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  • Home
  • Blog
  • Services
  • Resources
    • Research Resources
    • Getting Started with Genealogy
    • Organize Your Genealogy with Onenote
    • Organize Your Genealogy With Evernote
    • How do I make a Family History Site with Weebly.com?
    • How do I make screenshots & annotations?
    • Texas Genealogy
  • About
    • Welcome!
    • Where Else I Can Be Found Online
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
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Find your family story.

Book Review: Into the Briar Patch: A Family Memoir

3/29/2012

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Picture
What do you do when you find unspeakable things in your family history? How do you handle the accurate reporting of what happened? It’s easy to judge others, but I think a fundamental key to really reconstructing your ancestors’ lives is to not judge them. It’s paramount to take a step back from your emotional reaction, and walk in their shoes for a little while. To do this does not mean you approve of everything your ancestors did in their lifetimes, but it allows you to freely explore as much as you can of their lives. In doing this, a researcher can get a more accurate picture of the conditions in which your ancestors lived in and the circumstances in which they went through.

In her book, Into the Briar Patch: A Family Memoir, Mariann S. Regan does a superb job dealing with difficult family history issues. At the beginning of her book, she promises the reader that she will be objective with all information she finds, and she lives up to that promise. She delves into all family relationships she encounters in her family tree and shows the reader the complexities of family relationships.

Additionally, Mariann explores her ancestors who were slaveholders, and gives the reader a glimpse as to the repercussions of slaveholding on her family tree and the relationships contained therein.

As we’ve seen in several episodes of Who Do You Think You Are? and in the first two episodes of Finding Your Roots, it is not easy for descendants to learn their ancestors were slaves nor is it easy for descendants to learn their ancestors were slaveholders. And I believe in her memoir Mariann takes it past her emotional reaction and carefully looks at her slaveholding ancestors - not to condone the actions - but to fully understand the influence these actions have had on her family tree.

I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who have come across unspeakable circumstances and actions in their family history research, and especially to those who have come across ancestors who were slaveholders. Not only does she give a great example as to how to explore this difficult issue, but her "Works Cited and Selected Bibliography" might be helpful to the researcher as well.

I invite you to visit Mariann’s website as she has written in other genres as well. She also indicates on her memoir page that she is in the process of writing another memoir, and she includes the surnames of the ancestors that she is currently researching for it. Personally, I would like to know from where her Sanders line originates in America as I have a Sanders line as well from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Thus, I’m eagerly awaiting her next memoir.

~Caroline

Note: I am an affiliate of Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. If you click on a link ~ image or text ~ and purchase a copy of the book, I will receive a small commission for referring you. I received a copy of this book from the author so that I may review it and share it with you. Additionally, all opinions stated in my book review are honest and not contrived to make you purchase the book. I happen to love reading. I love history, especially family history. I enjoyed reading this book, and I thought you might like it as well. Please visit my Disclosure Page for general information concerning my affiliations.


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How did you make that Heritage Shadow Box?

3/27/2012

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PictureBig Paw Paw's WW2 Shadow Box
Following are the instructions for the Heritage Shadow Box Craft that was presented in the Heritage Craft Video Series. It can be printed out or saved as a PDF document.

