Beyond the Horizon

Wireless Headset

2012-01-31T15:23:00.001-05:00

Plantronics .Audio 995 Box, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

This is a picture of the box that my new Plantronics .Audio 995 wireless headset came in. The first thing you do is plug in the headset with a special cable that charges the headset in the USB port and wait for it to charge.

After one hour of charging, I couldn't stand it anymore and I had to try it out. Then, you plug-in the receiver in another USB port and it automatically pairs with the headset. Of course the out was torture, but it gave me a chance to read the small brochure that came with a headset. The headset can't be used while it is plugged in to charge.

I can see that remembering to turn it on by pressing the on off switch on the side will be something that I have to work on. For most people locating the receiver in the their bag or desk will be a problem.

I have tested this headset with Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Ihe text that you are reading was typed using Dragon NaturallySpeaking.

I tested the headset with a webinar that I had saved to my hard drive. Next, I opened iTunes and played some music. that worked fine as long as I kept the iTunes window open. Both things worked as expected.

I will have to try this with Skype tomorrow. This is Midge signing out!

iPad Bag and Cases

2012-01-19T14:27:00.000-05:00

My techno-friend Kathy Schrock posted this about her collection of cases and bags. It is a must read.

Kathy Schrock my favorite bag lady.

Got a new iPad?

2011-12-30T14:34:00.002-05:00

Got a new iPad?

Here's some good online articles to get you started:

New iPad User? Some Starter Tips, Tricks, and iPad App Recommendations

iPad Tips: Getting Started with the iPad

iPad Getting Started (TC Geeks)

Using the iPad (TC Geeks)

Nikon CoolPix P7000 Back

2011-12-16T10:16:00.001-05:00

Nikon CoolPix P7000 Back, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

The camera features a large screen and a viewfinder. I chose this camera because of the viewfinder. I can't take photos of gravestones without one.

In my opinion, the viewfinder is essential.

Camera Case and SD to USB reader

2011-12-16T10:09:00.001-05:00

Camera Case and SD to USB reader, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

This is the soft case that I chose for the camera. It has a strap that can attach to a belt loop. The object in the front is a SD to USB card reader that came free with the case.

I like that it snaps shut. I always keep the camera in the case and either in another bag or in my pocketbook.

Nikon CoolPix P7000 Camera

2011-12-15T08:12:00.001-05:00

Nikon CoolPix P7000 Camera, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Nikon CoolPix P7000 Camera

Step 1: Unboxing

After unboxing, this is what my new camera looks like. Pictured to the left is the soft case that was purchased separately. I also bought a 16 GB SD card. Largest one I own.

I didn't know there was a camera strap that goes around my neck. I am going to like that.

Genealogy and Technology

2011-12-14T14:23:00.001-05:00

Granite in My Blood Office, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

The blog you are reading was created long ago for my consulting business which was educational technology. As it is associated with my name, I decided to keep it and just modify it to be about how technology relates to genealogy.

I hope to be blogging more about this topic and I am hoping those who read this blog will find the information useful.

RootsMagic 5 Announced

2011-11-28T14:25:00.001-05:00

Announcement from RootsMagic 5!

As you can see by the above screenshot, I have upgraded to version 5 of RootsMagic's genealogy software. This is the official announcement. Good timing as my birthday is this upcoming Sunday (and no, I did not get a discount!)

"We are excited to announce the release of RootsMagic 5. We have added some of our most requested features: a timeline view showing a person's events as well as those of their immediate family members, a research manager which lets you create and track unlimited research logs, the ability to filter the people view, as well as enhancements to multimedia, sources, to-do lists, and much more. There's a little something for everyone.

Learn more about What's New on our website or by attending our webinar.

How to Order
If you are a current paid user of RootsMagic, you can upgrade for just $19.95. New users may purchase RootsMagic 5 for only $29.95.

The fastest and easiest way to order is online at:

http://www.rootsmagic.com

You can also order by phone at 800-766-8762, but with the high volume of calls we are anticipating, you may need to leave your name and phone number for us to call you back.

RootsMagic is available as a download or on CD. The download is available right now, but the CDs will the week of December 12. If you order a CD, you will receive the download immediately."

iOS 5

2011-10-15T09:31:00.003-04:00

For anyone who is using iOS 5:

iOS 5 Walkthrough

iOS 5 Hidden Treasures

iOS 5 Tips & Tricks

Inside iCloud

Tips for using Safari in iOS 5

Old Friends, Old Places of the Heart

2011-10-11T11:51:00.001-04:00

Girls of Cranston Collage, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Technology affords us a new way to look at old photographs. These are some of my "oldest" friends. Yes, we are all middle-aged ladies now but I am sure that in our minds and hearts this is how we shall remain forever.

I have been on Facebook a long time but I hadn't found too many friends from childhood until several years after I joined.

Most of us are here so that we can see photos of our grandchildren since they don't necessarily live near us.

But, I went looking for these three other girls on purpose. I have been scanning and posting my old photos to write about and to research the area of my childhood.

The four of us pictured here are getting together for lunch and "catch-up". One of us lives in Florida and is coming to visit her mom who still lives in the "plat" of the old neighborhood.

I am the oldest. I just wanted you to know. But, we are only months apart. I am a year ahead in school as I skipped Kindergarten.

I am trying to get some data from city directories to show them. One of us grew up in a different neighborhood so I will have to find her street too.

We hung out together in high school despite our varied interests. We are Protestant, Catholic and Jewish. We went to public and private schools. We are married and widowed. We all have children and grandchildren. We are only children or have siblings.

Different or alike, we have a place in each other lives. Thank you Facebook for reminding us of how important that is....

Running the Mop

2011-10-07T10:11:00.001-04:00

Running the Mop, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Running the Mop

I woke up this morning thinking about how my mother cleaned the house. I don't know why. (Well, I know why she cleaned but no why I thought of it!)

My mom was an excellent housekeeper. She was college educated but it turned out that she stayed home to be a housewife and take care of me.

When she married, someone gave her a very large carpet sweeper. It was something like the one shown here but much wider and bigger. I can remember riding on it when I was little. (That couldn't have been for long!)

My parent's house had hard wood floors and they had small rugs like the one shown here. It was a ranch house so it was all on one floor.

Every morning, she would start the day by running the mop. The mop was one of those huge mop heads. The mop itself had to be shaken outside to get rid of the "stuff" it picked up every day.

The mop head had to be washed. She put it in with the weekly wash and sent it with my father to the "plant". My grandparents owned a laundry and dry cleaning business. We didn't have a washer or dryer.

By the time I was in my early teens, mom decided that wall to wall carpeting was needed. My father, a tight Scotsman, agreed because he was always cold.

It is very hot inside a laundry and dry cleaning business so it was hard to transition to home. The car heater was always on full blast.

He always wiped his feet and headed to the coat closet to hang up his outercoat and his hat and looked at the thermostat. He bumped it up a bit each time he went by. My mother wondered how it got so hot in the house. I always turned the heat up in my own house before my parents came to visit.

These are the ordinary day family stories that I enjoy telling.

This is my new carpet sweeper and the "Swiffer" I bought for the new house. I was using the "Swiffer" that had belonged to my mother. She adored it. I left it in our old house when we moved.

They are not "high-tech", are they? The carpet sweeper does a great job on my rugs. It is amazing what dirt I pick up each day.

Mom would be proud.

Our First Computer

2011-10-06T15:02:00.001-04:00

Our First Computer, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

The passing of Apple's Steve Jobs has saddened me so I decided to show you my very first computer. Purchased in 1983, it was a big hit with my 2nd grade daughter.

Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs. You changed my life.

Direct Line Report Part 3

2011-10-05T08:17:00.001-04:00

Step 3

Making the"Direct Descendant" Report:

Pull down the Reports menu and choose Charts and then choose Box Charts

Click the Start Person button and from the next screen locate the ancestor that you wish to use as the person you wish to see your lineage chart from.

In this example, Ichose John Howland, one of my Mayflower passengers

Uncheck the "Include photos" box.
Click the "Chart Type" Button and choose Descendants.
In the "Generations" box, choose at least 13 or 14.
Click the "Box Style" button, the "Box Style" dialog box overlaps the previous screen as shown here.

In the "Border Type" box, choose None and click OK. This closes this dialog box and returns you to the previous box. (See that screen shot above)
In the "Format" button, choose Name and events word wrapped as shown above.

Optional: I click the "Index button" to the right of thisdialog box to choose "no name index" and "no place" index.

Click "Generate Report"
This report can be printed or saved. I save mine in PDF format.

Direct Line Report Part 2

2011-10-05T07:35:00.003-04:00

Bruce Buzzbee, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

These are the directions that Bruce Buzzbee of RootsMagic posted to our discussion on Facebook:

1. Reports > Box charts, then setChart Type to Descendants
2. Set Box style to None
3. Set Format to Name and events word wrapped
4. Uncheck "Include photos"

Now that will give you close to the format, exceptit draws the lines instead of putting leader dots. But there is one trick youhave to use first to get the direct descendants only (instead of alldescendants).

1. Create a new blank database (it will open upside by side with yours)
2. Drag and drop the descendant in question fromyour file to the blank one.
3. When RM asks who else to copy, select the personand his/her ancestors (just ancestors... not children)
4. Generate the above descendant report above forthe desired ancestor from the new temporary database. It will give you just thedirect line you want. You can delete that temp database when you are done.

Here's what I wrote so I could remember how to do this:

How to create a direct descendent chart using RootsMagic 4

Step 1

Open your genealogydata in RootsMagic

Launch RootsMagic to open your regular database.

Step 2

Create a new blankdatabase with the "direct line" ancestors:

In RootsMagic click on the file menu and choose New and name your database test. This will put your regular database and this text database side-by-side on your screen.

The "test"database you are creating will be made up of your own "direct line"ancestors.

Drag-and-drop your own name from your regular database to the root person in your new database. RootsMagic will open a dialog box (called Drag and Drop) and ask you who to copy. Choose that person and the ancestors. Make sure the "generations" box is set to the number of generations (shown here as 13) you have in your database or it won't get all of your ancestors. Click OK when you are done.

I suggest youeventually rename this database to Direct Line so you don't have to create itagain. (File/Rename)

Close your regular genealogy database so you can work with only the newly created one on the screen and not get confused!

