Snowmom

.......be sure and check with your local library. Ours had some genealogy software, but I didn't look at it too closely because I already have the stuff I downloaded for free. I've also put new genealogy software on my Christmas list this year.....I think FamilyTree Maker costs about $30. You might also try doing it on paper until you can get some software, then you'll have made quite a bit of progress by the time you have a program to add to. I think there's a thread here that Snow posted with printable charts. To me, the thing that requires the most patience is following the "paper trail".....and learning all the different sources that you might have for tracking down ancestors. It's a lot like being a detective and a historian all in one. I'm still working on getting birth, death, marriage & divorce records for my grandparents. I have some census information for older generations but that's about the extent of my "hard" data. ------------------

First, go to the Mormon's website and download their free genealogy program. www.familysearch.com When you get to their main page, click on "Product Download", then "Software Downloads-Free", then the first product on the page. After it downloads, start it up and play with it a bit. Start your database by adding all your known relatives. Then you might try the free genealogy bulletin boards at www.familyhistory.com. These boards are now owned by Ancestry.com, but are still free. When you get to the website home page, about 1/2 way down on the left side is a "window" where you can type in family surnames. Here's another little secret about that site.....if you type in a county, instead of a surname you can post messages who are researching folks in the same county as your ancestors. This can be really, really helpful for finding info on folks who "married in" to your main lines, but you don't know anything about them. Familyhistory.com also has BB's for different ethnic groups, adoptees, Native Americans and just about any other group you can think of. I'm sure Snow will be along with other great tips! Happy Hunting!! ------------------

Uh-oh....sitting here with a belly full of vegetarian pizza....... ------------------

Woo Hoo!!! Can Marvin the Martian play?? "I'm getting veeeeery angry!!!!" (pssst, you remember Marvin the Martian don't you??)

S'okay Ed, won't try to make you "believe". ------------------

Way cool, Marjorie!!! Hope you gals have a good reunion!! ------------------

No problem.....take all the time you need, I appreciate the information! This is something my DM and I have discussed a few times. ------------------

Holding you in my thoughts and prayers. (((Ed & Peg))) ------------------

Happy Birthday, Dad! ------------------

Oh Ed & Peg.....I'm so sorry. Is it time for hospice, can they help?? ------------------

Welcome Skippy!! Glad to have you join us.....when you get a chance stop up at the Sunporch and introduce yourself so the rest of the gang can get to know you! I do yoga off and on....mostly off... But I'm always amazed at how much more range of motion I get, especially in my shoulders and upper body, when I work at for just a few days. I work at a desk and I tend to kind of "freeze up" in a hunched forward position. Yoga is really helpful for that. ------------------

Thanks Snow!! ------------------

We've narrowed DH's allergies down to, among other things, CHEESE Soooo, this weekend we bought pizza dough and we're going to make pizza at home with very little cheese on his half. The other possibility about the pizzaria pizza that could be bothering him is that they usually toss the grated cheese with MSG so that it won't clump up in the coolers before they bring it out to make pizzas. It could be the MSG giving him fits. Anyhoo.....we're having special home made vegetarian pizza tonight!! One of the places around here puts chopped broccoli on their veggie pizzas, so we're going to try that I think. ------------------

Ginger, I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. ------------------

How precious!!! Congratulations Snow! ------------------

Hey HB! Where in the Bible did you find that animals have souls? I'd like to share that with my Mom. Thanks! Patty ------------------

I'm so sorry about your loss. The rainbow bridge poem has been very comforting to me in the past too. ------------------

Anybody know any good way of doing this?? I go to some of the sites and find family names, but have no way of knowing if they're MINE or not. Plus, you have to search through all the different units....is there anyplace that lists soldiers by NAME, then tells you their troop etc.?? I know one ancestor was in the Union infantry, only because a cousin sent me a photo of his headstone and it lists his unit. Any tips here?? ------------------

Brightest Blessings to you too, Lynnie. I hope and pray that this time will be the best and you'll both be very happy. (((((Lynnie))))) ------------------

I recently sent for copies of my G-Grandparents marriage records (they married each other twice----happens a lot in my family :rolleyes I received photocopies of their names written in the marriage register, along with the date. I thought it was odd there was so little info until I realized that there is writing to the right side of the page in the next column of the ledger. All I can see is one letter. If the clerk hadn't had the book on the copier crooked I wouldn't have even noticed. I imagine those old ledgers are too big to copy properly, but man oh man, is it disappointing to get so little information when there is probably so much more there.

Does anyone else have a family story of being a descendant of Blackfoot Indians???.....but then you found out the Blackfoot are from out west and all your ancestors come from KY, TN, VA, NC, SC or nearby????? Go here: www.saponitown.com ....for some interesting information about southeastern "Blackfoot". Finally explains why all my known ancestors are English/Scots/Irish, and I'm frequently mistaken for Hispanic. ------------------

Hope you're feeling better Snow. I'm sorry you had to be sick AT ALL, but especially when the boys are visiting. ------------------

I started stitching my last Christmas ornament this week. Some of you may remember them, I entered them in the "Mrs Survival County Fair" last year. It's a set of four miniature Christmas stockings, and I've made four sets. It didn't seem like such an ambitious project until my hands stiffened up. After that it was hopeless. As soon as I finish stitching this one I can sew the backing on them and viola!!! they are finished!! I can actually give them as gifts to my Mom & sisters this year as I've always intended. Today I stopped at the craft store and finally found a Christmas stocking kit that was suitable for my nephew. I made one for my neice, who's now ten, and had it ready for her when she was born. Well, that is a lovely pattern but I don't think pastel colors and bunnies are a safe bet for a boy! I didn't want to make him something he would hate by the time he was 12. I found a kit with a snowman and lots of kitties and the colors are bolder, so I think it will be something he likes both now and later. I won't have it done by this Christmas, but I should be able to do it by next year. He'll be four, just about to turn five by then so it's not too late. He was adopted, so I didn't have nine months to work on his like I did for my neice. I also picked up a booklet of crocheted rug patterns.....remember the musty trunk full of yarn?????? It's gonna be rugs by spring!! ------------------

On set of Grandparents married on Grandma's 20th birthday. Then Grampa died 9 days after her 47th birthday. ------------------

So far, my thickest "brick wall" is the name Hoskins. Doesn't make much sense....... I was stuck on my Campbell's for a long time, but I think I've finally sorted them out. They're all 3rd, 4th and 5th cousins of each other----gets real messy that way! ------------------