New Year's Resolutions?

Christmas is over. Families have gone home. The house is quiet and bare.

What a wonderful week we had! Spending time with family is very special. The last few Christmas's have really opened me up to realizing just how important it is to my family. With comments like, "I will never miss another Christmas at home," "mom always gets great gifts," "you are going to set up all of your decorations this year, aren't you?" and "the tree is beautiful," how can I NOT give it my all during this time of year? I never realized the traditions that my immediate family has started, until this year. I believe blogging pointed this out to me.

Because of this, my site has been quiet, but oh what fun I have had! My grandson, who just turned two was an exceptional part of Christmas. Such a joy, and oh what patience he had in opening his gifts. Tear a tiny piece of paper and hand it to the closest person, tear a tiny piece more and hand it to the closest person and so on. Way to methodical and neat! I wonder how long this will last?

Many are talking about New Year's Resolution's and I have decided I won't have ANY! Can you believe that? Not one? Am I that perfect? Oh I think not! I have decided that I make these resolutions every year and here I am another new year almost upon us, and the resolutions I typically make are the same ones I have made before, year after year. Why set myself up for failure again? So, no resolutions!

There are things I would like to accomplish, but they are not things that will be started on January 1, 2009. I am starting today, December 30, 2008. The most important thing I would like to accomplish is to take better care of myself. And, in order to do this, it has to be a lifelong commitment, right? Not just for a year. If something needs to be done, why not start now? Who says there has to be a date to it? (Do I sound like I am trying to convince myself? Well, maybe I am!)

Besides taking better care of myself, I plan to have fun, appreciate life and do the things I love doing, genealogy, Harley rides, golf, fishing, crafts, reading, blogging and spending time with my family, especially my grandson. I want to be around as long as possible to watch and enjoy my grandson and granddaughter to be, she is due to enter this world in April. Now if I could just figure out how to stop working....... ;-)

And now, my wish for you in 2009 ~ (slightly adapted from an e-mail I received)

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet of money. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires, may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had, forget your home address and that brick wall come tumbling down! In simple words ...

May 2009 be the best year of your life!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

The Proximidade Award

Kathryn at Looking for Ancestors @ http://looking4ancestors.blogspot.com/ nominated Heritage Happens for the Proximidade Award! How kind of you Kathryn, I thank you very much!

"These blogs invest and believe in PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time, and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming! These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends! They are not interested in prizes or self -aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

The eight bloggers I have chosen for this award are:

1. Steve's Genealogy@ http://stephendanko.com/blog/

2. The Chart Chick @ http://thechartchick.blogspot.com/

3. The Family Curator @ http://familycurator.blogspot.com/

4. Find your Folks @ http://findyourfolks.blogspot.com/

5. Apple's Tree @http://appledoesntfallfar2.blogspot.com/

6. Amy's Genealogy, etc. Blog @ http://familytrees.wordpress.com/

7. I Dream of Genealogy @ http://dream-of-genea.blogspot.com/

8. Jessica's Genejournal @ http://jessicagenejournal.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!
Msteri

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The countdown is here! I have a few moments and I have to say, as busy as I have been, I have really missed blogging!

Family has started arriving from out of state. Plans for the week are quite busy. I can actually say that as of tonight I am as ready as I will ever be and look forward to enjoying the rest of the season! The best part of Christmas is spending time with family and friends. I am really looking foward to spending time with family, making memories, and taking pictures of those memories!

Enjoy your family and friends and don't forget the photos!

Have a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS! May Santa grant all of your dreams and wishes!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

That time of year!

Some people have been wondering where I have been! I can't seem to answer all my emails, let alone post to my blog right now.

I hope you are all following the carnivals! I wanted to participate in the Christmas ones, but time just wouldn't allow for me to do that. I haven't even been able to read any of the carnivals myself. :-( I look forward to catching up on these and all the blog posts I have been missing just as soon as possible!

I have attended several Christmas parties and or dinners lately, been trying to get my shopping accomplished along with all of the other activities that go on this time of year.

My daughter and I did make cookies together, the first time ever, on Sunday. We spent a good 8 hours doing this, I have no idea how many dozens of cookies we made! Every night this week I have had something going on, but it is all fun and I love it!

I hope I can post some pictures before Christmas comes. I still have shopping to do, and three quarters of my tree has burned out.....the outside lights we lost part of also, but they have since been fixed. The tree is my nightmare to figure out!

My dog has been sick, but my daughter has been a great vet to him and he is on the mend! I am on more meds for my medical issues and found that I damaged a vein in my foot, so now meds for that also. Ho Hum.