Supplies
  • Unfinished shadow box from a craft store [Mine is from Michaels.]
  • Old frame the size of the photo
  • A plastic coin collector case
  • A copy of the photo of an ancestor
  • Heirloom
  • Mod Podge and Craft Glue
  • Black Craft Paint
  • Finishing Wax Paste
  • Cheese Cloth
  • Painter's Tape
  • Wood Stain Marker in a light stain shade
  • Course sand paper
  • Paint brushes
  • Heavy Duty Hairspray
  • Paper to cover your work surface
Instructions
  • Affix painter's tape to the glass near the edge of the wood on both the outside and inside of the box.
  • Sand the edges heavily to give the shadow box a distressed look.
  • Once done with sanding, dust box off with a piece of the cheese cloth.
  • Sand the old frame as well.
  • Paint the shadow box and the old frame all over with black craft paint.
  • After the paint dries, sand the edges again, especially in the areas where you distressed it the first time.
  • Paint a 2nd coat of black paint on the shadow box only. [One coat of paint and sanding for the frame.]
  • After the paint dries, sand the distressed areas again once again.
  • Taking the light shade of stain marker, go over the exposed wood areas to 'age' the new wood.
  • With a piece of cheese cloth, rub the stain dry.
  • Take another piece of cheese cloth and get a 'glob' or a bit of the finishing wax paste out of the can.
  • Apply a thin coat of the wax to the shadow box and old frame.
  • After 15 minutes the wax should be set. Use a clean piece of cheese cloth to buff the wax into the wood making it shine.
  • If you are using a printout of a photo like I am, you'll need to seal the ink by spraying it with heavy duty hair spray.
  • After 15 minutes, it should be dry.
  • Because my heirloom is a medal, I purchased a dollar-sized coin collector case. To make the medal fit into the foam insert, I cut a small notch out of the foam at the top.
  • Brush Mod Podge on the back of the the copy of your ancestor's photo and affix to the inside of the shadow box. Then apply more Mod Podge to the inside of the back of the shadow box covering the photo and the back.
  • Apply craft glue to the back of the old frame and place it on top of the photo.
  • Apply craft glue to the back of the plastic coin collector case and affix to the design.
  • Let everything dry thoroughly.
Done! If you'd like to see the photos of each step, please head on over to my YouTube Channel to see the corresponding Heritage Craft Video: Big Paw Paw's Shadow Box.

~Caroline



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Press Release: findmypast.com 1940 US Census Name Study

3/26/2012

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The following press release was received from findmypast.com for release Monday, 26 Mar 2012:

Bad    news    for    Mad    Men’s    Don    &    Betty    Draper:    their    names     head     U.S.    
endangered    list,    finds    study    marking     1940    US    Census     release     April    2    
 
•     The    names    that    time    forgot:      ‘Donald’,    ‘Betty’     are     biggest    losers     
     in    U.S.     names    league    since    1940:     study    by    findmypast.com    
    
“Names can be to genealogy what carbon - dating is to archaeology”
        Donald    Trump,    Betty    White    still    blooming    but    namesakes    top    threatened    list    
    
Santa    Monica,    CA; Monday,    March    26    2012    –     Once    two      of    America’s    most    popular     names,  
 ‘Betty’      and     ‘Donald’    are    the    baby    names     that     have fallen    farthest    from    favor      since    the  
time    of    the    1940    Census,    reveals    a    new    study.         
    
Iconic    owners    of    such    names,     like    Betty    White    and    Donald    Trump,     are    still     going    
strong      but    their    monikers    top    the    endangered    list,    reveals    the      study     conducted     by    
genealogy     website    findmypast.com      to    mark    the    Government’s    release    of    the    1940    
Census    records     April    2.         
    
The      news     comes    the     very    week    that    Don    and    Betty    Draper    returned     to    TV    in    the    hit    
show,    Mad    Men    (Series    5),    starting     March    25.    It    comes    the    very    month    that    Betty    
White    has    been    voted    America’s    favorite    Hollywood    star.             
    
Donald    was    the    ninth    most    popular    name    for    American    boys    born    in    1940    but    now    
ranks    just    377
th
,    while    Betty    was    the    fifth    most    popular    name    for    American    girls    
born    the    same    year    but    no    longer    even    makes    the    top    1,000!         
    
“Baby    names    are    like    period    pieces”,    says    Josh    Taylor,    a    leading    genealogist    and    
spokesperson    for    findmypast.com.    “Some    recall    a    particular    era,    which    can    make    
them    useful    clues    for    researching    family    history.    Indeed,    you    can    sometimes    guess    
roughly    when    s omeone    was    born    simply    by    their    first    name.    In    such    cases,    names    
can    be    to    genealogy    what    carbon -dating    is    to    archaeology.”         
    
Findmypast.com    researchers    trawled    the    records    of    the    US    Social    Security    
Administration,    which    has    recorded    baby    names,    based    on    Social    Security    
applications    for    births,    since    1879.               
    
Over    23,000    American    babies    born    in    1940    were    named    Donald.    Donald    Trump    was    
a    forties    baby    (born    1946),    who    these    days    styles    himself    "The    Donald.”         
    
