I have been so busy doing, that I haven't set writing as a priority.  Seems there is a rather urgent need for indexers to help with the US Census 1940.  FamilySearch has recruited those of us in the Historical Records department to call County Genealogical Societies to get them involved and, for the most part, response has been enthusiastic.  Getting indexers from the area they will be indexing will ensure more accurate transcriptions; for instance, place-names won't be misread or misspelled, not to mention people names and occupations.  Exciting times!  Some of these people are still alive - the "greatest" generation - have lived through the great Depression, the Second World War, and the rise of technology.  Those actually born in 1940 would be in their 70's today and can help in the setting down of correct records.

If you would like to get involved helping index this census, go to

https://www.familysearch.org/1940census

I have also been arbitrating indexed records - mainly from the UK and Wales  1871 census.....and the usual answering phones a couple of days a week and answering emails - maybe two per day.  I love the variation in the work...and the best part...it is all volunteer and flexible.  With the help of technology, I can attend training meetings online with many others.

That friend in my apartment building I was helping is getting along quite nicely in her genealogy and is attending free Apple computer classes AND iPad classes! - the secret to being an interesting person:  get interested!!

Thank you for your patience and waiting .

Well, I'm getting a leeetle better at posting regularly.  It's a question of habit. I spent the weekend organizing my genealogy papers.  Each family was in a folder in a 2-drawer filing cabinet.  When I took them out to organize them, I always had papers all over, so I decided to put them into separate binders so I could leaf through them without making a mess on the living room floor.  When i finished, I had little white dots all over my carpet from my one-hole punch.

I've heard from relatives in BC and Ontario and the US and gotten people in touch with each other.  I've also been helping people navigate the Ancestry and FamilySearch sites.  Got subscriptions to Internet Genealogy and Family Chronicles and Family Tree mags and order a book on 55 Best Afghans (they are gorgeous and that's my specialty). 

Seems like the articles for Internet Genealogy are put off until the Feb/Mar issue.  After that's published, I will be writing more.

The presentation on how to start a Blog is being put on the computers at our local Family History Center and I'm told there was good feedback from it.  If anyone who was in that class and is reading this and has started a blog of their own, please let me know so I can subscribe to it and, if you need help, post here and I'll get back to you.  Blogger has some great aids as well.  As I mentioned in my class, Blogger seems to be the most user-friendly of them all.

Okay - so far since putting up the McCaws Come To Life blog, Stewart has met cousins and grand nieces and nephews he didn't know he had, and I have met a few myself.  They are scattered from the east coast of Canada to the west, and from the U.S. to Australia.  Between all the ancestores I've found on both my adoptive and my birth families, and all the new ones who are living, it is a bit overwhelming.  I have felt this way before when being introduced (in person and on the web) to my siblings, but I got over ti. Eventually.  (I'm talking into the teens and maybe counting.)  However, I would never quit looking and I would never give up staying in contact because family matters.

iF YOU WANT TO HELP THE EFFORTS TO MAKE RECORDS AVAILABLE, Ancestry.com had an indexing project.  There is also the World Project, and FamilySearch needs indexers as well.  Another way to spend a bad-weather day inside.  :)

Stewart is doing book signings in England and we are waiting for our articles to be published in Internet Genealogy magazine.   It may not be until the Feb/March issue, now.  Meantime, I have put the lady who worked on the original document of the McCaw family history in touch with a sister so they could exchange information.  I'm also heavy into answering emails at www.familysearch.org from people wanting help with Historical Records.  My teachers have been wonderful and I have plenty of support.  it is a wonderful learning experience.  There are records being digitized and indexed every day.  Next I will be going on Live Chat answering questions from genealogy researchers.  A good way to spend a few hours each day when the weather is bad. 

LOOKING FOR THE LIVING

My thoughts this morning turn to searching for those who live in the present.  I have found relatives who get in touch by phone, Facebook, and Skype through ancestry.com .   There are so many of us trying to find each other and there are many branches on one tree.  Facebook has its own family tree app.   A good way to find people who may be able to give you information or you may be able to help them find where they fit into your tree.

What the Living are doing:  There are hundreds of millions - possibly more, but I can't remember the number, microfilms in the Granite Mountain Vault in Utah that are being indexed and digitized.  Voluteers for indexing can be anyone - you - me -lds members and non-members.  Th following is a quote from a Wiki article posted on https://www.familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/Digitizing_the_Records_in_the_Granite_Mountain

"The Future of the Granite Mountain Records Vault

Vault conversion of microfilm to digital images will ramp up dramatically in 2010, increasing the publication of online images into the hundreds of millions. A growing international volunteer workforce will produce more indexes of non-English records, making the records even more accessible.
FamilySearch will continue to “open the vault” in the months and years to come. FamilySearch envisions “a global community actively contributing records and information in a free flow of data into an open repository of family-linked names that connect and preserve the human family.” To fulfill this vision, FamilySearch not only provides record-preservation services but also seeks to provide much greater access to online records and further enable a self-reliant genealogical community."

I know about this because I search the Wiki often in hopes of finding valuable information to help others.  Try it.  Go to the site, do a search for the country and/or specific place and see what comes up.  It can be fascinating reading.

GRADUATION!!

Well, Stewart is working hard on publicity for his book and writing, as authors usually do.  As for me, I graduated today from my 5-week training in Family History.  I will be helping people view images on www.familysearch.org and helping correct records.  I am in the Historical Records department and work from home (volunteer) on the computer.  I'm really enjoying this.  Other adventures have happened too.  Have to tell you another time.  Now that training is over, my time is a little more flexible, so I can post.  See you soon.