Part 3 is next....

Direct Line Reports Part 1

2011-10-04T14:36:00.001-04:00

Coach Potato Genealogist @ The Beach, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.
This is a three part blog post.

Photo is of Midge in 2009, at Cape Cod, reading the manual for the RootsMagic software. I was freezing on the beach. I froze this year too. But, I digress....

Yesterday, I noticed a lively discussion on Facebook about a kind of genealogy software report that I often need to make. I was surprised to discover, from this discussion that the newer software programs don't support or don't make this common chart.

To join a lineage society, one must create a "direct" line chart to have to start to gather proof for joining. This proof consists of many types of documents but before you can start that process, you should have the people connected correctly and have a way to have the dates and places for birth, marriage, death and burial in one document. It can take many months of work to join one of these organizations.

To prepare this report, I have used Family Tree Maker v. 16, 2006 to prepare a list of persons that are descended directly from an ancestor down to me. It is an easy process. But, now I find out this easy process is no longer part of Family Tree Maker. I already knew that the copy I have was so outdated that it will probably not work on my Windows 7 computer so it stays on my laptop.

I upgraded from Personal Ancestral File (called PAF) to RootsMagic 4 because I no longer need free software to teach people how to do genealogy. Now, I make them join Ancestry.com to get them started and them start teaching them to enter data, be critical of what they find and to use census records for their ancestors. I don't do this very often anymore as I find people who really want to learn more about genealogy are already doing this process.

But, reports are basic to genealogy and this is the tyope of report I wanted to learn how to create, save, print and share. Here's a screen shot of that that type of report. It is just a part of the report I created.

Yes, I made this with RootsMagic. In the next posts, I will show you how it is done.

Personal Historian 2 Software Release

2011-09-29T10:51:00.000-04:00

Personal Historian 2 Software Released
Latest Version of Personal and Family History Writing Software Now Available to the Public
SPRINGVILLE, Utah. — September 28, 2011 — RootsMagic, Inc. today announced the official release of Personal Historian 2, the latest version of the ground-breaking computer software which helps you write the story of your life and of other individuals. Personal Historian breaks this seemingly monumental task into small, manageable pieces and then reconstructs it into a complete, publishable document. With the release comes a free “Essentials” version of the software as well as a discount offer for new users and previous owners of the software.

Bring Life to Your Life Stories

“Many people want to write a personal history about themselves or family members but get lost or overwhelmed,” said Michael Booth, vice-president and lead developer of the software. “It’s very gratifying to hear people tell us that they are finally able to write their life stories thanks to Personal Historian.”

Personal Historian creates an interactive timeline of a person’s life to keep the stories organized, give context to life events, and to allow users to write stories in any order they wish. When ready, Personal Historian will compile the stories into a finished book complete with table of contents, chapters, pictures, indexes, and more. The book may then be printed at home, edited in a word processor, published professionally, or shared with friends and family.

New Features

“The new features in Personal Historian 2 have been worth the wait,” said Bruce Buzbee, president. “While we’ve added many new and powerful features, we’ve worked hard to make the software even easier to use than before.”

Personal Historian 2 boasts an impressive list of over 40 features including streamlined step-by-step wizards; expanded timelines and memory trigger questions; easy filtering and searching of stories; management of categories, people, and places; improved outlining and writing analysis; wrapping of text around pictures; fonts and text styles; and more-powerful publishing and output options.

Free “Personal Historian Essentials”

RootsMagic is also releasing a new, free edition of Personal Historian named, “Personal Historian Essentials”. Personal Historian Essentials contains many core features from the Personal Historian software and the two products are fully-compatible with one another. “We wanted to give everyone a risk-free option,” said Booth. “Personal Historian Essentials is perfect for someone who wants to start writing a personal history but doesn’t know where to begin.” Personal Historian Essentials is available for download at http ://www .personalhistorian .com.

Discount Offer

To celebrate it’s release, RootsMagic, Inc. is pleased to offer a special introductory offer for Personal Historian 2. Through October 31, 2011, Personal Historian 2 is available for a special introductory price of only $19.95, saving $10 off of the regular price. The discount is available only on the Personal Historian website at http ://www .personalhistorian .com or by calling 1-800-766-8762.
About RootsMagic, Inc.
For over 20 years, RootsMagic, Inc. has been creating computer software with a special purpose- to unite families. One of our earliest products- the popular “Family Origins” software, introduced thousands of people to the joy and excitement of family history.

That tradition continues today with “RootsMagic”, our award-winning genealogy software which makes researching, organizing, and sharing your family history fun and easy. “Personal Historian” will help you easily write and preserve your life stories. “Family Reunion Organizer” takes the headaches out of planning those important get-togethers. And “Family Atlas” creates beautiful and educational geographic maps of your family history.

For more information, visit www .rootsmagic .com.
Source: RootsMagic, Inc.

Dragon Dictation

2011-09-29T09:42:00.001-04:00

Dragon Dictation, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

If you have actually met me in person you know that I talk a lot. It has even been suggested that I talk to the computer instead of the people so yesterday when finding the software Dragon NaturallySpeaking at BJ's while out shopping I thought, "Why not?" :-)

As a professional genealogist one of my specialties is technology as it applies to genealogy. I can never decide if I like gravestone photography more than I like using technology! It is raining today so I guess I will have to ~~play~~ work with technology!

This photo is box that Dragon NaturallySpeaking (version 11) (Basics) comes in. Much to my surprise a headset came in the box. I took the headset out and looked it over and decided that the one I already owned was more sophisticated.

It was important to decide that ahead of time because I knew when I installed the software it was going to recognize the headset during the process of installation. I was right.

I took my time with the installation and even put the headset on while doing so. For $59.95, I think it is a good bargain.
It is going to take some time to train it to recognize some of the special genealogical terms. By the way, and had no trouble with genealogical.

I decided to train it to recognize Granite-in-My-Blood so that it would put the hyphens and the capitalize in the right places. That worked flawlessly.

To train Dragon NaturallySpeaking for special words and terms all you have to do is pulldown the Vocabulary Menu and choose " Add new word or phrase…" Then, you type the phrase or word and then speak it aloud. I did not have to say, "hyphen" or capitalize the words!

I am impressed! So, I guess I'll be talking to you later!

Rice Family Reunion Weekend

2011-09-16T09:38:00.001-04:00

Deacon Edmund Rice, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

We are going on a bus tour this afternoon with the other Rice descendants. One stop will be at North Cemetery in Wayland, MA. We have already been there to find this memorial gravestone.

My husband is the Rice, not me so this should be a new experience for me!

Deacon Edmund RICE (c1594-1663) and wife Thomasine FROST (1600-1654) [9th great-grandparents]
Deacon Edward RICE (c1622-1712) and wife Agnes BENT (1631-1713) [8th great-grandparents]
Daniel RICE (1655-1737) and wife Bethia WARD (1658-1721) [7th great-grandparents]
Bethia RICE (1682-1754) and husband Jonathan NEWTON (1679-1753) [6th great-grandparents]
Thankful NEWTON (1719-1755) and husband Aaron FAY (1719-1798) [5th great-grandparents]
Nathan FAY (1747-1831) and wife Lucy BEMIS (1751-1834) [4th great-grandparents]
Rebeckah FAY (1791-1870) and husband Ebenezer HYDE (1785-1882) [3rd great-grandparents]
Abraham HYDE (1811-1897) and wife Eleanor Adalaide PARMENTER (1818-1856) [ 2nd great-grandparents]
Vergene Ovando HYDE (1844-1909) and wife Frederica Bremer MERROW (1855-1886) [great-grandparents]
Linda Edwards HYDE (1881-1949) and husband Phares David FRAZEL (1876-1949) [grandparents]
Wilbur Hyde FRAZEL (1913-2011) and wife Ruth Hannah CRAIG (1915-2010) [parents]

iHome Charger

2011-09-04T14:31:00.001-04:00

Front of Box, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

My friend Kathy Schrock always has to show me something new when she comes to visit! She showed me this charging unit that would be perfect for me since I own all these devices.

Yes, I own an iPad, nook, iPod touch, regular iPod and of course an iPhone. So many things to be charged!

I bought this today (4 Sept 2011) at Kohls ON SALE for $39.99.

I can't decide...do I put this cool charger away for my birthday or for Christmas or do I just use it now?

This is the front of the box. It is made by iHome and is Model # iB969.

Back of box
Front of Device
Back of Device
Cords
Manual Cover

Blog Post Removed

2011-08-16T18:17:00.003-04:00

I have removed the post about iPad apps for genealogists because of the incorrect links. Thanks to a reader who pointed this out...

Adventures in iPad: Zaggmate keyboard

2011-04-05T13:03:00.004-04:00

Zaggmate keyboard, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

I have been working with my new Zaggmate keyboard for the past month to be ready for the NERGC genealogy conference this week in Springfield, NH.

It is very lightweight and the angle for typing, on a hard surface is great. But, when used in my lap in a crowded-like-steerage conference room, I fear it will be hard to control.

The iPad doesn't "clip" or "click" into the slot that holds the iPad on the keyboard. I have a rubbery case on the back which I don't like taking off but it was so tippy and unsettled that I found myself wondering if I took the rubbery case off whould that solve the problem? It didn't. It rests in the slot a bit better but is not secure.

At onc point in a genealogy meeting, I actually shifted in my chair and thunk went the iPad onto the floor! My husband picked it up for me, but I just couldn't worry about breaking it again. With people moving in front of you in a row, I don't think this keyboard is going to work.

However, I do love it when I am working on the couch or at the breakfast bar in my kitchen. I will get my $100 worth of it. But, at the conference, I will use my Padprop and type on the virtual keyboard. I might place it on the lip of the case I bought for my netbook.

$5 iPad case

2011-03-17T08:02:00.002-04:00

$5 a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

Really, you can't beat the price. It is a great, lightweight case. I sent hubs back to buy two more.

I put my Zaggmate Keyboard in it when it is not in use. The case the keyboard is in is designed to clamshell onto the iPad but the rubbery case I have on the back would need to be removed. Too much trouble to take apart.

