Genealogy Organizing Project

I have just finished up a small genealogy organizing project. This client had information that three individuals had gathered over more than 100 years! I used the charts, certificates, letters, and notes to create a large family tree with appropriate genealogical documentation.

P.A.T. D-ring binder with slipcase, sections are divided by P.A.T. and , photos are mounted on acid- and lignin-free paper.

Memory Care Books are now available!

We are now making Memory Care Books! Many are touched by dementia and Alzhiemer’s disease, my family certainly has been. The loss of memories and the feeling of lost connections can be frustrating and anger provoking not only in those with memory loss, but also in their family and caregivers.

Reminiscing through photographs has shown promise in reducing depression and anxiety, improving cognition, and in improving overall mood in those with dementia. A Memory Care Book with photos of the person’s life and significant people and events can enhancing a sense of belonging and connection with family members and caregivers.

Our books are customized in content and format based upon the recommendations from memory care experts. Special consideration for each book are: the level of memory loss, specific content, sequencing, formatting of the pages, and font types and sizes. Our books are high quality with archival quality papers and are hand stitched for durability. They are nearly lie flat and will fit on someone’s lap to allow two people to sit side-by-side in a non-threatening way to connect with one another.

Prices start at $125 for a 20 page book. Books can fit up to 100 pages for an additional charge. Additional copies of the same book are available starting at $95.

Ready to get started? Fill out the contact form and you will be sent instructions on what photos and information to send in. Don’t have high-quality digital copies of photos? We can digitize your photos, as well.

Can you believe it has been three weeks?!

What an event! Rootstech 2022 was an amazing couple of days. There were some technical issues for the first part, but they seemed to work out after a bit.

I very excited to hear about the coordinated efforts between Family Search and Ancestry using artificial intelligence to index the 1950 US Census that will be released to the public on April 1st. Volunteers will be able to request locations and/or surnames to verify once the index has been created. It is only a week away.

It is going to be like I got another feather in my cap, having worked on the 1930 US Census at the National Archives prior to its public release and having worked as an enumerator for the 2020 US Census.

Writing your history- Journaling for list makers, a book of lists

Here is an idea to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

I mentioned last week that I am list maker. I discovered The 52 Lists Project by Moorea Seal two years ago. There are 52 lists, one for each week of the year with and action to take at the conclusion. It usually takes me more than a week to develop a list as the list-making prompts have really made me think.

One that I really enjoyed was “List 40” which is to make a list of your twenty mood boosting songs.

One that I really enjoyed was “List 40” which is to make a list of your twenty mood boosting songs.

Writing your history- Journaling for list makers, a listing of books read

Here is an idea to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

I come from a family of list makers. We have the general “to-do” lists, grocery lists, and chore lists. We do break out the spreadsheet apps for larger projects; I have been know to make spreadsheets for Christmas lists, potential car purchases, and trips to Disney World. All of these are meant to be disposable and not meant to be a record of my life.

I do make lists that I intend to keep. I regularly keep a list of books that I have read at the back of my journal. I frequently forget books that I have read, so it is a nice reminder to me of what I have finished reading, I once got 3 chapters into Stargirl before I realized that I had read it previously. It is also a record of how my life has changed as the type and number of books change.

Books read in 2021 so far.

Books read in 2021 so far.

I have been thinking a lot about how my journals can give my posterity a view of what life was like for me and the books that I consume gives not only a glimpse of my life, but a window to my mind at that particular time.

Writing your history- Then & NOW- Thanksgiving 2020

This is the last in the Then & Now series of journal prompts about your life now and as a child. These prompts are about your life today.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving this year?

Did you meet at your home, a relative or friends? Was that different from your regular traditions?

How did you feel in the lead up to the holiday? Did you take extra precautions?

Did you eat a your traditional dinner? Did you have trouble acquiring any needed items?

Did you do any virtual calls with family or friends?

My family has eaten with our nuclear family for a number of years. We had our regular Thanksgiving dinner, although, I would have preferred to have a turkey breast or smaller turkey, but I could not locate one. Many years we have gotten together to play touch football with friends, go bowling or run a 5K, all of which did not happen this year. We had hoped that a nephew who is stationed nearby could come for the weekend, however, all passes were revoked just prior to Thanksgiving, so we “ate” dinner together over an app and then streamed the same holiday movie while on our call.

Tagged: JournalingWriting Your HistoryThanksgivingHolidaysChildhood

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Writing your history- THEN & Now- Thanksgiving

Through the middle of December, there will be a series of journal prompts regarding your life now and as a child. These prompts are about your life today.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

How did you celebrate Thanksgiving as a child?

Did you meet at your home, a relative or friends, or dine out?

How was the mood during the time together?

Who prepared the food?

Did you eat a traditional turkey dinner?

What was your favorite dish? Was there a dish that was traditional for your family?

Did you have other traditions around the holiday weekend?

It seems as though most years my family hosted Thanksgiving dinner.  This is at my parent’s home when we lived in Northern California.  This was one of the few years that there were 4 generations of our family gathered, with people from both sides o…

It seems as though most years my family hosted Thanksgiving dinner. This is at my parent’s home when we lived in Northern California. This was one of the few years that there were 4 generations of our family gathered, with people from both sides of the family. When we moved to Oregon, some family followed us there and we usually hosted them for dinner, as well as, some good friends of our family. You could correctly infer from the photograph that there was a “kids’ table”, which we had for most years. After dinner, the kids would often play board games and then once driving was a possibility, the kids would head off to a movie.

Writing your history- Then & NOW- Pets

Through the middle of December, there will be a series of journal prompts regarding your life now and as a child. These prompts are about your life today.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

Do you have a pet?

If no, would you like one? What type?

If you do, how did you acquire it?

While I was away three years ago, my younger kids found a female toad and declared it their pet.    Mrs. Toad has a nice tank in our living room with plenty of places to hide.  My younger son claims her as his own and feeds it meal worms and keeps h…

While I was away three years ago, my younger kids found a female toad and declared it their pet. Mrs. Toad has a nice tank in our living room with plenty of places to hide. My younger son claims her as his own and feeds it meal worms and keeps her abode nice and damp. They do not feel as though they have a “real” pet and constantly pester me for one with fur; however, it seems like all options someone is allergic to.

Who takes care of it?

Is it your ideal pet?

Write about an interesting incident regarding your pet.

Writing your history- THEN & Now- Pets

Through the middle of December, there will be a series of journal prompts regarding your life now and as a child. These prompts are about your life today.

Here are a few questions to get you thinking about you and your experiences. This is your history and writings of your individual experiences.

Did you have a pet as a child? If so, what was it?

Who took care of it?

Did you experience the death of a pet? If so, how did you handle it?

Was there a pet you really wanted, but couldn’t?

We only had a very short amount of time that we had a dog when I was a child, my parents were afraid that a dog could get loose and hurt a neighbor’s animals.  We had a barn cat named Mama Kitty and we had cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and duc…

We only had a very short amount of time that we had a dog when I was a child, my parents were afraid that a dog could get loose and hurt a neighbor’s animals. We had a barn cat named Mama Kitty and we had cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and ducks. These were our first cows, the black one was afraid of my dad and tried charging him while he was sitting on the tractor. After these we had a black and white (possibly a Holstein) that we called “Annabelle” who we really felt was a pet. My dad even called to cancel the butcher on the day she was to meet her fate, but he was a little too late.