The Genealogy Search

The Arizona Family History Expo is just around the corner.  The event is January 20th and 21st in Mesa.  Visit  Arizona Family History Expo  to register for the event. I am looking forward to seeing some of my fellow Pima County Genealogical Society members that I have convinced to attend the Expo.  Too bad the expo is on our regular meeting day, we will leave Barbara Salyer and the rest of the society members to hold their own while we gather new info to share with the group. I am also looking forward to seeing Lisa Louise Cooke of Genealogy Gems, catching up with some of my favorite vendors - perhaps check in to some digital scapbooking????? and checking in with Bruce Buzbee and the RootsMagic crew.  I promised to assist our wonderful member Colleen McHugh during her dinner break presentation What do Skeletons and Family History Have In Common?   I will also be looking forward to seeing my fellow Geneabloggers and meeting some new folks while I a...

I did a post on December 20 about taking my Flip-pal to the car dealer.  Guess what!  Flip-pal called!  Robin at Flip-pal thanked me for the post.  I jokingly said I should sell the Flip-pal after my numerous demonstrations and Robin said I could sell through my blog. The important thing is that my level of respect has increased two fold for the product.  What a great company to take the time out of their day to thank me for the post.  I thank you Flip-pal for making my scanning easier and faster.  Looking forward to see your company continue to grow and I'll think about adding that link to the blog......... purchase your own at   Flip-Pal

Sheri Fenley at the The Educated Genealogist   posted "My Other Life" a listing of what occupies her time when genealogy doesn't.  I thought I would own up to my own misguided life. I some times work as a private investigator..... I sew.  I make ornaments with glass, solder and images of my family. My husband and I make spoon rings and I use the remnants to make ornaments. I watch CSI, Bones, Castle, Law & Order, The Closer, PanAm and the Big Bang Theory.  I watch Lifetime and Hallmark movies that make me cry. I cook and bake. My husband and I have one child left at home that resides with us when she is not at Northern Arizona University - the rest are out of the house - so we have upped our traveling. I play with my dogs and cuddle with my old tom cat Frank. I do Suduko, read mysteries and romance novels.

It's not too late!  You still have time to registration for the Family History Expo in Mesa January 20-21st. The event will be held at the Mesa Convention Center, 262 N. Center Street, Mesa, Arizona.  Registration fee is $69 for both days, Friday only $59, Saturday only $59, registration at the door $99.  Information on the expo is available at  Family History Expos . Attention Tucson researchers :  the Mesa Family Library is closed  both January 20-21.  Come a day early to research at the library or spend the morning of the 20th (expo starts at 1 pm for registration) with the Genealogy  Collection, housed in the Law and Research Library at the State Capitol.   The library is home to family histories, community histories, genealogy journals, online genealogical services and genealogy for just about every state and  region in the United States.  You can search the library's catalog at Library Catalog Searches ...

Matt, Santa and Amy 1967 Thought I would share a picture of my brother and I with Santa.  The picture was taken 1967 at Randhurst Mall located in Mount Prospect, Illinois.  Randhurst built in 1967, the first enclosed regional mall in the Chicagoland area and the first air conditioned space in the United States.  I remember the statues of the penguins we played on and the dance classes I attended in the basement floor of the mall.  The mall has been through a dramatic change.  The last time I visited Illinois I drove right by it, no longer a single mall under one roof, it has been renamed Randhurst Villiage with numerous business in an open space design.

Family History Expos  is now accepting applications for those interested in participating as Bloggers of Honor at one of the following Expos: Yuma Arizona Expo January 17 Hilton Garden Inn/Pivot Point Conference Center 103 Madison Yuma, Arizona Mesa Arizona Expo January 20-21 Mesa Convention E Center 263 N. Center Street Mesa, Arizona St. George Utah Expo February 24-25 The Dixie Center 1835 Convention Center Dr. St. George, Utah Types of Blogs that will qualify you as a Blogger of Honor: Family History or Genealogy Blog Family History Product or Service Provider Library, Archive or Research Center Professional Genealogist Preservation Awareness Restoration Projects Information Provider Other Blogs of Historical Interest Chosen Bloggers of Honor will receive: Full Registration Benefits Listing on Event Website with Hotlink to Blog Gift Bag Provided by Expo Sponsors and Exhibitors Bloggers of Honor will be expected to: Pre-Event   Announce the ...

