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Monday Genea-pourri, Week of August 23–29, 2021

I have completed seventy-six (76) weeks of semi- lock down due to Covid-19. This past week, I left the house to have an anniversary dinner, work at the History Center, do phenology, and work the WCMRS show on Friday.

Genealogy

Blog Writing: I wrote two posts this week.

52 Ancestors—Week 34: Character—McFall Daughters Both Actresses.  I wrote about May Noble and Julia Gray, two daughters of Joseph & Catherine Rose (Davey) McFall. They were the first cousin, twice removed of my husband.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun—Your Junior High School (or Middle School) Memories.   I wrote about attending Parkmead Intermediate School in Walnut Creek and the outside activities I did. 

Online Study Groups & Meetings Attended: I had fewer meetings this week. I hosted the Monday Morning meeting, while some members were in Salt Lake City researching at the Family History Library. I met with my AppGen partners for our weekly planning meetings. I recently joined the Sacramento German Genealogy Society’s committee on putting out Der Blumenbaum and attended my first meeting. And lastly, meet with my peer group on Friday, where we discussed progress and chapter 9 in Mastering Genealogical Documentation.  

Webinars & Classes Attended
: I did some catching up on missed webinars:

  • When Self-Publishing Might Not Be a Good Fit by Craig Scott
  • Early Ontario Research by Janice Nickerson
  • Fire, Water & the 1890 Census by Elizabeth Gomoll
  • Using Zotero to Organize and Annotate Your Family History Research by Colleen Robledo Greene

Client Work/Presentations:
I had no presentations or client work this week. I did work a little on my Land lessons and queried the enrolled students on learning about their experience with deeds and other land records.

Volunteer & Own Work:
At the History Center, we rearranged the books, by placing the books for sale in the old library and moving the books we’re keeping into the new library. Very glad for the help from Ben and John.

This week, I did a lot of research in newspapers for my 52 Ancestors blog post. I located many articles about the two actresses, Julia Gray and May Noble. Plus, when looking at the obit for their brother, Joseph H. McFall, I discovered he used a pseudonym part of his life, and also served in the Spanish-American war. He also lived in a veteran’s home, so I have some research to do in military and veterans' records.

Other:

  • It was our 41st anniversary on Monday and we ate out at Kabul Garden. We both ordered lamb kabobs and I had enough meat and rice left over for two more meals.
  • On Wednesday, we went up to Santa Rosa to visit our daughter and from there, we visited Healdsburg for lunch and then her restaurant Spinsters Sisters for dinner.
  • I went to train club for our last Friday of the month open house, where I operated trains from the cabs. It was surprising that we had a good crowd since it was so warm that night.
  • Lastly, I attended book club on Sunday and shared a few books I received in the last few weeks.

I’m reading the following books:

  • Lily’s Promise by Kathryn Erstine—Finished!
  • Girl Waits with a Gun by Amy Stewart
  • Stargazer by Anne Hillerman

Photos for this week: Some roses from a walk this week.






Genealogists are great at documenting our ancestors’ lives but not so great documenting our own. I’ll write about what I’ve been doing the past week. This idea came from Randy Seaver of Genea-Musing, who started this meme.


Copyright © 2021 by Lisa S. Gorrell, My Trails into the Past. All Rights Reserved.

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