"Welcome to the Weekend Chat!" All Members Invited!! February 7th - 9th, 2020 [closed]

+24 votes
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CHANGE TO BEST ANSWER PROCESS:  After much discussion we have come to the conclusion that all answers in the Weekend Chat are of equal importance and weight.  So we are going to discontinue the Best Answer portion as it adds points and then takes them away from posters and is causing some hurt feelings.  So in the interest of everyone is equal and valued we will delete any best answers given which will deduct those points because it has been pointed out that to give everyone best answer is also not a viable option. 

Weekend Chat is for everyone. It's a place to catch up on what people are up to and to share what you've been doing.  New members can say hello, introduce themselves, ask questions, and meet each other.  Our seasoned members can share progress or successes from their projects, give tips and advice, or chime in on hot topics.

Post as many answers and comments as you wish. It doesn't hurt anyone to post a lot and enjoy the multitude of topics.

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WikiTree profile: Pip Sheppard
closed with the note: Weekend Chat closed for February 7th - 9th, 2020
in The Tree House by Pip Sheppard G2G Astronaut (2.7m points)
closed by David Selman
Is commenting how I get involved in the weekend chat? I have found a lot of interesting things this week, jumping all over in my geneology research and posting here.

I live in Hunterdon County, NJ. I have old records of my ancestors, but not a lot of original sources. I found some printouts while cleaning out a closet and went online to see what is new. I hadn't looked at it in a long time.

Several years ago, I transcribed a book that I got from my father, Zadock Bliss into a GEDCOM. But I am finding errors right off the bat, with LNAB (Just learned that abbreviation) of his wife. So I am working on the records from that book as well as working on my immediate ancestors that I personally remember.
Nancy, I'm afraid to go into any closet that might have printouts I need to look at!

As a "bookaholic" I love you find some time to read.wink The last few years, most of what I read was for research. I've resolved that this year I'm going to read for pleasure!

Waiting to see a pic of you wearing the Macneil! Will you wear it to next week's festival?

As always, thanks for hosting. I truly enjoy reading your response.

@Nancy Cox you want to choose "Answer" from the list so others can comment on what you've said smiley

Thanks for hosting Pip!
Sounds like the weather we have had here. Rained Wednesday and yesterday. Today, snow flurries.
Thanks for hosting Pip!  Fitting everything in is a balancing act for sure, but I couldn't live without books.  And the Scottish festival sound fun .. maybe an opportunity for sticky toffee pudding?
thanks

hi , just signed up and very overwhelmed atm with all the information here , looking forward to getting on with the tree wink

Welcome, Christopher. If you need any assistance, ask here on G2G. We'll be glad to help!

28 Answers

+25 votes

It is damp and cold here in Central Pennsylvania, with the weather lady saying more rain on the way. Luckily, the temperatures are going to stay above freezing for the most part.

I had a good week working on some suggestions, and continuing on with sourcing some distant cousins. I was doing a male second cousin, three generation removed yesterday. The 1897 newspaper obituary for his wife says in part, “Mr. Cupp lost his wife and 4 children this past month, all of diphtheria. The children were taken one after another dying a week apart. Mrs. Cupp died of the disease nursing her children.”

Mr. Cupp and one child survived. He was 35 years old at the time, and remarried. What a sad story.

Hope everyone travels safe this weekend, enjoying your friends and family.             

by Rodney Long G2G6 Pilot (868k points)
That's about as sad an obituary as I have seen. Reminds me of visiting cemeteries where there are several children all buried in a row, all death dates close together.

No traveling for us this weekend, Rodney. Instead, we have them coming to us! You be safe, too.
The old obituaries can certainly make us appreciate advances in medicine..... and better nutrition.   

Last week you did inspire me to look at my suggestions..... a few are still lingering.
Hi Peggy, hope all is well with you. I like those older obituaries, they were written much better than the ones today. They seem to give folks like us a better picture.

Yes, I keep the suggestion list I manage at zero, but I keep plugging away at the suggestion list of people I am related to.
That is a very sad story. Makes me thankful that medicine has advanced so much. As I've researched and written about my third great-grandfather, I've often pondered why he quit practicing medicine. Death occurred so frequently back then, and I assume this may have been his reason.
Hi Diane, hope all is well with you. After I read this obituary, I did some research on diphtheria. It seems in the 1890's  there was an epidemic here in the US. It was very contagious. You have a good weekend, and travel safe my friend.
Yes, the mortality rate just breaks your heart sometimes.  Stay warm and dry!
Hi Laurie, hope all is well with you in your corner of the world. Yes, reading about different epidemics that have occurred at different time periods around the world sure makes you appreciate modern medicine.
+23 votes
We are getting hit with a big storm this weekend so I might get some things done on WikiTree for a change. I adopted the profile you mention above and will work on it in a bit. Nothing major is happening right now in my life so this is going to be short. I guess no news is good news sometimes.
by Dale Byers G2G Astronaut (1.7m points)
Dale, I think the only thing that could keep you in the house is a big snow storm, and I'm not even sure about that.

Thanks for adopting Metzger. I have several of his books. A bit on the academic side, but enjoyable none the less.

What's next with the radio club?
Pip, The next club meeting is the 4th Monday of the month, that is the normal date, but this coming Wednesday is a meeting for our emergency service. We also have classes starting this month that I might spend some time helping, I believe the classes start on the 20th.
Things are going to be sketchy around my house for the rest of the day. In addition to the expected snow storm, possibly a foot of snow by morning, they are delivering the new houses today and one is going next to us. These homes are manufactured in a factory and moved in by trucks. They then position them on the slabs and fasten them down. The property manager has to raise all electric, phone, and cable wires to prevent them from getting torn down. They moved the excavator to the end of our street so I think that soon the home going in next to us will be here. I hope the internet or power is not knocked out during the process. The next week of so will be removing the wheels and axles from the bottom of the homes and lowering them down into position so that they can attach the home to the slab and hook up the electric, water and sewer along with some minor interior finishes. We could have new neighbors by the first of next month.
Didn't take them long the clear and re-purpose that area. How many homes are there going to be?
Pip, 3 came in today but there are approx 27 more vacant lots and a couple more that they are planning to clear yet. There are 2 more lots on my street and 3 on the street behind us that are already clear. The slabs for these 3 were poured about 2 months ago. They had to pick the worst weather day this week to deliver them but they are all safely on their lots so now it is just removing the wheels and axles to set them down and hook them up. The one next to us is about 1300 square feet.
+24 votes

Today is....