The    best -known    “Donalds’    in    American    life    were    born    in    the    decades    either    side    of    
1940:    Donald    Rumsfeld    in    1932,    Donald    Duck    in    1934,    actor    Donald    Sutherland    in    
1935    (albeit    in    Canada).        
    
Betty’s    hailing    from    the    golden    age    of    Betties     include    movie    idol    Betty    Grable;     Betty    
Crocker,    an    inventor    character    o f    cake -mix    fame;    and,    of    course ,     America’s    favorite    
celebrity    Betty    White.    
    
Famous    Donald’s    (And    Their    Birth    Year)         
Donald    Rumsfeld    (1932)        
Donald    Duck    (1934)        
Donald    Sutherland    (1935)         
Donald    Trump    (1946)         
Donald    “Don”    Draper    (1926)         
    
Famous    Betty’s    (And     Their    Birth    Year)     
Betty    Draper    (1932)        
Betty    Boop    (1930)    
Betty    White    (1922)         
Betty    Friedan    (1921)        
Betty    Crocker    (1921)         
Betty    Grable    (1916)        
    
Top    U.S.    Baby    
Names    in    1940    
Rank        Boys          Girls     
1              James        Mary    
2              Robert       Barbara    
3             John           Patricia    
4             William       Judith     
5             Richard      Betty    
6             Charles      Carol    
7             David         Nancy    
8             Thomas     Linda    
9             Donald      Shirley     
10           Ronald      Sandra     
    
Top    U.S.    Baby    
Names    in    2010    
Rank         Boys           Girls     
1               Jacob          Isabella    
2               Ethan          Sophia     
3               Michael       Emma     
4              Jayden         Olivia    
5              William         Ava    
6              Alexander    Emily    
7              Noah           Abigail     
8              Daniel         Madison    
9              Aiden          Chloe    
10            Anthony      Mia    
                       
    
•    Source:    Social    Security    Online        
    
•    Note:    Mary    and    James    topped    the    U.S.    rankings    for    baby    names    in    1940.    In    our    time,    
Jacob    and    Isabella    rank    top.    Jayden    and    Aiden    both    make    the    top    10    boys’    names,    while    
Madison,    Chloe    and    Mia    are    all    in    the    girls’    top    10.            
    
  
    
Biggest    Losers    In    U.S.    Bab y    Name    Popularity    Stakes    Since    1940    
    
Table:    Most    Popular    Boys’    Names    In    1940,    Ranked    By    Size    Of    Fall    Since    
NAME                RANK 1940      RANK 2010      FALL(PLACES)         
1.    Donald               9                         377                  368         
2.    Ronald              10                        342                  332     
3.    Richard              5                          127                  122     
4.    Charles              6                            63                    57    
5.    Thomas             8                            62                    54    
6.     Robert              2                            54                    52    
7.    John                  3                            26                    23    
8.    James                1                           19                    18    
9.    David                 7                            15                     8    
10.    William             4                             5                      1    
Source:    Social    Security    Online         
    
Table:    Most    Popular    Girls’    Names    In    1940,    Ranked    By    Size    Of    Fall    Since    
NAME             RANK 1940              RANK 2010              FALL (PLACES)     
1.    Betty                 5                 Not    in    top    1000*            996+        
2.    Carol                 6                Not    in    top    1000*             995+    
3.    Shirley              9                Not    in    top    1000*             992+    
4.    Judith               4                             879                             875     
5.    Barbara            2                             710                             708     
6.    Linda                8                             624                             616     
7.    Patricia             3                             615                             612     
8.    Nancy               7                             521                             514     
9.    Sandra             10                           517                              511     
10.    Mary               1                            109                              108     
*    Betty    was     the    first    name    to    drop    out    of    the    top    1000    and    the    one    to    do    so    from    the    
highest    ranking.    It    last    made    the    top    1000    in    1996;    Carol    in    2006;    Shirley    in    2008.         
•    Source:    Social    Security    Online        
    
NOTES    FOR    EDITORS         
    
•     About    the    name    “Betty”        
English,    Dutch    and    Hebrew    in    origin,    it    means    “God’s    promise”,    “God    is    my    oath”    or    “My    
God    is    a    vow”.    It    is    also    a    diminutive    or    pet    form    of    Elizabeth.         
    
