A Blogger's Best Friend Award

My very dear friend Felicia over at My Nola Heritage has given me this special award, thank you Felicia! You really put a smile on my face and I am very touched. You are correct, even though we blog for ourselves, it is really nice to have blogger "friends" along on this journey with us. This community of genealogy bloggers have to be the most supportive, giving, caring and helping bunch of people I have ever met! It's an honor to be a part of it, and I treasure the friendships that I have made. It's nice to know that I write something others will want to read!

According to Felicia, I have to give this award to my most loyal blog readers. The award should be given to a follower of yours who takes the time to comment regularly on many of your posts. In addition, his or her blog should be creative, funny and always entertaining. Upon receiving this award, pass it along to two fellow bloggers who fit this criteria.

Picking just two is just plain crazy!! That is going to be really tough!! I am tempted to pick more but I will stick to the rules!!

There isn't a post that goes by that Carol over at "Reflections From The Fence" leaves me a comment. She is a very true follower and her blog is funny, creative and always entertaining with stories of their travels in "Tana" here's to you Carol, you are a great blogger friend. '

Robin over at "Where I Come From" is my best friend blogger all the way, she always leaves me warm and supportive comments! I love Robin's motto: "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away". Her blog is creative, entertaining and she takes the best photos.

Please take the time to check-out both blogs of my great friends. I cannot tell you how many "Best Friend" bloggers out there I wish I could pick. I have made some very treasured friendships in the genealogy blogging community. It's not fair that I can't mention all of you! Thanks to all of you for your friendship, creativity, entertainment, support and help that you always give unselfishly.

In Memory of My Great Grandmother Lillie Mae~

Ninety-one years ago today, the 22nd of January ~

Lillie Mae Pate Tabeling, my paternal great grandmother, along with her unborn child, passed from the 1918 -1919 flu epidemic.
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My great grandfather, Albert "Fritz" Tabeling, and their children: Maggie, Mamie and Morgan, passed shortly after Lillie, also from the 1918-1919 flu epidemic, leaving my grandmother, Inez and her four sisters: Josephine, Viola, Gladys and Oletha, orphans.

Photo received via email from cousin Dawn Inman, location of original is unknown. To our knowledge, this is the only photo that exists of Lillie Mae and Albert Fritz Tabeling. Date is also unknown.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Stormy Waters ~ La Jolla Shores

Photo taken and owned by Bob Ewing ~ Jan 20, 2010

Electronic copy held by the owner of this blog

~ Stormy Waters~ La Jolla Shores, San Diego, CA ~

Happy Blogiversary To Ginisology!

It really is hard to believe its been a year since I started blogging! I have learned so much in such a short time and have met so many wonderful, supportive and giving people. I am proud to be a part of the genealogy blogging family.

When I first started blogging I was scared to pieces! I was concerned whether I would have anything to say that others would care to read?! Cheryl over at Heritage Happens supported me unconditionally on getting started, thank you Cheryl, my friend (she's in Cabo on vacation, hope your having a good time!). I soon realized that I blog for my ancestors, descendants and myself, posting then became a little bit easier. I still find myself holding back but not nearly as much -- inspiration and encouragement is not hard to find from all of you. I am so thankful that I am amongst the greatest and that I will be learning so much more and creating priceless friendships.


I didn't post as much in my first year as I would have like to. It was difficult working full time and caring for my grandchildren. Now retired, I hope to post more in my second year and many more years to come! The more I delve into my family history, the more I will have to blog about.

Thank you all for your help, support and friendships, here's to many more years to keeping up the search and posting about our journeys and about the Ancestors that brought us here.

In Memory of Hugh Watkins ~ GENEALOGE

Hugh Watkins of the blog: GENEALOGE, passed away on the 29th of December 2009. He will very much be missed. Please visit Hugh's online Obit, services will be held on January 14th, 2010.

I did not know Hugh directly but read his blog many times. GENEALOGE has been a genealogy blogger for many years. I know the genealogy blogging community will miss his posts and presence.

Reading his last post on the 25th of December is very sad, knowing we won't hear from him again, we have lost "one of us." This also brings a question to my mind -- what will now happen to Hugh's blog, his many years of work, blogging, sharing and documenting his finds and of his family history? I hope Hugh's blog stays here forever so that we can in some way keep his memory alive, learn from what he gave us and years from now, his descendants will have an online journal. I would very much like to know if you have any thoughts and ideas.