           

NATIONAL FETTUCCINE ALFREDO DAY

On February 7th, National Fettuccine Alfredo Day celebrates one of the world’s favorite ways to enjoy a plate of fettuccine. 

Fettuccine alfredo enjoys a history as rich as its flavor. Created in 1908, fettuccine was made out of love and concern by an Italian restauranteur. Alfredo di Lelio’s concern for his pregnant wife’s lack of appetite caused him to put his talents to work. The birth of their first son depended on it. His recipe of noodles, cheese, and butter not only encouraged her to eat but she also inspired him to put it on the menu, too. Since then, the century-old dish has been satisfying pasta lovers around the world ever since.

Not only that but fettuccine alfredo lovers experiment with the dish in several ways. Add shrimp, mushrooms or spinach. The meal also pairs well with other vegetables and proteins, too. Cut the richness with a white wine and finish with a fruit dessert. 

HOW TO OBSERVE Fettuccine Alfredo Day:

Celebrate with a big dish of fettuccine Alfredo! Invite friends and family to join you, too. As you know, it’s not a celebration if you don’t. Make it yourself (we provide a recipe). Or, go to your favorite Italian restaurant. When you do, be sure to give them a shout out.

Primo Fettuccine Alfredo recipe.

NATIONAL FETTUCCINE ALFREDO DAY HISTORY

The earliest printed record of the observance we’ve found is a January 26, 2005, Akron Beacon Journal article listing upcoming February food holidays. Several newspapers across the nation follow suit, including the list in their food pages. But, none of them included their source or how long the day has been celebrated. However, the grandson of Alfredo Di Lelio contacted National Day Calendar in 2015 to provide the history behind the delicious pasta dish. We provide his letter below.

From Ines Di Lelio, grandson of Alfredo di Lelio

The following is the History of Alfredo di Lelio, who created in 1908 “Fettuccine All ‘Alfredo” (Fettuccine Alfredo). It’s now served by his nephew Ines Di Lelio, at the restaurant “Il Vero Alfredo” – “Alfredo Di Roma” in Rome, Piazza Augusto Imperatore 30.

Alfredo” – “Alfredo Di Roma” in Rome, Piazza Augusto Imperatore 30.

“With reference of your article (for which I thank you), I have the pleasure to tell you the history of my grandfather Alfredo Di Lelio, who is the creator of ‘Fettuccine all’Alfredo’ (‘Fettuccine Alfredo’) in 1908 in the ‘trattoria’ run by his mother Angelina in Rome, Piazza Rosa (Piazza disappeared in 1910 following the construction of the Galleria Colonna / Sordi).

This ‘trattoria’ of Piazza Rosa has become the ‘birthplace of fettuccine all’Alfredo’. More specifically, as is well known to many people who love the ‘fettuccine all’Alfredo’, this famous dish in the world was invented by Alfredo Di Lelio concerned about the lack of appetite of his wife Ines, who was pregnant with my father Armando (born February 26, 1908). Alfredo di Lelio opened his restaurant “Alfredo” in 1914 in Rome and in 1943, during the war, he sold the restaurant to others outside his family.”

Staying in the Family

“In 1950 Alfredo Di Lelio decided to reopen with his son Armando his restaurant in Piazza Augusto Imperatore n.30 ‘Il Vero Alfredo’ (‘Alfredo di Roma’), whose fame in the world has been strengthened by his nephew Alfredo and that now managed by me, with the famous “gold cutlery” (fork and spoon gold) donated in 1927 by two well-known American actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (in gratitude for the hospitality). See also the website of ‘Il Vero Alfredo’.(with news also about franchising).

I celebrate every year (as this year) in my restaurant (founded by my grandfather Alfredo Di Lelio) the USA Holiday of. fettuccine all’Alfredo (February 7). I must clarify that other restaurants “Alfredo” in Rome do not belong to the family tradition of ‘Il Vero Alfredo – Alfredo di Roma’ and I inform you that the restaurant ‘Il Vero Alfredo –Alfredo di Roma’ is in the registry of ‘Historic Shops of Excellence’ of the City of Rome Capitale. Best regards Ines Di Lelio”

by Dorothy Barry G2G Astronaut (2.7m points)
Great one, Dorothy! I have found some diet versions of this entree, but they rarely rise up to taste like the non-diet version. Love this food!
Excellent winter dish Dorothy!

Too bad it's not really Italian. But, I think you get it. 

Check out this link: https://www.livitaly.com/is-fettuccine-alfredo-really-italian/

Sorry, fettuccine lovers. 

This month, Olive Garden has the Alfredo as part of their $11.99 never ending pasta special. After being at the senior center all morning, I don't feel like cooking. Think I'll go get some now!

+23 votes

Thanks for hosting Pip.

Weather:    It's been raining pretty regularly here in Catoosa County, Georgia.   This morning,  it finally got cold enough for some snow flurries,  but the ground is way too warm for any accumulation.   Bottom line,   only light jackets are required.... no need for gloves unless you're actually working outdoors for extended periods.     Hoping we get some cold weather during February to perhaps kill off bugs.

