What’s In A … Nickname?
Nicknames are often a shortened version of a given name or, frequently with men, a surname. My close friends and family call me “Nik”. Everyone else calls me “Niki”. My…
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Snow and Ice Storm Echoes of a Winter Past
January 6, 2025. Today, we woke up to two inches of snow on the ground. That wouldn’t be too bad except for the massive ice storm that came through yesterday….
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How a School Project and a Bible Sparked My Genealogy Journey
I didn’t know I wanted to go ancestor hunting until my sophomore high school French teacher threw a family tree project my way. At 15, I was already a self-proclaimed…
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52 Ancestors Reboot
This isn’t so much a recipe or genealogy post, rather a “let’s get this 2022 party started” post. When Amy Johnson Crow launch her 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks writing…
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American with German Heritage
More than a million Germans arrived in the United States between 1845 and 1855 [1]US History, Irish and German Immigration, and many more came after that. They were fleeing political…
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Wild Game and Root Vegetables
I have always enjoyed participating in Amy Johnson Crow’s 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge. This year, I’m putting a food heritage spin on the 2020 themes and writing monthly…
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Of Cherry Trees & Family Trees
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The 2019 Week 1 challenge is “firsts”. There are a lot of “firsts” in genealogy … the first moment you fall in love…
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One Strong Woman in the Minnesota Frontier
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 10 challenge is “Strong Woman”. I grew up listening to my daddy tell stories…
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1904 St. Louis World’s Fair Pressed Penny
Every time I go somewhere and see a pressed penny souvenir machine, I dig for 2 quarters and a shiny penny. I’ve done this ever since I was a kid….
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A teacher, a soldier, and a wedding in the Black Hills
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 7 challenge is “Valentine”. When JD and I were married, my dad presented me…
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Phoebe, and its many spellings
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 6 challenge is “favorite name”. One of my favorite things about genealogy is discovering…
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To Be or Not to Be … Married!
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 5 challenge is “In the Census”. When I was a kid, it was hard…
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Bridging Generations and Countries with Food
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 4 challenge is “Invite to Dinner”. Food has always been a central part of…
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The Longevity of Family Lore: The Ghosts
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 3 challenge is “Longevity”. As defined, longevity means long life or long existence. Today,…
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My Favorite Photo of my Grandma
This post is inspired by the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge by Amy Johnson Crow. The week 2 challenge is “Favorite Photo”. My Time Machine The hallway in my house…
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My Love of Genealogy: An Origin Story
I’m at it again this year … 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, thanks to Amy Johnson Crow. The theme for week one is “Start”. Oh, so many ways to interpret…
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Genealogy Sources Part 2: Feby Douglas
I recently discovered the 31 Days to Better Genealogy challenge from Amy Johnson Crow and decided I need some motivation to get moving with my research again. Over the next several…
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What’s in a Name Part 1: John, Jacob, and JD Douglas
I recently discovered the 31 Days to Better Genealogy challenge from Amy Johnson Crow and decided I need some motivation to get moving with my research again. Over the next several…
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Setting Genealogy Goals
I recently discovered the 31 Days to Better Genealogy challenge from Amy Johnson Crow and decided I need some motivation to get moving with my research again. Over the next several…
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Food Conversations are Happening at RootsTech 2017
I’m very thankful that the RootsTech 2017 conference is live streaming – and over 100,000 people are watching! Also very thankful that I’ve had sometime this week to watch the great…
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6 of My Favorite FREE Genealogy Tools
While I love my Ancestry account, I still find myself on the search for FREE genealogy tools that help me accomplish my research goals. Below are six of my favorites….
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11 Ways to use a WWI Draft Registration Card
My great grandfather, James Albert Rains, signed his WWI draft registration card on September 12, 1918. He was 41 years old. Between 1917 and 1918, 24 million American men did…
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Senator Samuel Casey and his Catfish
Illinois Senator Samuel Casey is my husband’s 1st cousin 5x removed … and he liked catfish. Senator Samuel Casey Samuel King Casey was born on June 27, 1817 in Smith County…
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5 reasons to use Wikipedia for genealogy
Wikipedia used to be the one places teachers and professors would NEVER let student pull research from … for various reasons. I remember those days, not fondly. Now, however,…