I had put it off long enough, it was time to take the car in for it's maintenance.  The only reason I had put if off was the time involved sitting around at the dealer.  This time I packed ahead of time.  I grabbed my unfinished Christmas cards, two stacks of photos from Grandam Eva's estate and my Flip-pal.  I finished the cards in the first thirty minutes.  I then moved on to the photos.  I pulled my Flip-pal out, set up a little processing area (one arm of the chair for photos to be scanned, and the other arm for photos that have been scanned) and began scanning.  I went through about fifteen photos before the first person approached and asked me what I was doing.  I explained the Flip-pal, gave them a demonstration and the man walked away after asking for a pen and paper to write down the name of the scanner.  I scanned about ten more photos before the next person approached.  This time it was a man and wife. ...

Sugar Cookies 1 lb butter or can use mixture of half margarine/half butter 2 cups powdered sugar 4 egg yolks 2 tsp. vanilla 5 cups flour Cream butter until light and fluffy.  Add powdered sugar mixing well.  Add yolks one at a time mixing well after each addition.  Mix in vanilla.  Add flour one cup at a time until thoroughly mixed. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for at least two hours. Preheat oven to 350.  Roll out dough to desired thickness and cut out shapes.  Decorate with sugars.  Bake 12-15 minutes.  Let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before removing them from pan. Tip:  I bake on parchment paper.  It keeps the pans clean and I think the cookies bake better on it.

Winter fun in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1935

1 c. soft shortening (half butter, half margarine or Crisco works best) 1 1/2 c. sugar 2 eggs 2 3/4 c. flour 2 tsp. cream of tartar 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt 2 tsp. cinnamon 2 tbsp. sugar Mix shortening, sugar and eggs thoroughly. Mix flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Stir all ingredients. Form into balls the size of a small walnut. Roll balls in mixture of 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 8 to 10 minutes. These are my younger kids favorites cookies.  I don't mind having these around because I am never tempted to eat them - it seems that any recipe with cream of tarter in it makes me sick to my stomach.  

Did your family or ancestors make Christmas Cookies? How did you help? Did you have a favorite cookie?   Post 8 in the  Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories  hosted by  Geneabloggers .com Ah cookies......Mom always made sugar cookies with us when we were younger.  I fondly remember baking cookies with Mom when we were younger.  I also remember the hot chocolate Mom made to have with our cookies.  The hot chocolate just doesn't taste the same unless Mom makes it. When my own children were younger I enlisted their help, now with the kids out of the house Gary stepped in and helped to decorate them this year.  A new Urman tradition has been born - we are "the sugar cookie team".  I was in charge of rolling and Gary was in charge of decorating and overseeing the baking. Juliana and I made cookie tins and trays just last night so it was a delight to see a cookie prompt for today.  Funny thing is I over baked this year.  ...

Amy Clark, 1971  A recent cold snap here in Arizona reminded me of the cold of my youth.  Not that there is much of a comparison to the Chicago area and Tucson, it is cold for a Tucson winter right now.  I remember playing in the snow and having a wonderful time.  Oddly enough I don't remember the being cold.  Now that I am older and living in a "warmer" climate I cringe when the temperature hits anywhere near 40 degrees or below.  I think it has taken about twenty years or so for me to be cold here in Arizona.  Now I am a total wuss, searching for my warmest clothing when it gets "cold" here, I guess that means I have acclimated to the area. I took my driver's license exam right before the DMV was shut down during the blizzard of 1979.  The gentleman giving me the test decided if I could get us safely back to the DMV I could get my license -   the roads were snowplowed in single lanes and they were slippery.  Needle...