Genealogy:    Have been cleaning up sources for my maternal grandmother's line.... This project was inspired because two of my cousins from that family line joined WikiTree (one is a 1st cousin, the other a 3rd cousin) and I didn't want them to use bad examples.   I created these profiles when I first joined WikiTree and updating was certainly needed.    My 3rd cousin David Plunkett brought to my attention a misspelling....... Ethel Plunkett was NOT  Ethyl Plunkett.   I choose to blame  my chemistry studies ...I.E.  Ethyl alcohol, ethyl acetate.      I'm sure they'll find more corrections to be made but hopefully they're minor.

Viruses new and old:   Am about to finally get rid of the cough that's lingering from the worst cold I've ever had.    Symptoms surprisingly like the coronavirus,  but thankfully not the actual coronavirus.    I'm taking another cruise in early  March and Celebrity cruise line has been sending out notices that passengers who have traveled to China within 15 days of embarkation will not be allowed to board..... along with many other extra precautions.   Glad to hear they're taking the outbreak seriously.

Looking forward to reading everyone's posts.

by Peggy McReynolds G2G6 Pilot (471k points)
It's about 34F here, Peggy. We're getting very light flurries, and like you no accumulation. I hope you get rid of that lingering cough. Miserable.

One of my daughters is on a cruise now, a much needed get-away with her husband (both first responders). No restrictions when they got on, and the only problem was not being able to dock in one place due to the high seas.
No joke on the corona; now that I have little kids (and a pregnant wife) I've been following it closely.

I went out for beers last Friday night with a Danish buddy who is a biologist.  We were discussing that there were about 10,000 cases.  Fast forward 7 days and we're now at about 31.500 cases.  The news from China is supressed and there are a lot of rumors that it is much much worse than what they are sharing.  I'm no prepper but it occurs to me that a small propane stove, a few bottles of water and some canned food isn't a bad idea should there ever be an outbreak in our area.  I'd prefer to suffer cabin fever at home than to put an inmuno-suppressed pregnant woman in the path of one of these pandemics.

Prayers to China and hope they contain it.
Hope you're completely well soon Peggy. The stuff I had in November took forever to fade away.
SJ,

Sounds like you're on top of minimizing your family's exposure!    While I believe China has greatly under reported their cases of the coronavirus and the resulting deaths....  at least other countries seem to be taking precautions seriously, as well as  airlines and cruise lines.     I've always been a germ-a-phobe.....  but I still fly and go on cruises..... even though I'm more aware of germ transmission than many passengers.   In our last cruise,  I noticed one couple at dinner (both obviously had a cold)  handed their cell phone to others to see  pictures.   I couldn't believe their phone was passed around to many at our dinner table....  I refrained from shouting  "Don't touch the phone!".  

I've heard encouraging reports of a vaccine.
+20 votes

Hails and horns, Wikipeeps!

This week, I did quite a bit genealogy-wise. I worked on a 52Ancestors blog about "Same Name" https://allroadhaverhill.blogspot.com/2020/02/52-ancestors-week-6-same-name.html

I talked about how a family didn't follow typical Italian naming conventions. And I looked to see if I had any "Chris" in the tree. I have a couple waaay back. Like 9th great-grandparents back. 

I've been hacking away at my hints on Ancestry. I had 40,000 to start with. Now I have WAY less. Quite a bit left to go through. But, it's been worth it. I haven't accepted everything. Just all the stuff that matches with everything on Wikitree and other sites.

I also go into a discussion about Find A Grave and people making profiles of deceased whose bodies aren't even cold. That's annoying. I hope Find a Grave gets new policies. If someone is recently deceased, someone should wait a while before making a profile. Let the family know about the death. And turn over the profile to family members. Some people say it's "About the numbers". Please. All they're doing is trying to be first like it's a YouTube comment. In the end, yelling "FIRST!" and trying to make a profile before family makes you look like a douche.

Wow. Ranted a bit on that. Sorry, Pip! (Not really.) It's just a subject near to me because my grandpa Hamel had a profile on there for years before he died. His name was on the stone. So, someone said "I'll make a profile anyway,"

Whatever. At least it was turned over to me.

In other news, I've been talking to someone who I think can help me with some Italy stuff like births. Speaking of Italy, the project has been slowing down again. Not gonna lie. We need a new leader or two over there. Here's hoping we find one, soon.

Now as for the non genealogy front, I've been working on the comic and this arc is all about time travel. Should be good. Can't alter time. But, you can fix mistakes. And maybe cause some predestination paradoxes. =)

by Chris Ferraiolo G2G6 Pilot (764k points)
Speaking of naming conventions, you'll remember Viviano having to wade through all those names repeated every other generation in Sicily! Worse than Americans.

I hope you can find a leader for Italy. Too important a project not to have one.
Interesting that a FindAGrave profile was created for your grandpa Hamel years before his death!!    My husband and I already have a headstone set  (it's a long story, not really worth explaining.... but family cemeteries that aren't platted require different traditions)..... maybe I should check to see if we're on Find A Grave.   Hope no one had given us a death date, not that I'm supertitious.

My ancestry.com membership expires  Feb 21.... not sure if I'm going to pay up or let it lapse for a while.

@Peggy: Yeah. The profile was created in 2014. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129782690/robert-e_-hamel He passed away in 2017.

So, for like 3 years he had a profile on there that just had his birth year. I was allowed to take it over. Others aren't so lucky. The person who made it understood and let me have it, my grandmother's page and a few others. Apparently the user was in the area and thought it'd be okay to make the pages. For the others it was fine. Not so much for my grandfather. Oh and we took the new pic that is on there.

I...hope you don't find yourself. Conventional wisdom (Doctor Who episodes) tell me that if you find it and see a weeping angel behind you you will be sent to the past while the creature feasts on the energy produced by the years you could have had.

@Pip. I remember that, Pip. I think Sicily followed that tradition more than mainland Italy did. I mean, I have yet to find any instance of that happening. Then again, it's still possible and there's still time.

