Roots and Stones: Blog Caroling

Showing posts with label Blog Caroling. Show all posts

Sunday, December 19

Research Diary, no. 5

My Research Diary:
Part to-do list...
Part dear diary...
Part Nosy-Nellie...

Weekly events, plans (and a question or two) from my oh-so exciting genealogy (and sometimes non-genealogy) life...

"History is neither written nor made without love or hate."
- Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903)

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What happened this week:

Blog housekeeping...

Changed my Blogger Profile picture to an actual "me" picture ;) and added the profile widget to the blog's sidebar.
I separated out two more lists from the main label gadget:: Locations (other than those covered in "Ontario Counties & Districts") and Cemeteries & Churches.
I've added 24 new-to-me blogs to my reading lists - see below (though I'm sure there will be more, as always!)
I started charting out a rough draft of a blog schedule - as per one of my goals for the new year...
More new followers! Who knew I'd have something interesting to say ;-) Hello to everyone (new and old) and thanks for reading! I think I've followed everyone in turn, but if I haven't please let me know!
I edited the About page and added a header pic [though it may change, something just isn't sitting right...]

Genealogy:

I finished the "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" challenge for week 10 (Family Search Pilot) and posted the challenge for week 11 (Transitional Genealogists Forum)...
Regular features included Tombstone Tuesday (Oshawa Union), Wordless Wednesday (a second Valcartier postcard), Tabloid Thursday (1911 fashion), and a 2nd (and just for fun!) Blog Carol (with Bob and Doug McKenzie)...
My Brick Walls page is posted (though it's only bare bones at the moment...)
More housekeeping: began (or rather, continued...) indexing and properly labelling documents (currently on births); also still working on FGSs...

I'm currently reading Alison Gernsheim's classic Victorian and Edwardian Fashion: A Photographic Survey, Dover Publications, 1981 (originally published as Fashion and Reality (1840-1914) by Faber and Faber, 1963). And of course, all of my ILLO's have come in at the same time, so I'll be doing a lot of reading in the next 3 weeks...

New-to-me blogs:

Canadian genealogy blogs

What's coming up:

I was thinking of becoming a FamilySearch Indexer - does anyone else do this? What do you think?
Tombstone Tuesday and Tabloid Thursday make an appearance...
...and in the middle, Wordless Wednesday continues with my "mini-series" of Valcartier picture postcards.
My results for Week 10 (Transitional Genealogists Forum) of "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" and a new challenge post for Week 12 (Archive & Library Sites).
Still mulling over ideas for Military Monday, as well as another personal regular feature inspired by The Wandering Genealogist's Ancestral Profiles... [I like schedules, can't you tell? ;-) ]

Barely a week after I posted my Research Plan, the newest CoG edition (due January 1, 2011) was announced - about genealogy plans! I would like to take part, and I'll probably expand (and add!) to my goals section...
Haven't started (and probably won't start until the holidays when I'm off work) working on my planned Resources page...

Weekly Question ('cuz I'm nosy! ;-)

How do you tag/label your blog posts (if you blog) and how do you (if you do) showcase them on the sidebar/bottom of your blog (list vs. cloud, number vs. not numbered, alphabetically vs. most popular, one long list vs. specialized lists, etc.)?

Whenever I find a new blog, one of first things I do (beside read the posts!) is to see how everything is set up - I'm always on the look-out for ideas! There's always something different, which is good!

Thanks for reading!
Jenn

Tuesday, December 14

fM's Tradition of Blog Caroling: 12 Days of Christmas...the Canadian version!

While I've already submitted my blog carol (The Huron Carol) previously, I couldn't help but include the Canadian version of the Twelve Days of Christmas! ;-)

"On the late-night sketch-comedy program Second City TV in 1982, the Canadian-rustic characters Bob & Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, respectively) released a version on the SCTV spin-off album Great White North, in which the gifts included eight comic books, seven packs of smokes (cigarettes), six packs of two-four ("two-four" is Canadian slang for a case of 24 bottles of beer), five golden tuques, four pounds of back bacon, three (pieces of) French toast, two turtlenecks, and a beer in a tree. (They did not get past the eighth day. Bob wanted to include a dozen (12) doughnuts on the twelfth day.)" [courtesy of Wiki]

Also, if you want another (though a little more kid friendly) Canadian version, there is a children's picture book written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Werner Zimmermann called A Porcupine In a Pine Tree: A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas. Check out Mr. Zimmerman's blog for some of his sketches from the book, which includes Canada at her best (porcupines, moose, beavers, Mounties, Tim Hortons doughnuts, hockey and more!) ;-)

I love everyone's choices so far - and lots of lovely "silent" singing! ;-)

Enjoy!
Jenn

Sunday, December 12

Research Diary, No. 4

My Research Diary:
Part to-do list...
Part dear diary...
Part Nosy-Nellie...