I've been working on the keyboard a lot this week. In the next few posts, I will report how I feel about this iPad accessory

Zaggmate Keyboard Unboxed

2011-03-12T15:01:00.002-05:00

Zaggmate Keyboard Unboxed a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

I bought a Zaggmate keyboard for my iPad. This is the first photo in the unboxing series.

iPad: Padprop Inside Box

2011-02-28T08:49:00.039-05:00

Padprop Inside Box
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

This post is about the padprop which I purchased direct from the manufacturer in the UK.

The package arrived from the UK in about 10 days. A padprop is a device that securely holds the iPad, at an angle, so that it is easier to type, tap, swipe or read without having to hold the iPad.

When you open the padprop box, the directions for using it are on the inside lid and the padprop is sealed in a plastic bag.

I picked it up and I was amazed at how light but sturdy it is! I can easily fit it in my cocoon iPad bag in the zippered pocket that holds the cocoon with the charger and the camera kit.

The two rings shown here are for holding your ear bud headphones. I took the set I had set aside for use with my iPad and after opening the padprop, I immediately put them in the slot provided and anchored them down.

Next, I examined the back of the box. I don't throw out my tech boxes for quite a while. This one, I may cut the directions out and keep them. I like the way the box shows people using the padprop with their iPad. When this appears in stores, it will be easy for potential customers to see what the purpose of this device is and how lightweight it is.

I was concerned that the padprop would be hard to get off and on with the rubbery case that I use on my iPad. But, it slides nicely over up and down on the sides. My husband took this photo of me using it while seated on the couch. Using it while seated (or lying on my side) is making my use of my iPad much more enjoyable. I have already read a whole book!

Later, I took it back over to my kitchen area and worked on using the iPad to begin learning Keynote. I am still adjusting to using the iPad with the padprop in the landscape orientation but when I want to use it in the portrait position by using my BookGem holder (which I primarily use for my nook or for holding print books open.)

The customer support for this product was excellent. Perhaps soon, it will be available to purchase from the USA version of Amazon.com. I bought mine directly from the padprop site and paid for it using Paypal. The price, dependent on the currency exchange rate, is about $20 to $25 US dollars.

I took it to my daughter's house and my son-in-law played Angy Birds for a long time while standing up using the padprop on his table. He pronounced it a hit!

Padprop on Facebook

Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island

2011-02-25T13:10:00.002-05:00

Austin
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

I was born in Rhode Island and so as you can imagine, I have a lot of RI ancestors. Mine are quite recent OR quite ancient. With nearly 4, 000 cemeteries (many are lost), RI may be small geographically but it has tons of dead folks. Finding gravestones to photograph in those small cemeteries is not fun.

This is a screenshot of the Master Source for this CD based on a book. I discovered you can copy and paste the citation formats and also print them so I have done both.

I'd appreciate it if people who are familiar with this resource could look at this and see if I missed anything. Please.

Improving Citations

2011-02-25T12:58:00.002-05:00

Book Image Copy
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

At the beginning of February, I attended a RootsMagic Webinar (free) about Citations using the RootsMagic software program.[Thanks Bruce Buzbee of RootsMagic for the free help. ]

After working on one of my Rhode Island ancestors this week, I decided to try my hand at writing a citation using the software application. What I wanted to do was start a "file" of citations with a reference to Elizabeth S own Mills' book.

I opened a new RootsMagic file and saved it naming it Citations. I pulled down the Lists menu and chose "Source List". The Master Source dialog box opened.

I searched the extensive list for a citation that matches Austin's Genealogical Dictionary which I own on CD having purchased it a few years ago.

A friend of mine has this actual book. It is a huge book resembling an atlas. I could not pick it up. But, what I did learn after looking at her copy was that I wanted to buy exact copies of the pages. I was quite excited when I found out you could buy it on CD and the pages were exact copies right down to the page numbers. It was worth every penny.

After reading Bruce Buzbee's book, I discovered that each reference has a great Ref. See, it? The EE refers to ESM's book page number.

I printed the title page of Austin's book and the information about the CD itself. I returned to the Web site and printed how I purchased it. Then I copy and pasted that information into a Word document. So, now when anyone asks me, I can share the right information with them.

Next, I started to write my own citation. My office floor has Mills open, the RootsMagic book open and all of the printouts I need. My plan is to get one done today.

I made this screenshot to help me remember how I am going to do other frequently used references.

iPad: Padprop Box

2011-02-25T08:38:00.002-05:00

Padprop Box
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

After admiring the package (and the stamp) from the UK, I opened the package.

This is the outside of the box which shows how the PadProp (TM) works when it is in your lap and you are (trying) to type.

Visit Padprop's Web site...

iPad: Having a Life

2011-02-24T18:51:00.002-05:00

DSC04803
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

For a change, let's go backwards through an "Adventure in iPad".

This is my iPad being held up by my PadProp which came in the mail today from the UK.

I am reading a book and doing my nails. See, I have a life. [I hope you are not shaking your head with "no, no".]

But, how did we get here?

Zagg Shield for iPad

2011-02-22T10:15:00.004-05:00

Zagg Shield for iPad
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Decisions, decisions.
How do I protect the screen on my iPad?

I went to Best Buy, bought a ZAGG front and watched while the salesman put it on. The "installation" was on sale for free this week so all I paid for it the screen cover.

I didn't know they installed covers, did you?

It had to dry for 48 hours before I could put my rubbery case on it again. The bottle of solution they gave me is just distilled water and I sprayed it on one of my soft cloths and dried with with the microfiber pad. It came out just fine.

iPad: In the Classroom

2011-02-22T07:30:00.000-05:00

Just because you're not an educator it doesn't mean that you can't get some great ideas (and apps) for your iPad. Here's a new page put up by my friend Kathy Schrock.

iPad: Feeddler app

2011-02-13T10:32:00.000-05:00

Feeddler RSS Reader Pro ($4.99)

I read blogs using their RSS feed. I knew that the iPad would be a great way for me to read blogs since it is portable and designed for easy reading in your lap.

Finding the right RSS reader app was not going to be easy. I was using Bloglines until they announced it was going under and so I switched my feeds to Google Reader and then back to Bloglines when it returned. But, I decided I didn't like it was much anymore and just added the few I had started reading back to Google Reader. Doesn't that sound confusing? I think so.

I spent an evening with my netbook cleaning up the list of blogs I read and then another afternoon reading the descriptions and reviews of the apps at iTunes. I settled on Feeddler after looking at the developer's page.

I downloaded and used the free one for a few days and then bought the Pro version for $4.99. Feeddler reads the blogs from Google Reader so the time spent on getting that set up was worth it.

I find that it is so easy that I can probably read more blogs than ever before. The pro version syncs the ones you add from Feedler on the iPad to the main area at Google Reader.

One thing I really like about reading feeds on my iPad is that if I want to I can move quickly to the viewing of the actual blog. People are so creative about the look and feel of their blogs that I always felt I was missing something.

iPad: the Camera Kit

2011-02-09T05:00:00.002-05:00

iPad Camera Kit
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

I purchased the Camera Kit when I bought the rubbery case for my iPad. I bought it from Amazon.com. [link]

I set it aside for later as I was so busy learning to use the iPad. Finally, I put a few jpgs on an SD card, "scooched" the rubbery case away from the iPad's port and stuck it in. Following the directions in the box, I waited for the iPad to recognize it. Well, was I surprised when I got a message on the iPad that said that there were no photos to import!

Rather than drive myself nuts, I put the items back in the box and waited until my tech guru friend came back from her conference. She told me that that is why it is called the camera connection kit. The iPad is expecting to see an SD card that has been in a camera.

Since my present camera is a Sony and uses memory stick technology and isn't an SD card, I copied the folder structure on my memory stick by naming two new folders on the SD card. When I added a jpg to the card in that right directory, and inserted it into the iPad there was a successful import.

Hooray!

iPad: Ancestry.com app Offline

2011-02-08T10:14:00.001-05:00

Offline
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

ISince I have a wi-fi iPad with no 3G connection, I decided to take my iPad beyond the horizon of my home network. As we drove away from home, I launched the Ancestry.com app and got this message.

I made this screen shot and then proceeded to move around in my tree until I was satisfied with what I can see.

This is great because I can show the family photos and gravestones in my tree to people when there is no Internet connection.

Using Ancestry.com's app: Dialog Box

2011-02-05T08:54:00.002-05:00

Download Arrow
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Continued from yesterday's post...

After tapping the name of the previously downloaded tree, you look for the swirled arrow and tap on that to ask that new information in your tree be downloaded to your iPad.

Using the Ancestry.com iPad app

2011-02-04T08:53:00.002-05:00

Name of Tree
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

After the process of logging in to Ancestry.com (using the app) and choosing a tree to open (presumably yours), the tree remains on the iPad until you open it again.

This is new. With previous versions, the data was downloaded each time you opened the app. I would suspect that making the app optimized for the iPad was the motivation for Ancestry.com to make an app that looks great and is useful on the iPad. This device is designed for visual learners and I have noticed that people love to show off their iPad.You should pay attention to Apple's iPad commercials even if you don't have an iPad.

Yesterday, I made changes to my tree at Ancestry.com and when I opened the app on my iPad, these changes were NOT present. This meant that I must have to ask Ancestry.com's server to "please send me the new data".

In this screenshot shown here, note the purple arrow. This is where you tap to make the "dialog box" appear to refresh your data. (in the next blog post, I will tell you what to do next!)

One of the things about apps is that there are very little directions. For those of us who have been using computers for 20 years plus this can be frustrating. Young users just mess around tapping on the screen until they figure it out. You need to visit the developers Web site (listed at the iTunes page for the app) to see what is up if you need help.

iPad: Ancestry app on iPad

2011-02-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

Ancestry App on iPad
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

When compared to the screenshot from my iPod touch, the sheer size of the Ancestry.com app on my iPad looks massive!

This app is going to be great on my iPad because it is optimized for this type of screen. I think that because it is downloaded, it will not need the Web to be used. I have an iPad that is Wi-Fi only so I have to go outside my house to see.

I still don't know how I "refresh" when i make changes to my Ancestry tree which I do almost daily.

iPad: Ancestry.com App on iPod

2011-02-03T08:34:00.012-05:00

Ancestry_iPod
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Apps for the iPad and the iPod touch/iPhone, are updated before you are ready for them! Well, that's how it seems. This screenshot is from my iPod touch.