My knowledge about my Italian ancestors is about as good as calling spaghetti -o's authentic Italian cuisine. I need to step up my attempts at smashing the genealogy wall of Sicily. I'm also not super confident that I have the correct names of Great Grandpa Vito's parents. I'm going to jump in your comic and use the time machine.

Paul,

You can always check this to see if the last name is correct:

https://www.cognomix.it/mappe-dei-cognomi-italiani

If the last name is in there, you should be good. If you need help, just let me know. We're here to help you! Break that brick wall on Antenati and other services. You can do it!

Yes, Peggy, you might want to check!  My Dad and my uncle both had their names put on the headstone when they buried their wives, within months of each other, and they both had memorials on FindAGrave, before death. My father was good humoured about it - said he felt like Tom Sawyer, but some cousins got quite upset, so in the end I asked for them both to be taken down.
Some people have no class. Either that or they like to be weirdos.
I went to that site. But, my Italian is a bit rusty. I typed in the name Marchesi and have no idea what I was looking at. So I think my son and I are going to watch some He-Man

*My 7yr old didn't want to watch He-Man with me. Instead he decided that he wanted to play Transformers by himself. So I went grocery shopping. Then played some guitar. To punish him for not hanging out with me. I'm going to put him in the back yard labor camp.
+19 votes

On this day:

1831: The Constitution of Belgium is approved.

1894: The inventor of the Saxophone Adolphe Sax dies.

1898: Émile Zola is brought to trial for writing "J'accuse...!"

by Jelena Eckstädt G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)

Excellent, Jelena. I read the Zola article and also the one on his letter condemning the proceedings

This is very interesting. I love hearing facts! You should post an "On This Day" as a daily thread.
If there was a continuous "abside-genealogy-chat-thread", I would do that. But as the Chat is only on weekends I do that only from Fridays to Sundays in here.
+17 votes

Thanks for hosting Pip! So awesome about your kilts! Are you going to share a photo of the one you have? Thanks for the reminder about the video chat! I keep forgetting it! Setting a reminder right now!

Finished creating profiles for those cemetery photos with more interesting people and stories. Here's one for those interested, Vogl-75. Robert and his wife, Maria died on the same day due to influenza, he was the last surviving veteran of the Civil War in Raton, New Mexico in 1932.

Our new kitten, Shadow, and our old dog, Susie, are best pals and are very entertaining, racing around the house playing together. 

My mother had hip surgery in October last year and she is getting back in the swing of things wonderfully after four months. We live together here in Raton, New Mexico in a big old house with a old run down motel on the property. I've always been curious about it so today I'm going to do a little research into who ran this place back in the hey day of this old mining town.

Peggy - I also just had a cousin (4th) join wikitree after we found each other on AncestryDNA. So, I need to do the same and go back through some of the first profiles and make sure everything looks good! After seeing my grandfathers profile this morning, there are definitely some improvements to be made!

Dorothy - Fettucinni Alfredo is my mothers favorite dish! Thanks for sharing. Since we are doing the Dr. Mercola MMT diet the sauce is okay for us to use over spaghetti squash. Yummy! If anyone wants to know how to make good (not mushy) spaghetti squash here's a good place to go for a how to: https://www.eatingbirdfood.com/cook-spaghetti-squash/ 

It was very cold for awhile (got down to -2) but now it's warming up again (40). Sunny everyday!

by Azure Robinson G2G6 Pilot (555k points)
I'd be interested in seeing what you find out about that old hotel, Azure. If you find anything, let us know!

Myers-15421 Paul Sheldon Myers 

Raton Tourist Park Cottages

and here's what it looks like now:

Oooo, cool!
There - I thought I knew how to cut spaghetti squash, but I just learned something.  Thank you for sharing Azure!
+19 votes
Hello Pip and wiki friends,

I'm back in Tucson after mom sitting for two weeks. It's a glorious day, sunny and around 60 degrees. I've worked a bit in the garden. I'm happy to report that my blood pressure is going back to its normal levels. It was likely high from all of the stress of caregiving.

I saw my cousin Bob, my surprise cousin from my Uncle Jim from years ago. Bob gave me permission to use his profile with mine for my genetic genealogy assignment. He has a half sibling who is on ancestry and I'm going to send her a message and hope for an introduction between them. Bob is a joy to know. He and his wife were wonderful with my mom. Mom is actually the only living aunt that Bob is able to meet from my dad and my uncle's generation. They are especially sweet with her. So, thanks to Bob I now know what a centimorgan means. I'll be writing this up as a proof for the class which is a requirement to complete the program. It's done through our local genealogy society.

Next weekend on Saturday the 15th, I'll be going to a conference being held by Blaine Bettinger. I'm hoping to learn a lot more about genetic genealogy to try to tease out differences between these various Baldwin's in Connecticut and Massachusetts and back to Aston Clinton in England. Please keep your genealogical fingers crossed.

I've gotten my University computer repaired and I'm getting ready to boot up. I'll be helping my England team friends with sourcing in Southwest England I especially like sourcing for Cornwall and Devon.

That's all the news for me from the beautiful old Pueblo, Tucson Arizona. I hope all of you have a really splendid weekend. Nos vemos en la próxima fin de la semana (see you next weekend)!
by Carol Baldwin G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
edited by Carol Baldwin
Saludos, Carol!

I know your stress. I remember a book written about 1980 called The 36-hour Day, about the toll it takes on caregivers of family members with dementia. The title was appropriate.

I’m sourcing in North Dakota, just for the heck of it. I had no family here. I just needed to do something different.
Howdy neighbor and welcome home, Carol. Hope you brought some warmer weather with you lol.
Hm. I have a Baldwin from Aston Clinton on my list of Puritans to look at this month. If the info on WT is correct, I'm descended from Sylvester Jr and you're his brother Richard.  I'll definitely have my genealogical fingers crossed for your research!
Hi Pipster

Thanks the feedback about mum. It was like harder than working in hospice, which I loved. What made it difficult were the days I was totally alone. I think the word would be despair.

