Those Places Thursday ~ High School

This is the high school my sisters and I all attended. I won't tell you the year I graduated however!

The last two years of High School, I only attended school two hours a day. The rest of the day I was off to a R.O.P. program (I do not recollect what the initials R.O.P. stood for... ___?____ occupational program), an off-site "occupational" schooling program. Sometimes because of this, I feel I missed a lot of my high school days and memories that could have been made. I just wasn't around much. If you look closely at this picture, you can see I actually included a squirrel posing on the curb, maybe ready to attend school?

This is the entrance of the school as it looks today. It was amazing when I went back to take these photos, how small the school seemed to me. When I was actually attending it seemed larger than life!

This is the gym, where basketball games and dances were held, among other things. You can see we were the "Rebels", and boy, did I ever want to rebel when I was that age! I missed many games and dances while in high school, mostly because I wasn't allowed to go to them. My mother was very strict. I do have great memories of other things, I hung around an older crowd for the most part. I have attended most of my high school reunions, always prepared for the fact that no one would remember me, because I really didn't spend much time on the school grounds. Each reunion has surprised me, more people remember me than I ever expected, almost amazing to me.

These photos were taken in March 2007 by me, in San Lorenzo, California. They are digital photos in my possession taken to add to my album of the history of my life.

Thank you for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Another New Header!

Check out my new header from Deez at Graveyard Rabbit of South Alameda County! Now how much more perfect can that header be? I absolutely LOVE it! Thanks again Deez! I see there are a couple people interested in a new header themselves. I am giving Deez a heads up, so don't be surprised if you hear from him!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Jamboree 2009

Jamboree, June 27, 2009. Burbank, California. Digital images. Held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

Thank you for stopping by!
Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Genealogy "T.V."

Have you watched genealogy "T.V" interviews? Do you know what they are? Let me introduce a couple to you!

We have blogs, podcasts, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and T.V. interviews! Yes, you can watch "T.V." on the internet. Dick Eastman is very well known for his interviews on Roots Television. The most recent that I have listened to of Dick's interviews, is the interview with DearMyrtle done at the SoCa Genealogy Jamboree. These interviews are very informative plus you get to "see" who is being interviewed, just like TV! Many people interviewed are those who have blogs and or those people involved in the genealogy world we don't tend to see in the spotlight, they are behind the scenes shall we say. Roots Television actually has a program guide too, so be sure to click on the link and check it out!

Lisa Louise Cooke from Genealogy Gems has a "TV" interview site, Genealogy Gems Video. Most recently, she also did interviews from the 2009 SoCa Genealogy Jamboree. I just listened to the interview she did with Randy Seaver, Randy's first video interview! (Nice job Randy!)

I am sure there will be more interviews from the Jamboree up and coming. Be sure to keep and eye on these "TV" channels to see more about Jamboree 2009, other conferences, and your favorite "stars' in the genealogy world! You will enjoy and learn a thing or two I am sure.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Finally, I Have A New Header!

I don't know how many times I have tried to make a new header for my blog, to no avail. I have SO much time you see, to play around with stuff I am so unfamiliar with. It really is unbelievable how much time I can waste trying to do things I have no idea how to do. Finding help aids online didn't seem to help me, nor did any of the sites that share ideas.

Last night I was catching up on reading blogs when I ran across "Flipside's" blog and her new header. Have you seen it? It is MARVELOUS! Upon reading the comments, I found myself jumping into this conversation, as the person who designed her header had offered to help others make a header if anyone needed it. Of course, that would be ME! Now, how fortunate am I to have a marvelous new header??

I met this person, Deez, who made my header, via online connections, as I stated earlier, through Flipside's blog. However, I feel I have known this friend for quite a long time. As a matter of fact, Deez lives in my general area to boot!

Deez has offered to do a header for anyone who may need or want one. If you are interested, please leave a comment and I can hook you up! Or, you can read "Cemetery Explorers" and leave a comment!

If you decide you would like a header made, just keep in mind that it may take some time to be done, so please be patient. I was fortunate, in that I believe I caught Deez on the last day of vacation? Back to work now, so time may be a little limited.