I have used this app since the first day it was released. It simply refused to load in the first version, then they fixed that, and it would download but very slowly. Each time you opened the app, it would download once again. That was annoying but after all I have a LOT of ancestors.

I timed it last night and it took more that a half hour to download my tree. But, the results were good. As you can see, the photos I have posted are also downloaded. Now, I can actually work with this to see how it works for me.

Next to test the app on my iPad. I downloaded it yesterday and made a screenshot.

iPad: Apps for iPad

2011-02-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

I must admit that I was surprised that some of the apps that I was using for my trusty iPod touch (or an iPhone) have a "special" version for the iPad. Some, like FamView, which I purchased sometime back for reading my GEDCOM, automatically were "optimized" for the iPad.

So, you can tell when an app is for the iPad when it is listed at iTunes in the iPad section and when downloaded to your iPad it fills the screen automatically. Apps not optimized for the iPad are shown at 1x size with a screen that is the size of the iPod touch. To get them to fill the screen, you tap on the 2x found in the lower right corner.

Non-optimized apps are blurry to read when blown up but they are easier to see than the size of the iPod touch or iPhone. Some of mine had to be deleted before I could add the new version that is specifically for the iPad.

I will be reporting on the ones that I think are useful. BTW, the screenshots made with the iPad are much larger that expected. Don't make too many of them at once and share with friends or you will exceed their email-inbox mailbox limitations.

iPad: Microfiber Pads

2011-01-30T10:12:00.002-05:00

iPad: Microfiber Pads
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Shortly after purchasing my iPad , I went to Target to buy my husband's birthday present and while he and the salesman, Mike, were looking over what he wanted, I got interested in looking at the iPad accessories. I had already done the rest of my shopping.

Of course, I had already ordered the rubbery case and the Cocoon travel bag but I knew I might need something that protected the screen. I didn't know that a transparent cover would come with the rubbery case. I have since applied it and it is not really good enough. So, I am trying to decide about the Zagg or iLuv antiglare screen protectors. My friend recommends the Zagg.

I was reading the book iPad the Missing Manual and it said that the best screen cleaner was microfiber. I leapt up because while we were in Target that day, I had purchased (in those $1 bins which I love looking through), several microfiber cleaning towels, mitts and these pads pictured here. By the way, they are two for a dollar.

This pad, not only cleans the screen but fits neatly over the iPad screen to protest it while in the case. The next day I went back and bought more. (Colors pictured here).I think it should be named the "Pad for the iPad".

Hey, I can always use the ones I don't give to friends for cleaning, right? My dad always said that you can be a big shot for 50 cents.

iPad: The Missing Manual

2011-01-28T13:26:00.003-05:00

iPad: The Missing Manual
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Yes, that is my knee. I took this photo yesterday so that I could try writing a short blog post from my iPad today.

This is the book that I reserved from the library and it was worth it because it is giving me answers to some of the questions I have, such as "why does the iPad say not charging when I plug it into the sync cord at at my desktop computer?" it is because charging by USB is not enough for this device. Good to know.

It is interesting that I can send a photo from Flickr to my Blogger blog but I can't edit the text in Blogger with my iPad.

iPad: Earbuds

2011-01-28T05:00:00.002-05:00

JVC Marshmallow Ear Buds
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

For some time now, I have been purchasing for myself and for others as gifts, these JVC Marshmallow earbuds. They come in many colors including silver and black for my guy friends (or for those of us who are colorful enough without them). I have pink, silver, red, bright yellow and orange.

CNET reviewed them some time back and this video explains their findings. Available in WalMart stores and online, I bought my first pair (in this photo) from Amazon.com.

As I am quite short, I like my earbud cords to be shorter, hence the Sumajin Smartwraps Earphone Cord Manager The small pink cord shortener [PKOH NYC Ear bud Clip] is good too but is somewhat more fragile. However it is lightweight. [Amazon]

I recently purchased several Bobino cord managers for the power cords on all my electronics and they also make a cord wrapper for headphones. [Amazon]

The sound quality on the iPad is so great. I must admit to being surprised. At its loudest, it can easily be heard without using headphones. But, there are those times, where you just want to listen without involving other people's ears (and opinions).

iPad: Lapboard Case

2011-01-27T05:00:00.002-05:00

Lapboard Case
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

When I go to genealogy meetings or conferences, I watch people trying to balance a laptop or netbook on their lap to take notes.

It is fun to see people lugging a beanbag lapboard or a paper notebook with them to put on their lap. Nothing is comfortable when you are trying to look geeky. Just try to get past us to sit in a seat in the middle of an aisle. Just try....

I thought this was a good idea. It is a sleeve for a small netbook or my iPad. The flap on the end can hold cords or my phone while I am sitting in an audience. I bought it through the Solutions catalog. It is available in plain black or red.

iPad: Clean Screen

2011-01-26T11:31:00.007-05:00

Clean Screen
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

There is a lot of problems with the screens on the "electronic" devices. I have cleaned the screens of my computers since 1983 when I bought my first computer.

I have been using the solution that I buy to clean my eyeglasses. I spray it lightly on a cloth and then gently wipe the screen. Pictured here is the ALLSOP screen cleaning wipe that I use when I am NOT cleaning with a solution. (It is the blue ones with the water droplets.

Imagine my surprise when I noticed that the default "wallpaper" on the iPad is a water droplet image!

I bought the solution and cloth here which is named Monster iClean ($7.99 at Target) because it has an antibacterial cloth. Now, I have taken many courses in microbiology and I really don't know if a cloth (that is not wet) can be antibacterial. It seems to work much like the glasses cleaner and the disposable cloths for our glasses.

I see a lot of wipes for electronic screens claiming to be antibacterial. With everyone sharing a phone that goes up near your face, I have to hope that it works. I used to clean computer labs with disposable towels and sprayed Lysol.I discovered I was the only one doing it and cleaning the land like phones too.

I like this cloth but it is expensive. Look for it in the electronics section of your local office supply store (or near the register) or at Amazon.com

iPad: Cocoon Case for iPad

2011-01-25T11:02:00.034-05:00

Cocoon Case iPad
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

This is the case that I ordered from Cocoon to carry my iPad in. I needed one that could fit (without the strap attached) inside a computer bag. I could have bought a sleeve or a zippered neoprene case, I suppose but this is going to be "hands-free" while I am walking.

I chose red for the exterior so that I could see it easily when my laptop bag is in the back seat when traveling. It also is available in black and city gray.

Right now, this case (CNS360) is on sale for $28.88 but its regular price is $34.99 direct from Cocoon. (plus shipping)

With the case and the detachable strap seen in this photo, comes a large cocoon grid-it organizer. The organizer fits inside both zippered pockets. Empty it provides cushioning for the iPad if I put it in the "back" pocket along with the iPad. I put the iPad in the front pocket for this photo. The Web site shows the grid-it in one pocket and the iPad/netbook/computer in the other. This is because you probably want to use the large grid-it for cords, headphones, cell phone and other stuff which might scratch the iPad.

Just a mention that this case also holds a netbook (bigger than the one I own) or a Macbook Air. I could use one pocket for my netbook and the other for my iPad if I am taking both when I am traveling. The water resistant case, when empty, weighs 1.44 lbs.

The inside lining of both zippered compartments is plush and soft. It is gray in color.(Cocoon-like, get it?)

The other Cocoon cases for the iPad are on this page.

iPad: the Case (bottom)

2011-01-25T10:07:00.003-05:00

iPad: the Case (bottom)
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

This is a photo of the backside of the silicon skin I bought for my iPad.

I was amused by the cut-out for the Apple logo.

iPad: the Case (front)

2011-01-25T09:30:00.037-05:00

iPad: the Case (front)
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

After searching many Web sites, I decided upon a "skin" type protective case for my iPad. Oddly inexpensive, I was a bit skeptical about how much I would like it.It is made by CrazyonDigital [company page link for skins] I ordered mine through Amazon.com because I had some other items to order.

Mine is the Clear Silicon Skin Case. I expected it to be a tight fit. It took me a few minutes to get it on all the corners but I have this type of rubbery case for my iPod touch and I love it.

It came with a clear screen protector to put on the front. I have not applied that as yet. It will take patience and time (perhaps tomorrow). It is important to protect the screen. The iPad manual discusses how imperative it is to keep it clean and grease free. I will obsessively clean the screen before applying the screen protector.

When buying any skin case, be sure that all of the ports on the iPad will be accessible.

I went to my local Target store and looked over the choices available. My techno-friend, Kathy Schrock, who is a mobile warrior chose the ZAGG system for her iPad.

I studied hers when she came to visit. It gives the screen COMPLETE protection. I liked the way it felt and looked. She presents with her iPad and demonstrates it to many people. Hers needs the total protection.

Notice that when buying a skin or a protective case, you may need to buy a model that is for the Wi-Fi version or the Wi-Fi and 3G version.

iPad: The Unboxing

2011-01-25T05:00:00.004-05:00

iPad: The Unboxing
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

I finally took off the box overwrap, and took the iPad itself out of the box. In the box was the charger and cord. Not shown was the small sleeve that held a simple on card instructions and the always present Apple stickers.

It is important to take EVERYTHING out of the box. I keep the box until I am sure I like the product. I think it was easy to miss the envelope sleeve. I am wondering how many people just went to find their iPad box to make sure all items were removed.

I removed the plastic covering the screen, assembled the charger and plugged it in to the electrical socket. (I have owned several iPods. Not all were charged when I got them. So even though the directions didn't say so, I plugged it in anyway)

While this was happening, I went up to my desktop computer, launched iTunes and checked to make sure it was up-to-date. I then closed iTunes. iTunes MUST be up-to-date or you will be sorry.

The iPad was mostly charged so I unplugged it. The screen said to plug it in to iTunes so I did and followed the prompts to synch, add the apps I had from my iPod touch.

Then, I ordered the case and the cocoon grid-it that I had my eye on. Both orders have now arrived.

iPad: The Box

2011-01-24T14:35:00.003-05:00

iPad: The Box
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Last Wednesday, 19 January 2011, I purchased a 16 GB iPad (the wi-fi version) at a local Best Buy. I decided against the 3G version which is a nice luxury but most people I know agreed I didn't need it.