 I have people from ND on the paternalistic side...Rathgeber, Grohnke, Baldwin. My dad was born in Enderlin, ND.
Hi Diane,

Good to be back! I've bought some 70 degree weather for this weekend!
Hi Laurie,

Take a look at Baldwin-5, Henry Baldwin of Woburn. Clarifying this family has been a challenge. I've provided some info on Henry's profile to help clarify these relationships. Even some of the NEHGS volumes had incorrect info. I've taken a break from 'the boys' and return in a couple weeks with fresh eyes.

I'm not sure which Silvester Jr. you're referring to. If it's the Jr who died en route to CT, his father was Silvester Sr., who was married to Jane Wells. I have their marriage record and need to add it to their profile. Silvester Jr. did have a brother (they have several sibs) Richard. Richard's sons, John of Billerica and Henry of Woburn settled in MA while Silvester Jr's children settled in CT. All were baptized in the Anglican Church in various parishes in Bucks.

If up for it, please let me know which of Jr's children you descend from and I'll help with info where possible. I'm also descended from one of the CT Baldwin boys as well. What's frustrating is there are so many John Baldwins and info gets confused in the sourcing. I'm trying to identify whose who in part through 10 Y DNA profiles from the FTDNA Baldwin name study via Y67 data, one is my brother so I can use his as a reference. This is what I'll work on at the Bettinger workshop next Saturday and hopefully eventually add it to these wikitree profiles to reduce confusion. Happy Baldwin hunting!
+19 votes
Hi everyone! :) Here's what's going on with me.

HOME: It's cold and we have been having snow showers today. It isn't laying but It did on the steps and porch. It rained all 24 hours on both Wednesday and Thursday. It flooded some places in my town. I live with my paternal grandmother and help take care of her. She has Alzheimer's. She is still able to do a lot by herself but her mind has been getting worse. (This is why I have a lot of time on WikiTree.) Her back has hurt her all week. I took her to the doctor and they think it's a UTI even though it didn't show up on the test. (Sometimes tests can miss it they say.) I do the same thing at home as I do on the weekends at my job.

WIKITREE: I'm trying to be even more active on WikiTree than I have been the past few weeks. I love WikiTree! WikiTree is family to me too! :) I plan on joining a few more projects. I even have a few ideas for projects. I hope to be a Leader someday. I love finding cousins and notable kin. I hope others find WikiTree fun like I do!!!
by Greta Moody G2G6 Pilot (199k points)
And I commend you for your drive and willingness to go all in, Greta!
Thanks Pip! :)
Welcome to the chat Greta!

I'm on the northwest coast, and we've been having floods out here also. Last weekend, the only road north of us was under 4 ft of water, and people were using boats to get around. I hope you stay warm and dry :)

Seems to me its important for people with Alzheimers to be with those who care about them. I'm sure you're making a big difference for her. I'm glad you found WikiTree, too. Its important to have your own interests.
Thanks Laurie! :) I couldn't imagine using a boat to go places. The flooding wasn't that extreme here.

Yes, it's important that people with Alzheimer's have people that care about them around them. It is also important for them to have a routine.
+20 votes
Greetings from Everett, Washington!

Rain, rain, go away.  Rivers are flooding.  No sun until Sunday.  I was going to go to the DMV to sit for an hour waiting to renew my license.  Instead the daughter needs me to take her hither and thither trying to get an eye exam and a doctor's note so she won't get fired.  Good thing about the whole frustrating morning is that she is thinking like an adult, and that gratifies me.

I am back on the restrictive (word for the diet not recognized by the program, which represents it as ****, when I meant to speak of a low carbohydrate regimen that starts with K.) diet, and so I don't want to hear about National This or That Day.  All I could have from the Fettuccine Alfredo is the broccoli.

Have you ever gotten into a mindset that you are determined to show that a person just HAS to be the daughter of one set of parents and not of another? I am in that situation now and the other PM is waiting for an answer.  It looks very much as if Find A Grave has her connected to the wrong parents.  I just have not found any source outside Find A Grave to show for it.  That is what I will be doing today and hoping the wind doesn't get so strong that I have to shut down the computer.

Her name was Margaret Jane Walker Potts.  She and her husband Wiley Potts died the same month Wiley Jr. was born (Dec 1852, Tarrant County, Texas).  Wiley Jr. lived until 1930.  Well, I won't give all the details now.  I just want to say hello to everyone and wish we all stay dry and warm.
by Margaret Summitt G2G6 Pilot (318k points)
I hope you stay warm and dry too Margaret! I'm hunkered down on high ground, just about a hundred miles north west of you, and its a lot of water here too.

It feels good when the kids start to adult, huh?

I'm taking a break from all the errors on FindAGrave, but wish you well in your research.
You'd better believe it.  I just broke down and made myself a Find A Grave account in order to suggest the correct parents for Margaret Jane Walker Potts.
Go Margaret go!
HI Margaret! My wife and I are BOTH back on diets. She is low carb; I am low cal. I've lost about nine pounds in two weeks, but it always starts off good, then plateaus for a bit. I'm on a plateau now. I hate diets!
Go, go, gone!  Margaret Jane Walker Potts [[Walker-26595]] now has the correct parents thanks to the wonderful collaboration with Lyle Montgomery.  I gave him the Wonderful Wikitreer thanks.

And, Pip, after a while my stomach just goes numb.  On the QUITO (ketone) diet I can have tiny bits of dairy, but zero pasta, bread and certain veggies with too many carbs.  As long as I eat the packaged products and look neither to left nor to right while shopping, I think I'm okay.  Then I find myself eating out with family and watching what son and husband are having.
+18 votes
In January we had less than an inch of snow for the month.  Very unusual, expect like 10 inches or so.  Local gardeners and folks on TV are saying that the lawns and trees need watering.  So, last Sunday, it was around 70F, I pull out the hose and do my duty.  And, of course, Mother Nature is watching me and proceeds to give us 6 inches of snow on Monday!  Gotta love that lady ...