How nice is it that someone offers to do this? And, for free! I had thought about asking someone to do it for me, but I really hated to bother anyone when they have so much to do themselves. I am definetely NOT a computer geek, so I need more help than others!

If you don't need a new header, and/or are smart enough to do it yourself (I am sooooo jealous!), I still suggest you check out Cemetery Explorers, it is a great site, and yes it is a Graveyard Rabbit Site!

I thank you so very much Deez for your help in revamping my header, can I do the genealogy dance for a new header? If it is legal to do for a new header, you can just see me dancing away, right?

Oh, and did I say this is my 200th post? What a way to start towards the 300 mark! Thanks again Deez, you made my day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

SoCa Jamboree 2009 ~ Post 3

While most of the bloggers who attended the So Ca Jamboree have completed their posts regarding this wonderful adventure, I am lagging behind. I am however, finally posting my third post of the event.

I don't know how many times I picked classes I wanted to attend each day. I think every time I did, I chose a different version of events to attend. Did I tell you there were at least 100 classes offered this weekend? No wonder I couldn't make up my mind! Each morning would come, and my class choices would change again. Saturday morning my intentions were to attend Lisa Alzo's class "Write your Family History Step By Step." Unfortunately, this didn't happen as sleeping seemed to get in the way. Not only did I have a difficult time choosing classes, Saturday morning I had a difficult time attending classes!

One consistent choice I planned on attending was the "Summit 2: Son of a Blogger" event. My roomie (Sheri Fenley) and I, did make it to this event which was two and a half hours long. Armed with coffee, we found a seat.


Low and behold, there was Lisa Alzo sitting behind me at the bloggers summit! I didn't get her hear her presentation at class, but I did get to see her, and speak with her later.



Here you see Elizabeth O'Neil, Lisa Alzo and Amy Coffin

We have them all again along with the Perle Masta of geneabloggers and Facebook, Thomas MacEntee. It's picture time!



Along with Thomas and Elizabeth, Gini Webb,her husband Steve and Elyse Doerflinger were other bloggers who attended.





Looks like Randy Seaver was twittering away and footnoteMaven and Denise Levenick were blog talking.










Last but not least, here is Kathryn Doyle. Other geneabloggers who attended this session I apparently didn't get a picture of. Oh, but there are more geneabloggers in the room! Next post will unveil!



Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Happy 4th of July!

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Those Places Thursday

Rental home. March 25, 2007. Hayward, California. Digital image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

Here is another place I have lived. It was a rental home, and the owner lived in the house behind this one. When I lived at this location however, the home in the back was a small one level home. A wall between two bedrooms was knocked out so the master bedroom was hugh!

This is the first place since living on my own, that I owned dog. He was a gift from my boyfriend. My dog was an Eskimo Husky, which I named Levi. There was a park up the hill where I would walk to and play with Levi. I really couldn't let him run in the backyard as it was not fenced in. I will have to do some digging to find a photo of Levi, I must have one somewhere.

I remember painting the kitchen in this house, yellow. This was the first painting in a home outside of my parents house that I ever did. We had big parties here, the backyard was endless! I loved the front porch, wish I had one now. I would sit on top of the wall of the porch, water the lawn and watch cars go by. It was so peaceful.

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Jamboree 2009

Steve Danko. June 27, 2009. SoCa Jamboree Geneabloggers Dinner, Burbank, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

SoCa Jamboree 2009 - Post 2

I haven't informed you of the classes I took on Friday and I would like to do that now! Did you know there were over 100 classes offered at Jamboree?

Friday morning only, there were a few "Pre-Jamboree" Sessions which ran from nine until noon. I chose a session titled "Introduction to Genealogy-Advanced Beginners." Parmenter was the instructor. I thought this class was geared to intermediate genealogy, but I found it to be more for beginners.

After registration, which started at noon, it was time to see some of the bloggers floating around and a chance to mingle before the classes officially started.



