Saturday, December 22, 2012

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas

I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

I'm so thankful for this time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I hope you enjoy this special Christmas video.




Merry Christmas!

Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Follow Friday–Fab Finds for December 14, 2012

My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order) -
  1. An Example of a Record Found in the British Army Pensioners – Royal Hospital Kilmainham Collection at Findmypast.com by GenBlog
  2. Viivo Adds Security to Saving Your Data in the Cloud by Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
  3. Advent Calendar: Other Traditions by Jollett etc.
  4. Not Everyone Is Hip by Larry Cragun Family And Genealogy Blog
  5. What do I Need to Restore Damaged Photographs? Part One by FamilySearch Blog
  6. Blogging for Cousins? How about blogging for help? by Desperately Seeking Surnames
  7. 13 Easy & Free Ways To Watermark Photos by MakeUseOf (Thanks Thomas MacEntee for sharing this post on Facebook)
  8. NARA’s Bill Mayer Speaks About Genealogists by The Ancestry Insider
  9. Create Your Own Genealogy Blog Stock Images by Ancestral Breezes
  10. Batch Download FamilySearch Documents With FastFilm and Decrease Your Genealogical Research Times by We are Cousins – South Texas And Northeastern Mexico Genealogy
  11. Let’s Talk About Who’s Stealing Blog Content by Clue Wagon
  12. Fab free resource by Android Genealogy
  13. Invite an Ancestor for Christmas Dinner by The Olive Tree Genealogy
  14. FamilySearch Forums Closing ~ 31 Dec 2012 by Family History With The Lineagekeeper

JUST A NOTE:

I’ve never mentioned one of my own blog posts in my weekly Fab Finds list before.  But I thought I’d go ahead and mention one today.  (And, no, I'm not saying my post is a Fab Find.)  It's a post I wrote this week about watermarking photos and is an alternative method to those listed in #7 above.


So, if you’re interested, here’s the link to my post:  Tech Tuesday ~ Watermarked Photos

Thanks for reading!


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tech Tuesday ~ Watermarked Photos

I’ve been asked recently about how I put a watermark on the photos I use within my blog.  And since more than one person has asked me this question, I thought I’d go ahead and write a blog post about how I do this.

One of the genealogy bloggers who contacted me said she’d had a couple of her photos “borrowed” from her blog. Hopefully using watermarks on your photos will help to stop this from happening.

The process I use is really very simple.  I use
Windows Live Writer to compose my blog posts.  Windows Live Writer is part of the Windows Essentials suite.  I’m currently using Windows 7 and there was a rumor that Windows Live Writer was going to be discontinued with the Windows 8 update.  But happily, it looks like Live Writer has been continued in the new Windows Essentials 2012 Suite.

Windows Live Writer has a built-in watermark feature.  So, here’s how it works and what the program looks like:

This is what the start-up page looks like for my blog.  Your blog's settings and template will cause it to look different for you.


Windows Live Writer 1
Click to Enlarge

When you are ready to add a photo to your blog post draft, click on the "Pictures" tab in the toolbar and insert your photo.

Windows Live Writer 6
Click to Enlarge
Once you’ve added a photo to your blog post draft, just click the "Watermark" tab in the toolbar.

Windows Live Writer 2
Click to Enlarge
The Watermark dialog box will appear.  Type your copyright statement in the Watermark text line.  As you can see, there are different options available:  font family, size, and position of your watermark.  Once you’ve created your watermark, press OK.  And here’s a nifty little feature.  When you press the "Set to default" tab, Windows Live Writer will automatically add the watermark you just created to each photo you upload in the future. 


Windows Live Writer 3
Click to Enlarge
And here we are!  Your photo now has a watermark.  It’s just that simple!

Windows Live Writer 4
Click to Enlarge
After completing your blog post draft, press the "Post draft to blog" tab in the toolbar.  Your blog post should then be sent over to your blog.  (Check first before exiting Windows Live Writer.)

Windows Live Writer 5
Click to Enlarge
I use Blogger.  And when I write my blog posts, I will usually tweak them in Blogger once the draft has been transferred over from Windows Live Writer.

Of course, there are other ways to add watermarks to photos.  I’ve used Photoshop to add watermarks to the photos I’ve uploaded to Pinterest.  But for adding watermarks to my photos within my blog posts, I prefer the simplicity of Windows Live Writer.

Thanks for reading!


Jana


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Sepia Saturday 155 ~ Two Pairs of Overalls and a Dress - Circa 1940

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.

Today’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt (at bottom of post) challenges us to find photos with people in overalls or any kind of working apparel.