What happens to our blogs after we pass is worth checking into and to see what it is we can do to make sure our blogs are preserved for generations to come.

~Rest in Peace Hugh~

A Happy 101 Award~

I woke up this morning to a wonderful surprise ~ Cheryl over at Heritage Happens and Carol from Reflections From The Fence, awarded me with the wonderful Happy 101 Award.

Thank you Cheryl and Carol, it's an honor receiving this award from you both! You both have put a smile on my face to last a week and it truly makes me Happy! Like Carol, I believe that things come to you when you need them the most! This was right on time.

So, the responsibilities that go with this award are as follows. I am to list 10 things that make me happy.

1. My grand kids and daughter, they are so precious.

2. My childhood best friend Sandy, and my sister in law, Honor, they both have been there for me thru thick and thin, and always bring happiness to my life.

3. My mom, who is also my best friend.

4. Genealogy and my genea~friends, I have made some very wonderful friendships here and treasure them.

5. My card making and beautiful papers.

6. Hot tea, I have always loved hot tea and drink it all day long, it soothes my soul and makes me feel good. I drink Green tea all during the day and Chamomile in the evening.

7. Chocolate and chocolate with my tea!

8. Taking and looking at photos. Ever since I was a little girl I have always loved looking at photos and I surround myself with photos of family and friends. Each time I look at them, it makes me happy.

9. My husband and all that he does for me.

10. Knowing that I have made a difference in someones life by helping or just being there.

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~ Ten very deserving blogs that I want to pass this award to ~

1. My Nola Heritage ~ Felicia

2. Herstoryan ~

3. I Never Knew My Father ~ Sandra

4. Bayside Blog~ Missy

5. Little Bytes of Life ~ Elizabeth

6. Patton Genealogy ~ John

7. Where I Come From ~ Robin

8. Tricks Of The Tree ~ Michael Hait

9. Destination: Austin Family ~ Thomas MacEntee

10. The Shy Genealogist ~ Lisa

Since I was nominated twice, I am going to go over and pick a few more, it's so hard to just pick ten! ~

11. Our Georgia Roots ~ Luckie

12. LowCountry Africana ~ Toni

13. footnoteMaven ~ fm

Ok, I better stop, because if it was up to me, I would nominate everyone and that's not fair if I keep going! I know I need to leave some for others to pick. Each and everyone one listed and not listed have wonderful blogs that offer and contribute so much to us. I appreciate each and everyone of you and love reading your blogs. Thank you for all you do and give to all of us. Please check out these wonderful blogs if you haven't done so before, and leave a comment letting them know you stopped by. Now I too am off to let these blogs know they have an award waiting to be picked up.

Wordless Wednesday~

Floryce Tabeling ~ b. abt 1898 (death date unknown at this time) ~ paternal first cousin, twice removed to the owner of this blog.

Tarfork, Kentucky

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~Electronic photo held by owner of this blog ~ received electronically 2009 ~ from William Armstrong direct descendant of the Ryan Family~

365 Day Project~

Cinnamon Scented Pine Cones

365 day project ~ 2

This is the last of the Christmas decorations to come down. I thought I would include this as part of my 365 day project even though it's not really genealogy related, it is going to be part of our family history for our Christmas memories in 2009.

I made these little beauties easily and quickly and they smell so good! Several were made to give as hostess gifts and to family members, they went over very well. I received the idea from my "Country Living Magazine" November 2009 issue.

Backing Up My Blog!

Just as I was reading Thomas post for Data Backup Weekend Contest over at Geneabloggers, and possibly thinking about entering the contest, my laptop computer died on me!! Heart attack time!

I immediately pulled out my external hard drive and thumb drive and backed up all of my documents and photos to both drives. Now, I am no whiz at backing up computers. My old/new Toshiba laptop had been having problems so my computer guru had taken it home with him - he ended up keeping it for about six months. I could not be without a computer that long and we wanted to get another laptop anyway so hubby and I went out and purchased the laptop I currently use. So, I had my computer guru come over load everything we had saved to my external hard drive from my old laptop to my new laptop.