On the genealogy front ... I love it when I run across ancestors that I can relate to ... it happened last week with  Dr. Hugh Judge Jewett III (Jewett-5547).  First, a little background ... I've been dealing with bladder cancer since 2011.  My brother-in-law is dealing with prostate cancer.  Further, B-in-law worked for NASA for 35-40 years (a physicist working on Ozone stuff) and, when he retired he continued that work at Johns Hopkins University.  So, I run into Dr. Jewett and find out that he was an international authority on bladder and prostate cancer!! And, further, he studied, taught and was a surgeon at Johns Hopkins.  I almost fell off my chair!  There's a short bio for him at his FAG page (link on his profile).
by Bob Jewett G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
Mother Nature is chuckling isn't she?  We too had a dry winter, until it was announced. Last week we learned what an atmospheric river is, and now its just rain.

Small world with Dr. Jewett for sure!  I wonder if your brother-in-law ever ran into him, and didn't know it.
Snowing here now, Bob. Expecting only an inch, but it's going to melt a little, then freeze. Will make it hard to get out to church in the morning. Last year we had three heavy snows.

Cool find on Hugh!
+19 votes

All last week was summer weather, been walking around in shorts.  On Tuesday we had 30 degrees (86 F).  Two days ago some clouds came in and we're at about 15 (60 F).  My daughter stepped outside and said, "Its cold daddy, like Siberia!"  LOL - she has no idea what cold is.

This week I started my (now) annual ancestors audit.  I'm at the grandparents profiles turning happies to glads.  This time I'm keeping the results on a space page in order to track changes between audits.

We're down to about 2 months for the new baby - working on getting the house ready; I'm installing some baby gates and building new shelves.

Looking forward to reading everyone's replies.

by SJ Baty G2G Astronaut (1.2m points)
edited by SJ Baty

A little bit of a Freudian slip there with istalling, as in I stalling; instead of installing? devil

I've been promising myself that I would revisit the profiles I added when I first started and have decided now's the time to do it. BUT - I won't be as professional as you are and create space pages.

Well, I did promise those shelves some months ago cheeky

An ancestors audit - that's what I'm doing!  I knew there must be a term for it, but I just kept doing my thing until it came up. Thank you SJ, for the words, the space page and the clear explanation.

I learn something every weekend chat.
SJ, my wife is wishing for your kind of weather.

I am also going through my direct line, looking for folks I haven't developed good bios for. Turns out that I find ones that I thought I had done but were sadly lacking.
Your daughter has me laughing. Ever since I read this on Friday. I've been getting a gut ache from it.  Daddy, It's cold like Siberia is one of the funniest things I've read in a while. I was playing my guitar. Just jamming some random heavy riffs. Then out of nowhere U started laughing. Because I can picture that in my mind. Thank you. I'm still randomly laughing about it.

Thanks Paul wink

+17 votes

Hello from beautiful southeastern Arizona. Hopefully our cold winter weather has left the area. At least the forecast for the upcoming week has lows above freezing. I stayed indoors on Tuesday and Wednesday, not wanting to venture out when the highs were only in the low 40s. Hey - I moved here for the heat dagnabit! cheeky

Didn't have time to post before I left to host at the senior center because I spent time making a loaf of plum walnut bread to take with me.

Writing: A member of my Friends of the Library group posted a book review on Amazon yesterday. I was thrilled to see she gave it 5 stars. *does a happy dance*yes

I confess I published it before my critique group finished commenting on it. I did it because my beta readers had enjoyed reading it. Also, because my uncle is 86 and I wanted him to be able to read it. I'm currently revising what I'd written a long time ago. Now, wishing I had written dialogue, but I'm up to chapter 13, so making some progress.

WikiTree: Added Susannah Mathews Stone's youngest daughter, Melissa Willson Stone Barker, to her tree and connected the daughter to her husband Col. Joseph Barker, Jr. For some reason, FamilySearch has been giving me problems.angry It let me login, but the next page kept coming up blank. I couldn't get the search page to load. This morning, I went through my browser history to find a previous FamilySearch family page from last month. After this, it worked fine. yes

Last week I ranted a bit about not being able to find the parents for Elizabeth "Betsie" Barker. I have to confess that for 2 weeks, I was blind! cool

Searching for info on Joseph Jr., I found a listing of ten children for his father, Col. Joseph Barker, and his mother, Elizabeth Dana Barker. "They reared four sons and six daughters, as follows: Joseph; Elizabeth; Luther; William, who died in infancy; Sophia; George W.; Mary A.; Catherine; Frances Dana; and Charlotte C." (Page 1347 of Andrew's History of Marietta and Washington County.) This was in an entry for James G. Barker born in 1834. I guess I looked at the birth date for James and ignored the rest.crying

Anyway I hurried this morning to connect Betsie to her parents before I headed to the senior center -- before I could forget where I'd found the reference to be cited!

I'm relieved to have finished adding my third great grandaunt's children and their spouses. I've noted Ohio, Needs Profiles Created on their profiles because I'm not sure when I'll find the time to add her grandchildren.

I need to add a comment on Col. Joseph Barker's profile that his other 6 children need to be added and post a link to the archive.org which records their 10 children.

by Diane Hildebrandt G2G6 Pilot (110k points)
Diane, I'd love to read your book.  If you dont want to post a link to it, can you PM me the Amazon link?
I would like some of that plum walnut bread!

Congratulations on the book and so glad for you that it's getting solid reviews!

I'm happy too that it's warming up. Especially great after spending 2 weeks in Wisconsin!

@Laurie The Mathews Family: Mathews Family Saga Book 1. Hope you enjoy reading it!