•     About    the    name    ‘Donald’.         
Gaelic    and    Scottish    in    origin,    it    means    “world    rule”.    It    derives    from    the     clan    name    
Domhnall.    St    Donald    (Domhnall)    was    a    Scottish    saint    who    lived    in    the    700’s.         
    
•     About     findmypast.com         
    
findmypast.com     is    a    proud    participant    in    the    1940    US    Census    Community    Project    and    
the    new    US    addition    to    the    global    network    of    findmypast    family    history    websites,    with    
over    18    million    registered    members    worldwide    and    over    a    billion    genealogical    records    
dating    back    to    1200.    
    
From    early    April    2012,    visitors    to    findmypast.com    will    be    able    to    browse    1940    US    Census    
images    and    find    out    more    about    their    American    family    tree.             
    
A    full    launch    of    findmypast.com     will    happen    this    summer.    This    will    provide    US    customers    
with    an    extensive    set    of    US    records,    in    addition    to    a    vast    overseas    collection,    including    a    
billion    English,    Welsh,    Scottish,    Irish,    Australian    and    New    Zealand    records,    plus    millions    
of    pages    from    the    British    Library's    newspaper    collection.     
    
findmypast.com     is    owned    by    bright solid     online    publishing.        
    
###

All inquiries should be directed to
Beth Cook
Best Public Relations
www.bestpr.net
@bethalicecook

~Caroline
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Who was Emilia Kebe of Guadalajara, Mexico?

3/23/2012

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Picture
It's Friday again, and you know what that means, right? The 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge! This week I have a photo of a young girl named Emilia Kebe. I bought this photo in an antique store in Gruene, Texas [pronounced like Green cuz, um, it's German for green. =) ] I've no idea how a photo from Guadalajara, Mexico ended up in an antique store in the itty bitty town of Gruene, Texas.

Who was Emilia Kebe? Was she from Guadalajara? Did she ever come to America? And if so, when? Who were her parents? Did she have siblings? Did she ever marry? Have kids? Did she ever work outside the home? What is Emilia Kebe's family story?

Can we find Emilia Kebe's family story...

...in 48 hours?

We won't know unless we try.

And? You've just been challenged!


Join us this weekend in the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge Forum as we attempt to place Emilia Kebe back into history where she belongs. No, you don't have to know everything about genealogy to help. And you can watch, help, whatever you like. =)

~Caroline


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Review of Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students

3/23/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
Regrets
While researching, how many times have you asked yourself, "Why didn't I ask them that while I still had the chance?" 'That' being, of course, whatever genealogy stumbling block you're trying to eliminate from your research.

Me? I have lots of regrets. I regret no one ever took and saved a picture of me and my great-grandmother, Boo.

And I really, really regret not asking my Great Aunt Anne about her service in the U.S. Navy as a member of the history-making W.A.V.E.S. I also regret I don't have a photo of her.

And while I am of the opinion that both of my grandfathers were jerks, the fact remains I still never met them. For my mom's dad, I've only a microfilm copy of a photo of him from the back of his U.S. Passport. Until that discovery, I had never, ever seen him.

But now? Jennifer Holik has written Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students. What does this mean? It means there is now a wonderful resource with which to attract the younger generations to the joy of genealogy. Inside the high school editions, 30 lessons can be found that are guaranteed to not only instruct the student on best practices and strategies on genealogy, but get them addicted to genealogy in no time.

Why purchase Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 and Lessons 16-30?
  • Because it will introduce the concept and methodologies of genealogy in an easy-to-understand format to your high schooler.
  • Because it's available in paperback, electronic, and PDF formats to meet your high schooler's learning style.
  • Because the assignments are so well thought out that your high school student will love genealogy by the time they are done with the books.
  • Because you will be helping your high school student to learn about their family's history giving them a lifelong hobby [and addiction].
  • Because you will be helping your high school student lessen their regrets later on in life.
And that last one is really important. Could you imagine having started your genealogy journey with the correct guidance and instruction?  When Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students is released in April, purchase it and give your high schooler the tools to build their family history without regrets. For purchasing information, please visit the Generations' Store.