On Friday, I took DearMyrtle's "Finding Digital Items in the Family History Library Catolog." It was very informative, and I especially liked the fact that DearMyrtle presented it and I was able to listen to her speak! I haven't had much success with Family History Library as of yet, but I am hoping a few new things I learned from Myrt will help me with at least one of my lines. I was honored to have a picture taken with DearMyrtle the following evening, and spent some time speaking with her then. She posted to her blog an e-mail and picture I had sent her a few years back, before I ever even thought of starting a blog! The picture of me was when I was a baby and I wanted DearMyrtle to see who I am now! It was a nice visit! I even thought my husband may have known her fiance's brother, as he lived in the town we lived in, and they both played softball, and were both pitchers. But I asked my husband and it isn't clicking, maybe the brother played in another town or league. I was almost disappointed.

The second class I attended that day was a class given by Wendy Debout Elliott titled, "Buried Treasure-Lost in Print." I felt bad for Wendy when she realized she brought the wrong information to place on the screen for this class. So no pictures through this class (I like visuals, but that was ok) but she kept us engaged! She spoke of old writing and how the letters were and can be mistaken for other letters of the alphabet. Many, many examples.

The final class I took on Friday was a class given by Leland Meitzler, "Finding your Family in American Newspapers and Periodicals." Leland sure has a great time presenting his class! One thing I really liked, he projected himself so there was no way anyone couldn't have heard him. He was interesting in that he shared some personal information and gave us many ideas to think about when researching family using newspapers and such.

Again, I must say thank you again to Denise Levenick and Thomas MacEntee for putting together the goody bags for the geneabloggers! On Friday it seemed there was so much to do, it was a great thing to have some snacks to get by on as I never had breakfast or lunch! Such a wonderful idea, and saved my day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Welcome to Heritage Happens!

I am blogging to share my experiences researching my ancestors. I have been blogging for about 10 months and have found the rewards to be tremendous! I have been collecting family information for the past eight years or so.

Unexpected and exciting connections with cousins who have found my blog have made me do the genealogy happy dance many times! Some of these cousins I wasn't even aware of. Others I may have been aware of, but didn't know their whereabouts.

I have met, either online, or in person, several other bloggers. Bloggers are the most giving people! Through them I have gained information I wouldn't have otherwise. We all share the same passion for genealogy.

This blog is also another avenue of organizing information regarding my ancestors that will someday, hopefully, be of interest to my descendants.

I hope you enjoy the stories, photos and information that I share with you here. Maybe, you will even learn a thing or two, or decide to start your own blog! Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

SoCa Jamboree 2009 - Post One

My first full day is in! What an awesome day! I have met so many people, and even ran into a few people I knew! Can I first say that Geneabloggers are the best? Wow!

Sheri Fenley and I are roommates for the weekend. I played chauffeur yesterday and drove us down to Burbank. We took our time and stopped whenever we wanted. We arrived in Burbank about 5:00. We enjoyed our ride down and chatted way the whole time. I do think though by the time we arrived we were more than happy to get out of the car! We checked in, unpacked, relaxed a bit and then went about to find where Jamboree was being held. We are not staying at the Marriott where Jamboree is. We then went looking for a drug store, and Sheri introduced me to Marie Callendar's Banana Split Pie! We bought some, but waited to eat it until we came back to our rooms and ordered room service for dinner. Darn good food too! We prepared for our day today and before we knew it we were out like a light, at least I was!

This am we arrived at Jamboree early, and the fun really began! We forgot Sheri's Birthday hat, but people recognized her anyway. Have to see if we can find it for tomorrow. I spent the day at classes, meeting people, meeting more people, and attending more classes. The classes were good, the people are great!

If I can remember them ALL I will try to name everyone I have met! So glad to meet you all!

Thomas MacEntee
Diane Arnold
Gini Webb
fMaven
Randy Seaver
Elizabeth Swaney O'Neil
Amy Coffin
Craig Manson
Janet Hovroka
Schelly Talalay Dardashti
Bruce Buzbee
Illya D'Addezio
Dick Eastman
Elyse Doerflinger
Paula Hinkle

These people I have met before and ran into again-nice to see you all!

