You log in to your various DNA tests to see what's shaking, and see something exciting: a new close relative match! It's not a name you recognize, but that makes the new match that much more exciting, yes? So you send out the message you have used time and again with new or particularly intriguing ...
Blog
Brick Wall or Research Question?
This year, I've decided it's time to be more specific about exploring my brick wall ancestors, as well as those who aren't brick walls, but leave me with questions. Sometimes, it's easy to mix up the two. What we think is a brick wall might actually be a research question, one that's easily answered ...
Prettier on the Outside
This incubator of plague and sower of dissent is my daughter. I love her with all my heart, but motherhood isn't easy, no matter how cute the child appears. Sure, plenty of people do tell me she's cute - "So cute!" "How adorable!" "I just love her." "She's no trouble at all." To the outside world, ...
Snow Days
What are your memories of snow days in your youth? Mine is of listening to WBCN Boston 104.1, hoping for the snow song. It was a parody of Monty Python’s “Spam,” except it went, “Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow, snow…” When you heard that, you knew there was a possibility of a snow ...
Transcripts vs. Original Records
It seems I'm on a roll with sharing my thoughts in 2020! As it turns out, I'm also on a roll with finding Italian records. You see, I have two "sets" of Italian ancestors, both maternal. My mom's parents each have one Italian parent. And those Italian parents are from completely opposite "ends" of ...
Navigating the FamilySearch Catalog
While we know FamilySearch is one of the best free genealogy resources available, most people aren't making the most of what they have to offer. If you're going to FamilySearch.org and searching from there, let me show you what you're missing out on and how to dig deeper! Start with the Catalog ...