~Caroline

Note: A PDF copy of Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 and Lessons 16-30 was given to me to read and review. My review is an honest and unbiased response to my review of both volumes. For more information about my general disclosure policies please visit my Disclosure Page.

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Generations Publishes Kids' Genealogy Textbooks

3/23/2012

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The following press release was sent to me by Jennifer Holik of Generations for release 23 Mar 2012.

--------------

Generations Publishes Kids’ Genealogy Textbooks Chicago, Illinois – March 23, 2012: Professional Genealogist, Jennifer Holik, of Generations publishes six new genealogy textbooks for kids. Parents, teachers, and genealogical societies looking for a how-to genealogy textbook for elementary through high school-aged students need to look no further. In Branching Out, a new series available from Generations, author and professional genealogist Jennifer Holik provides parents and educators with the tools they need to teach genealogical research skills to children and teens.

Through thirty fun and educational lessons, students will learn the foundations of genealogy and how to begin research on a level that they can understand and enjoy. Each lesson contains a clearly defined goal, all necessary vocabulary, additional reading assignments, and lesson and homework assignments to extend understanding of the concept.

The Branching Out series of books begins with six paperback textbooks which are also available as a PDF or PowerPoint download. The PowerPoint files, which were created with the visual and hands-on learner in mind, contain the same information as the textbooks with a few fun and interactive extras.

The Branching Out: Genealogy Lessons for Adults will be released in April with additional books for families, genealogical societies, and educators to be published later in 2012.

The books are available on CreateSpace in paperback form at the links provided. The PDF and PowerPoint files are available at the Generations Store at: http://www.e-junkie.com/generations

Branching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 1-15 Book $24.95
PDF $17.95
PowerPoint $17.95
 
Branching Out: Genealogy for 1st – 3rd Grade Students Lessons 16-30 Book $29.95
PDF $20.95
PowerPoint $20.95
 
Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 1-15 Book $26.95
PDF $18.95
PowerPoint $18.95
 
Branching Out: Genealogy for 4th – 8th Grade Students Lessons 16-30 Book $32.95
PDF $23.95
PowerPoint $23.95
 
Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 1-15 Book $29.95
PDF $20.95
PowerPoint $20.95
 
Branching Out: Genealogy for High School Students Lessons 16-30 Book $34.95
PDF $24.95
PowerPoint $24.95

If you live in the Chicagoland area, you can meet Jennifer and purchase books at the Fountaindale Public Library’s Author Fair on Saturday, April 14, 2012. For more information visit the Generations Blog.

###

Please direct all inquiries to Jennifer Holik on her blog listed above.

Look for my review of Jennifer's books in my next blog post.

~Caroline
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Saving Crap and Finding Stories Cable Channel

3/21/2012

11 Comments

 
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I have this FANTASTIC idea. Wouldn't it be cool if we had our own genealogy cable T.V. channel? We could name it the Saving Crap and Finding Stories Cable TV Channel, or SCFS channel. Think about it. We have Who Do You Think You Are? [WDYTYA?] on Friday nights on NBC and starting this Sunday evening the PBS show Finding Your Roots will begin its season. If we had our own cable TV channel, we could rerun these shows a la USA cable channel or a la ion cable channel. Then? We could rerun the other countries' WDYTYA? TV shows.

And we could throw in Find My Past's BBC show where they take an historical moment, research it, and find 3 living descendants to tell them of their connection to the historical moment. [And we SO need the American version to this show. STAT.] We could call it something like, I dunno, You're Connected to History!

We could then throw in some forensic-related shows. I can just see it now. Who Shares Your DNA? [I dunno. Who?!?] I can see people getting their DNA tested for genealogy purposes and finding others they are related to. Some weeks, it'd be kinda scary. Do you really wanna meet them? ;)

And then throw in the I'm Not a Celebrity but I Wanna Know My Family History and Be On TV! TV show, which [and I know you're going to find this hard to believe] I totally just made up, but, darn, it sounds good, doesn't it? I bet we'd have NO problem finding people for this show.

