A Few Notes On The DAF Redesign

Well I think I've settled on a template that works for me but I also want to key readers into certain changes going on at DAF:

- DAF will be more focused on my personal research and my carnival postings.

- I have moved posts related to geneabloggers (such as This Week in Facebook and This Week's New Geneablogs) over to the Geneabloggers site.

- Facebook Bootcamp for Geneabloggers will still be the repository for technical posts such as how to add certain blog features or how to use new technologies and apply them to the art of geneablogging.

- I no longer display a bloglist at either DAF or Facebook Bootcamp. There were reports that the main page for each of those blogs took a long time to load and I was able to pinpoint the cause to a blogroll with over 225 geneablogs! The complete list is displayed in the sidebar over at Geneabloggers.

Wordless Wednesday

Catharina De Wandelaer Gansevoort, 1689-1767 - my 9th Great-Grandmother. Portrait by Nehemiah Patridge, abt. 1718. New York State Historical Collection, Cooperstown, New York.

Tombstone Tuesday

Monument of Charles H. McEntee (1842 - 1862). Taken March 10, 2008. Montrepose Cemetery, Kingston, NY. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Charles H. McEntee was my 1st cousin 4 times removed and was born at Kingston, NY on January 21, 1832^[1], the son of Charles McEntee and Christina Tremper. He was a brother of the famous painter, Julia McEntee Dillon.

Charles attained the rank of Captain (posthumously), Company H, 120th NYS Infantry Volunteers in which he enlisted on August 18, 1862^[2].

Maurice died at Falmouth, Virginia on December 21, 1862^[3] most likely from injuries at the Battle of Fredericksburg.

Notes

[1] 1860 US Census, (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed February 27, 2008, citing Census Place: Kingston, Ulster, New York; Roll: M653_870; Page: 0; Image: 347.

[2] Van Santvoord, Cornelius, The One Hundred and Twentieth Regiment New York State Volunteers (Rondout, New York: Kingston Freeman Press, 1894), p. 297. "Company H was raised by Captain Charles H. McEntee and Lieutenants James K. Holmes and Michael E. Creighton.".

[3] Id., p. 298. "A gallant and promising young officer stricken with brain fever and died at the beginning of his military career on December 21, 1862, at Falmouth, Va. His remains lie in Montrepose Cemetery, Rondout, where loving parents have erected a broken column to mark his resting place."

Are You Truly A Caretaker For Your Research?

During yesterday's Scanfest, while we scan and chat via instant messenger, many topics are raised, from the mundane ("did you have a pet rock and a mood ring in the 70s") to more serious topics.  Topics such as: what happens to your genealogy research once you are no longer on this Earth and become an ancestor?  Have you made plans for someone to take over your research?

After some great ideas, Sheri Fenley of The Educated Genealogist posted on this topic and has included sample "genealogical codicil" text to be used during estate planning.

If you haven't already done so, please take time to ponder this topic seriously.  When I completed my estate planning this past summer, I had a provision in my will stating that if specific people in my family did not want to care for my research, that it was to be left with one or more historical societies.

Just like any other "asset" for which you currently care, you should consider bequeathing your research so that it can be continued years from now and not be just another "lost" body of knowledge.

What a Great Scanfest!

In case you missed it, a fun and productive time was had by all during yesterday's Scanfest hosted by Miriam Midkiff Robbins of AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors.

Not only were basic scanning questions answered (Which DPI should I use? Do I save as TIFF or JPG format or both?) but lots of tricks and tips were revealed (Use dental floss to remove pictures stuck in those awful "magnetic" album pages.  Or better yet, just scan the entire page and then save as separate photos).

If you haven't attended a Scanfest yet, get ready for another one at the end of February.  Keep tabs on this event at Geneabloggers Group on Facebook or at the newGeneabloggers website.

Hats - Did Women In Your Family Wear Them?

Well yours truly is just being silly today, but after seeing Aretha Franklin performing at the Inauguration this past Tuesday, I got to thinking that women just don't wear hats like they used to.

In fact, I looked in The Box and could not find one single photo of my mother wearing a hat - one that would be suitable for a wedding or funeral or a social event. Now it might be a generational thing since there are plenty of photos with my grandmother, great-grandmother and other ancestors wearing hats. I could just see this as a theme for an upcoming Smile For The Camera carnival! Wouldn't that be great to see a parade of hats?

One other hat-related inauguration tidbit which it turns out is more urban legend than it is the gospel truth: many content that because John F. Kennedy did not wear a hat at his Inauguration, it led to a precipitous decline in the number of men wearing hats.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #3

3. Participate in weekly blog themes: Tombstone Tuesday, Wordless Wednesday, etc. Many genealogy bloggers post photos of grave stones on Tombstone Tuesday or a photo worth 1,000 silent words on Wordless Wednesday. Participate in these informal events or invent your own.

I was an "early adopter" of Tombstone Tuesday and I usually try to participate on a regular basis.  Wordless Wednesday has not been as consistent but that is because I need to scan more photos.  Thankfully, Scanfest is coming up this Sunday!!!

The Week In Facebook: January 23, 2009

This is a weekly feature which will document some of the genea-blogger happenings as they relate to Facebook®.

- This weekly post will migrate over to the new Geneabloggers website beginning next week, January 30th. I want to free up Destination: Austin Family to concentrate more on my research and my surnames and I think the weekly Facebook post fits more with the Geneabloggers site than here.

- While it seems like we only added two new members to bring us to a total of 318 that is a bit misleading - we did have some members leave and I dropped some people who never completed their Facebook signup. Check out Genea-Bloggers group listing on Facebook. If you know anyone who blogs about their genealogy or family history and you think they might benefit from membership in Geneabloggers please let me know and send me their email info!