Weekly events, plans (and a question or two) from my oh-so exciting genealogy (and sometimes non-genealogy) life...

"Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you've never been hurt and live like it's heaven on Earth."
- Mark Twain (1835-1910)

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What happened this week:

Blog housekeeping...

I separated some more labels from the main list: "Ontario Counties & Disticts" and "Memes & Themes" are now distinct label lists, along with "Surnames".
I moved some buttons to the bottom of the blog, including blogoversary (only 50 more days!), Geneabloggers, comments, and the moon phases. I was thinking of moving the Followers gadget down there as well, but I kept it in the sidebar as it breaks up the text...
I added an identification/copyright footer.
I added 48! new-to-me blogs to my reading lists - see below (though I'm sure there will be more!)
I gained (just a few! ;-) new followers - hello to everyone (new and old) and thanks for reading!
I added my name to the Geneabloggers Blog Listing - and I appeared in the December 4rd edition of New Genealogy Blogs. Thanks Thomas!

Genealogy:

Organization may (finally!) be coming! I've finally found the type of forms I want to use (actually, I ended up making the templates myself...) and have started to input data. Along with my Research Plan (see below), I think I'm finally on the road to organization...at least it feels that way!
I finished the "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" challenge for week 8 (online maps) and week 9 (genealogy blogs) and posted the challenge for week 10 (Family Search Pilot)...
I bought a scanner! And it was on sale! Now I can start posting my gadzillion cemetery pics...
I created an overall Research Plan, including my "mission statement", my research focus, sources, an organizational plan, and objectives for the coming year. And since I'm nosy...do you have a general genealogy research plan (whether kept in your brain or jotted down on paper)? Or do you fly by the seat of your pants? ;-)
I posted my first "Tabloid Thursday" - a personal weekly meme designed to showcase everything newspaper: articles, social news, columns, and other little tidbits. This week it was...1910 BMDs and a "cheerful spinster" wanted
Other posts this week included my first Wordless Wednesday and my entry for footnoteMaven's Blog Caroling theme.

New-to-me blogs:

Canadian genealogy blogs

What's coming up:

I have two new pages I want to create: i.) a Resources page listing the cemetery transcriptions and books I've acquired, both for my personal memory and also for other researchers (look-ups and such); and ii.) a Brick Walls page, where I can (briefly) lay-out my major research hurdles.
My results for Week 10 (Family Search Pilot) of "52 Weeks to Better Genealogy" (for which I don't have very long with the brand-new site coming soon!) and a new challenge post for Week 11 (Transitional Genealogists Forum).
My first Tombstone Tuesday post! ;-)
I would also like to participate in Military Monday, but what I have in mind might take a bit of planning... so stay tuned for that! ;-)
For Wordless Wednesday I have a second Valcartier postcard and Tabloid Thursday brings the arrival of Paris fashion to a rough-and-tumble mining town...

My Question (among questions!):

Do you have an ancestor who served in the Great War (World War I)? My family (except for my step-great-grandfather, but mom's already "claimed" him...) is lacking in Great War soldiers, so I find myself "collecting" other people's ancestors... Or on the opposing side, was anyone in your family interred as an "enemy alien" during the Great War?

Thanks for reading!
Jenn

Friday, December 10

fM's Tradition of Blog Caroling: The Huron Carol

I've decided to participate in footnoteMaven's Blog Caroling, and from a bevy of favourite songs, I've decided on "The Huron Carol".

"The Huron Carol" is Canada's oldest Christmas song, written in 1643 by Jean de Brébeuf, a Jesuit missionary at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in Canada. It was originally written in the native tongue of the Huron/Wendat people amongst whom de Brébeuf was stationed and the original song title was "Jesous Ahatonhia" ("Jesus, he is born") in Huron. The melody is based on a traditional French folk song, "Une Jeune Pucelle" ("A Young Maid"). [Brief history courtesy of Wiki]

There's a few different versions, but this is my favourite - in two languages!
Enjoy! Jenn

The Huron Carol ('Twas In the Moon of Wintertime)

'Twas in the moon of wintertime when all the birds had fled
That mighty Gitchi Manitou sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim and wondering hunters heard the hymn,
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark the tender babe was found;
A ragged robe of rabbit skin enwrapped his beauty round
But as the hunter braves drew nigh the angel song rang loud and high
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

The earliest moon of wintertime is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on the helpless infant there.
The chiefs from far before him knelt with gifts of fox and beaver pelt.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

O children of the forest free, O seed of Manitou
The holy Child of earth and heaven is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty peace and joy.
Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, in excelsis gloria.

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