I ordered it online to be picked up at the store. We showered, dressed, ate breakfast and drove the 15 minutes to Marlborough to pick it up.

Upon arriving home, I took this photo. I hadn't even removed the shiny over wrap. The color of my kitchen granite counter top reflects a sepia tone to the box.

A friend of my daughter's, upon opening the box of his first computer, a laptop, called me and told me that he was enjoying just looking at the box.

So, here we are, enjoying this "the iPad box". A moment to remember.

I hope I enjoy paying the bill as much. $499.99

First Look: The Writing Circle Review

2010-06-17T15:56:00.001-04:00

"Writers Require Their Groups"

As this was my first online book club, I had no preconceived notions about what it was going to be like. Progressing faster than I expected, the book and the group itself made me feel like the "rising tide" (p. 236). I love reading electronically and as an author myself, I feel that the future of publishing lies in the electronic medium. The rising costs of publishing is like the rising tide itself.

Gillian was easy to dislike. "As if she was too horrible to touch" ( p.194) I never had any empathy for her or her ego. Bernard was annoying. I sensed something was going to happen to Paul. The first chapter really threw me off. I didn't remember it at all until I read the posts online. Reading what others thought was fascinating and I am sure I'd been better at posting if I'd had discussion questions at the beginning. It felt disorganized but I think now that so many of the others in the group were experienced with this type of book club and I was an outsider, like Nancy, looking in.

Plagiarism is the worst kind of slap in the face to a writer. It continues to be a problem for everyone. As a teacher and student in graduate school, it was a hot topic. Many young people are just shrugging it off.

I don't write fiction so I am not sure that writers require group feedback but in this case it shows just what a problem sharing can be. It was a relief to see the others angry at Gillian's ethics.

I would recommend this book to others. I am glad to have had this opportunity to read it and to "hear" what others thought. Thank you.

My Nook Book Club

2010-06-06T18:48:00.000-04:00

Treasure Chest Thursday [The Chest]

2010-05-20T11:07:00.001-04:00

Chest Design Scan
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

One of the hardest things about preparing to move is making decisions about the antique furniture that I have inherited. Some pieces are "used up" after being actually used in the four houses that my family has lived in in my lifetime.

One piece is my mother's hope chest. It needs touching up but it really is a beauty. When people come to my home, they remark about how great it is. I really like the storage. OK, I am not an antiques person but I think that I need to keep it.

Tucked in a corner of the chest drawer is this piece of paper which looks like it was taken from a catalog. I would bet that my grandmother peered at it while she painted. Today, we would have enlarged it.

The Writing Circle

2010-05-17T16:10:00.001-04:00

The Writing Circle
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Recently, I read a tweet about joining a Barnes & Noble sponsored book club for those of us that read electronically. [Enrollment is now closed so don't go looking to sign up].

As a highly wired person and the owner of a nook reading device, I jumped at the chance. What surprised me was the number of people who were interested in electronic reading! Many are planning to read the book on a device that is an "app" on an iPod touch, iPhone or soon, via the iPad.

I have the Barnes and Noble free app on my iPod touch and will be able to read this book on either of my devices.

I set the nook down with the "cover" on screen on top of my own [print] book, titled "Digital Storytelling Guide for Educators" and took this photo.

I have been reading electronically for many years and so, I am looking forward to reading not only how much people like the medium of anytime, anywhere reading but also to see how an online book club works.

Oh, did I mention the book was free? Now, that's exciting......

Genealogist's Journal 8 May 2010

2010-05-08T08:50:00.000-04:00

With the new carpet installed and a lot of "stuff" to clean out in our cellar, it is hard to find time to work! I declared May "doctor month" and set up appointments for my physical and my eye exam. Of course, my primary care physician talked non-stop about his Jewish Austrian (now Poland) ancestors that I have been helping him with for a few years. I'm still trying to get him to go to the cemetery in Brooklyn, NY and take photos for me.

I decided to work on my Newport, RI ancestors for a bit. I have three Peckham ancestors before there is a female. She married Theodoty Hall and that line leads to my Perkins ancestors here in Bridgewater then it is back to RI! I want to make sure I can get it right before I move away.

The immigrant ancestor is John (1595-1681) who came from Boston to RI about 1634 and settled in the Newport-Middletown RI area. The RI Vital Records at NEHGS are a joy to behold as long as your ancestors could pay the fee to have their vital records registered. Thanks to Cherry Bamburg, FAGS, I finally understand that. The Peckham genealogy is available at Ancestry.com and is in print at Higginson's. With only 5 generations of this name to work on, I am making much progress. Only one man didn't have multiple wives, so I have to be careful to get the right mother of my ancestor.
Appropriate for Mother's Day weekend, don't you think?

Lighting Up My Life!

2010-05-03T08:50:00.002-04:00

Lamp
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Today, at noon-ish, my husband will choose to take the severance package and separate from his company. This is the first step in the process of retirement. When he turns 66 in February, then he will claim his Social Security and be "retired". I am younger but I will change my status soon to claim mine early so I can put it away as part of my retirement plan.

To celebrate, we bought two of these lamps for the new living room, which I now learn is called the "Great Room". My daughter will help us with the house decorating.

Tomorrow, they put down the new carpet in the family room in our present house. This will give us some space to start organizing the things we want to pack and take with us. So much will be thrown out!

I expected this to take another year so I am a bit disorganized. We will have to decide on a house and put this one up for sale. It could be a few months or another year (if we have one built). I don't know which is the lesser of two evils.

The question remains, "How am I going to get any work done at all?" I have a short plan for some cemeteries to visit. My husband and "boneyard buddy" may still be working until mid-June. I was hoping for a couple days in late May to do some of the photography and tending of relative's graves. So much for the New Year's resolution plan I made for my genealogy work!

Moving Forward

2010-04-24T10:56:00.001-04:00

Stewart Driveway
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Like this concrete driveway with grass growing in the middle, my life is going in only one direction.

This is the driveway for my grandparent's house. I had forgotten about the grass growing in the center. It must have been a pain to take care of. With my driving ability, I would surely drive over it! I so hate driving.

Soon, I will be moving forward to the gate in the middle of this driveway. We start, tomorrow, by looking for a new place to live. We have our first house viewing appointment.

It has been a time of change here. We have made the arrangements for the rug to be replaced in our family room and had our entire lawn cleaned. The "junk" in the cellar is not cleaned out completely but it will be soon.

I have been missing my grandparents and parents as I go through the wast collection of Kodachrome slides and using my friends scanner to scan them. I imagine this driveway shot was taken before I was born.

Forward!

Genealogist's Journal 18 April 2010

2010-04-18T09:09:00.000-04:00

Genealogist's Journal 18 April 2010

Further Investigation of Peleg Everett Champlin (my aunt's grandfather)

Bob Champlin sent me a link to this newspaper article in The Day (a New London, CT newspaper that is still published) of 23 Nov 1915 about the murder that Peleg was sent to prison at the RI State Prison in the Howard section of Cranston, RI and subsequently murdered himself in a prison riot.

I am not well versed in searching for newpaper articles but I can see that I need to get better at it. I really think this is an exciting part of genealogy's relationship to family history.

Controller Buttons

2010-04-15T12:42:00.002-04:00

DSC03882
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Blog Post #4 on the ION Film2SD Scanner

On the top of the scanner are the controller buttons. The one marked Power is obviously how you power on the device,and you should do that without the slide/film carrier inserted. (notice the light glows)

Open the carrier, insert the film or slides according to the directions and shut the cover. Then, insert the carrier until the first slide/frame is in view. The first time the OK button is pushed you get the icons on the screen to control the choices of how the slide/frame is manipulated.

When you have that set, then you press the OK button again to scan it. When the red light on the screen goes on, you can gently slide the carrier to the next slide/frame.

I was so busy that I forgot to scan this slide! It is easy, once you get into the "groove" of scanning to miss scanning one slide/frame.

Insert SD Card

2010-04-15T12:33:00.001-04:00

DSC03883
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Blog Post #3 on the ION Film2SD Scanner

Following the directions, first, you plug in the cable to the back of the scanner and then into the wall. Then, you insert an SD card, label side down and "gold fingers" in first. I used a 1 GB SD card. Each slide is about 900 KB in size so you will be able to get many slides scanned in one sitting.

All resulting files are in JPG format.

The Screen

2010-04-15T11:19:00.002-04:00

DSC03884
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Blog Post #2 on the ION Film2SD Scanner.

Priced at about $100 [Amazon], this is a close up of the screen during the process of scanning Kodachrome slides.

Notice that the slide can be flipped onscreen if you didn't place it in the carrier correctly. The top icon is the one that saves what you see on the screen to the SD card.

ION Flim2SD Scanner

2010-04-15T11:12:00.002-04:00

ION Flim2SD Scanner
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Blog Post #1 on the ION Film2SD Scanner

I know this may not look like a family heirloom but it is a remarkable piece of affordable technology that can help you scan Kodachrome slides and film negatives from your family collections.

ION Flim2SD Scanner is very easy to use and scans to an SD card. No computer is needed for this process. Included is a cable to hook this device to your TV for easy slide or film viewing.

My friend, an self-professed gadget queen, Kathy Schrock purchased this for her parents to use. She gave them a quick lesson and they scanned their whole family collections in stages. When they filled up the SD card, she took it to her house and archived them to her computer, emptied the SD card and brought it back to them.

This process went very smoothly. The resulting photos are just as good as the ones I have been scanning with my Epson Perfection V500 scanner and it is a much faster process. I took this photo of a slide on the screen on the ION so you could see what it looks like.

Next post will be a different view of the scanner.

Hilltop Drive

2010-04-09T13:19:00.002-04:00

Hilltop Drive
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

I was blown away by finding this slide in the box that I "organized" when I was a young girl. My grandmother told me to take the slides I wanted to keep and put them aside in a box separate from their cruise and trip pictures.

How smart she was to let me do that! I put this box next to the small bureau I took from my parents house and I really thought it was lost until the spring rainstorm of 2010 this past month flooded my basement. I spied it on the floor and scooped it up.

I sat in a chair in the living room this week and with the non illuminated viewer, I took a look at each and every slide. Some of them I have prints of and some are ones (like this one) that I didn't know existed.

The house to the far left is the house my parents bought in the fall of 1947. I was born in December of 1947. I can't find any slides of my then very pregnant mother. I am not surprised. She was very figure and fashion conscious.