- A new post listing new geneablogs can be found here at Facebook Bootcamp for Geneabloggers. Check out the new sites and welcome the new bloggers since many if not all are now members of Geneablggers.

- The deadline for the Carnival of Central and Eastern European Genealogy is today, January 23. Please check it out and post about your family's roots in this area.

- Don't forget Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #3: Weekly Blog Themes! Learn more about Tombstone Tuesday and Wordless Wednesday!

- And finally let's give a great big cheer for the return of Scanfest which has been on hiatus since last Fall. If you've always wanted to learn the correct way to scan photos and documents and how to do so while "chit chatting" with your fellow geneablogger, then check it out this Sunday, January 25, 2009 from 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Pacific time.

Again, if anyone has a question as to how to use Facebook, I'd be happy to help. You can always email me directly but if you post your question as a Discussion Topic at the Genea-Bloggers group, you might find that other members also have the same questions.

The Register - NEHGS Goes Green

Good news for those of us who prefer a paperless option to many of the journals and magazines that we receive!  The New England Historic Genealogical Society is now offering members the option of receiving The Register in pdf format.  Here is the text of an email I received this afternoon:

I am pleased to announce that NEHGS is now offering our members the option of viewing a paperless PDF edition of each issue of our flagship quarterly journal, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. This fully-searchable PDF edition will be published on our website two to three weeks before the printed version is released. Older issues of the journal, from 1847 to 2005, are already available on www.NewEnglandAncestors.org.

This option will enable members, if they choose, to stop having the printed version mailed to them. By helping NEHGS reduce printing and mailing costs, we can save thousands of dollars a month, go "green," and better utilize precious resources.

If you are comfortable reading new issues of the Register online, or do not presently use it in your research, I urge you to help us reduce costs and go paperless by calling our Member Services team toll-free at 1-888-296-3447 or by email at membership@nehgs.org.

We are proud to offer new issues of our eminent journal in this increasingly popular PDF online format and are grateful to those who will make this cost-saving and environmentally friendly option their delivery preference going forward.

D. Brenton Simons
President and CEO

Tombstone Tuesday: Maurice Wurts McEntee

Headstone of Maurice Wurts McEntee (1836 - 1983). Taken March 10, 2008. Montrepose Cemetery, Kingston, NY. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Maurice Wurts McEntee was my 1st cousin 4 times removed and was born at Kingston, NY on January 30, 1836, the son of James Smith McEntee and Sarah Jane Goetschius. He was a brother of the famous landscape painter, Jervis McEntee.

Maurice graduated from the Clinton Institute at Clinton, New York (Clinton was known as the "village of schools" due to the large number of private schools located there). He later attended the United States Naval Academy.

During the Civil War, he was a 1st. Sergeant, 1st. Lieutenant and Adjutant, 20th New York State Militia, April-August, 1861. Maurice was Acting Master in United States Navy under Admiral David Farragut and was honorably discharged on May 14, 1867.

Besides his military service, Maurice was a reporter and editor for the Kingston Daily Freeman newspaper. In addition, he wrote tales of the sea for youngsters, under pen name, "Uncle Blue Jacket" (in reference to his military service), for St. Nicholas and Harpers Our Young Folks.

Maurice never married and died at Kingston, NY on June 14, 1883.

13th Edition of Cabinet of Curiosities Is Posted!

Congratulations go out to Tim Abbott of Walking The Berkshires for another fine edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities!  

The cabinet is well stocked including bizarre photos, old buttons, a steamer trunk, a welcoming fish and more.  Check out this worthwhile read this morning!

And remember that Tim is looking for someone to host next month's carnival so drop him an email if you are interested.

The 64th Edition of Carnival of Genealogy Is Posted

Jasia at Creative Gene has done it again with another fine edition of the Carnival of Genealogy. With the theme Winter Photo Essay, take some time this weekend to read through the entries, perhaps with a hot cup of cocoa and a roaring fire nearby.

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is:

"The Happy Dance." The Joy of Genealogy. Almost everyone has experienced it. Tell us about the first time, or the last time, or the best time. What event, what document, what special find has caused you to stand up and cheer, to go crazy with joy? If you haven't ever done the Happy Dance, tell us what you think it would take for you to do so." This next edition will be hosted by Becky at kinexxions. Thanks Becky! The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1st.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. Please use a descriptive phrase in the title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction to your articles in the "comment" box of the blogcarnival submission form. This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest them in clicking on your link. Thank you!

Finally, Jasia has tentatively listed all the topics for the remaining COG editions in 2009 and the hosts for each edition (note that Jasia is still looking for hosts for several editions!):

Jan 1 - New Year's Resolutions

Jan 15 - Winter Photo Essay

Feb 1 - The Happy Dance (kinexxions)

Feb 15 - iGene Awards, the best of the best!

Mar 1 - Nobody's Fool: Who gives the best advice? (Destination: Austin Family)

Mar 15 - Women's History Month: One Woman

Apr 1 - "What if": Rewriting History (West in New England)

Apr 15 - Uncle, uncle!

May 1 - Local History (What's Past is Prologue)

May 15 - Honoring Mothers

Jun 1 - The Good Earth: Family Ties to the Land (Apple's Tree)

Jun 15 - Annual Swimsuit Edition

Jul 1 - Open For Hosting

Jul 15 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Favorite Summer Memory from Your Youth

Aug 1 - Disasters Our Ancestors Lived Through (AnceStories)

Aug 15 - Ride Em Cowboy: Let's See Your Pony Pictures!

Sep 1 - Family Reunions (CanadaGenealogy)

Sep 15 - Research An Event Your Ancestor May Have Attended

Oct 1 - Open For Hosting

Oct 15 - Weddings!

