Bluebonnet Country Genealogy

Archive for December, 2009

And in that spirit, I posted my genealogical New Year’s Resolutions for the 87th COG. Not a long list, hopefully I can stick to it!

Also posted the affidavit created as proof of death of my second great-grandfather Isaac Turner for Wordless Wednesday.

Cleaned out my desk this morning, getting ready to do some serious research in the New Year!

The theme for the 87th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is New Year’s Resolutions, genealogy-style!

This is the perfect time to make your New Year resolutions, goals, aims, declarations, intentions, aspirations, objectives, plans, targets, schemes, wishes, or whatever you want to call them!

As we all know, it’s just so easy to make up a list of things to do that don’t get done. The list may be too long or too boring or too healthy or too expensive or… too-something! There is always a reason, an excuse for not following through with a New Year’s Resolution list.

Most of my previous New Year’s resolutions have landed quietly on the floor and been spirited away to the Underworld… of my desk, that is, with the dust bunnies and cats’ toys.

So this year, my list will be shorter and hopefully more manageable:

1. Do something genealogy every day- add a new fact or source citation to my RootsMagic database, read a research article, upload a new image to my photo gallery, check out a new website. Time spent doesn’t matter. 5 minutes or 2 hours… just do it!
2. Become more active in the geneablogger community- enter more carnivals, post more daily themes, leave more comments on fellow geneabloggers’ posts.
3. Post to my own blog with more regularity- I tend to write in spurts, gotta learn to pace myself, drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen(?)…
4. Join my local genealogical society- either the Tarrant County Genealogical Society (here in Fort Worth) or the Hill County Genealogical Society (I have tons of ancestors from nearby Hill County!)
5. Enroll in the National Genealogical Society’s Home Study Course- I took the NGS Intro to Genealogy course online a few years ago and I have always wanted to take the big Home Study Course. This resolution will depend on finances. $365 for the self-graded course or $565 for the graded option. I have some more pressing financial concerns that must be dealt with first.
6. Get an OpenID- Denise from Family Matters has published a wonderful OpenID Primer, just gotta take the time to actually read it!

As Scarlet O’Hara said (frequently!), “Tomorrow… is another day!”

* Watty Piper, psued. The Little Engine That Could. New York: Platt & Munk, 1930.

(click for larger image)

From Civil War Pension application begun 12 Sep 1890 by Sarah S Turner, widow of Isaac Turner.

Posted for Tombstone Tuesday my second great-grandfather, Isaac Turner.

Began the post for my entry into the 87th Carnival of Genealogy: New Years Resolutions.

That’s about it. Spending quality time with my granddaughter while she’s out of school for Christmas break. Tonight is Sleep Over/Pizza/Rock Band Wii night!

Isaac Turner (1827-1888) was my maternal second great-grandfather, a Civil War veteran, farmer and a father of 13. He and unknown family members are buried in an approximately 20’ x 12’ plot surrounded by a short stone boundary at Chatt-Jessie Cemetery in rural Hill County, Texas.