…next to boxes of family history. I also had a frog, or toad, but didn’t get a picture.

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I emptied a couple of crates. Fewer boxes (and crates) next to my front door. As I was getting ready to leave my trailer home en route to the CARE dining room, I found the snake on the screen door. I almost had a “hand full” when I reached for the latch!!

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With the “scanning” project, almost everything is “invisible.” Frequently, I needed an image of something accomplished.

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My “yarden” is neglected!! Almost all my time is spent indoors devoted to the scanning project. Yes, I water plants and occasionally pull some weeds. Overnight, bleach was cleaning away algae and mold in/on the fountain. This morning, I gave the fountain a hard scrubbing.

From the Brethren Encyclopedia, page 902, words written by my Immigrant ancestor, Michael Frantz.

It’s 3:35 AM as I start this message. Couldn’t sleep; too much on my mind!! Perhaps you’d like to read a letter I found during my scanning project yesterday? True story: I can approach preparation of a blog message at three, or four, o’clock (in the morning) but scanning, etc., etc., works best when I have sunshine flooding through the windows. The print, and handwriting, is easier to read. 

Letter written 18 Jun 1987 regarding ruptured appendix

Sometimes I have the amusing thought that my life is like a hamster running around and around on the wheel. It appears that my life experience is going in circles, repeating itself.

Can’t sleep; so many memories!! The letter reminds me, thirty years ago I was living in a rented bedroom, in the home of friends. They’re gone now (Leland and Christine), and most (if not all) of my genealogy contacts are gone. I’m rushing to save my files of research(ed) material. I wonder if anyone is “saving” the files of Lowell Beachler, Gladys Royer, and so many other genealogy “cousins.”  

“Did you count them?”   

“Yes!!”

“Don’t keep us in suspense; how many?”

“More than two-thousand-forty-two pages!! Eight days.”

“Yours truly” counted the number of documented pages in finished and published files. In many cases, it took several scans of certain pages for the best image; unsatisfactory pages deleted.

Rosemary’s research files were a CHALLENGE. Lorraine’s files will be a CELEBRATION.

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No, the pages were not counted one-by-one. “Hovering” over each file revealed the number of pages in that file.

Library

Library

Yours truly finds herself multi-tasking. During the computer/scanning project, while a file is saving, or “rendering,” I look at “the next batch” or I peruse another box awaiting time and attention. I found this poem in the Summer 1987 issue of Smith Papers Newsletter (never found my Smiths). However, I may re-visit the material because (subsequent to the 1980’s and 1990’s), I found my Smith ancestors on Ancestry.com.

Family Trees

I climbed my family tree and found
It was not worth the climb.
And so I scrambled down convinced
It was a waste of time.

Some branches of my tree I found
Were rotten to the core.
And all the tree full of sap
And hung with nuts galore.

I used to brag to my kinfolks
Before I made the climb.
But truth compels me not to tell
Of those not worth a dime.

And I beg my friends who boast aloud
Of their ancestors great.
To climb their family trees and learn
Of those who weren’t so straight.

I learned what family trees are like
And then I scrambled down.
They’re like a ‘tatervine because
The best is underground

Author unknown

For Lorraine, it is Christmas in April!! The last couple of days, a quick search of the Internet (via Google) reveals the new library is delivering (to me) requested information. Now, I recognize it might be because my computer(s) are full of cache and “cookies” related to those names. However, I hope (and pray) everyone has the same access, same success.

Yesterday, the entire day, was spent scanning information provided by Evelyn Rosemary Frantz (1921-2013). I haven’t made a dent in the box full of information. This may take a week?! I’m feeling guilty: She gave me the information years ago (2000?) and I’ve neglected documentation of her Immigrant Baltzar Frantz. (“Better late than never.”)