Nov 1 - Open For Hosting

Nov 15 - "Harvest": What it meant to your family.

Dec 1 - Open For Hosting

Dec 15 - Holiday Theme

My Key to Ireland: Unlocking Family Mysteries

This post was written for the 11th Edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture.

As I've related in several posts, my last name has always been a family mystery - whether it should be MacEntee or McEntee - with various explanations as to how the "a" was added.

The solution of that mystery was the key to opening up a treasure chest of other mysteries including where the McEntees lived in Ireland prior to arriving in the United States.

In one of many emails received from distant cousins, I've been told that the McEntees are from County Monaghan which is in the province of Ulster. It appears that Charles McEntee, my 4th great-grandfather arrived in Salina, Onondaga County, New York around 1800 where he and his wife Mary both died in 1806.

I've found some wonderful online resources for the McEntee family in County Monaghan including the McEntee surname study at the Connors Genealogy Homepage.

Right now I have no excuses for not delving further into my research. I guess I have been so focused on trying to connect Charles' son Edward McEntee with the famous McEntees of Ulster County, New York that I've neglected to realize that this mystery could be better solved by going back to the roots - back to County Monaghan.

The Bar

Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar Is Closed". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

This post was composed for the 13th Edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities hosted at Walking The Berkshires

Faithful readers may remember a photo similar to the one above in a post over a year ago entitled "Women's China Painting in the 19th and Early 20th Centuries" where I discussed the Julius Brauer Studios porcelain bowl circa 1910. While I ventured into a thorough discussion of what I call my "china syndrome," I have never talked of what lurked beneath said item: The Bar.  While she may seem staid and reserved, nay a bit conservative, beware of what lurks inside.

The Bar is a 1920s solid mahogany bar that I purchased on Ebay in June of 2007 and had shipped from the seller in New Hampshire. She was sitting in an antiques store looking very neglected and unwanted. Since I knew the shipping would be as much as, if not more than, the bar itself, I got on the phone with the seller and made sure everything was on the up and up. A deal was struck to have the seller drop her off at the nearby UPS Store where I had already paid for shipping. I simply called up the UPS Store owner, sent him the listing on Ebay and he came up with an estimate as to how long and how much.

When the bar arrived less than a week later, she defintely had seen better days - like a showgirl now relegated to the Burlesque circuit. She still had her original knobs which are in a marigold pattern in brass from the 1920s which have helped me to determine a 1920s date. I also knew that I needed to embark on a major refinishing project during the summer of 2007.

So each day I would make progress by first stripping off years of ugly yellowed varnish, staining the wood in a red mahogany color, then slowly adding coats of finish with alternate periods of sanding. It took about three weeks to complete which was good since the invites for a cocktail party had already gone out the door!

There are many features of The Bar that I love - let's peak inside, shall we?



Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar Is Partially Open". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

Her top flips open to reveal two chrome surfaces.  I intend to replace these since they are bumpy and worn and a guest could never place a drink there without getting tipsy by just looking at how askew it sat on the surface!  But who doesn't need their top replaced every now and then?



Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar Is Open for Business!". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

Next, we unlock the doors.  Yes there is a lock which allows entry into the lower portion of The Bar - a bit of a chastity belt, as it were - where the serious business takes place.  If you know my family you know that a lock is required on most all liquor cabinets and bars.

If you look at the top shelf you see various wine glasses, a vermouth sprayer (for martinis), a bottle of Angostora bitters (for Manhattans), a condiment caddy and a crystal bell.  A bell?  Yes, The Bar has wheels on it (which I replaced with more modern ones) and a guest can simply "ring" for his or her drink and get freshened up.  Yeah right.

Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar - Anchor Hocking Golden Spires Glasses". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

Her doors swing open and provide a place for various glasses.  As I began to outfit The Bar, I was able to locate sets of glasses from the 1950s made by Anchor Hocking in the Golden Spire pattern.  They have a very "atomic" look and there are tumblers, rocks, double shot and shot glasses in The Bar.

Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar - Libations". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

On the lower shelves is where the serious stuff is stored.  There is also a Kromex ice bucket from the 1950s, and a "recipe box" called the Bar Aid where you turn a dial and look up a recipe for close to 100 drinks.  I see I'm low on breakfast wine - I'll have to make a run to Johnson's Liquors later.  Perhaps they deliver.

Photo: Mahogany Bar - "The Bar - Condiment Caddy Closeup". January 17, 2009. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2009.

Finally, here is a closeup shot of one the many gadgets with which I've "tricked out" The Bar: it is a 1950s condiment caddy.  The jars are labeled Lemon, Olives, Cherries and Onions and make it easy to put together martinis, lemon drops and other libations in a jiffy.  Guests have been know to mistake it for a "buffet" and if I'm not quick with a slap on the hand lots of the goodies just disappear.

So there you have it.  I've always wanted a place to store wine and liquor in one place but while I've always wanted a "bar cart" I didn't want to have to dust all those glass shelves and keep everything clean.  And I didn't have room for one of the larger bars some of which have a center that "pops-up."  I love the slim and unassuming look on the outside but once open, The Bar lets out her inner showgirl and shines.

Article in Digital Genealogist

Just a quick note: an article that I've written about preserving not only one's genealogy data but the means by which to access it has been published in the latest edition of Digital Genealogist magazine.

Entitled "Future Proofing Your Data," it discusses various methods for ensuring that you will be able to access your data for years to come and provides tips on how to guard against common mistakes and pitfalls.

Please check out Digital Genealogist which is published by Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens. It is one of many "green magazines" to which I subscribe these days and speaks to both of my current passions: genealogy and technology.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #2

2. Participate in carnivals. A blog carnival is a showcase of bloggers’ posts on a given topic. Genealogy bloggers LOVE carnivals because there’s something for everyone. To learn about when these showcase-type events are happening, read others’ genealogy blogs. Someone’s always talking about a carnival.