The really sad news though is that we found out a friend of ours committed suicide. So very sad, so very sad.....if only we could have helped.......time is healing our wounds although our hearts go out to our friend's children in particular, during this Holiday Season.

But on to better and brighter things! I am looking forward to taking our grandson to our Harley Chapter's Children's Christmas party on Thursday evening. Santa will be there, with candy canes and gifts also for the children. Picture time!

I am hosting Christmas Eve for my husbands side of the family and will be having Christmas for my immediate family. On Sat after Christmas we will have another "Christmas" at my sisters for my side of the family. All shall be fun!

Please bear with me as I enjoy this Holiday Season with family and friends, I still have so much to do to get ready!

I will post as I can, it seems so unfair that I can't do everything! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

A New Hohimer Cousin!

Exciting news to share! A cousin has found me through my blog! What a wonderful surprise when I found his email in my inbox! We have sent a few emails back and forth and he has been so very kind to share some of the most wonderful and new information with me!

One of the most exciting things is, he shared with me a copy of a patent our mutual ancestor had! It is the first and only patent I have and I never even knew the relative had a patent! This cousin also shared a handwritten genealogy from our relative and other information.

We are getting caught up on how we are related, it is so exciting! I sent him one picture so far of our relative, and if I remember correctly, I don't believe he had any pictures of him, so he was happy to have the picture. I need to take some time and go through other pictures and see if I have more to send to him. I have the pictures (I hope) and he has the documents, this is so much fun! A couple of the documents I have read over a few times, it will be a while for it all to sink in.

I was sent a couple other documents I haven't been able to read through as of yet, but am looking forward to reading! I was also given a personal story that is not on the Internet, a special story for sure! A poem written by another ancestor, some personal information and a personal picture, are among other things I have received.

I feel so very honored that all of this has been shared with me. I wanted to call my father immediately and share everything with him, but I am holding back. I decided I will wait until we get together at Christmas and I will give him copies of everything. I can see his face now.....I can't wait! Merry Christmas to me and my father!

J.H., if you are reading this, I promise to send more pictures just as soon as I am able, I am hoping I have several. You have made my holiday season the best! Thank you! I know the feeling of being able to share information with someone, and I just hope your holidays turn out as great as mine are already!

Thank you for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

40 Things About Me Meme

Apple over at Apple's Tree tagged me and when she did I originally thought it was for the same one I just completed a couple days ago. I found out it wasn't, so here is my participation!

(The problem I have is that I can't use my copy and past functions for some reason on this laptop so have to retype each one!)

1. Do you like blue cheese?

It is ok.

2. Have you ever done something you regretted?

More than once!

3. Do you own a gun ?

No

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite?

Cherry

5. Do you get nervous before Dr. appointments?

Generally no, however lately more so.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?

My favorite is Casper's with a"C", otherwise they are no big deal.

7. Favorite Christmas movie?

There are many, as stated before I have enjoyed new ones on the Hallmark Channel.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?

Coffee, coffee, coffee!

9. Can you do push ups?

No way!

10. Favorite hobby?

To many.....crocheting, genealogy, reading, scrapbooking, crafts in general, riding the Harley, fishing, etc, etc. etc.....

11. Do you have A.D.D.?

No

12. What's one trait you hate about yourself?

Only one????? Humm.....lack of will power.

13. Middle name?

Ann

14. Name three thoughts at this exact moment.

I have so much to do.
How grateful I am for everything and everyone I have.
Wish I knew what else to buy to get my Christmas shopping finished..

15. Name three drinks you regularly have.

Coffee, diet coke, water.

16. Current hate right now?

This is such a strong word....I try not to hate, but I hate the fact that there are child abusers and molesters.

17. Favorite place to be?

On vacation, anywhere.

18. How did you bring in the New Year?

Went out to dinner with some friends.

19. A place where you would like to go?

Sweden

20. Name three people who will complete this?

I have no idea, I don't know how long it has been out and where it has been!

21. Do you have slippers?

You bet!

22. What shirt are you wearing?

A grey Harley thermal

23. Do you like sleeping on satin?

It is not a big deal to me.

24. Can you whistle?

Barely

25. Would you be a pirate?

Maybe for Halloween

26. What songs do you sing in the shower?

I don't sing in the shower.

27. Favorite girls name?

It has changed so many times, I don't have one right now.

28. What's in your pocket right now?

No pockets

29. Last thing that made you laugh?

Stupidity at work.

30. Favorite bed sheets as a child?

I am with Apple, weren't they all white back then?