I knew the house was tan when they bought it but they must have painted it gray soon after I was born but it is hard to tell since all the snapshots in the photo box are black and white.

After a few mistakes, I learned to use the Epson Perfection V500 scanner with the slide attachment that I bought this past Christmas. The manual is online and is not very good. It relies on pictures to show users how to set up the scanner. At first, I didn't realize I was supposed to use the "Full Auto Mode" to get the scanner to stop and scan each of the color transparency slides. After figuring that out, I struggled to get the slide facing the correct way. I didn't want to spend my time flipping and rotating each slide.

After capturing them, posting them to my Flickr account, and backing them up to my external hard drive, I wondered how printing them to my Epson Stylus Photo R800 printer would work out. I am pleased to tell you that it was perfect. The colors are excellent for slides so very old.

I am going to mail a print to the folks who lived in the two houses next to my parents. They will be stunned to see their houses looking so new!

Next, I am going to borrow my friend's stand alone slide scanner to see if it is easier and faster than doing this 4 slides at a time. I will report on that process.

The car in the driveway is my mother's car a Ford Phaeton. A very snazzy car for its time. My father is the man standing next to it. The huge black Cadillac is my grandparent's car. My grandfather must be taking the picture. I know they moved in in September 1947 and I think this must be moving day!

If you like to use Google Maps or Google Earth, you can find these houses on Hilltop Drive in Cranston, Rhode Island. My house, which still stands is number 60.

Actually Knowing Your Ancestors

2010-04-04T15:28:00.000-04:00

Randy Seaver always has interesting "genealogy math/relationship" ideas for his Saturday night fun.

I (1947-) knew my maternal grandfather, Evans Stewart (1886-1955).
Evans Stewart knew his father Charles Stewart (1859-1937) and his father's mother Eliza Fish Denison (1833-1909), wife of Dudley Stewart.
Eliza Fish Denison knew her mother Levina Fish (1794-1890), wife of Isaac Dension, Jr. (1790-1855) who served in the Revolutionary War. In fact, Levina lived in the very house that he opened up to the troops returning from the Battle of Long Island (also called the Battle of Brooklyn) until she was very old. She was 95 years old when she died.

Genealogist's Jounal 2 April 2010

2010-04-02T12:45:00.000-04:00

It has been a long week here in flood country. The awful rainstorm caused rivers and lakes to overflow and even my basement got flooded. We have never had a water problem before. My rug is ruined and I have had to move a lot of things to higher ground.

From Amy Coffin comes this good news, the Census 2010 may have realized that thousands or tens of thousands of census forms that were addressed to those of us with post office boxes have been returned. My local post office delivered the reminder postcard and not the original form. The postmaster here did not think my concern was warranted until I told her it was a Federal crime not to fill out the form. I refused to let her touch the postcard which was handwritten with my post office box number telling her it was the only legal proof I had that I did not receive the form. She still was not impressed. I am still tempted to call our local newspaper with the story. I can't wait to move from this town!

I saw this tweet from the US Census folks and thought I'd pass this on here:

"Form lost/missing? 1) Wait until 4/12; you may get mailed another, 2) On 4/12, call 866-872-6868 and request replacement."

I wonder what time they get up in the morning.

Genealogist's Journal 25 March 2010

2010-03-25T15:14:00.000-04:00

Well, Happy New Year. Yes, in March. Don't know what that means?

For the past week, I have been a "guide on the side" for my long time friend who decided to start working on her family history along with a couple of family members. Being an experienced tech person and writer, she also has a Ph.D. in a science area. It is amazing how much she had accomplished, with the genealogical proof satnadards and proper citation in ONE WEEK!

She has discovered that he surname is French not English and that her Irish and Portugese side is much harder to trace. As I continue to explore her tree and give ideas, I am thrilled to report that the Internet is really motivating her to keep going.

Makes one want to start a fresh clean new tree all over again!

Genealogist's Journal 19 March 2010

2010-03-19T15:14:00.000-04:00

This week I have been focusing on my paternal ancestors in Scotland. I am becoming more adpt at finding the Scotland census records at the Scotland's people site. My surname notebooks are in better order.

I have a client who needed help with proving the link to her Rev War ancestor. I am waiting to see if her chapter thinks his service as a selectman in Preston, CT is still good enough to stand with proof. I should be charging for this.

An old friend, who has an interesting lineage has made her first tree at Ancestry. I am helping with the New England line while she works on her Irish and Portuguese ancestors. She's working with a family bible, proving each date and relationship. This is fun. I can't say for sure she has any Native American blood. Everyone is listed as white. I may have to get help with this one.

Weather is too nice today to sit here any longer!

Genealogist's Journal 12 March 2010

2010-03-12T14:40:00.000-05:00

For the past few days, I have been involved with telephony trying to get my house phone line repaired. Evidently, it was two completely different problems. I think it is fixed but I am afraid to say so out loud.

In my opinion the most difficult genealogy tasks are ones that involve "non-American" research. My paternal grandparents came here from Soctland. I took a course online some years back which was wonderful except for the time difference (7 hours, I think) and I learned the basics. I did search the Scotlands People (for Pay) Web site with moderate success at that time.

Last week, after finding my grandfather, Thomas Broadfoot in Edinburgh living in the household of his step-mother, Helen Tait's brother, I knew I had finally found out the intermediate step of him living with his family in tiny Dalbeattie and getting on the ship to come to America in Edinburgh. He is listed on the passenger record as a "car conductor" in Edinburgh. He was only 17 when he left home and went to live in Edinburgh. It doesn't look like he ever went back to see his father and step-mother again.

I am now working on my grandmother's family again but with more luck now that Ancestry.com has index lists of the Scottish census so I can search for them more easily. It's a slow process....

Genealogist's Journal 10 March 2010

2010-03-10T14:51:00.022-05:00

For the past three days, I have been working to improve my evidence of my granite cutting Scottish ancestors. I am getting better at finding births, marriages and deaths at Scotland's People. You pay a credit for each search, and 5 if you want to view the actual record.

30 credits costs 6 pounds which is about 8 dollars. I have purchased 18 credits. Oh, yes, and then there is a time limit. It's is longer that it used to be but still I feel pressured.

I have received some good advise from some Facebook friends who live in the UK and between that and the work I did in a course a long time ago, I am finding the actual records without wasting too many credits.

My grandmother's maiden name was Aiken. My first cousin told me that they spelled it with a t in the old country. Most of the time, I am finding they did not. But each time I don't find what I am looking for, I have to go back and spell it as Aitken. I am amused at the many "jobs" of working with granite. My favorite is "stone dresser"

Using the Scotland census records at Ancestry.com is a big help. It is especially great if I find a widowed father living with the family because then I have a chance at confirming the wife's maiden name.

It is slow going but rewarding when I find one that I am sure is right. With this line, I have found an unbroken lineage of quarry workers. I am back to Alexander Aiken born about 1801 in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire. His father-in-law, Alexander Esson is living with them so now I can be reasonably sure that his wife Janet's maiden name is Esson. This is the 1851 Scottish census.

I think I'd better transcribe what I found today before I forget what I found and what I didn't.

Such is the life of the genealogist.....

Genealogist's Journal 7 March 2010

2010-03-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

When Blogger announced that they would no longer support the blogs that we posted via FTP to be hosted elsewhere, I ceased posting journal entries to this blog until I found out what the migration tool was going to be like.

It turned out to be hard to locate but easy to use. Once I backed up this blog and followed the directions, it was up and running.
Of course, the work is not over, as I must try to find out who is linked to the old URL and feed and get them to fix it. I think I have finally done that.

I am hoping to continue posting the daily accomplishments of my research plus put some of the non-gravestone posts into this blog.

I am glad that people liked the photo I chose for the horizon.

Attention!

2010-03-04T12:50:00.001-05:00

This was my first blog, which is began on 23 April 2006 and was attached to my Web site.

I have moved it to a new URL and changed its purpose to a blog about my genealogy adventures.

This is where I will report on how technology has impacted genealogy and how my research is progressing using the tools of technology.

This blog has moved

2010-03-04T11:31:00.001-05:00

This blog is now located at http://midgefrazel.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://midgefrazel.net/blog/atom.xml.

Genealogist's Journal 31 January 2010

2010-01-31T15:37:00.002-05:00

It is hard to believe that tomorrow starts a new month!

I have unpacked from the day in RI yesterday and blogged about it. I uploaded the few photos I took.
I have read the introduction to the book I bought on Newport colonial gravestones and blogged about that for tomorrow's post. I haven't decided on my Tombstone Tuesday post as yet
I scanned legal sized papers this morning and did another batch during scanfest.
I still have so much to learn about my scanner but the sheet feeder is so great that I am keeping it on for a while while I scan and archive important papers.
Tomorrow I will take apart my display board and put the sheets in my new scrapbook.

Genealogist's Journal 29 January 2010

2010-01-29T14:09:00.002-05:00

I have spent two days working on finding more records for James Albert Barber and I was sucessful except for not being able to find him living in Westerly, RI in 1910. I think he was living on his boat or at the life saving station at the Watch Hill lighthouse.

Tomorrow, I do a bit part in Robert Grandchamp's presentation for the RI Genealogical Society. I am ready, packed and raring to go! It is so cold for such a long drive early on a Saturday morning. We won't return home until suppertime, so I think I will prepare that meal right now so we can just pop it in the microwave!

Genealogist's Journal 26 January 2010

2010-01-26T10:55:00.004-05:00

On Sunday, I bought a new cell phone, a Motorola Droid, my first real smartphone that is Web enabled. I have spent many hours learning to use it and now that I always have the Web with me, I can look things up in a snap. [I hope!]

Knowing the battery limitations with this type of phone is essential. I bought a "multimedia" station which came with an extra charge cord and plug. I have a power inverter charger for charging in the car and I tested it this morning and it works just fine. I do think that when I travel, even for the day, I will need my charge cord with me.
Dealing with phone calls and text messages must come first. Getting each contact with its own ringtone was hard, despite two online tutorials and a manual in PDF. Then, I set up the browser with a few important Web sites which means entering passwords. Typing quickly with this phone is not easy. [Be ye also patient]

I set to work this morning after a quick trip to the grocery store for my neighbor who has sick children.