While this should seem like a rather easy one to complete - just submit an entry to this week's Carnival of Genealogy, for instance - I wanted to take this one step further.  I decided to create a Carnival of Genealogy "quilt" with all the graphics I could find that had been used in COG editions gone-by.

If you don't know by now, the Carnival of Genealogy is run by Jasia over at Creative Gene and the graphics are dreamt up by the wonderful footnoteMaven.

The Week In Facebook: January 16, 2009

This is a weekly feature which will document some of the genea-blogger happenings as they relate to Facebook®.

- Wow! What a difference a week makes!! We've added close to 20 new members since last Friday for a total of 316. Check out Genea-Bloggers group listing on Facebook. Is this a trend? Or as some feel it might be a matter of people trying to stick to a New Year's resolution to finally tackle their genealogy or start a blog about their family history? Either way we are happy to have the new members on board!

- As I stated last week, many of our new members are also new to blogging or to running genealogy-related blogs. Others may not have been Facebook members or may not have known about Genea-Bloggers. For a list of still more newly discovered genealogy blogs, visit this post at Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers.

- There are several carnivals with deadlines this Sunday: 11th Edition of the Carnival of Irish Heritage and Culture and the 13th Edition of the Cabinet of Curiosities both on Sunday, January 18th.

- Don't forget Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #2: Carnivals! If you decide to participate in any of the many genealogy blogging carnivals, create a quick post about why you participate in carnivals and how they help you with your genealogy research!

- Remember to visit the Posted Items or think about posting your own items such as interesting articles, great resources, etc.

- And don't forget the Discussion Board with topics ranging from how to participate in a blog carnival to how to add a badge to your blog.

Again, if anyone has a question as to how to use Facebook, I'd be happy to help. You can always email me directly but if you post your question as a Discussion Topic at the Genea-Bloggers group, you might find that other members also have the same questions.

POSTED 9th Edition of Smile for the Camera!

One nice benefit of being an insomniac is being awake at 2:22 am when someone posts an edition of a much-loved and much-anticipated carnival like Smile For The Camera!

That's right it is up and available with all 47 entries (a record?) with the topic Who Are You?

footnoteMaven also let's us in on what's needed for the 10th edition coming up next month:

COSTUME

The word prompt for the 10th Edition of Smile For The Camera is Costume? No, not as in Halloween. Costume as in dress in general; especially the distinctive style of dress of a people, class, or period. Show us that picture that you found with your family collection or purchased that shows the costumes of the rich to the not so rich, from the civil war to the psychedelic sixties. I know you have them, so share. Admission is free with every photograph!

Your submission may include as many or as few words as you feel are necessary to describe your treasured photograph. Those words may be in the form of an expressive comment, a quote, a journal entry, a poem (your own or a favorite), a scrapbook page, or a heartfelt article. The choice is yours!

Deadline for submission is midnight (PT)
15 February, 2009

HOW TO SUBMIT:

There are two options:

1. Send an email to the host, footnoteMaven (footnotemaven@comcast.net). Include the title and permalink URL of the post you are submitting, your name, and the name of your blog. Put 'Smile For The Camera' clearly in the title of your email!

2. Use the handy submission form (http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_4058.html) provided by Blog Carnival, or select the Bumper Sticker in the upper right hand corner.

See you at the Carnival!

A Winter Photo Essay - Hawaiian Style

Photo: Big Beach, Makena, Maui, Hawaii, December 2004. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

This post was written for the 64th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy hosted by Jasia at Creative Gene.

I know that the these of this carnival has to do with "family photographs during the winter" but, to be honest, I could not find one in my collection where family members were shoveling snow or sledding or doing any of the other activities associated with snow and upstate New York.

Perhaps it was the fact that it was just too cold for cameras to operate.  I remember cold days similar to today in Chicago: as I write this it is 10:00 am with a temperature of -7F and a windchill of -24F.  As we like to say here "Chicago - where many are cold but few are frozen."

Many of my friends currently take a week or two to vacation in a warm spot such as Palm Springs, Puerta Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas or Hawaii.  I've chosen photos from my last trip to Maui in December 2004.

Above, is a great beach shot looking off of Big Beach towards Molokai.  Big Beach is at the Makena point along with Little Beach.  Little Beach is known for its nude sunbathing and for being sort of "hippy trippy" in its atmosphere.

Photo: Access point to Little Beach, Makena, Maui, Hawaii, December 2004. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Above, is the view towards the cliff separating Big Beach and Little Beach.  In order to get to Little Beach where you can see and be seen, you have to climb a very steep cliff.  Luckily for the denizens of Little Beach that day, my arthritis and knee surgery kept me from making the climb.

When I lived in California, trips to Hawaii were only five hours but from Chicago, the trip is a very long nine hour nonstop trip.  That's probably why we haven't made the trip since 2004.  The shot above is from the hotel in Wailea.  Wailea is right next to Kihei and is in the southern part of Maui which is considered the "dry" section.  Not much rain, and always warmer than West Maui or North Maui.

Photo: Palm Trees, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, December 2004. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Photo: View of West Maui at Sunrise, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, December 2004. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

When I am in Maui, the time zone difference always has me up early - so I usually try to take some sunrise photos.  Above is a view from the balcony of the hotel looking towards West Maui.

Photo: View of West Maui at Sunset, Wailea, Maui, Hawaii, December 2004. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Finally, the same view at sunset.  The sun sets at about 6:00 am in the winter since there is no Daylight Savings Time in Hawaii.  Usually we would take our place at the bar at 4:30 pm and catch the migration of whales in the water.  Then about 5:00 pm there would be a blast from a conch shell horn and the torches would be lit all over the hotel grounds.