31. Worst injury ever?

A sprained ankle or broken toe?

32. Do you like where you live?

Sunny Ca? You bet!

33. How many TV's do you have in your house?

Four and one in the garage, all working.

34. Who is your loudest friend?

This is tough, I really can't think of anyone right now, I am sure I could find someone in my Harley chapter if I thought about it long enough.

35. How many dogs do you have?

One

36. Does someone have a crush on you?

I hope so! ;-)

37. What is your favorite book?

Elaine, a cousin wrote it.

38. What is your favorite candy?

Rocky Road

39. Favorite sports team?

Oakland A's

40. What song do you want played at your funeral?

Not something I can ever consider at this point and time during the holiday season!

Wow, looks like you are getting to know a lot about me lately! If you haven't participated in this meme, please feel free to go for it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Christmas Meme

Lori Thorton at Smokey Mountain Family History, http://familyhistorian.blogspot.com, posted a meme involving Christmas and I thought I would go ahead a play along!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Always wrapping paper, half of the fun is ripping the paper open!

2. Real Tree or Artificial? Artificial, I can decorate the tree better and not worry about it drying out, watering it or catching fire. There are many ways to add "smell" to the house.

3. When do you put up the tree? For many years it had been the day after Thanksgiving, but the older I get I seem to have more activities, so if it gets up the weekend after Thanksgiving I am happy.

4. When do you take the tree down? Used to take it down right after New Years, but again these days are so active, I prefer to have it down before New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes I do, especially with "spirits" added to it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Would have to be the real puppy I received one year.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My daughter C.

8. Easiest person to buy for? My grandson

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I have a very small one.

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail! I love getting the cards in the mail! I have spent so much on cards, my family thinks I should own Hallmark!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I am sure there must have been one, but I have chosen not to remember it!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? There are several newer ones on the Hallmark channel in the last few years I enjoy.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Used to be August when I would make many of my gifts, but time just doesn't allow for that anymore, so now it is November.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I honestly don't remember, but if I say no, what if I am wrong? Maybe years ago?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh heck, I am not picky! I love it all!

16. Lights on the tree? Oh yes, hundreds of them, multi colored.

17. Favorite Christmas song? White Christmas

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, Christmas is at my house.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? On a good day when the memory isn't spacing out.

20. Angel on the treetop or a star? Angel. Used to be a star, but most definitely and angel now.

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Rude people.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My favorite ornaments are my Christopher Radko Harley Ornaments.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Smoked Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Anything genealogy related, books, portable hard drive, subscriptions....the list goes on and on and on and on, longer than the Everyready battery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Organizing And Subscribing To Blogs

I have been asked a few times about RSS Feeds and how to organize the blogs you may subscribe to. As you probably know there are well over a couple hundred genealogy related blogs out there that you may want to subscribe to. I know many people, especially newbies, get overwhelmed with so many blogs and trying to keep up.

When people first subscribe to blogs they tend to have the blog updates sent to their personal email. At least I know that is how I started and have spoken with several others who started the same way.

Then RSS Feeds came about and it tends to intimidate some people. RSS means "Really Simple Syndication". And believe me, it is really simple!

First you need to download a RSS Reader. The reader will check all of your favorite blogs and let you know when any of them are updated. The program I personally downloaded is at this link~

http://www.rssreader.com/.


Here are the basic directions of how to get and install this particular reader.

You must have Windows 2003, or Windows XP for this to work. If you are not currently running one of these Windows programs you can download the free Microsoft.net framework through this site.

Once you are sure you have the correct Windows program or framework you download and install the RSS Reader. That is it! The instructions are spelled out for you in the link I provided under downloads, but what I have explained here is all there is to it. And, did I tell you it is all free?

After you have the reader set up, you look for "subscribe" in the blog you are interested in. You can set up your subscription through this, looking for either "XML" or the "RSS" link. Or, if either of these links are available to you can right click, copy and paste into the "ADD" on your Reader, in other words you are adding a new blog to your feed.

There are several Readers available for different set ups and preferences, for example, if you have a Mac you may need to download a reader that works with the Mac system. Keep in mind you can google to research different reader programs if need be.

Now I know not all bloggers and sites are set up to run through a feed reader. So there are those you may need to sign up to have sent to your personal email. As a blogger I also have a feed through my blog that will update me on new blog posts. There are many ways you can have blog updates sent to you, and you need to find what works best. As a none blogger I found that subscribing through the RSS feeder was the way to go for me. The "non-feeder" blogs went to my email. I actually set up a e-mail account just for genealogical related items to keep them separate from my regular e-mail.

