Miscellaneous Monday

A year ago I treated myself to a subscription to Ancestry.com. On some of my family lines, I got to the point that in order to go back any further I needed to, as the saying goes, to “jump the pond”. With that in mind, a few months ago, I upgraded my account to the full access subscription. I now have access to the records in the database from all over the world. 

Shortly after upgrading my sub, I talked my Canadian friend, Sharon, into letting me research her family. We both were then sidetracked by other interests. This past week, however, we returned to the researching fun. 

What a lot of fun it is! Perhaps it is the researcher in me, but every time I find a new link, I get excited. It doesn’t matter if that person is related to me; when I discover information or people I didn’t previously know, my internal self does a happy dance. 

Alright. I may have been known to do fist pumps and exclaim aloud on occasion. 

Grandma Ethel's birth record

 It doesn’t take much information for me to get started. A few names, dates and locations are all that is needed to start on the path to more. Like with my friend Sharon. She didn’t have much to give me at first. She told me her parents’ names and dates, and those of her grandparents, but she wasn’t certain of some of the info. For example, she thought her grandma Ethel was born in Russia. With a little searching, I found a birth record for someone with the same name who was born in Ontario, Canada. She fit the other criteria: parents born in Russia, family was Jewish, and born around the right time. After asking her father about it, Sharon informed me that I had the right person! 

It is amazing to me. After 23 years (that’s nearly 2/3 of my life!) of doing genealogy, I am still as excited by the work as I was when my friend Jessica’s mother first introduced me to the field.

Scent-sational Saturday - Candle Care

 Do you know proper candle care?  Check out this video from Gold Canyon and learn how to best care for your candles.

Tuesday Tastes - Deer Creek Wine

A few Sundays ago, the Hubby and I decided to head out of town for the day.  We ended up about 90 minutes away at a mall near Pittsburgh.  We walked around window shopping, but we bought a few things here and there.  Before heading home we went to a movie theater and saw The Hobbit.  It was a wonderful day.  

There is a store at the mall that is different from the rest.    In addition to wine accessories and themed items, it is a retail location for a Pennsylvania winery, called Deer Creek Winery.  The best part?  Free wine tastings!  Hubby and I sampled several varieties of wine and ultimately choose two to purchase: Deer Creek Raspberry and Peach Blossom.  

I’m sad to admit that I have consumed most of my bottle of Raspberry wine.  Why am I sad? Because I want more.   Perhaps another day trip is in order.

Frugal Friday - Family Fun

This is from a handout I made for work. 

Use Your Imagination: Creative Ideas For Imaginative Play

Engaging activities with your child doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. By using both of your imaginations, you can have a fantastic and fun filled afternoon.
Clip a story

• Have a bunch of old magazines lying around the house? Get out the scissors and start clipping away! Pictures can be used to illustrate and tell stories or make collages. Words and letters can be used to write poems or notes.

Guessing games

• Who hasn’t played I Spy? Pick out an object and see who can guess what it is.

Scavenger hunt

• Write or draw a list of items for your child then send her hunting the house or yard for those items.

Word games

• Rhyming – take turns guessing what rhymes with different words

• A, my name is – Go through the alphabet and see who can come up with the craziest combination. “A my name is Amanda, my friend’s name is Alex. We live in Arizona and we sell apricots.”

Entertainment tonight!

• Play dress up and make a play on the spot
• Put random things in a bag. Pull out five items and tell as story about them.
• Sock puppet plays – Use socks as puppets. Have a sock without a mate? Decorate it with markers and miscellaneous items to make a fun new character.

Free places to go:

• The Library

Your local library offers many programs for all ages. Go for a program, or just to find a great book to share with your child. There’s also puzzles, puppets and more (for in library use).

• Museums

Many museums are free to the public.

• Parks

Take a walk in the woods. Swim in the lake. Play on swings and slides.

• Check the local newspaper

There’s always something going on in the area. Check the local paper for fairs, concerts, and other free community events.