I set my Premium membership to Genealogy Gems Podcasts in iTunes and downloaded three episodes I have not listened to. I have decided to keep a notebook of my professional growth as a genealogist and I am logging in the hours it takes to keep up with podacasts, society meetings, and conferences. I hope to take some courses too.
Geneabloggers has an excellent reference sheet for citations

My part in the presentation I am sharing with Robert Grandchamp on this Saturday is shaping up nicely. I have made a display board and am speaking only for a few minutes and I will let him do the rest. This is for the Rhode Island Genealogical Society. [Newsletter] I am getting excited about doing this!

Genealogist's Journal 22 January 2010

2010-01-22T15:37:00.003-05:00

Today, I blogged about receiving the author copies of my book and about the event in general.
I decided my display really needed the photos affixed more securely so I set to using a glue stick to glue them down to the scrapbook paper I am using to apply them temporarily to the display board. I want to take them off after they are displayed and put them in a scrapbook.
I am working to learn the reports in RootsMagic 4 and go them so messed up, I had to unplug my printer and start over. I find that printing reports does show you the inconsistencies and "holes" in your data.
I cleaned up the tax work so that I will be more motivated to work on it in Sunday. Fat chance!
I quit early to bask in the glow of published authorship. I sent out thank you emails to the folks at ISTE.

Genealogist's Journal 20 January 2010

2010-01-20T11:19:00.002-05:00

Knowing that the worst months of the flu season are still ahead of us, I went and got my H1N1 flu shot today.

I posted a Wordless Wednesday and a GYR monthly post on "Cemetery Critters". There is a herd of deer in my neighborhood but I haven't seen them in either cemetery close by so I went with another idea.
I probably broke my land line yesterday with all the hanging up of the annoying political phone calls.
I printed out all my last year purchases from Amazon.com and they are books, technology and genealogy related. Not a surprise.
I continue working on the display board I am creating.
I have begun a study of early New England gravestone history guided by the two books on own on the topic and the materials from the Association of Gravestone studies.

Genealogist's Journal 19 January 2010

2010-01-19T15:32:00.002-05:00

Today was a rainy dreary day here in Massachusetts but it is better than snow. It's a good day to get some gravestone research done.

I posted John Aldrich Champlin's gravestone as my Tombstone Tuesday for this week.
I added the family of Weeden Barber to my tree and posted the 5 photos of the 4 sided gravestone to Flickr. One side seems to be sons who were Civil War vets. It is dark and hard to read so I will have to lighten it up for blogging. It's a very nice monument. These Barbers were from Hopkinton, RI and are not in my direct line. Unfortunately, the gravestone just gives the year of birth and death.
I printed more photos for the display board I am creating for the RIGS meeting.
I answered a Denison question as I had already researched that couple and blogged about it.

Genealogist's Journal 18 January 2009

2010-01-18T12:45:00.002-05:00

Wow! Have I spent a lot on genealogy-related materials in 2009! More than I spent in technology and that's a first!

This weekend was spent with family stuff, laundry and getting the recorded TV programs slimmed down. But, my cold is nearly gone.
I have a contact on my aunt's Champlin line and it is excellent. I am struck by the thought that when the male surname carries down and down in the generations, the more data and interest it generates! I have a female dominated section in many of my surnames so it is no wonder that I don't know as much about them.
I am curious about this story I keep hearing about the Rhode Island Vital Records being sent on a ship to Boston during the Revolution. I am wondering if this is a myth or is it a historical fact?

Genealogist's Journal 14 January 2010

2010-01-14T10:50:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my newest book, Digital Storytelling Guide for Educators, published by ISTE was released.

Basking in the glory of being a famous author really takes up a lot of time!

I went looking for something in the big box of "stuff to scrapbook" and realized how much I have to scan and then put in albums. Why are days only 24 hours long?

I received an email from a Champlin and he sent me a twenty page document all about Champlins. I can't wait to read it. He also tols me that my aunt's grandfather was shot while in jail. Guess I'll need help finding that in the newspapers.
I guess I should clean up all the papers I neglected to refile yesterday. Sigh.

Genealogist's Journal 12 January 2010

2010-01-12T15:22:00.002-05:00

I tried to take today a bit slower as I still have this cold. Fat chance.

I listened to two Genealogy Gems podcast episodes from the warmth of my bed this morning which was so great, it could become a habit.
I've been having trouple with my Facebook app on my iPod touch so I troubleshot it and after un-installing it and re-downloading it, I think it is fixed.
The Rhode Island Genealogical Society newsletter arrived today and I finally had a good idea for my tiny part in the presentations that will be given on January 30. I was very surprised to see an article about my blog in it. That will make a good post for the weekend!
I took a photo of the two Ellis Island books I am reading and posted it.
I got caught up from yesterday after my ISTE podcast adventure. Blogs are now read and some emails returned.
Worked with my friend and distant cousin Thomas on the Genealogy Gems podcast app for the iPod/iPod Touch. It's good but it needs work.
I downloaded the custom toolbar offered by Lisa Louise Cook for my Firefox browser. It looks easy to uninstall after I try it.
I printed out Mark Tucker's Genealogy Proof Standard free map in color on heavy stock.

Genealogist's Journal 10 January 2010

2010-01-10T11:11:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, my daughter and son-in-law took baby Anthony to meet his great grandparents. We had to wait until everybody was well. My mother-in-law was recently hospitalized so we decided that "neither rain, nor sleet nor gloom of night" should deter us any longer. As I have this awful cold, I decided not to go and I have spent the morning printing out photos to mail to family members. Thanks to my very favorite son-in-law for his great photos despite the low light situation.

My newest book will be released soon and I have had obligations that revolve around that this week so I haven't been able to do any real genealogy work since last week. I decided to try to do more scanning and putting photos in archival bags. I'd love to feel well enough to clean out my bookcase this week. We'll see.... (that's what my mother used to say, did yours?)

Genealogist's Journal 7 January 2010

2010-01-07T13:00:00.002-05:00

In preparation for the release of my book next week, I worked on updating the Web pages I wrote some time ago to accompany the book. I posted a free chapter on my Facebook page for others to read (I didn't know the publisher was going to do that!)

I removed an application from my desktop computer that became corrupted and am not re-installing it until I see that the computer is behaving better
I am going to be making a podcast with the publisher next week, so I reviewed the questions she sent and hopefully will make some accurate answers.
I started the dreaded tax preparation (yuck). Thank God for Quicken!
Prepared some quick blog postings
Cleaned up a photo memory board in my office, scanned some of the images and wondered what would make good blog posts out of the ones I scanned.
Literally stuffed some genealogy files into a plastic tote in my office so that they won't nag at me constantly but they are right here if I need them
Started planning my mini-presentation for the end of the month

Genealogist's Journal 6 January 2010

2010-01-07T12:56:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a difficult work day because of my cold, my mother-in-law's health and our dead snowblower repair. Excuses aside, I did accomplish the following:

linked both of my digital stories to a Facebook "causes" page by Dr. Bill Smith
tested the app for Genealogy Gens Podcast and consulted with a tech friend about it
scanned 15 more photos, archived them in archival bags and edited a few/
worked on my Champlin gravestone project

Genealogists Journal 5 January 2009

2010-01-05T17:58:00.002-05:00

Today was more productive which I attribute to the extra 2 minutes or daylight!

I scanned 10 photographs with my new scanner, archived them and posted several to Flickr for future blog posts. One really needs more editing but it fit the purpose for a post this week.
I worked on adding vital records to my Fish family which will be a long process but will be worth the work. So far, the compiled genealogy, the vital records and the gravestone inscriptions match up!
I listened to Lisa Louise Cooke's current podcast using the new app instead of the way I usually do. I checked the show notes and made screenshots for a blog post about this. She left me a Facebook message wanting to know how I liked it.
I decided to make my Women's Issue report for my February DAR meeting on Maureen Taylor's new book. I think it will be a fun topic.
Answering questions about some of my ancestors with other distantly related (to me) family members who want me to post unverified information is getting to be a problem. Many do not accept there there are no records for the 1600s and 1700s.
I worked on adding sources to my tree at Ancestry.com as many people are connecting to me. I wish the notes section gave me more room to type in!
I put 20 more photographs into archive envelopes while I watched the noontime news.
I will need to work on the few minutes for a presentation I am doing at the end of the month. I think it will be a photo digital story.

I am concerned about my mother-in-law's health which is not improving. My husband has to take her to the doctor tomorrow which is across the street from the retirement home but he has to drive an hour to get there.

Genealogist's Journal 4 January 2010

2010-01-04T15:39:00.002-05:00

Today was my first official work day of the New Year!

I purchased and downloaded the Genealogy Gems Podcast app for my iPod touch.
I helped a friend with Skype just so she could demo it to another teacher.
I looked at my 'To-Do" list and downloaded Google's Chrome to my netbook and to my desktop computer.
I researched 4 gravestones of my large extended BARBER family, uploaded them to my tree at Ancestry.com and posted them to Flickr for a future blog post.

Pretty good for a first day! Oh, and I still have a cold.

Genealogist's Journal 19 Dec 2009

2009-12-19T14:41:00.002-05:00

How wonderful it is to get a message from a private family tree on Ancestry asking if I would like future information on my immigrant Scottish grandmother's line! I always get a Christmas surprise so this must be it. I certainly know more about this family since I met two other researchers. I wonder every day if there are more Aiken's buried at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly.

I haven't been writing as much in this journal due to trying to keep organized and cope with Christmas activities. But, now I am decorated and wrapped and will be ready to roll out of bed Christmas morning and head to breakfast with grandson Anthony.

I will only be actively working from Sunday to Tuesday then I will consider myself on vacation. I hope I can write up my New year's resolutions for the Carnival but it won't be until after next weekend.

Happy Christmas, one and all!

Genealogist's Journal 10 December 2009

2009-12-10T10:51:00.001-05:00

Communicator
Originally uploaded by midgefrazel

Sometimes reading the "junk" that comes to me via the snail mail can really make me laugh out loud. This one was a real belly slapper.

I took this "doctored up photo" of it with the addition of the one word that comes to mind this week.

Really?