Steve Danko
Lisa Louise Cooke
Kay Speaks
Susan Goss Johnston

If I have missed anyone, please let me know!

After a wonderful day Sheri and I proceeded for dinner and headed back to the hotel to prepare for tomorrow's day. More classes, shopping, Face2Face, and a dinner with all the Geneabloggers!
Denise Levenick and Thomas made a special bag for each of us geneabloggers. A bit of food and nice surprises! Wow, I thank them both!!! Thomas also has us all wearing Mardi Gras Beads, and they are wonderful. The California people got the ones that had Palm Trees on them! Pix later....

The Jamboree is so well organized and seems to be running smoothly. I want to give a special thank you to Paula Hinkle for all the hard work she has spent on preparing for this and for keeping us updated with information on the website! I followed every post and enjoyed them. And to all of the other organizers and volunteers, presenters, speakers, etc. Awesome job!

Ok, time to unwind for now, need energy to keep up with everyone tomorrow!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Worless Wednesday ~ Harding's

Harding's and descendants. Unknown date. Possibly Pleasanton, California. Scanned copy of original on March 30, 2009. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

So Cal Jamboree

Preparations have finally started for me! I am attending the Southern California Genealogy Jamboree which is this week, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

This will be my first major genealogy event that I will be attending, and I am really looking forward to it! I have started pulling all of my paperwork together, confirmations, reservations, schedules, etc. I have downloaded all of my pictures off of both of my cameras and charged the batteries. (I am so about pictures!)

Today I tried to make a real commitment to classes for Saturday as another blogger will only be attending on Saturday and I would really like to spend as much time as possible with her! I had my schedule temporarily set up awhile back, but need to be more committed now. I thought about how many classes I had originally chosen to attend and realized that I would be attending so many classes that I wouldn't be spending enough time with the vendors! So now, with trying to finalize my plans, I am actually scheduling some time to visit with the vendors.

Besides the classes and all there is to learn, the vendors and all there is to see, there will be thirty plus (last I heard) genealogy bloggers in attendance, with so much fun awaiting! This will be a sight to see! Several, major, well known bloggers will be in attendance and I can hardly wait to meet them all! I hope somehow we can get a picture of all of us in a group. It will be a honor to be among these most talented bloggers! It has come to my attention that one of these bloggers (I shouldn't be a name dropper, but what the heck, I will give you a first name, shhh don't tell though .....his first name is Thomas) is going to have us all in Mardi Gras beads, so if you are attending, you will most certainly know who the bloggers are!

There are a few get together's that have been set up for the geneabloggers, so I have a feeling you will see quite a few Tweets, Facebook comments and blog posts about this event!

The Jamboree is about five hours south for me, in Burbank, California. Not that far so I will be driving. I will be honored with the presence of another genealogy blogger for the ride down and back. I will save the information of who this is for later and blogging, but will give you a hint I guess..."very funny!"

My laundry is done, just need to pack. We will be heading down and starting some fantastic memories on Thursday! I hope to collect a lot of pictures, learn from some of the best, maybe do some shopping (NOT my most favorite thing to do, but when it comes to genealogy, how can you go wrong?) and meet some fantastic people! I already can't wait to post about this event, and it hasn't even started yet! The excitement has though...stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

DearMYRTLE'S Get Organized - June 2009

As of my last post, I hadn't seen DearMyrtle's June post listing for "getting organized." Since that last post, I have been extremely busy, and haven't had the time to blog, sure have missed it! And, I missed when Myrt's post was actually posted! So let's get caught up!

This month DearMyrtle officially covers these topics~

Displaying ancestral artifacts
Heirloom gardens
Scanning old documents

Although June is getting along in time, you can still catch up, so be sure to go to this link and read how to be organized this month, before next month's edition comes out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Those Places Thursday

Snooty Fox Apartments, March 25, 2007. San Leandro, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

Thank goodness I took a photo of the name of these apartments as I wouldn't have remembered it on my own. The Snooty Fox! What a name, huh? Oh, and what a place!

