New Additions to Familysearch.org

The new records can be searched for free at FamilySearch.org
(Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

1869 Argentina National Census
California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records
Canada Census 1916
Costa Rica Church Records
Germany Burials
Ireland, Civil Registration Indexes
Mexico Aguascalientes Catholic Church Records 1616-1961
Netherlands Births and Baptisms
Netherlands Marriages
Netherlands Deaths and Burials
Philippines Marriages
1920 United States Census - Added Alabama
1850 United States Census -- Added Alabama and Indian Population
1850 United States Census (Slave Schedule) -- Added Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina
1850 United States Census (Mortality Schedule) -- Added Louisiana and Indian Population
1870 United States Census -- Added Pennsylvania

Ice Storm Aftermath

We had an ice storm here in Western Kentucky. Everything was coated in about a 1/4 - 1/2 inch coating of ice. The internet went out here Tuesday and I couldn't get back online until today.
My oldest son's electric was out for 3 days and him and his wife and four little kids had to come stay here until it came back on. Thousands of trees snapped and broke or lost branches from the weight of the ice on them. Many are still without power. Thankfully here we only lost power for a hour or so Tuesday morning. The higher temperature today melted almost all the ice; and now the clean-up efforts begin.

Cricut New Arrival Cartridge

Today, I thought I would add a few sample die cuts from Cricut's New Arrival Cartridge. They are so cute, this one is a baby buggy.

The little diaper pins are adorable.

There are many words like this included.

Here is a link to a detailed article that I wrote about the Cricut New Arrival Cartridge:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1171218/cricuts_new_arrival_cartridge_has_over.html?cat=24

Butterfly Art Journal Doodle for 17 Jan 2009

I know that I am a few days late in posting this. But here is the next one of my Art Journal Doodles.

I am really getting into this, it is so freeing.

Yesterday I went through my massive pencil, colored pencil, marker, etc. collection and weeded out all the old or used or junky stuff; got all the good stuff in a box and placed it on the side of my desk for when the inspiration to add color hits me.

It's weird how I can be upset and just mindlessly doodling I can feel the relaxing and releasing of tension flowing.

Cricut Animal Kingdom

This is a cat die cut from the Cricut Animal Kingdom cartridge.

This is the elephant from the same cartridge.

This is the bear from the same cartridge.













This cartridge also includes:

1. Horse
2. Pig
3. Piglet
4. Cow
5. Goat
6. Duck
7. Lamb
8. Goose
9. Chicken
10. Rooster
11. Turkey
12. Bird
13. Bear
14. Deer
15. Moose
16. Skunk
17. Raccoon
18. Owl
19. Squirrel
20. Camel
21. Elephant
22. Hippo
23. Ape
24. Giraffe
25. Kangaroo
26. Zebra
27. Monkey
28. Tiger
29. Rhino
30. Seal
31. Lion
32. Polar Bear
33. Penguin
34. Snake
35. Parrot
36. Alligator
37. Turtle
38. Rabbit
39. Fishbowl
40. Fish
41. Frog
42. Mouse
43. Hound dog
44. Lab type dog
45. Jack Russell type dog
46. Scotty type dog
47. Petey type dog
48. Cat
49. Lying cat

Art Journal Doodle for 15 January 2009

Spurred onward by the success of my first Art Journal Doodle, yesterday I did this one.

I have gained some confidence in my abilities. I just grabbed a pencil and some paper and my clipboard and curled up under a blanket on the couch, and drew whatever came to me. No looking at something or someone else for inspiration.

I am sure I have seen similiar bits and pieces in life somewhere. But I was not looking at something and then trying to draw it.

Twitter Ranking Update

I have a grade of 98/100 now on twitter. I am still ranked #2 in Kentucky, but now I am also #23 in Arkansas. Thanks to all my tweetie tweeple on twitter.

First Attempt at Art Journal Doodle

I have been looking at a lot of Art Journals online lately. I am so moved by them. I have always saved little bits and pieces of things intending to do something like that with them.

However, I could never seem to start, for one reason or another.

- Fear of failure.

- Fear of being good enough.

And on and on. But I think between going to the quilt museum and the looking at all the art journals, I am allowing myself the freedom to JUST DO IT.

So last night, with some inspiration from Sharon Shamber's amazing Sedona Rose quilt, I did this doodle. My kids swear that I traced it -- that made me smile a lot. Then my son was like, why didn't I inherit this artistic talent?

I have to let myself, just go with it and also I have to realize that art is just is; I don't need to have a reason to do it. It is not a practical need; like I need to do the dishes. But it is a need in my soul.

Let me know what you think of my first Art Doodle, I xeroxed this, in case, I want to color it; if I don't like it, it won't be ruined.

National Quilt Museum

Yesterday, I got to realize a dream I have had for many years. I got to go to the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.

It was so awesome, the outside of the museum has a quilt painted on the side and large stained glass pieces in the window.
It cost $8.00 for adults to get in. The only bad thing was I wanted to touch the quilts so bad -- I was good and didn't. But I WANTED to so bad.
There was a section of miniature quilts that were so unbelievable it was insane. Entire quilt blocks pieced perfectly and they were an inch or even tinier.
The regular size quilts were awesome, they wouldn't allow any photographs, but oh, the sights I saw.
The Sedona Rose by Sharon Schamber was amazing; the back looks like a prize winning quilt itself, it has 130,000 Swavorski crystal on the back. I was sitting on a bench just admiring the back of this quilt, when I volunteer walked up and said, "If you like the back, come around and look at the front!" Wow!
I looked online and found a place you can go look at it: http://sharonschambernetwork.com/gallery/Sedona_Rose/index.html
This thing is unbelievable.

