25 June 2007

Family Tree Software

I debated on whether to break down and purchase some family tree software. There are many to download for free but do they really do the job.

I've downloaded Rootsweb's free tree software by it's parent company Myfamily. The layout was busy, it was slow, hard to navigate and I needed something that documented things well.

I moved on to the Family Tree Maker. It's one of the longer running programs on the market. I see it everywhere in the stores but the price kept me looking. I wasn't about to fork over a 'c' note for the program unless it also made me breakfast in bed. Onward and upward....

I sent out a few emails to others who have been researching longer than I. A cousin of mine in Florida quickly responded to my query and was adamant, hands down I needed to use Legacy Family Tree. She said she'd been through several tree programs, and liked this one the best especially when it came to sourcing work. Sources, big and small, are the foundation of any reliable family tree so I downloaded it from their website: Legacy Family Tree.

I love this program.

This was a free download and I paid less than $30 for the added bells and whistles, unlocked without a hitch with the purchased key code. I have to say it's the best investment I've made and my cousin was right, it out performed the other software I had been using. The formats made it easy to back up online and I have used it for the last 10 years.

Do check out other reviews here of the top ten best family tree software.

Happy hunting!

16 June 2007

Old Time Wallpaper Cleaner

Taken from a genealogical list I belong to:

I could not pass up sharing this with all of you. I ran across this written in my Mother’s hand…..they actually used this in the Thirties and earlier. Mom got this “recipe” from her Mother. And of course, this was when they did not have the treated wall paper that we use today. I love family history and this is a part of what our Mother’s and Grandmothers and early ancestors used.

From the 1930’s…..Wall Paper Cleaner

1 cup white flour
2 Tblsp salt
2 Tblsp vinegar
1 Tblsp kerosene
½ cup warm water

Put all ingredients together in a pan, mixing well until smooth. Place over fire (or stove) stirring continually until dough is soft, not pasty. It takes about 1 or 2 minutes over a hot fire to cook to the proper consistency. Take into hands immediately & knead into a ball. Rub onto the wall paper as you keep kneading the ball.

(Mom made this personal note on the recipe card. “I remember them rubbing the ball on the wallpaper…ball becomes very black. When that happens, you need a new ball then.)