Ooh. And what about the House Secrets TV show? I totally made that one up too, but can't you just hear the announcer saying, *in low bellowing voice* "Your house has secrets. It's time you found them out..."? Houses have histories too, and, boy, wouldn't it be fascinating to watch a house historian give us the lowdown on someone's house?

Late nights on the SCFS cable channel? One hour infomercials featuring gadgets researchers could use. Can't you just imagine your insomniac self [Don't lie. You were up doing genealogy.] watching the Flip-Pal infomercial? Yeah.

Then, of course, we could have Made-for-TV shows based on popular memoirs. I bet Melissa Gilbert and Genie Francis would be all over these shows in a skinny minute. And we could rerun them during the holidays a la Lifetime Channel.

Here's a personal favorite: Don't Throw Out That Inherited Crap! TV show. An Ephemera Rescuer saves family ephemera heirlooms from a certain fate worse than death by finding the stories behind all that crap families inherit and giving it meaning and thus, a new life.

Better yet? Bring the 48 Hour Ephemera Challenge to life on TV! Take a team of Ephemera Rescuers who comb antique stores and estate sales in search of identifiable ephemera, watch them research it a bit, tie it into history, and find descendants of those identified in the ephemera, and return it to them. Can you imagine the looks on the descendant's faces when we come a-knockin' with a part of their family history? And, of course, the overlying tension of the show comes from the ever tick-tock of the 48 hour countdown. Can you hear the announcer? *in low bellowing voice* "Can they do it? Can the Ephemera Rescuers put these people back into history where they belong with just...a postcard?" Yes! Yes, we can! [Oops! I totally just got wrapped up into this TV show concept. Heaven only knows why.] We could even have our own critics who chastise the show for not showing all the detailed research steps in each episode. ;)

*Big sigh* Oh, for the Saving Crap and Finding Stories Cable TV Channel to be a reality. But, alas! We have just our 2 TV shows to keep us company.

WDYTYA?
This Friday night at 7pm CST, Helen Hunt will be the celebrity spotlighted on NBC's Who Do You Think You Are? Will it be the Hunt kinfolk they pursue? Were they hunters? Anyone care to guess how many folks will chastise Helen and the show for doing a tombstone rubbing? Here's a sneak peek of Helen's episode:



Finding Your Roots
And then this Sunday is the season premiere of Finding Your Roots on PBS with Henry Louis Gates Jr. He'll be spotlighting 2 celebrities' family histories ~ Harry Connick Jr. [I think I might just faint. Love him.] and Branford Marsalis! Harry has a pirate in his family. And? So do I! [Not that that matters.] Here's a season preview of the show:



So. Provided you didn't just faint from seeing Harry Connick Jr. in the above preview [Um, like me.], do you have any ideas for TV shows? And most importantly, have you named them? Lemme know in comments below.

~Caroline
11 Comments

Sign-Up, Practice Indexing, and You Might Win!

3/21/2012

0 Comments

 
PictureWillie Nelson & Kris Kristoferson
I Was a Winner!
Not only do I have Flip-Pal coupons for you this week, I have a contest for you. But before I get into the details of that, I'd like to mention that I was 1 of 4 winners in the 1940 US Census Blog Ambassador contest last week. YES! That's right. I won a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Along with thanking, of course, the 1940 US Census Project Sponsors, I'd like to also thank one other person.

Willie Nelson. Without him, I still could have written last week's blog post about the 1940 US Census and transportation, On the Road Again, but it would've lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. Don't ya think? ;)

Picture
Would You Like to Be a Winner?
That's a silly question, right? Duh. Of course, you'd like to be a winner.

Well, this is the thing. The 1940 US Census Project has this really cool contest with outstanding prizes. How outstanding are they? Well, I dunno. Do you like gift cards? Visa Gift Cards? Yeah. They're giving away to one lucky and randomly chosen entrant a $100 Visa Gift Card. And to 2 lucky and randomly chosen entrants, they're giving each one a $50 Visa Gift Card.

[Told you. OUTSTANDING.]

