Lost Is Found

 Going through some of my mother's things I found a couple of CDs I had left there many years ago. I had shown her some things in the family tree, and I left the things behind as I had it all on my computer at home.  One thing was a copy of my photo album on my computer in 2003.  The other thing was my copy of FamilyTree Maker 9. It was owned by Broderbund when I bought it, and it was the last copy I bought. I loved the program but I didn't love Ancestry (they bought FTM).  

She didn't have a computer long. She said she didn't like it, but I think she was intimidated and a little afraid of it! She was not really interested in Family History. She would tell me the stories though.

Now I have Family Historian and I am quite pleased with it. It does have a learning curve, but I am ok with that. Everything is where I would want it to be, and I'm very comfortable with it. I am still learning things about the program, but still pleased. My old brain needs a workout anyway! I recently found a program by Nick Walker called Ancestral Sources that makes source entry easier in Family Historian. It is a free program. There are videos for both programs on YouTube and the Family Historian site and I use them often.

Family Historian. Ancestral Sources by Nick Walker. 

I Don't Know If I Am Ready

 December 31, 2024, my step-father died. He was 87, and missing my Mother so much. She died just 14 months before him. The Coroner said he had a massive heart attack, which makes sense as his heart was broken. He was gone before he hit the floor.Thankfully he did not suffer.

It snowed and got bitterly cold after that. I love snow normally. This time was different. At one point there was somewhere between 10 - 15 inches of snow out my window. Today it is raining, but cold, and I think the snow that is still hanging around is icier than it was. We're waiting for another bitter wave of temps coming at us.

So, what might be the most disturbing and scary year of my life, and I am almost 71, has begun. I've always thought of the new year started on my birthday. I mean, technically that seems reasonable since it really will be a new year for me. So I have a few weeks before I count it. January is just a trial run. A window into my future.

How has this January new year started? A funeral, drones and aliens, bitter weather, fire, and now fear. Many of my ancestors fought and some died to make and keep this country free. Most of my family are all in and happy about what is coming. To me it makes for a lonely time as I have been on the other side of the situation. I have lost my faith in the people of this country. I am resolved to believe that in the end, truth, decency, freedom and justice will win. I hope I live to see justice done!

What have I done so far?  I grieve. I deleted my Instagram (Threads), and Facebook. I haven't had Twitter for a long time. There is no longer any news channels in my house. I look online for reputable news sources.  I do have Bluesky and Mastodon.  I BLOCK TROUBLE and it brings such peace.

I've also gotten all of my bag patterns made into books, making it so much less messy to create one project, than having pattern pages everywhere.

 In family history: I use Family Historian and have a different way of working. Better organized, thanks to Drew Smith ("Organize Your Genealogy"). I have a folder full of sources to do, a folder of sources to scan, a folder to transcribe, and WikiTree to work on. Want to make a dent this year. Let's see how it goes.                                          

 

 

 

Relationships

 I've always kept Legacy on my computer. I like it for some things, for others not so much. But, I did buy the full program when 9 came out. Now it has upgraded to Legacy10, It's FREE! I could not believe it. I thought it had to be a trial or just part of the program, but no. It is the full program! It is also great. I think I know the 2 programs I will be working in now.      

Legacy10 sent me an exciting "Tip 1". You can turn on relationships. Just like that! You can see below how they display. It also lists my brother's wife as "sister-in-law".  It also will list "Stepfather" and "Stepbrother". None of the others do that. Perfect.

Family Historian is the program I am using now, and I am very pleased with it. In it, relationships are just part of the work. You will see them in the Individual Record list. Didn't have to set it up, it was just there. How good is that?! It lists my brother's wife at just that, brother's wife. Very good.

RootsMagic 7-Click Tools, then click Relationship Calculator, click to find the person1, then click to add Person2, click Calculate.  You will see the relationship between the two. It will only list blood relatives, blank for in-laws.

RootsMagic 9- It would seem that RM9 is actually set up to be a scavenger hunt, you know what you want, now go see if you can find it.  I couldn't find it so it took me at least an hour of reading the "not so helpful Help" and user groups. Finally found it, may never be able to find it again. Pull up Relationship Calculator, click to find the person1, then click to add Person2, click Calculate.  You will see the relationship between the two. It will only list blood relatives, blank for in-laws. Same old.

Click - click - click - click - click - click - click. . . sorry. I'm being a jerk but it feels right. I'm old. I don't want complications. I hate scavenger hunts. They give me a headache. Get off my lawn. I just want to work.