So there is my view of winter, or at least the way I'd prefer to see it.  Right now there are about three weeks until Ground Hog Day and I am praying that the little rodent does not see his shadow!

Who Are You? I Thought I Knew . . .

Unknown Boys, 1892. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

This post was composed for the 9th Edition of Smile For The Camera ~ A Carnival of Images

. . . but now I am stumped. The photo above was one of many in The Box - a large plastic container filled with family items after cleaning out my mother's house in New York back in 2006. On the back is the date 1892 written in pencil on the top. The studio is The World Portrait Studio at 272 Bowery (Manhattan), New York.

The photo is one of many which are unlabeled and while others in a similar state have been solved in terms of identifying subjects and dates, this one remains confounding.  I have my suspicions but I need to mention three other photos which I feel might be related to the one I am calling Unknown Boys.



Elizabeth McGinnis, abt. 1906. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Above is a great photo, although its mounting is in poor condition and is one of my top priority conservation projects. It is of Elizabeth Veronica McGinnis, my great grand aunt. She was born about 1889 and died January 23, 1956 in New York City. I love the "Gibson Girl" look and I am assuming that this may have been her high school graduation photo which would date it to around 1906 or 1907.

John McCrickert and Elizabeth McGinnis, abt. 1906-1908. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Next, above is another photo which is unidentified but I am positive that it too is of Elizabeth McGinnis with her soon-to-be husband John McCrickert. John was born August 11, 1887 and died December 11, 1955, both in New York City. While I do not have a marriage date, I am dating this photograph around the same time as the portrait of Elizabeth McGinnis or within two years, 1906 - 1908.



John, Maragaret and Edward McCrickert, abt. 1895. Digital photograph. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

One photo that is positively identified is the one above. It is of John, Margaret and Edward McCrickert and was taken at the Silkworth Studio in Brooklyn, New York. John was born in 1887, Edward in 1888 and Margaret about 1893, all in New York. Judging from the photo, I place Margaret's age at about two years, dating the photo around 1895. This makes John age eight and Edward age seven based on the estimated date.

So with these three identifiable photos, I thought that the two boys in the first photo might just be John and Edward McCrickert. But to my eye there is not much resemblance between these two unidentified boys and the ones with Margaret McCrickert. I did further research in my database and I thought it might be the brothers of my great-grandfather John Ralph Austin (1896 - 1976). The evidence does not support such a theory since John's oldest brother Maurice Ira Austin was not born until 1890 which would make him two years old in the photo. In addition, the Austin family lived in Lowville, New York near Watertown and would not arrive in New York City until around 1903.

I have no other possible listings in my genealogy database which might help identify these two boys. Another theory is that the photo is misdated in having 1892 written on the back. To my eye, they look older than John and Edward McCrickert in the photo dated 1895. If the unknown photo is mislabeled, it could very well be Maurice Ira and Harry Dence Austin.

So I will work on resolving the mystery of the unknown boys. While not having information placed on the photos frustrates me, I'd much rather have that than what has happened to many of the photos in The Box: in my great-grandmother Therese (McGinnis) Austin's later years, she insisted on circling the heads of photo subjects and writing their names in ink.

I Need Some Design Help Please

UPDATE: I've received so much great feedback that I took the plunge, removed the poll and went ahead with some changes.  Thanks!

Usually I don't have these sorts of issues what with a degree in art, but ever since I removed my Christmas template and reverted back to the standard Destination: Austin Family template, I've been vexed.

The Christmas template was a nice 3-column layout with the main column on the left and plenty of white space.  The font was not too large (because I had no easy way to change it) and it seemed uncluttered.

Now after switching to my standard template I am seeing things I've never seen before.  But what I prefer is not always as important as what makes my blog easier for users to read and navigate.  I've used large type since the majority of readers are like me and find it easier with a large font.

So I'd like you to use the poll in the sidebar at the upper left and vote your preferences.  I guess I could take my Christmas template and just remove the holiday graphic which might be the eventual solution.  

And, if you can, please let me know if you have the same concerns or issues with your own blog template.

Weekly Genealogy Blogging Prompt #1

1. Upload your favorite picture and talk about it on your blog. Answer the who/what/when/where/why of the subject matter and explain why it is your favorite.

Of course, it figures that the first weekly genealogy blogging prompt would be one of the easiest for me. I've posted about this photo previously and since that time, a few months ago, my feelings have not changed towards it. This photo of Anna McPhillps Austin taken around 1923 has always been the favorite in my collection.

Here is what I've said in the past about this photo:

I've posted the tragic story of Anna before on this blog but I think the story is one that can endure another telling.

Anna T. McPhillips was born on October 27, 1889[1] in the small town of Lowville in Lewis County, New York where my great-grandfather John Ralph Austin was born. My great-grandfather's brother, Maurice Ira Austin would eventually marry Annie, as she was known, on February 20, 1912 in New York City [2] .

Annie and Maurice (pronounced as Morris) had two children, both born in The Bronx, New York: Dorothy Marie Austin born on April 29, 1913[3] and Eugene J. Austin born on January 10, 1917[4].

Annie died suddenly on May 8, 1925 as a result of an automobile accident in which she was struck by a car. A short article in the Utica Observer Dispatch, dated May 10, 1925 states "The telegram simply stated that Mrs. Austin had been struck by an automobile, of which the driver had doubtless lost control, jumped the curb." [5]

I have spent much of the day trying to find more information about the accident itself and I've been questioning myself as to the "why" and the "how" it relates to this photo. I love the sense of mystery involved, not being able to fully see Annie's face. I also think that the cloche hat, the 1920's style dress with no waistline, the beaded necklace all add to the charm of the image.