@Carol a large slice of plum walnut bread coming your way. I usually make it with dried cranberries, but didn't have those, so tried dried plums instead. Came out good. lol

Thanks for the grats. Two weeks in Wisconsin? Not for me at this time of year -- or even in the summer lol
HI Diane! Great to see you in the video chat this morning!

I leave a lot of profiles in the Needs Profiles category because I just can't find enough time to add all those extra people (mostly in-laws). I've got too many of my own to get in still.

Plum walnut bread. I'd love to have that recipe!
Diane,

You are the best! Great idea to switch plums for cranberries! When Pip gets your recipe, I'll have two people to make this for me! Jajajajajaja ( laughing in Spanish, Pip).

Must go now... calling mum to chat while she still is able.

@Pip and @Carol:

Plum Walnut Bread

  • 1 cup brown sugar (loosely packed)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup oil (or 1/3 cup applesauce)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1  tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup dried plums (diced)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  1. Mix all ingredients together.
  2. Pour into lightly oiled loaf pan.
  3. Bake at 350o oven for 55-60 minutes.
  4. Check with toothpick. If toothpick comes out clean, it's ready.
  5. Enjoy!

+19 votes

Aloha from the frozen wastelands of Nebraska.

WEATHER: I am freakin tired of the cold blowing winds of the north. I'm also tired of the snow. I remember my youth in Hawai'i. I remember the days of endless spring/summer. Unfortunately, unless I win the lottery. My family won't be moving there any time soon. I know, I moved to Nebraska 27yrs ago. I should be over my hatred of winter. But, I'm not.  I joined the Army to get out of here 26yrs ago. For 8yrs, I got to see different parts of our country. As well as parts of Europe.  Then after the Army, I came back. Moved to Missouri, then back to Nebraska when Mom got cancer. After she died. I was getting ready to leave this place. Then, I met my wife. Now I'm stuck here. 13yrs later. My sister's moved out of here. Geez, now I'm rambling. 

Work: I only worked 47hrs this week. Monday in Kansas City. It was 67 degrees there. Unlike Nebraska. Then the rest of the week it was cold, windy, and snowy.

Family Stuff: The usual fun parenting moments. My 17yr old daughter is getting a bit to mouthy as she nears her 18th birthday. I had to have a chat with one of her male teachers. He and I had a come to Jesus moment. He may have skid marks in his under britches. If he and I have to talk again. We may need to step in to the steel cage in a WWE ring. My 15yr old got to experience the winter labor camp since he didn't want to do his indoor chores.I had him up at 5:30am making sure the snow and ice were cleared from our driveway, the sidewalks, and the elderly neighbors every morning that it applied. The afternoons, he got to clean and put away my tools in my service truck. Maybe when his mom says clean up after yourself he won't act like a jerk. My 9yr old daughter and 7yr old son have been delightful. That sentence has no sarcasm. 

Follow up to my physical: My doctor told me I'm good news about my hdl, and ldl cholesterol. Told me good news about everything from my physical. Except, he thinks I need to lose 50bls. I told him since I don't have a jiggly belly, moobs, or anything else associated with being out of shape. His weight comments can kiss my big.......hiny. I'm 6ft3 and weigh 240lbs. I work a pretty physical job. If I got down to 190lbs, I would look super skinny. I like being a big, solid guy. Hopefully he understands that I'm a healthy 240. I'm by no means built like a body builder. I'm also not looking like a sumo wrestler. I'm also, according to his tests not prediabetic.

Genealogy: I went to expand some of my branches. Then I learned that someone that was kind enough to help me, helped me way more than I could have imagined. She already filled in that part of my tree.

Anyway, hopefully my weekend is relaxing.

by Paul Kreutz G2G6 Pilot (129k points)
I called them the precious moment of parenting! The poop in the bathtub, frustrated teacher, my-room-is clean-I can-see-the-floor, catching my 14-year old daughter trying to sneak back into the house. The car that only hit the corner of the house, what-are-you-so-upset-about?  Now that I have grey hair, I remember those moments fondly.

Just think, one day you'll be lounging on Kamaole Beach with the wife, and you'll be the one missing the good old days when the kids were still home in Nebraska.  Remember the year we held winter labor camp?
Funny moment with my 9yr old. When she was a baby. She was laying in my chest. Just cuddling with me on the couch. She smiled at me in that sweet baby way. Then spit up on my face, in my mouth, and in my chest.
Perfect!

Just think Paul - someday you'll want them to provide you with grandchildren! smiley Glad to hear you got good news from the doctor.

I got my 23and Me results last night. I don't understand it as well as I would like. Looks like I need to read.
What does it say, Paul?
Only 47 hours this week, Paul? That's a slow week for you.

You gotta retire sometime. Then you can move further south, like TO the South!

6' 3" and sitting on 230 right now. I was a t 240 two weeks ago. I hate dieting, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Harder at my age and health for the exercise that would help. Planning on joining a gym in the next week or so.
Chris, it says I have a lot of German, French, and British. It also says I have the ingredients that they find in Polynesians. I need to look at it closer.

Pip, as long as I can wear the same size clothes as when I was 14. And as long as I don't get tired climbing stairs, and can out work 20yr olds. I'm not dieting. I think being 6ft3 240lbs with a 34in waist is pretty good. I eat very healthy and burn lots of calories.
Sounds pretty cool. =D
+18 votes
Happy weekend, everyone!  Survived another long class (3 down, 12 to go).  Slightly busy weekend ahead... vet appointment and movie tomorrow (Return of the Jedi, with live orchestra), Sunday birthday brunch for my husband (now half a century old) and then a birthday party for my daughter's best friend.  Somewhere in there I have to do some chores and stuff.  There's a howling wind outside, so putting the trash out will wait until morning.

