West Virginia Genealogy Resources

The state of West Virginia has the nickname of “The Mountain State”. Are you searching for more information about your ancestors who once lived in West Virginia? There are plenty of online West Virginia genealogy resources that can help you. Start with the ones that are in this blog! Cyndi’s List is probably the most comprehensive list of links to online genealogy resources. If it is located somewhere in the internet, then Cyndi’s List has a link to it! They have a page called “United States – West Virginia”. Start by selection one of their many categories to browse through. … Continue reading

Add Some Halloween Flavor to Your Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of your family. A great way to understand more about your ancestors is to learn more about the history of the places that they lived. October and November are excellent months to add some Halloween flavor to your genealogy research. On October 19, and October 20, 2012, the Pensacola Lighthouse, which is located in Pensacola, Florida, will hold Haunted Lighthouse Tours. They will take place from 6:00 at night until 9:00 at night. Reservations are required. Admission will cost adults $5.00 and children $3.00. The tour is not recommended for young children. The Pensacola Lighthouse has … Continue reading

Live Below the Line

My son is in third grade and at his school; they have a saying “Are you living above the line or below the line?” Of course, above the line is doing good things and living below the line is doing bad things, so they encourage the children to live above the line. But, living below the line isn’t always a bad thing. There is a new campaign I just discovered called “Live Below the Line.” What line are they talking about? The poverty line. Live Below the Line is asking people to change their lives for just 5 days by … Continue reading

Inexpensive Genealogy Classes, Webinars, and More!

The best time to take a genealogy class, course, workshop, or webinar is when they are free. First, you must find out when the event will take place, and that information isn’t always easy to find. You also are going to need a genealogy class that is located near you, or that is being done online. Here are some that will be happening soon. On September 24, 2012, the Shrewsbury Public Library, which is located in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, will have the monthly meeting of the Shrewsbury Genealogy Club. The meeting is free to attend, and is open to anyone who … Continue reading

Stretch Your Dollar on Halloween Thrills and Chills

Halloween will be here and gone before you know it, and if you aren’t careful, celebrating the holiday can leave a nasty mark on your wallet. The key to saving money at various Halloween-related events and attractions is to get the most bang for your buck. The following family-friendly travel attractions allow you to maximize your holiday fun without breaking the bank: Indiana: Each October the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo hosts a Halloween Extravaganza. The zoo goes wild with Halloween activities, such as pumpkin decorating contests, costume parades and a Monster Mash dance party. Kids can also have a ball … Continue reading

Where Were You on That Day?

Today, many genealogists have created online blogs that they use to talk about their research, post family photos, and share family stories. I have a suggestion for a topic that will give you a lot of material to work with. Ask your family members where they were when a significant event happened, and write down their stories. There are certain events that are so shocking, and so tragic, that they cannot be forgotten. Sometimes, those events affect an entire nation, (if not the entire world). People remember exactly where they were, and what they were doing, right before they found … Continue reading

The Power of Walking

Earlier this month I read a report from the “Centers of Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) that compared to five years ago, more people have taken up walking. It is one of the most popular forms of exercise. It really isn’t a surprise. After all, it’s free and a form of exercise that virtually anyone can enjoy. While this is good news, the CDC also says that not enough Americans are meeting federal guidelines when it comes to exercise. In fact, almost a third of the population remains inactive. What are the federal guidelines? They are at least two-and-a-half hours … Continue reading

National Simplify Your Life Week

Guess what the first week of August is? It is “National Simplify Your Life Week.” How many of us could use some of that? Although this could apply to a variety of areas in our lives, I can’t help but think of how we could simplify things in our home. Everything from the clutter we collect to the chores that overwhelm us. I think sometimes we make things in life, including the keeping of our home, to be so much more complicated than is necessary. We can’t find things yet we do nothing about the fact that our closets are … Continue reading

Which Peter Pan is the Best?

Charming is one word that we could apply to just about any Disney animated film, and even though 1953’s “Peter Pan” certainly is that, it’s devoid of charm when compared to the play/novel on which it was based. One of Walt Disney’s greatest strengths was his ability to take an older story and reinvent it for modern audiences. Doing so for “Peter Pan,” however, just replaces what is a wry and sweet sense of humor with silly slapstick, which seems cheap in comparison. A primary reason why Barrie’s book, and presumably his play, is so charming is its witty, very … Continue reading

Upcoming Genealogy Events – Week of July 15, 2012

Each and every week, there are plenty of genealogy courses, workshops, conferences, and events happening. All you have to do is find one, and figure out what you need to do in order to attend it. Here is a quick list of some of the genealogy events that are going on this week. There could be one near you! On July 16, 2012, the Ela Area Public Library, which is located in Lake Zurich, Illinois, will have a meeting of the library’s Genealogy Interest Group (GIG). It will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon, and will end at 5:00 in … Continue reading