful time of the year again (almost)... that time when Family Tree DNA announces its big holiday sale! If you're looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for relative, consider a DNA test. Don't delay; these prices are only good until December 31, 2012.

As we ended our 8th Annual Genetic Genealogy Conference, several conference participants asked us to start our year-end sale as soon as possible. In answer to those requests we decided to start it immediately:

New Kits	Current Group Price	SALE PRICE
Y-DNA 37	~~$149~~	$119
Y-DNA 67	~~$239~~	$199
mtFullSequence (FMS)	~~$299~~	$199
SuperDNA (Y-DNA 67 and mtFullSequence)	~~$518~~	$398
Family Finder	~~$289~~	$199
Family Finder + mtDNAPlus	~~$438~~	$318
Family Finder + mtFullSequence	~~$559~~	$398
Family Finder + Y-DNA 37	~~$438~~	$318
Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67)	~~$797~~	$597
Upgrades	Current Group Price	SALE PRICE
Y-Refine 12-25 Marker	~~$49~~	$35
Y-Refine 12-37 Marker	~~$99~~	$69
Y-Refine 12-67 Marker	~~$189~~	$148
Y-Refine 25-37 Marker	~~$49~~	$35
Y-Refine 25-67 Marker	~~$148~~	$114
Y-Refine 37-67 Marker	~~$99~~	$79
Y-Refine 37-111 Marker	~~$228~~	$188
Y-Refine 67-111 Marker	~~$129~~	$109
mtDNAPlus	~~$149~~	$129
mtHVR1toMega	~~$269~~	$179
mtHVR2toMega	~~$239~~	$179
mtFullSequence Add-on	~~$289~~	$199

To order this special offer, log in to your personal page and click on the Order An Upgrade button in the upper right corner. A link to the login page is provided below. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2012 11:59:00 PM CST TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICES.

Log In to Order an Upgrade.

Click Here to Order a New Kit.

Best Regards,
Bennett Greenspan
President
Family Tree DNA
www.familytreedna.com
"History Unearthed Daily"

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For information about the Swanay/Swaney/Sweaney DNA Surname Project, please visit our public project page, or FamilyTree DNA. Please also feel free to contact me if you have questions.

Central Coast Genealogy Calendar: November 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 23:54:00 +0000

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer."

Saturday, November 17
Ventura County Genealogical Society
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Denise Levenick - "The Paper-Less Genealogist"

Saturday, November 17
Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Alice Colby Volkert - "Do It Backwards"

Tuesday, November 20
Conejo Valley Genealogical Society
6:45 - 8:45 PM
"The Gift of Freedom" and Annual Business Meeting

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Please send me an email if you would like to have your event included in this monthly calendar series.

Why Americans Love America

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 20:37:00 +0000

There are many, many reasons why Americans love this country. Whatever your particular reason is, I hope you will take a few moments today to get out to the polls and cast your vote.

Remember, your right (and responsibility) to vote may have come from the sacrifices of your ancestors. Honor them today.

And enjoy this lovely video. No matter how much we might disagree about politics, I think we can all agree that this is a beautiful country, and there is much to love about it.

(Hat tip to Penny of The Why About This.)

Want to Run RootsMagic on Your Mac?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth O'Neal) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:38:00 +0000

Those of you who are Mac users might be interested in the following announcement from the nice folks at RootsMagic. For what it's worth, RootsMagic is my preferred genealogy software, and I highly recommend it.

* * *

Free Crossover for Mac License

We often get asked if RootsMagic will run on a Mac. We are working on a Mac version, but it is slow going because we have to not only rewrite the program, but most of the libraries we use as well. We do tell people that it *is* possible to run RootsMagic on a Mac using a program called Crossover.

Crossover usually costs $39.95 or more, but the company that produces it just sent us an email offering a 12 month license for FREE for one day only (that's a $59.95 value). And even better, if you already own Crossover, you can take advantage of this offer to extend your existing license another 12 months for free.

To get Crossover for free, visit this page:

http://flock.codeweavers.com/

on October 31st (this Wednesday). That is the ONLY day you can get it for free, so don't put it off or forget about it.

If you have friends or family that use a Mac and want to be able to run RootsMagic, please let them know about this one time offer, which is available to anyone that wants it.