This is the first place I moved to when I moved out from my parents home. I originally moved in a two bedroom apartment with two other girls. Eventually one of the girls moved elsewhere and the other one and I lived here, actually in two different apartments, for quite awhile. I felt so proud of myself that I was able to move out when I was eighteen, and had a career!

The layout was grand. When you walk into the complex,(through the gate here and to the left) you notice all of the apartments surround a pool. Every apartment (within the square of the pool) had a balcony that looked out to the pool.

This was the party apartment complex! Wow, were there some parties! I specifically remember one that was a 50's party, with 50's music. At Christmas a group of us from the complex got together and went Christmas Caroling. We always ended up at someones apartment each night.

When I lived here I had major tooth issues. I ended up having to go to the hospital to have wisdom teeth pulled. It was thought that I had a blot clot in my jaw, and so they wanted me in the hospital. When I woke up, all I saw was blood, I thought they hit the blood clot and I was bleeding to death! I passed out. Of course, that wasn't the case.

I had my first car when I lived here. If I remember correctly, it was a blue 1966 Chrysler De Soto. What a tuna boat! Of course I was so proud to have bought this car with my own money, my dad helped me pick it out. I wanted a lot of car around me, to be safe. My girlfriend didn't have a car, so thank goodness I did!

Along with the new apartment, I eventually gained a new boyfriend also who lived in the same complex, and my parents disowned me because of it. He was twice my age! The more I was told I shouldn't have this boyfriend, the more I was determined to prove them wrong! We were together for a couple of years. The "forbidden" boyfriend and I lived in a few different places, which I will share along this journey of "Those Places Thursday!"

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Wordless Wednesday ~ The Prince

The Prince. April 21, 2009. Shadow Cliffs, Livermore, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl[ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Plants

Plants. January 1, 2004. Chapel of the Chimes, Hayward, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009.

Chester Plants was born June 27, 1929. He passed away on March 23, 2003. Geraldine was born March 14, 1929 and passed away on June 10, 1999.

Chester and Geraldine were my brother-in-law's parents. Although they are not related to me, I wanted to share with you and memorialize for my sister's family.

I didn't have the opportunity to spent much time with Geraldine, so I never really got to know her. I found her living in Denver, Colorado when she was about a year old, so maybe she was born there.

Chester's Social Security was issued in West Virginia. I did have the opportunity to know Chester. He was a wonderful man and we got along very well. He loved to tell me stories about when he had motorcycles and how they would keep warm when riding, bundling up in newspapers!

May you both rest in peace.

Thank you for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Puckerbrush Award for Excellence

To my surprise and amazement and shock, I was notified today that Becky from Grace and Glory awarded me with this: "The Janice Brown Puckerbrush Award for Excellence!" I feel so honored! Thank you Becky! I am humbled beyond words.

I borrow this explanation of the award (as Becky has also done) its origin, and purpose:

The award was created in honor of genealogy blogger Janice Brown by Terry Thornton, author of "Hill Country of Monroe County, Mississippi", who explained that "Janice told us all about the word 'puckerbrush' in an article she posted August 27, 2007 at "Cow Hampshire". Terry elaborated a bit further in a comment: 'On any land allowed to go fallow and left untended, a wild assortment of wild plants grow – in some areas, this wild growth results in such a thicket of plants that it is almost impossible to push your way through the growth. So it is with the growth of blogs --- so many that it is impossible to read them all. But in the puckerbrush eventually a few plants/trees become dominant and influence all who view them through the thick surrounding puckerbrush. And it is those outstanding blogs whose influence spreads beyond just the surrounding rabble of puckerbrush that I'm honoring.' Terry issued this challenge: Henceforth these awards will be called the Janice Brown Puckerbrush Blog Award for Excellence. All blog authors are hereby challenged to name the ten blogs which have influenced their writing the most and list them as a tribute to Janice --- the Janice Brown Puckerbrush Blog Awards for Excellence.

