If the snow fall is light, it doesn’t last long in my yard–1\/4 acre of grass and trees, including a gigantic elm tree with a big round trunk.<\/p>\n
This magnificent elm goes schloughffffff!\u00a0 And the snow disappears all around the tree.\u00a0 The other elms, ashes, and flowering bushes, including my Magdalene Rose, have to fight for their snow.\u00a0 So it takes a bbbiiiggg snow to cover my yard for any length of time.<\/p>\n
Actually, I live in what used to be desert country.\u00a0 Less than 7 inches of rainfall were normal.\u00a0 But times are different and if we don’t get at least 20 inches of water per year, we feel deprived.<\/p>\n
Deep snow keeps the high school kids from using my yard as a cut-through.\u00a0 Going around the sidewalk, even plowed, does not seem human!\u00a0 We all cut corners.\u00a0 And since I live on the corner, my yard is a cut-through.<\/p>\n
And even my presence, working in the yard, does not halt the traffic.\u00a0 They politely say, “Hello,” and continue on their “cut-the-corners” march.<\/p>\n
Cutting corners is a problem <\/strong>in a lot of things, including your genealogy.\u00a0 Tempting as it is to work faster and farther quickly, please concentrate and focus on the whole project<\/span>.\u00a0 Whole source.\u00a0 Whole record, including the signature area at the bottom of the page.\u00a0 The whole family unit–father, mother, and all the kids<\/span>.\u00a0 Whole pedigree context from which you single out the family or group of families you plan to work on.\u00a0 Or assign to me to trace for you.<\/p>\n Watch carefully the intersections<\/span> where your ancestors meet up, form a new family group, and move on their way through life.\u00a0 Too much time is spent looking in the wrong set of records or in the wrong part of the world for the marriage!<\/p>\n Our ancestors moved around a lot!<\/p>\n Have you examined the small towns along the river?\u00a0 Have you checked the local newspapers of the day published in both local and regional areas for auctions, revivals, funerals, weddings?\u00a0\u00a0 Did you look at court files and minutes of surrounding counties as well as the one where your ancestors resided?<\/p>\n The marriage can occur anywhere <\/span>the two ancestors decide upon.<\/p>\n A productive\u00a0 strategy<\/strong> is to study a current map of the area–get one that includes the surrounding places.\u00a0 Look for the familiar spokes-of-the-wheel<\/span> road pattern.\u00a0 The center town or city in that wheel pattern is often the place of the marriage–in a cathedral church, at a city hall, in court chambers.\u00a0 Also watch for resorts and recreation spots\u00a0 within your\u00a0 area.\u00a0 Remember that your ancestors were just as creative and just as romantic when planning their wedding as you family is today!<\/p>\n Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle\u00a0\u00a0 http:\/\/arleneeakle.com<\/p>\n PS\u00a0 Set your calendar:\u00a0 25-26 Feb 2011:<\/strong> I am speaking on Southern Land Records, State-by-State<\/em> and How to Trace the Common Man Through<\/em> Congressional Records<\/em> at the Dixie Center in St. George UT.\u00a0 Register at http:\/\/familyhistoryexpos.com<\/a> where you ” Ol’ Dogs can learn New Tricks!”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If the snow fall is light, it doesn’t last long in my yard–1\/4 acre of grass and trees, including a gigantic elm tree with a big round trunk. This magnificent elm goes schloughffffff!\u00a0 And the snow disappears all around the … Continue reading \n