I was hoping that at least a small article as to the circumstances of the accident would have appeared in at least one of the New York papers, but all I could find was an article dated May 8, 1925 describing a runaway automobile in the Bronx that injured four people.

I am almost certain that this accident is the same one that killed Anna McPhillips Austin but there are some items in the article which cause doubt: a) the article was published May 8, 1925 the same day that Annie died. The article states that the accident occurred at 163rd Street and Third Avenue "last night" meaning May 7, 1925; b) Annie could have been struck on May 7 and died the next day but there is no mention of her, or even of an unidentified woman in the article - only four persons who were ". . .all attended by an ambulance surgeon and went home;" and c) could Annie have been pinned by one of the automobiles struck by the runaway car and this was discovered after the reporter had left the scene?[6]

I have an email into my 2nd cousin once removed who is the grandson of Annie and I've asked him to provide any details he can concerning the accident.

Sometimes when I look at the photo of Annie in that dress with that hat, I wonder if I would have had the chance to meet her as a child, what influences she would have had on the family and more. But due to her brief life I have very few details as to who Anna T. McPhillips Austin really was.

Notes:

[1] Putman, George W., Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants, (Private publication, 1916), p. 49.

[2] NY City Health Department, NY City Grooms Index, 1908 - 1936, (http://www.italiangen.org/NYCMarriage.stm) accessed on August 8, 2008 citing Manhattan Marriage Certificate #5305. Note: Anna McPhillips listed as Anna McPhelips.

[3] Moore, Edith Austin, A Genealogy of the Descendants of Robert Austin of Kingstown, R.I., (St. Petersburg, FL: 1951), p. 320.

[4] Id.

[5] "Killed In New York," (http://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html) accessed on August 8, 2008 citing Utica Observer Dispatch, May 10, 1925, page 5.

[6] "Wild Auto Runs Upon Sidewalk, Injuring 5; Hits Another Car, Saving Safety Zone Crowd," (http://www.nytimes.com) accessed on August 8. 2008 citing New York Times, May 8, 1925.

The Week In Facebook: January 9, 2009

It has been a few months since I've posted an update about Facebook and Genea-Bloggers.  This is a weekly feature which will document some of the genea-blogger happenings as they relate to Facebook®.

- As of today, the Genea-Bloggers group is creeping up on having its 300th member!  Since the last post of The Week In Facebook on October 17, 2008, membership has increased by 70 more members for a total of 296.

- Many of our new members are also new to blogging or to running genealogy-related blogs.  Others may not have been Facebook members or may not have known about Genea-Bloggers.  For a list of newly discovered genealogy blogs, visit this post at Facebook Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers.

- Lots of events coming up with deadlines for carnivals including: 9th Edition of Smile for the Camera on  Saturday, January 10th and the 64th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy on Thursday, January 15th.  There is also a new weekly genea-blogging prompt courtesy of Amy Coffin's Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog post at We Tree.  Check out the weekly prompt here.

- Remember to visit the Posted Items or think about posting your own items such as interesting articles, great resources, etc.

- And don't forget the Discussion Board with topics ranging from how to participate in a blog carnival to how to add a badge to your blog.

Again, if anyone has a question as to how to use Facebook, I'd be happy to help. You can always email me directly but if you post your question as a Discussion Topic at the Genea-Bloggers group, you might find that other members also have the same questions.

My Brick Wall Ancestor: Frances Pressner

[Note: I am utilizing a structure and format suggested by Miriam Midkiff Robbins over at AnceStories: The Stories of My Ancestors]

Name: Frances Pressner

What I Want To Know: Frances Pressner is my great-grandmother and I would like more information on her parents, her siblings, when she arrived from Germany or Prussia and her marriage to Richard Henneberg.

Known Information - Positive:

New York City Grooms Index: married in the Bronx, New York on April 16, 1991.

Source:  New York City Health Department, New York City Grooms Index, 1908 - 1936, (http://www.italiangen.org>, examined for any reference to "Henneberg," accessed February 8, 2008. Certificate #794 Bronx County.

1920 Federal Census:  living with her husband, Richard Henneberg at 405 East 162nd Street, Bronx, New York.  Age listed as 32 (birth date abt. 1889), keeping house, born in Germany, speaking German and English.   Also listed are: 

Richard Henneberg, head of household.  Age 31.  Occupation: Clerk.  Born in New York, speaks German and English.

Anna May Henneberg, daughter.  Age 7.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Richard Henneberg, Jr., son.  Age 5.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Ethel Henneberg, daughter.  Age 3.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Charles Henneberg, son.  Age 1.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Source: 1920 US Census, (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed February 10, 2008, citing Census Place: Bronx Assembly District 1, Bronx, New York; Roll: T625_1131; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 79; Image: 572.

1930 Federal Census (listed as Hennaberg):  living with her husband, Richard Henneberg at 1165 Morris Avenue, Bronx, New York.  Age listed as 41 (birth date abt. 1889), keeping house, born in Germany, speaking German and English.   Year of immigration listed as 1892, not a naturalized citizen.  Also listed are: 

Richard Henneberg, head of household.  Age 42.  Occupation: Salesman, Werth Baking.  Born in New York, speaks English.  (Note: the occupation information has been placed in the space for Frances not Richard)

Annie Henneberg, daughter.  Age 18.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Richard Henneberg, Jr., son.  Age 15.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Ethel Henneberg, daughter.  Age 13.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Charles Henneberg, son.  Age 11.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Edward Henneberg, son.  Age 6.  Goes to school.  Born in New York.  Speaks English.

Source: 1930 US Census, (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed February 10, 2008, citing Census Place: Bronx, Bronx, New York; Roll: 1467; Page: 42B; Enumeration District: 149; Image: 850.0.