Now I am privileged to pick ten blogs that have influenced me, and honor them with this award!

1. Sheri at The Educated Genealogist

2. Bill at West In New England

3. Judith at Genealogy Traces
4. Sheri at Twig Talk

5. Lee at Drew Family History

6. Janet at Janet the Researcher

7. Jessica at Jessica's Genejournal

8. Julie at GenBlog

9. Elyse at Elyse's Genealogy Blog

10. Craig at GeneaBlogie

These blogs have either brought me to starting my own blog, or have continued to teach me, or have entertained me, or have left me wanting for more! Thank you all! Now it is your turn to choose ten blogs.

Again, I thank Becky for making me feel so honored! If she not already been chosen I would have chosen her!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Those Places Thursday ~ Sanchez Home

Sanchez home. March 25, 2007. Paseo Grande, San Lorenzo, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

This is the last home my maternal grandmother lived in before she passed away. At this time her name was Betty Sanchez, she was married to Raymond Sanchez. They were married as long as I can remember. I do not have the information of when they were married. I am still working on a birth certificate for my grandmother.

This home was on the pathway to the high school I attended. Many times walking home from school I would stop and visit my grandmother. When she became legally blind I felt so bad for her because she couldn't drive anymore. I vowed when I received my drivers license I would help to drive her everywhere! In the meantime, a bus stop, which was a house or two down from her home, provided transportation for her when my mother wasn't available.

In the backyard was a wonderful apple tree, green apples! We enjoyed picking and eating them, when there weren't worm holes in them. They were my favorite.

I helped clean my grandmother's house when I was a teenager. When she became legally blind, (she had cataracts, but I am not sure that was the exact reason she was legally blind) it was difficult for her to see dust and dirt. I specifically remember cleaning her phone, and cupboards in the kitchen. I wonder why I distinctly remember cleaning those things?

Grandma owned a console radio and record player. I would turn on the radio and change stations for her when I was there cleaning. She loved listening to talk shows, and I remember her listening to "old fuddy duddy music." (What else would a teenager think?)My mother took care of her bills, wrote the checks.

When my grandmother lived in this house, it was painted a light color and the front door was always open. The house had three bedrooms, my grandfather slept in one and she in another. I can't remember much about the third bedroom.

I don't remember her having a photo album one, it was as if she didn't have any. I do not have a single picture of her as a child or teenager. If she did have any, I wonder what happened to them? My sisters and I and one cousin are the only descendants from my grandmother. There is so much information we need to learn about her.

The picture of this home brings back many wonderful memories for me.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Flower

Flower. May 22, 2009. San Jose, California. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

More New Cousin Contact Info!

I received an email last night which gave me contact information for three more cousins once removed! Now, how exciting is that? Again, I have to thank blogging for this information, as it was through my blog that this gal originally found me!

I was given addresses, and phone numbers for these three people. Also, two of them had email addresses. Can you imagine my happiness to read this email? My brain immediately moved forward, being rushed with questions I wanted to ask each of them. Slowing myself down was tough to do, after all I don't want to scare these cousins away!

These three people are my grandfather's (Harding) sister's children (Norton's). I have no idea of their age, and or health. After I calmed down from my excitement, I knew I needed to drop an email to each of the two I had addresses for. The first email seemed to go through no problem. The second one, the address wasn't valid. I checked to make sure I had the correct one that was given me, which I did, as I had copied and pasted it. I did notice at that time that the address is an AOL address. Hasn't AOL disappeared? Didn't it turn into Comcast, or am I mistaken? I am going to try sending this second email to a Comcast address and see if it goes through.

I will get in touch with the person who sent me the information and let her know the one address isn't valid. She just received the information herself and is traveling so will be unaware of this fact. She has been traveling to Pa. where each of our families settled from Norway. She is hoping to maybe get a chance to meet a cousin or two of mine.

I am waiting to hear back from the first email I sent last night, hoping for exciting things! Today I will try changing the AOL to Comcast email and see if it goes through. I do have phone numbers, so if I can't make contact with these emails, I will try the phone numbers.