What do you have to do to enter? Just 4 things:
  1. Register at the 1940 US Census Project Blog's Games and Prizes Page.
  2. Download the indexing software to your computer.
  3. Complete a 1940 U.S. Census simulation batch  before 11:59pm MT March 30, 2012.
  4. To complete a practice batch, launch the indexing application from your desktop and log in. Click “Download Batch” and look for *SIMULATION* 1940 U.S. Census.

[For more information, check out the 1940 US Census Project contest post, Weekly Contest - Week of March 19th.]

That's it. And the winning continues because the more people we can get indexing the 1940 US Census when it comes out, the faster we can all be back on the road again finding our ancestors in it. See? Win-Win.

So. Don't wait. Enter the contest now! Practice, practice, practice. Do you realize how many Willie Nelson songs [or whatever] you could buy with a $50 or a $100 Visa Gift Card?

Yeah. *nods head once* THAT'S what I'm talking about. ;)

~Caroline

Note: I am a 1940 US Census Blog Ambassador, and this blog post [along with a whole list of other things I've gotta do] enters me into another Blog Ambassador Contest this week for an Amazon Kindle Fire. Like last week's contest, to win this week's contest would make me one very happy mom. Why? Because both my kids were born in April, and their birthdays are next month. And? They've both asked for tablets. Yeah. So. This would help me out a great deal. You know what else would help me [and a whole lot of other people] out a great deal? If you joined us with the indexing of the 1940 US Census. So, yes, I wrote this blog post because I am a 1940 US Census Blog Ambassador. And I wrote it because I'd like to be able to give that Amazon Kindle Fire to one of my kids for their birthday without having to buy it. But? I also wrote it because I think it'd be nice to get the index up as fast as possible so everyone can start researching it that much quicker. =)

0 Comments

Flip-Pal wants to make it easy to scan 3-a-day

3/21/2012

1 Comment

 

I know that I already mentioned this a while back...but? Have you started? Have you started scanning 3 photos a day? Because if you had started the last time I talked about scanning 3 photos a day to make your ancestors stay, you would have scanned 126 photos by now.That's right. 126 photos. So, if you haven't started, start today! Make your ancestors stay with Flip-Pal.

Don't have a Flip-Pal? Not a problem! Flip-Pal has 2 coupons for you that are good through 30 Mar 2012:

Coupon Code: FP312A When you purchase a Flip-Pal mobile scanner ($149.99), get a Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case FREE (both items must be in your shopping cart)

Coupon Code: CS312A When you purchase a Flip-Pal mobile scanner with Creative Suite Craft Edition DVD ($199.99), get a Flip-Pal mobile scanner Carry Case plus a package of Flip-Pal Window Protector Sheets FREE (all three items must be in your shopping cart)

Save for the Scanning Fairy visiting you & scanning everything for you for free, I don't know how this task could get any easier. So? Get your Flip-Pal today with one of the coupon codes above by clicking on any of the Flip-Pal image links on this page.

Then with your Flip-Pal, scan 3 photos a day to make your ancestors stay.

What are you waiting for? The Scanning Fairy? ;)

~Caroline

Note: I am a Flip-Pal affiliate and when you click on a Flip-Pal link or image on my website and purchase from them, I receive a commission from them. For more information about disclosures, please visit my Disclosure Page.
1 Comment

Heritage Craft: WW1 Shadow Box

3/21/2012

1 Comment

 
The long-awaited Heritage Craft Series Video: Big Paw Paw's World War I Shadow Box is finally here! It's been a while, but it takes quite a bit of time and steps to make these heritage craft videos. But? They are SO worth it!

The subject of this video is my paternal grandfather, Big Paw Paw, who I never met in person, but I probably know him better than a lot of people who actually did know him in person. He's one of my favorite to research because he was so naughty, and because of his naughtiness he left a helluva paper trail wherever he went. While I've written a lot about him on my family history blog, Family Stories, I'm still not done with researching all of his many secrets. From what I've heard about him from those who did know him, I'm pretty sure he'd appreciate my tenacity. However, I don't think he'd be too happy to find that his secrets and story are what I've chosen to pursue. =)


If unable to watch the video here, click the link below to watch it on YouTube:
http://youtu.be/O7hzxK93YXA
~Caroline

1 Comment
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