Known Information - Ambiguous:

World War I Draft Registration Card: dated January 5, 1917, Richard Henneberg is listed as age 28, living at 423 East 162nd Street, Bronx, New York but was born in Liepetiz, Germany, January 26, 1888 and a naturalized citizen.

Source:  World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918  (http://www.ancestry.com), accessed February 10, 2008, citing M1509, 4,582 rolls.

Negative Searches:

There seems to be no Social Security Death record for Frances Pressner (searching under Frances and Francis)

Also tried to find the German equivalent of the name Frances or used Frannie, Franny, etc. for searches.

No immigration or arrival records are apparent.

Also have tried the last name Preusner.

Possible Resources and Suspicions:

I really don't have much to go on right now.  I've tried almost every combination in names and I keep finding possible matches but either the birthplace is New York (instead of Germany) or the birthdate is too late (1897, etc.)

Wordless Wednesday

Postcard: Snow in Lowville, New York. Date unknown. Digital image. Privately held by Thomas MacEntee, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Chicago, Illinois. 2008.

Google Goes Semantic?

[Note: I just posted this info over at my genealogy wiki blog, Lowville Long Ago. Normally I don't repost verbatim from one of my blogs to the other but I feel this information is just too important]

If this is true and if it holds, this is hot stuff:

Google appears to be exposing semantic data in its searches. The concepts of semantic forms and semantic data is one that is close to my heart. I feel that genealogy applications should be more than just looking up articles - it should be a highly advanced way of organizing and managing data and rendering results.

It appears that Google is taking its usual search results and then parsing out the semantic data. Example: enter What was Karl's Marx's Birthdate in the search field and this is what you get:



Sweet, no? According to a post on Read, Write, Web, it appears that Google may have been performing this function for quite while but there have been recent refinements to results when you use a "subject - predicate - object" format for your searches.

Many web and tech gurus are predicting that semantic data is a core component of Web 3.0 and I agree. I also believe that this is where genealogy database software and websites will need to go: allowing users more than just looking up data. These applications and sites will need to offer the ability to see relationships between data, between people.

Genealogy Blogging Prompts

I want to give a shout out to Amy Coffin's great post, "Jump Start Your Genealogy Blog. 52 ideas. 52 weeks," over at We Tree.

I've always been a fan of prompts since there are many times when even I get writer's block or try to come up with an idea for my next post. An example of journaling or blogging prompts are the series posted by Miriam Midkiff Robbins over at AnceStories2: Stories of Me for My Descendants, of which I am a big fan.

Working off of Amy's great list, I'd like to propose this experiment: take the first four weeks and set them up as events in the Genea-Blogger group. One reason for doing this is: it appears we have several new genealogy blogs and members of Genea-Bloggers who haven't blogged before. I know they'd appreciate any assistance especially when it comes to topics to blog about.

Your feedback on this project is greatly appreciated.

The 99+ Genealogy Things Meme

Becky at kinexxions has put together a great new meme with the help of fellow genea-bloggers (including yours truly) called The 99+ Genealogy Things Meme.

This was great fun to put together and let's just hope it is as much fun to complete!

The list should be annotated in the following manner:
Things you have already done or found: bold face type
Things you would like to do or find: italicize (color optional)
Things you haven’t done or found and don’t care to: plain type

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
   
2. Researched records onsite at a court house.
   
3. Transcribed records.
   
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
   
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents) .
   
6. Joined Facebook.
   
7. Helped to clean up a run-down cemetery.
   
8. Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group on Facebook.
   
9. Attended a genealogy conference.
   
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
    
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
    
12. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter.
    
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
    
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
    
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery. (I get lost leaving my house.)
    
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
    
17. Researched outside the state in which I live.
    
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
    
19. Cold called a distant relative.
    
20. Posted messages on a surname message board.
    
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
    
22. Googled my name. (aka The Ego Search)
    
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
    
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it. (True proof that genealogy is an obsession)
    
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
    
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
    
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
    
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
    
29. Responded to messages on a message board or forum.
    
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.
    
31. Participated in a genealogy meme.
    
32. Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.).
    
33. Performed a record lookup for someone else.
    
34. Went on a genealogy seminar cruise.
    
35. Am convinced that a relative must have arrived here from outer space.
    
36. Found a disturbing family secret.
    
37. Told others about a disturbing family secret.
    
38. Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking).
    
39. Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby.
    
40. Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons).
    
41. Taught someone else how to find their roots.
    
42. Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure.
    
43. Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology.
    