Organizing and deciding how many blogs you wish to follow is really up to you. Start out with a manageable amount of subscriptions. Once you follow a few for awhile and feel comfortable with how everything works, decide if you would like to add more, and how many. After a period of time you will find it gets easier to follow more and more blogs easily.

Believe me when I say I do not subscribe to every genealogy blog that there is. I subscribe to my favorites and add a few once in a while. As much as I wish I could leave comments on every single blog post I read, it is just impossible for me to do. However, I do leave comments as often as I can, bloggers LOVE comments! Bloggers want to know there are readers out there who appreciate there postings, give feedback, maybe additional information, encouragement or even just a quick Hi!

Most of all, if you are a newbie to blog subscriptions and/or RSS feeds, don't let them intimate you! Think about starting small and adding new blog subscriptions as you are comfortable and time allows. Of course every blogger would love to tell you to subscribe to "their blog," but in general most genea-bloggers are there to support you and I believe would give similar advice.

How about it genea-bloggers? Any other advice for these newbies we don't want to see intimated or overwhelmed with blog posts? Please leave your ideas and thoughts!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success with all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Isn't The Internet Wonderful?

Early on in my genealogy research I came across a web site which turned out to be a distant cousins genealogy website. My was that a find! We made contact and I was blessed to be given information on that side of the family. I was unable to be of much help to her though, as it was so early on in my research. She sent pictures to see if I could identify anyone in them, but unfortunately I wasn't able to help. I was able to give her a few added names and dates she didn't have, but not very many. This all came about because I put a surname in the google search engine! Ok, I thought all of my research was going to be this easy! I was on cloud nine!

As you can well imagine, not much has come that easy to me since. I made a connection with another cousin who verified information on another family line and gave me an excellent resource for that information. This was really important information as it has to do with one of my toughest, if not the toughest lines. I am trying to remember how we connected....I believe it was through a message board, but I could be wrong.

Today when I opened my email I found I had an email from another cousin on still a different family line. What a wonderful surprise! He shared some special information with me and I responded this evening and sent him a picture. (I hope it is one he doesn't have) I wondered if and when I might make a contact through this blog, and it took about three and a half months. Not to shabby for not having posted all of the surnames I am researching, or spending every post only on family members. (I am doing the happy dance again, can you tell?)

Also this week I was sent a wonderful email from a fellow genealogist. She enjoys my blog and made some very nice remarks, plus we seem to have a lot in common. She is fairly new to some aspects of this genealogy world and had some questions. I responded and tried to give her some sound advice to help her along. What a great feeling when you get your turns to help someone else!

Whether a website, message board, blog, or e-mail, we certainly live in a time were communication via the internet beats pony express any day. I look forward to new and ongoing communication via the internet with family and friends, and I am sure you do too!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Midwestern Genealogy Center

This information was sent by a member from my local genealogy society. It was forwarded to her from a friend, and now I am forwarding this information to you! Now that is how information gets around! ;-)

You may have heard about this before but for those who haven't, and I was one of them, the Midwestern Genealogy Center is fairly new and has a great website to check out. I enjoyed taking the tour. There are several databases apparently that can be accessed online.

The $8 million Midwestern Genealogy Center is located in Independence, Mo. Their holdings include passenger lists, plantation records, American Indian records, black family history records and Civil War histories. I believe they are offering classes now and have foreign language experts. Also, there is some sort of small food service available and even lockers!

Here is the website, enjoy! Check out the floor plans! It would be wonderful to live close to this, but keep in mind if you are planning any traveling in the area, this would be a great place to add to your travels.

http://www.midwestgenealogycenter.org/

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success with all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Wordless Wednesday

Cahuita. Date April 24 2008. Place Costa Rica Central America. Digital Image by Msteri. Privately held by Msteri, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2008

Tombstone Tuesday ~ James P Watson

James P. Watson Headstone. Date October 27, 2007. Location Rowlands, Pennsylvania. Digital Image. Privately held by Msteri, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2008.

My grand uncle in law, married to Linda Harding. They had seven children, all girls! This headstone was an added pleasant surprise on the trip to the cemetery in Rowlands. Until this point and time I didn't know he had service in the Navy either.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri

Antique Airplane Restaurant ~ Dutch Colony Inn

I thought I would give a link so you could read about the business my first cousin once removed and his wife used to own. His name is Breity Breithaupt. The article gives the date range and history of the restaurant and Inn and shows the plane hung in the restaurant. In 1997 the property was sold to a daugther and son in law.

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=65788

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Msteri