This is a paper bag album that I made. It has a vintage looking mirror on it, and a red heart jewel. The background is painted gold and textured, with purple tissue applied over that in a random pattern. The yellow fern and flower lace trim is vintage from my grandmother. The antique hat was a sticker. The purple granny boot is a Sizzix die cut. There is a piece of a paper lace doily that I antiqued in the upper left corner. And a purple round sequin. The old newspaper is from a patterned scrapbook paper and I cut out the specific definition that I wanted and then burned the edges with my Hot Marks tool. It is held together with loose ring binder clips, that are accented with purple and gold ribbons and a faux tortoise shell heart charm.

This was my first attempt at a paper bag album.

My Brinker Family

My Brinker relations start with my grandmother:

Edna Brinker (married John Norris), daughter of
John Brinker (married Elva Drake), son of
Henry Brinker (married Susan Miller), son of
Jacob Brinker (married Margaret Poorman), son of
George Brinker (married Mary Wible), son of
Henry Brinker (married Margaret Wise), son of
Jacob Brinker (married Susannah Hinkle), son of
Andreas Brinker (married Regula Herter)

Edna Brinker was born in Wayne Co., Ohio and later moved to Medina Co., Ohio.

John Brinker was born in Ashland Co., Ohio and later lived in Wayne Co., Ohio and Medina Co., Ohio.

Henry Brinker (married Susan Miller) was born in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania and later moved to Ohio; he lived in Wayne Co., Ohio and Ashland Co., Ohio and Medina Co., Ohio.

Jacob Brinker (married Margaret Poorman) was born in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania and later moved to Ohio; he lived in Wayne Co., Ohio and Medina Co., Ohio.

George Brinker was born in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania or Monroe Co., Pennsylvania and moved to Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania.

Henry Brinker (married Margaret Wise) was born in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania and later moved to Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania.

Jacob Brinker (married Susannah Hinkle) was born in Rumikon, Elsau Parish, Zurich Canton, Switzerland and later moved to Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania.

Andreas Brinker was born in Rumikon, Elsau Parish, Zurich Canton, Switzerland and later moved to Northampton Co., Pennsylvania.

Ranked #2 in Kentucky on Twitter

I just checked my Twitter [a social networking micro-blogging site, located at www.twitter.com] ranking on www.twitter.grader.com; and was excited to see that I am ranked #2 in the state of Kentucky and have a grade of 94/100.

Just had to "tweet" my horn, lol.

Dreary January Days Can Be Inspiring

The weather is blah. And everyone is kind of in recovery mode from the holidays. It is easy to fall into what I call the winter blahs -- no nice weather, not much sun [at least where I live], short days, and cold, wet, ice, rain, snow, sleet. YUCK!

So what do I do to combat that? I have my projects, such as:

organizing and / or decluttering closets, drawers, filing cabinets, etc.

filing papers

updating my genealogy - adding all those little treasures that are fun to find, but tedious to enter into the genealogy database program

In other words, it the task is too boring, tedious, or mundane for funner [is that a word, really?] days, it helps to pass the time now. And by the time you got everything in order and tidy, it will be close to spring, glorious spring!

Familysearch.org Has Added New Records

http://www.familysearch.org/ (Click Search Records, then Record Search pilot).

Arizona Death Certificates
265,726 Indexed Records
264,534 Digital Images
New

West Virginia Births
242,781 Indexed Records
Ten new counties added

West Virginia Deaths
402,154 Indexed Records
Ten new counties added

West Virginia Marriages
393,867 Indexed Records
Ten new counties added

1900 United States Census
826,030 Indexed Records
Added Indian Territory

Debt Proof Living Contest

Mary Hunt of Debt Proof Living [Everyday Cheapskate] is having a contest until 1-31-2009.

Five lucky winners will win lifetime memberships to her site and all the good stuff there.

Including:
Debt-Proof Living Newsletter
Rapid Debt-Repayment Plan Calculator
All the other calculators, too
Freedom Account and RDRP Managers
Discussion groups
A whole new financial life

http://www.debtproofliving.com/winlifetime/

Family Back Home

Well the family is all back home from Ohio.

So the solitude is at an end. However, it had it's effect, I am much more centered and grounded and dealing with them much better.

They opened their Christmas presents from me when they got home. Two youngest kids got denim cathedral windows quilts -- one in red & blue and the other one in all blue.

Got my 2nd son's Army denim cathedral window quilt started, but I am short on the fabric and the local Walmarts don't have it in stock.

Genealogy Organization

I have been following the Dear Myrt column online since the mid 90s. Now Ol' Myrt has revised and updated her famous get organized checklist. It is now in .pdf format.

Regardless of whether you have just started genealogy today or have been doing it for decades you are some to find her advice helpful.

http://blog.dearmyrtle.com/2009/01/finally-get-organized-jan-2009.html