44. Know a cousin of the 4th degree or higher.
    
45. Disproved a family myth through research.
    
46. Got a family member to let you copy photos.
    
47. Used a digital camera to “copy” photos or records.
    
48. Translated a record from a foreign language.
    
49. Found an immigrant ancestor’s passenger arrival record.
    
50. Looked at census records on microfilm, not on the computer.
    
51. Used microfiche.
    
52. Visited the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
    
53. Visited more than one LDS Family History Center.
    
54. Visited a church or place of worship of one of your ancestors.
    
55. Taught a class in genealogy.
    
56. Traced ancestors back to the 18th Century.
    
57. Traced ancestors back to the 17th Century.
    
58. Traced ancestors back to the 16th Century.
    
59. Can name all of your great-great-grandparents. (I have 14 out of 16 right now)
    
60. Found an ancestor’s Social Security application.
    
61. Know how to determine a soundex code without the help of a computer.
    
62. Used Steve Morse’s One-Step searches.
    
63. Own a copy of Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills.
    
64. Helped someone find an ancestor using records you had never used for your own research.
    
65. Visited the main National Archives building in Washington, DC.
    
66. Visited the Library of Congress.
    
67. Have an ancestor who came over on the Mayflower. (I am pretty certain I have one but I just need to find him/her)
    
68. Have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War.
    
69. Taken a photograph of an ancestor’s tombstone.
    
70. Became a member of the Association of Graveyard Rabbits.
    
71. Can read a church record in Latin.
    
72. Have an ancestor who changed their name.
    
73. Joined a Rootsweb mailing list.
    
74. Created a family website.
    
75. Have more than one "genealogy" blog.
    
76. Was overwhelmed by the amount of family information received from someone.
    
77. Have broken through at least one brick wall.
    
78. Visited the DAR Library in Washington D.C.
    
79. Borrowed a microfilm from the Family History Library through a local Family History Center.
    
80. Have done indexing for Family Search Indexing or another genealogy project.
    
81. Visited the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
    
82. Had an amazing serendipitous find of the "Psychic Roots" variety.
    
83. Have an ancestor who was a Patriot in the American Revolutionary War.
    
84. Have an ancestor who was a Loyalist in the American Revolutionary War.
    
85. Have both Patriot & Loyalist ancestors.
    
86. Have used Border Crossing records to locate an ancestor.
    
87. Use maps in my genealogy research.
    
88. Have a convict ancestor who was transported from the UK.
    
89. Found a bigamist amongst the ancestors.
    
90. Visited the National Archives in Kew.
    
91. Visited St. Catherine's House in London to find family records.
    
92. Found a cousin in Australia (or other foreign country).
    
93. Consistently cite my sources.
    
94. Visited a foreign country (i.e. one I don't live in) in search of ancestors.
    
95. Can locate any document in my research files within a few minutes.
    
96. Have an ancestor who was married four times (or more). (Yes - we call her The Black Widow)
    
97. Made a rubbing of an ancestors gravestone.
    
98. Organized a family reunion.
    
99. Published a family history book (on one of my families).
    
100. Learned of the death of a fairly close relative through research.
     
101. Have done the genealogy happy dance.
     
102. Sustained an injury doing the genealogy happy dance.
     
103. Offended a family member with my research.
     
104. Reunited someone with precious family photos or artifacts.
     

Building a 99 Genealogy Things Meme

Becky over at kinexxions played along with the 99 Things Meme and she struck upon a great idea: why isn't there a 99 Things Meme geared more towards genealogy and family history?

Becky starts us of with this list:

1. Belong to a genealogical society.
2. Researched records onsite at a court house.
3. Transcribed records.
4. Uploaded tombstone pictures to Find-A-Grave.
5. Documented ancestors for four generations (self, parents, grandparents,
great-grandparents)
6. Joined Facebook.
7. Cleaned up a run-down cemetery.
8. Joined the Genea-Bloggers Group.
9. Attended a genealogy conference.
10. Lectured at a genealogy conference.
11. Spoke on a genealogy topic at a local genealogy society.
12. Been the editor of a genealogy society newsletter.
13. Contributed to a genealogy society publication.
14. Served on the board or as an officer of a genealogy society.
15. Got lost on the way to a cemetery.
16. Talked to dead ancestors.
17. Researched outside the state in which I live.
18. Knocked on the door of an ancestral home and visited with the current occupants.
19. Cold called a distant relative.
20. Posted messages on a surname message board.
21. Uploaded a gedcom file to the internet.
22. Googled my name.
23. Performed a random act of genealogical kindness.
24. Researched a non-related family, just for the fun of it.
25. Have been paid to do genealogical research.
26. Earn a living (majority of income) from genealogical research.
27. Wrote a letter (or email) to a previously unknown relative.
28. Contributed to one of the genealogy carnivals.
29. Responded to messages on a message board.
30. Was injured while on a genealogy excursion.

So here are my contributions (not numbered) and perhaps Becky will include them and then publish a 99 Genealogy Things Meme in the near future!

Participated in a genealogy meme
Created family history gift items (calendars, cookbooks, etc.)
Performed a lookup
Took a genealogy seminar cruise
Convinced a relative must have arrived here from outer space
Found a disturbing family secret
Told others about that disturbing family secret
Combined genealogy with crafts (family picture quilt, scrapbooking)
Think genealogy is a passion not a hobby
Assisted finding next of kin for a deceased person (Unclaimed Persons)
Taught someone else how to find their roots
Lost valuable genealogy data due to a computer crash or hard drive failure
Been overwhelmed by available genealogy technology

Carnival of Genealogy 63rd Edition Posted

If you are looking for a sweet Sunday morning/afternoon read, then head on over to Creative Gene where Jasia has posted the 63rd Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy.

Participation for this edition which deals with New Year's resolutions is high (with 40 blog owners submitting posts) and I guess that is to be expected since we all like to start the new year off right!  And kudos to Jasia who always does a great job with what I like to call the Mother of All Genealogy Carnivals.

If you are looking to participate in upcoming COG editions (see details for the 64th Edition below) here's one suggestion: when completing the carnival submission form, take time to enter a brief description/introduction to your articles in the "comment" box . Why is this important?  As someone who has run several carnivals myself, there is nothing more daunting than to have to right descriptive comments for each post, especially when you have 40 or more of them.  Some days you just don't feel creative or witty enough to do this, and besides when you enter your own description you as the author of the post have more control over how other's will learn about your post.  Readers will get a better idea of what you've written about and hopefully you'll interest them in clicking on your link.

The topic for the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is: A Winter Photo Essay:

Show us those wintertime photo(s) of your ancestors or family members and tell us the story that goes along with them. Winter is here! Let's record it and celebrate it! The deadline for submissions is January 15th.

You can submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy using our carnival submission form. Please use a descriptive phrase in the title of any articles you plan to submit and/or write a brief description/introduction to your articles in the "comment" box of the blogcarnival submission form. This will give readers an idea of what you've written about and hopefully interest them in clicking on your link. Thank you!