Still chipping away at this huge mystery DNA cluster.  I managed to figure out which of the two sets of common ancestors is likely to be the right one.  Now I just have to figure out how a couple born in ~1700 connects to my tree.  Hah.  My tree's complete back to about 1825 so I would probably only need to track them forward about 4 generations, but they had 12 kids...
by Lisa Hazard G2G6 Pilot (264k points)
Return of the Jedi with a live orchestra?! Awesome! =D Have a great time!!

This DNA cluster you are chipping away at. I swear it's like that game "Guess Who". Only with real people.
Happy weekend Lisa!  

I'm enjoying the continuing story of your mystery DNA cluster. When you figure this out, I'll be campaigning for another season. Til then, 12 kids, 4 generations ack!
Lisa, even your weekends are FULL! We had our "howling wind" yesterday. Just to blasted cold to do anything outside.
+19 votes

It's been a real trying week that is for certain, I've been getting the runaround from one of our government departments (everytime I call in, I get a different answer to complicate an otherwise trivial solution). On the plus side, the tech issue that I mentioned whenever last time was has been resolved (no hunching over a phone on the side of my bed!)

Apart from continuing to work on my roll of honour page, the focus has been on three people in particular:

  • Richard: Trying to figure out information on his father John (clan research only has a name and no dates), and whether or not he is the grandchild of John (his pedigree lists a John Shelley and his wife Mary Bailey but nothing after that), 
  • Margaret: Finding out her parents (suggestions have been pointed at Philip Linnet (c1584 - ?) and Margaret Barker (1588 - 1677))
  • Jacques: Tracking down his birth location, rumours are suggesting France given that he is accredited as being a French refugee in 1709 (around the time of the Battle of Malplaquet, no other conflict around this time raises a flag) - this would answer the mentions of having French ancestry in my dad's family
Also begun to gain some ground on my Italian front, uncovering the apparent identities of the children of Claus Fabrin 
by Richard Shelley G2G6 Pilot (246k points)
It occurs to me that there were two types of refugees in my family around that time: religious refugees and smugglers eluding the law. A French smuggler might well have had connections in Guernsey, but the rumours might still have a little romance in them. If I was a gambler, I'd be looking at the possibility that Jacque was a religious refugee - in 1709 I think the French were still hunting Protestants.
In the case of Jacques, the story complicates further in that while he did reach Guernsey in that year, he did so having left Gosford (England). An unusual choice of location.
You got your computer problems worked out, Richard? Great! I couldn't imagine having to do work just over my phone.
Indeed I have Pip. Patience was wearing incredibly thin, it's been a definite relief!
+19 votes
I'm late to the chat and I refuse to talking about the weather on the We(s)t Coast.

This week looked quiet when it started, so I started painting the bathroom - all that taping. Then popcorn went off at work and school and some other stuff, and my days were too full for the actual painting. The tape is still stuck to the cabinets, so I'll be wearing overalls tomorrow.  I hope there isn't too much residue left behind when I get it all off.

On the genealogy front I'm about 3/4 done tracing and sourcing my Puritan ancestors, and pruning away conflated ancestors - at least in my own records. I expect to be back to my usual haunts in Atlantic Canada soon. Reading the material from that period can be so interesting and sometimes funny, from a modern perspective. Who'd have thought I'd be entertained by the Plymouth Court Records?

Here's a hug.  It looks small on the web page, but it you share it with the people around you, it will get bigger, I promise!
by Laurie Giffin G2G6 Pilot (104k points)

Here's a return hug {{Laurie}}! Yes it did get bigger laugh

I'm glad I live in an apartment, so I don't need to paint anything.  I remember thinking I could paint my living room in a day, but it took 4 days and my daughter helped me. LOL This was because I had decided to sponge paint the walls. The base cream paint went on in no time, but the two sponge coats, one a light gray-green, the other a light barely-gray blue, were another story.

Reading material from that era - I looked up the Massachusetts militia law from around 1795. Or should I have spelled that Maffachufetts? Oh my!

Laurie, I also find court records fascinating reads, especially probate records, with all the suits and countersuits, and who gets what.
+19 votes
Getting the hang of this. So here I am on the answer section instead of the comment section. Thanks to Diane Hildebrandt for the tip. Time for a break. There is so much to do here, but my head is spinning. I am new to the need for sources. The other thing is I forget to save my changes when I edit a profile.

Thanks to whoever sent the link to The Zadock Bliss book online. I have been using it, instead of looking through a hard copy of a 69 year old book.
by Nancy Wilson G2G6 Pilot (146k points)
Welcome to the chat Nancy!  

It is marvelous, isn't it, the resources that are now available online. The collaboration on WikiTree was another wonderful discovery for me. Its amazing what we're able to do, when different resources come together on an ancestor's profile.
You're welcome Nancy! Thanks to archive.org there are many books available to find information. If you're lucky enough to be searching for sources in Massachusetts, many town vital records were published in the 1850s and are available on archive.

Happy researching!
Nancy, I had to learn the hard way about needing sources. Someone called me on that, and I finally got it. However, once you get it, it'll start getting easier. Remember, you can always ask on G2G for assistance. I've received great help there.
+16 votes
Any vegetarians for the weekend out there>
by David Hughey G2G Astronaut (1.7m points)
Not here, but I'm reducing the amount of meat in my diet.
+16 votes

On this day:

1587: Mary Stuart is beheaded

1865: Georg Johann Mendel explains in Brno the rules of inheritance named after him.

1950: The Parliament of the GDR decides the foundation of the Ministry of State Security

by Jelena Eckstädt G2G Astronaut (1.5m points)
I remember studying Mendel in high school and also how fascinating the subject was. A shame I didn't pursue more topics in that area.
Well, without Mendel DNA-genealogy wouldn't be there...
Is Mendel the guy that did gene splicing with plants? If course I could just look it up. If he's the guy I'm thinking of, then the 25min of my entire Kindergarten through high school that they spent teaching us about him. Is criminal.

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