Well, folks this is one "message in the mail", that really hits home. With email, two active blogs, Facebook, GenealogyWise, Twitter and all the other tools at my fingertips, do people really think that I, Midge Frazel need to know more about communication?????

Genealogist's Journal 9 December 2009

2009-12-09T08:40:00.003-05:00

With my mother-in-law in the hospital and the snow falling hard here, genealogy takes a back seat to the events. I think it would be a good idea to finish the present wrapping before the weekend. I am so glad I bought "present bags" for our gifts here at home. Everyone says I am the bag lady anyway.

One of the reasons that I remember so much about my family history is because I always carried around "stuff to do" in a bag. Grownups began to forget I was there (in plain sight) and did a lot of talking. I didn't know, at the time, that other kids were not this privileged. I've never been happy I didn't have siblings. I cringe at the thought. I used to wish I had an older brother to wait on my mother and sit adoringly at her feet.

Well, I should go do something since all I did yesterday was back up my genealogy files.

Genealogist's Journal 5 December 2009

2009-12-05T15:52:00.003-05:00

After a day of birthday events, I got back to work before the Christmas decorating gets into full swing. As I write my husband, aka Santa's helper, is putting out my mother's Rudolph on the front lawn. He drilled a hole and wired a red light bulb on the nose. My mother would have thought that was "tacky" but it is fine by me. Maybe I can get a photo at dusk tomorrow.

I have decided to flesh out my only living aunt's genealogy as I suspect she had some relation to me besides by marriage. If you do genealogy (and why would you be reading this if you didn't?) you will understand that I am always "felt" connected to her.

I think this is a good December gravestone project as it will be low stress and easy to work on in the next few weeks.

Genealogist's Journal 3 December 2009

2009-12-03T18:09:00.002-05:00

I had to do genealogy with a paper chart, pen and my notebook this morning as I was without power until almost lunchtime. Really kills the day living without the Internet.

I got a complaint from a family member of someone related to the Burrows family and they gave me better and more accurate information. First complaint I've had on my blog.

No post tomorrow as it is my birthday but I did figure out another generation in my aunt's family tree and as luck would have it I took a photo of the needed gravestones only because the dates figured correctly and they were nearby. Yipppeeee.

Off to Pjs, bathrobe and chocolate!

Genealogist's Journal 2 December 2009

2009-12-02T14:51:00.001-05:00

I began the awful task of trying to manage the storage of my surname notebooks so I can pick up the one I need more easily. I bought several plastic crates with dividers for notebooks but as they no longer manufacture this product, I guess I am going to have to put some tech stuff currently stored in two in cardboard storage boxes to free up the two I need. Bummer. Stuff is so heavy.

Blog posts for the next three days took up the rest of the day but they are done, scheduled and posted. I am currently involved in researching Hoxie, Jenckes, Austin and Burrows surnames and it is getting confusing!

Enough for today! I need to read the manual for the digital voice recorder. CYA

Genealogist's Journal 1 December 2009

2009-12-01T12:49:00.003-05:00

Once again, the calendar turns to the longest month of the year. December is my birth month, the month in which my daughter was born [1975] and the month of my parent's marriage [29 Dec 1946]. I often set goals to achieve this month but seldom do I get it all done! Sound familar?

Last night, I pulled out the box that I gave my mother to organize the family snapshots as she wished. I found a very glossy photo of myself in a bouncy seat! I am just a baby so I would say it was summer 1948 and the photo was taken in the backyard at my grandparent's house. I am sure it was cut to fit in my grandfather's pocket watch which my mother sold after he died. She sold a lot of jewelry without asking me. My mother was very fashion conscious and probably spent the money on shoes and pocketbooks. My daughter is so like her. This makes me smile.

I found one and only one photo of me having a birthday party and a cute young teen photo at Christmas. These I will blog about. I have scanned them and will think about what to say.

As I went shopping this morning, I won't get much else one today so I picked out a folder and will file the contents of it. Now, where is the surname notebook that has Austin in it?

Genealogist's Journal 30 November 2009

2009-11-30T14:50:00.002-05:00

Filled with Turkey and basking in the glow of mailing my Christmas Cards, I eased back into work this morning by organizing the genealogy publications that have been piling up in my magazine basket in the living room. This must be done as some of the "stuff" in my living room needs to move to make room for the Christmas tree.

Next, I posted Hoxie gravestones to my Flickr account as another researcher is going to help me sort them out as they fit into her tree too. Wow, that will make it faster. Still it took two hours to label them correctly and start putting them into my tree at Ancestry.com.

With that started, I went back to work on the Jenckes family of Rhode Island. I already had a Catherine Jenckes married to a William Turpin and the line worked down to Eliza Bicknell who married Jabez Champlin Gardiner. I worked at Find a Grave for a while only to discover that RI Historical Cemetery #9 in Pawtucket RI is lost!

And so, it is back to turkey. I made a casserole out of the leftovers. My local grocery store sells this type of thing year round and they call it "Pilgrim Pie". Appropriate for us Mayflower descendants, huh?

Genealogist's Journal 25 November 2009

2009-11-25T14:53:00.002-05:00

Turkey prep day!

Worked on getting the Jenckes/Jenks family of Rhode Island in the correct order. Adding in Elizabeth JENCKS who married Samuel TEFFT was not easy as there a three men named Joseph JENCKES. One was governor of Rhode Island. His gravestone is stored at the Rhode Island Historical Society according to the Faber Gravestone Collection. I figured out how to embed in in my blog for a post next week.

The Perkins family that lived here in Bridgewater's branch that moved to Rhode Island is proving to be quite a challenge because so of the people married people already in my tree.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Genealogist's Journal will return next week.

Genealogist's Journal 24 November 2009

2009-11-24T12:52:00.003-05:00

It may not be genealogy research but sometimes you just HAVE to dust your office. It's amazing what you find! I put a CD in my Bose player [Autumn Leaves by Ferrante & Teicher bought in a markdown bin several years ago because it was my grandmother's favorite piano duo] and proceeded to dust.

Found, my keyboard brush just as Beyond the Blue Horizon was playing (the name of this blog!) Must be a sign. I shut down my computer and set to work on the keys. Achoo!

I scanned and printed a few more photos and placed 20 or so in archival envelopes. It's a never ending job and I am glad I bought 200 4x6 envelopes last summer. Some days, it is hard to look at old photos of my parents and grandparents. Today, it was easy as some of the photos I looked at were funny snapshots. I guess the older you get the harder this gets.

A fellow researcher sent me some work he did on Bridget Thompson, the first wife of Capt. George Denison and I read through what he sent. He did a great job with the sources and citations. It is hard for me to research past the shores of the US. I don't know how people do it.

I must get back to the Perkins transcriptions!

Genealogist's Journal 23 November 2009

2009-11-23T14:57:00.002-05:00

I let out a whoop of joy at the padded envelope in my mailbox this morning! Inside was the 2010 calendar by Family Tree Magazine with the November month being the family photo of my maternal grandmother and her two children. The other photos are equally amazing. I love the one of the old couple on their 50th wedding anniversary.

Today, I started to clean for the holiday because my office is a pit, I left that for tomorrow and concentrated on the other areas of the house. My legs are killing me.

I worked on gathering vital records for the descendants of my Abraham Perkins of South Kingstown, RI. Some dates and places conflict with what my team mates have found so I need to keep careful notes on what I have changed.

Genealogist's Journal 22 Nov 2009

2009-11-22T15:23:00.003-05:00

Today is the anniversary of JFK's Assassination. It's one of those days that a person remembers where they were and what happened. I was in high school and the teacher freaked out. I had to go to the school office and get help.

With the Christmas shopping behind me, I can focus on the card prep and the events for December. I am not a holiday person.

I worked today on organizing my photos at Flickr into collections so I can find photo faster for blogging about them. I love doing things like this but it takes up so much time!

While searching for Abraham Perkins land evidence and probate records, I found a will for a woman named Mercy Perkins who is NOT my ancestor. She is the widow Mercy down another generation.

Short work week this week means I will have to put aside research to actually clean and get ready for turkey day.

Genealogist's Journal 21 Nov 2009

2009-11-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

I guess it has caught up with me! I have "Pilgrim Fever"! I went back through my gravestone photo folders and found the gravestone photos I took of Elizabeth Tilley's memorial gravestone. After her husband John Howland died, she went to live with her daughter who lived in the Brown household. This graveyard is now in Rhode Island not far from where my husband grew up. It is found by winding your way through a residential neighborhood. I must go back and look around.

I posted the gravestones I took that day plus the ones for Myles Standish that I took last summer.

Then, I ordered a Sony digital voice recorder that was an affordable price. Happy Birthday to me!

Well, back to work on Abraham Perkins and this afternoon, I must get back to working on the Christmas Cards.

Genealogist's Journal 19 & 20 November 2009

2009-11-20T16:15:00.001-05:00

Because my knee isn't bothering me as much, I spent most of the last two days trying to get caught up on blog reading and posting.

It is hard to prioritize your work with upcoming holidays! I did look into a digital voice recorder and got some sensible ideas from friends!

Genealogist's Journal 18 November 2009

2009-11-18T08:50:00.003-05:00

Posted today at my other blog are two articles worth reading about graveyard issues here in Massachusetts. It's certainly not good news but it is important to bring such issues to the attention of non-genealogical folks. Money is part of the problem, I think.

At the close of my day, yesterday, I gathered pages of abstracts and probate records that reference my ancestor Abraham2 Perkins (David2, Abraham1) in an effort to learn more about him and to narrow down his unrecorded death date a bit more.

Today, is my monthly DAR meeting and as it is being held not too far away, I will attend. My knee still plagues me and since it is my driving leg, I certainly will be in pain when I get there. Ouch!

Genealogist's Journal 17 November 2009

2009-11-17T15:06:00.002-05:00

Trying to conquer finding an unrecorded death date can take up a LOT of time! I have gathered many land evidences (that's what Rhode Island land records are called) for Abraham PERKINS, blacksmith, of South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Abraham, son of David PERKINS was born in Beverly, lived here in Bridgewater, MA with his family and as an adult lived in RI.

This is a direct line ancestor with no gravestone and no vital record for his death.

To ease the stress, I worked on an easy project of the NOYES family buried in Elm Grove Cemetery. A man and his three wives are on one monument. Dates match what I have previously worked on.

Tomorrow is another day....