Eva Urman (nee Ivana Drvaric) and Bob, May 1933 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 I have spent part of the morning playing on the new RootsMagic version 5.  What I see I like a lot.  It appears that a few items (some citations) did not make the conversion and will need to be updated with the new software.  I really like the new timeline, the new screen for adding media and citations, the whole thing seems easier to read.  I can't wait to start working on the research log.  It is about time someone incorporated one for use with our software!  I am looking forward to the RootsMagic webinar  What's New In RootsMagic 5 at 5 pm MST to see all the latest bells and whistles. This weekend has been very enlightening.  I located some additional relatives on Gary's side of the tree thanks to a few Wisconsin sites.  I found quite a few clues at the Wisconsin Historical Society website at  http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/genealogy/ .  The information is free but they do charge for a fee of $15 per copy for birth, dea...

Lloyd Clark and Juliana Urman age six months 1992

Well I have over 20 dozen cookies in the freezer, most all my Christmas gifts purchased (some not yet received) and feeling ready for the holidays. My mother's birthday just pasted on November 13th and this year I thought I came up with the best gifts.  First a fix for her Santa collection, a Santa and cat from the Jim Shore Collection and then a DVD of  Kukla, Fran and Ollie 1949-1954 that I found at the Chicago Historical Society store . Mom shared Kukla, Fran and Ollie with us when we were little.  She had records (45's) of some of the shows and she played them for my brother and I.  She also sang their silly songs often and loudly when our friends were around.  That fact was forgotten until my mother called the other day and started singing the Kukla, Fran and Ollie theme song rather than saying hello when she called.  A downside yes, a happy mom priceless.  The whole singing episode with Mom made me think of the upcoming Christma...

This is not an old recipe but one that is requested often and I thought it would make a great addition to a family cook book.  I am trying to collect recipes for my girls, I know one day they will marry,  so that they always have a little family in the form of recipes with them. Rolo Cookies 2-1/4 cups flour  3/4 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda  1 cup sugar  1 cup brown sugar  1 cup butter, softened  2 teaspoons vanilla  2 eggs  9 oz. package of Rolo candy  Preheat oven to 350F. Beat sugars and butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Add flour, cocoa powder  and baking soda, blend well, chill dough in refrigerator for at least 3 hours. Roll 1 tablespoon of dough in palm of hand to form a ball. Press Rolo into ball, covering it completely. Flatten bottom of cookie into palm of hand. Place cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 9 minutes. 

Early Bird registration for the Mesa Family History Expo is available for $49 until December 12th.  This two day event is sponsored by Family History Expos.  Please visit Family History Expos  to register at the discounted price.  Prices will change to pre-registration price of $69, then $59 for Friday, $59 for Saturday and at the door price of $99.  The website also suggests hotels to stay at.  Hope to see you there!

Another favorite cookie at Christmas time! Mexican Wedding Cookies 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 cup  powdered sugar, divided 1 tsp. vanilla 2 cups  flour 1 cup finely chopped Pecans PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Beat butter, 1/2 cup of the powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and pecans, beating on low speed after each addition until well blended. SHAPE dough into 1-inch balls. Place, 1-1/2 inches apart, on ungreased baking sheets. BAKE 14 to 15 min. or until bottoms of cookies are lightly browned. Cool 5 min. on baking sheets. Roll warm cookies in remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar until evenly coated; place on wire racks. Cool completely. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature. 

Week 45.   High School . Describe your middle and/or high school. Was it a large or small student body? Is the school still in existence today? How has it changed since you went there? I attended Forest View High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Our mascot was Fergie the Falcon and our school colors were gold, black and silver.  At one point our mascot was stolen but for the life of me I cannot remember when that happened.  It was never found.  The school was built in 1963 and had a few additions made to it including a dance room, gymnastic room, indoor track and field house.  The school was closed in 1986 due to  declining enrollment.  The school is now being used as a district office for the school district, houses two different high schools, and is a college campus. I must admit that I always felt like a misfit in high school.  The school was large.   We had greasers, jock, brains, and everyone else.  My ...