I have made contact with so many cousins in the past couple of years I can't believe it. There have been abt. 15 first cousins and 4 first cousins once removed, and if I make contact with these three, that will be 7 first cousins once removed! Aunts and uncles, gee, I have met or been reacquainted with 5. And I wonder why I never get a chance to do any research? I am entering information from all of the contacts I have been making!

Wish me luck with this set of three!

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

"Where I Have Lived Series" becomes "Those Places Thursday"

I have been asked a few questions about the photos I have been posting regarding this series, so I thought it would be a good idea to explain these pictures and why I am sharing them. In the process I have also decided to make some changes regarding these posts!

A couple of years ago I decided I wanted to take photos of all of the places I have ever lived, at least the ones I was aware of! I spent three days driving, photographing and viewing these places. I was fortunate enough to have lived in the same basic vicinity most of my life which cut on travel, time and costs.

It has been very interesting for me to see the changes some of these dwellings and areas have gone through. Some areas and homes improved and some went downhill. Most have been painted and look quite different from when I lived there. Of course, many years have passed, so these dwellings were bound to have changed. When I was very young, one or two areas where I used to live are not good areas currently, so I enlisted my husband to drive along with me. I am not sure he understood the importance to me of why I wanted these photos, or why I would go to these areas, but he was a good sport about it!

As I was in different areas, I also took pictures of some of the homes where my grandparents had lived. One house in particular was very nicely fixed up and even had an added second floor! One home I had no recollection of at all.

How many times have we enjoyed looking at pictures of the homes our ancestors lived in? One day someone may want to know where I actually lived! Even if no one really wants to know, I have REALLY enjoyed revisiting and digitizing these places. Some are of apartments where I have lived, one is even of a duplex. A couple are of houses where I may have lived for just a couple of months that were owned by family or friends, which I call "transitional homes." I can think of one or two places I haven't photographed yet, (one of which I have been to the general area, but can't remember exactly where this house is, and the other, I haven't been to yet, but may have some trouble remembering this exact house also) so will have to do that one of these days. Wow, I have lived in many places! Hopefully, I will also find photos of some of these places when I actually lived there, and I can show you a "Then and Now!"

Have you taken photos of the dwellings where you have lived? Are you curious about how they may look now? Are they even standing still? Do you have photographs of these dwellings when you actually lived there? What about the schools you, your relatives and ancestors attended? Do you have photos of those? Job sites or places of employment?

Upon doing this post, I have decided to change the name of this series to "Those Places Thursday" and post this series on, gee, I suppose Thursdays would be good! I will now be able to share information with the pictures I post, which will clarify and explain what you are viewing. I look forward to sharing "Those Places Thursday" with you, and invite anyone who may wish to share "Those Places" too, to do so on their blogs starting next Thursday!

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Wordless Wednesday ~ Where I Have Lived Series (3)

House. March 25, 2007. San Lorenzo, Ca. Digital Image. Privately held by Cheryl [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE] California. 2009

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Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!

Busy Making Memories!

I just wanted to let you know that I have been busy making memories!

First and foremost, I have been helping my daughter with her new daughter! Adjusting to another little one in the house and recovering from surgery was an adjustment for her, but all is well!

I've also been helping a friend with plans for her daughter's wedding. Shopping, sewing and decision making. It has been fun!

A few days ago, my other daughter, from Tennessee, arrived with her boyfriend, who we met for the first time. Lots of family time, meals and sightseeing, it has been great. The boyfriend is wonderful too!

To top things off, I pulled muscles in my back, so now that is laying me up a bit. (This has however given me a few moments to update you here!)

We were planning on going away for the upcoming weekend, but with my back it looks highly unlikely, as we were going away on the motorcycles.

I will have lots to catch up on after this weekend and look forward to my normal routine. Gee, do I have a normal routine? I guess not, but more fun can be had that way!

June and summer are almost here! Hopefully this means everyone is having better weather! Time to make more of your own family memories?

Thanks for stopping by!

Wishing you success in all of your genealogical treasure hunts!