Jan Albert Iverson
and Siblings - Circa 1940

I'm sure these three cute kiddos were not about to head off to work.  It's much more likely they were headed outside to play.  This is a photo of my dad, Jan Albert Iverson, with his sister and brother.

My Dad's the one on the far left sporting the more traditionally-styled overalls.  They look like what I picture when I think of overalls.  His little brother, on the other hand, is wearing a different style of overalls.  They remind me of vintage bell-bottom sailor’s pants.  Aren’t they cute?

This photo was taken around 1940, so my dad would have been about four years old.

To see what other Sepia Saturday participants have written today, just click
HERE.


Sepia Saturday 155 December 8, 2012

Thanks for reading!

Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Friday, December 7, 2012

Follow Friday–Fab Finds for December 7, 2012

My Fab Finds for this week are (in no particular order) -
  1. Looking at the news sites AND Copyright and the lost letters by The Legal Genealogist
  2. Finding Your Family History Voice by The Armchair Genealogist
  3. Happy Blogiversary to Me! by ABT UNK
  4. Sepia Saturday #154 - Our Fishing Boat by Guacamole Gulch
  5. Why Newspapers.com? by Kimberly Powell
  6. Is it OK to Borrow That Blog Post? by Michelle Goodrum at The In-Depth Genealogist
  7. WikiTree Announces “Cousin Bait” Toolkits by GeneaPress
  8. How Much Did a Haircut Cost in 1935? by Cross Connections
  9. How to Find Great Genealogy Blogs AND Map My Surname by FamilySearch Blog
  10. Anatomy of a Social Security Number by Rootsonomy
  11. Advent Calendar of Memories: Outdoor Decorations by Jollett etc.
  12. Family History - Why Aren't You Writing from the Heart? by The Ancestor Hunt
  13. The Book of Life:  A Journey Through My Family History on Prezi by Family History with the Lineagekeeper
  14. James Wesley Blacketer's Story Continues... by Family Stories
  15. Create Your Own Ancestors -- Really? by Lost Family Treasures

New Blog Discoveries

Need a good chuckle?  Then #4 and #11 are must reads.

Thanks for reading!


Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Advent Calendar - December 6, 2012 ~ A Visit to Santa Claus

This is part of the "Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" by Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers. If you'd like to join in the fun, just click HERE.

December 6 – Santa Claus

Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and “make a list?” Do you still believe in Santa Claus?


Jana and her Brother
Visit Santa Claus

As you can see from the photo above, my brother and I did make a visit to see Santa Claus.  Unfortunately, we didn’t look all too happy to see him.  I was three years old and my brother was two years old at the time.

Between the two of us, I’d say my younger brother was the braver child during our visit, as he had the courage to actually look at Santa.  Whether or not I ever gathered up enough courage to look at Santa, I really don't recall.  Oh well, at least we weren’t screaming our heads off.  And for that, I’m sure Santa was very thankful.

At this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I'd like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading!


Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Advent Calendar–December 4, 2012 ~ Christmas Cards Past and Present

This is part of the "Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" by Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers. If you'd like to join in the fun, just click HERE.

December 4 – Christmas Cards

Did your family send cards? Did your family display the ones they received? Do you still send Christmas cards? Do you have any cards from your ancestors?


My parents did send and receive Christmas cards.  And they were displayed in our home.  As you can see from the photo below, one of the ways my mom displayed them was by attaching the cards to a ribbon which was then attached to the wall.



I don’t display my Christmas cards the same way my mom did, but I have kept up the tradition of sending Christmas cards to family and friends.   Lately though, I’ve started sending those fun Christmas photo cards from Costco instead of traditional Christmas cards.  I also include a Christmas letter updating the happenings of our family.

You could say that my Grandma Ingrid sent a type of photo Christmas card as well in 1939.  Here is a cute little Christmas card I found in one of my Grandmother Ingrid’s Books of Remembrance.  Pictured are my Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Ingrid Iverson with their three children.
 

Arthur and Ingrid Iverson Christmas Card from 1939

At this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I'd like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading!

Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

Advent Calendar - December 3, 2012 ~ Tinsel, Glass Birds and Cranberry Garlands

This is part of the "Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories" by Thomas MacEntee of GeneaBloggers. If you'd like to join in the fun, just click HERE.


Christmas Tree Ornaments

Did your family have heirloom or cherished ornaments? Did you ever string popcorn and cranberries? Did your family or ancestors make Christmas ornaments?