In September, I asked my computer guru to show me the quickest way to backup my photos, documents and my blog. He wasn't able to make it until November 1st, backup day and right on time! That was the last time I backed everything up. I have backed up my Family Tree Maker, photos, documents but not my blog!

So, tonight I attempted to back up my blog...well it didn't go as smooth as when my computer guy was here. I am thinking what the heck am I doing wrong!?! Finally, about 45 minutes later and much frustration, I realized I was in the wrong place on my settings in Blogger. I re-read Thomas tutorial over at Bootcamp for Genea-Bloggers, clicked on Backup Your Blogger-Based Blog and I was back in business, backed up my blog no problem! It's really very simple and I highly recommend it.

I have to say it's a great feeling to know I have everything backed up and if there is a problem with this computer, I am safe. So far, I haven't had any problems during this post so we will see what happens. I am calling my computer guru tomorrow and setting up a time so he can take a look.

In the meantime, I did get my old laptop back, I am in the process of deciding now which computer I want to use as my main computer. The Toshiba was fairly new and had quite a bit of my data, photos, documents, along with several photo programs on it.

I am thinking I may keep that for mainly photo, card making, scrap booking and photo editing and keep my new laptop for just my genealogy program, records, documents, everything related to my research. I love both of my laptops! Having a thumb drive and a 120 GB external hard drive, I can load anything I need for each computer and get organized.

New Beginnings and the 365 Day Project~

~ Lola~

Eight months old

365 day project - 1

My intention for my first post of the year was going to be genealogy resolutions for 2010. There is a part of me that wants to post them and another that wants to just keep it between myself and the paper I wrote them down on! I don't have many as I am trying to keep things realistic for myself. I have a tendency to bite off more than I can chew. One of my resolutions is to take more photos - so, I am going to do the 365 day project. (explained below.)

Genealogy blogs are not the only genre of blogs I am addicted to! I love home decor/family related blogs. They are so much fun to read and look at, they blog about their families and daily life - recording family history now for generations to come. They are working on the here and now while we are working on the past.

As I was catching up on my blog reading, I clicked on the All Things Heart and Home blog. Robin posted about the 365 day project - I was hooked. The 365 day project was created by Stephen Poff - Stephen started this project to document his year in photos with short blog entries. As family historians, this would be a wonderful way to document our lives now and to also blog about.

I had already planned on taking more photos of myself with the family. Reading Cheryl's post over at Heritage Happens brought to mind that I have not taken as many photos as I use to. I love photos and there are very few that have me in them. I do not like photos of myself so I am usually the one taking them! I need to get back to taking photos and the 365 day project is a great jump start. So...I grabbed my camera and started to take a few photos. Some I will post - many I won't because they will be of my grandchildren and I try to keep them as private as possible.

Having said that, I could not resist the above photo of my granddaughter Lola! She is so precious and I wanted this photo to be recorded in our family history and to share with all of you.

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So, I shared one of my resolutions, now for just a few more...

I would like to try and blog more. Being retired will give me that opportunity. I am very involved with my grandchildren and things get pretty hectic around my house.

I enjoy doing the "May I Introduce To You" articles on Geneabloggers. I am continuously working on improving my writing skills. I look forward to meeting many more genealogy bloggers. It's alot of fun, I learn so much and I have met some wonderful people.

I would like to educate myself in becoming a better researcher and genealogist, and would like to enroll in ProGen 4.

Continue to get organized. Even though I started only two years ago on my family history, I have quite a bit of data that needs to be entered into my Family Tree Maker program. Presently, I feel sort of all over the place. I want to continue to learn to display and compile my family history in a creative way.

To hunker down and do some heavy duty research on several of my lines.

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I am very sad that the Christmas season is behind us and to be honest, I am not really ready to put the decorations away. I love Christmas, winter and this time of the year, but at the same time, I am looking forward to to the new year, discovering ancestors, their stories and sharing my finds here.

The above photo of Lola, was taken by the owner of this blog ~ 2010

2010, copyright Gini Webb

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to my family, friends and genea-friends and fellow bloggers. Wishing all of you a healthy, happy and successful 2010 in all that you hope for.

Image courtesy of: The Graphics Fairy