Jana and her Brothers at Christmas
The special Christmas ornaments I remember most from my childhood were the painted glass birds that clipped onto the Christmas tree branches.  You may be able to see them on our tree in the photo above.  (Yes, that’s me in my nurse’s hat with my two brothers in the background.)  The birds were very pretty and had stiff flat plastic bristle-like tails that were decorated with glitter and other pretty things.  My dad liked the look of silver tinsel, which you can see was used to decorate our tree as well.  And, although it is not a tree ornament, I do remember the paper angel sitting on the mantel.  As I recall, it was made of paper and painted gold.

I don’t know if my
Grandma Ingrid Gilberg used tinsel or glass bird ornaments to decorate her Christmas trees when she was a girl.  But, I’ve been able to read about some other decorations she and her family used to decorate their Christmas trees.  In her vocal history, recorded by my father, Grandma Ingrid reminisced about the traditions she and her Swedish immigrant parents shared at Christmas.  Among these were how they decorated their tree.

She recalled,
"It was a tradition that we make garlands for our tree.  We would decorate the ceilings with paper from corner to corner.  We would polish apples and hang them on the tree.  We did not have popcorn at this time, but we would string cranberries and hang them around the tree.  Then when Christmas Eve came, we would light our candles because there were no electric tree lights at this time.  At Christmas Eve, we would all gather around the room and we would dance around the tree and there was a little step we would dance to and we would sing a Christmas song."

"Now it is Christmas again, 
Now it is Christmas again, 
And after Christmas comes the New Year,
Yes it is so,
Yes it is so, 
After Christmas comes the New Year."

So that you can get an idea of how these ceiling decorations may have looked, here’s a photo from Grandma Ingrid and Grandpa Arthur’s wedding reception.  I’m assuming this looked similar to how the ceiling was decorated with paper garlands at Christmas.

Arthur Iverson and Ingrid Gilberg
on their Wedding Day

At this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I'd like to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks for reading!


Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Sepia Saturday 154 ~ On The Road Again

Sepia Saturday provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.
     
Today’s Sepia Saturday photo prompt (at end of post) shows a precarious looking wooden bridge over a river.  There are a few people daring to stand and/or sit on that rickety-looking bridge.


The two photos of bridges I’m sharing with you today aren’t made out of wood and don’t appear to be rickety.

My regular readers may remember that my Grandpa Debs Webster and his family immigrated to the United States from Brazil in 1952.  In the last installment of their immigration story, I shared my uncle’s memories of seeing some curious contraptions used as early air conditioners for cars at that time.  I also found photos of these devices.  For those who missed this post, you can read it HERE.

Well, just a short three years after my Grandpa Debs Webster and his family settled in the United States, he and his wife Willis were on the road again.  This time they traveled down to Mexico.  Debs’ only surviving sibling, Carlota, lived in Mexico City.  The photo below shows Willis, Debs, and Carlota on what appears to be a bridge or roadway near or over water.


Mexico City
L to R - Willis Webster, Debs Webster,
Carlota Webster Guerrero

Here’s a close-up view of the happy trio.


Mexico City
L to R - Willis Webster, Debs Webster,
Carlota Webster Guerrero

While Debs and Willis were in Mexico, they traveled down to Chiapas to visit relatives there.  They must have purchased this postcard while on this visit.


Dr. Belisario Dominguez Bridge
at Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
Vintage Postcard

Upon closer examination of this vintage postcard, I noticed that I could read the sign on the top of the bridge.  Here’s a close-up view.



 The sign reads as follows -
1913 Puente 1931
Dr. Belisario Dominguez

Puente means bridge in English.  So, this bridge must have been dedicated to Dr. Belisario Dominguez.  I wondered who this doctor was so I did a little research.  He was a  Mexican physician who was born in Chiapas in 1863 and was murdered in Mexico City in 1913.

He served as a Senator from Chiapas during the Mexican Revolution and was killed because of a political speech he wrote following Victoriano Huerta’s coup d'état .    Today, the Mexican Government awards the  “
Order of the Belisario Dominguez Medal of Honor” to eminent Mexican citizens who meet the criteria for this award.

Here's another close-up view from the vintage postcard.  This time, I chose to focus on the car on the bridge.  I thought I'd share this with you just because it's fun to see this old vintage car.




My Grandpa Debs and Grandma Willis took lots of photos and purchased several postcards while on their trip to Mexico in 1955.  And I’m looking forward to sharing more of these with you in the future.

To see what other Sepia Saturday participants have written about, whether it be rickety bridges, water, vintage postcards and cars, or anything else for that matter, just click
HERE.

Sepia Saturday 154 December 1, 2012

Thanks for reading!

Jana

Copyright © Jana Last 2012