Ancestry.com Provides a Relationship Calculator in Your Ancestry Member Tree

Ancestry.com provides a Relationship to me for a person in my Ancestry Member Tree.  It is right under the name, birth date and death date on the profile of a person in my tree.  

1)  For instance, here is the person profile for Peregrine White (1620-1704):

The relationship shown is that Peregrine White is my 9th great-grandfather.

2)  Another example:  here is the person profile for Doris Watts (1921-2005):

Doris is my 4th cousin.

3)  I have Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) in my Ancestry Member Tree - here is his profile in my tree:

Abraham is my 3rd cousin 5 times removed of the husband of the sister-in-law of my 9th great aunt.

That is cool, but how did they get that?  Evidently, Ancestry has a relationship calculator.

What I want to know is "who is this 9th great aunt?  Who is the sister-in-law, and her husband?"

4)  I noticed, just in passing, that the Relationship is a link!  I clicked on the relationship and there is the list of the persons that define the relationship (3 screens, some overlap):

So there it is.  The 9th great-aunt is Frances Hill (1632-1676), her husband is Jonah Austin (1630-1683), and his sister is Mary Austin (1632-1694), wife of Thomas Lincoln (1630-1708), the second great-grandson of Robert Lincoln (1529-1556), who is Abraham Lincoln's 7th great-grandfather.

Now, what I really wish is that Ancestry provides a way to print out that relationship in a chart that shows the paths between the principals (i.e., me and Honest Abe).  

5)  Of course, the relationship estimation is only as good as the information in my Ancestry Member Tree.  

If a person in my Ancestry Member Tree is not related to the Home person in the tree, then no relationship will be listed.  If no Home person for the tree has been identified, then no relationship will be provided.

6)  I have the Lincoln line in my Ancestry Member Tree because my grandchildren are related to Abraham Lincoln also - he is their 8th cousin 7 times removed.

I have another wish - that I can specify two people in my tree, my granddaughter and Abraham Lincoln - and have the Ancestry Member Tree tell me their relationship, and show me the path.  I can only find that relationship if I make my granddaughter the Home person in my Ancestry Member Tree.

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The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/ancestrycom-provides-relationship.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Treasure Chest Tuesday - 1794 Account of David Kirby on Ichabod Kirby's Estate

Yes, I know it's supposed to be Treasure Chest Thursday, but I can't help it - I want to share some of the goodies that Susanne shared with me - see A Kirby Family Genealogical Windfall From Susanne (17 March 2016).

Today's treasure is the account of David Kirby documenting the distribution of his father's estate in 1794.  See Ichabod Kirby's will in  Amanuensis Monday - Post 312: 1788 Will of Ichabod Kirby (1705-1793) in Bristol County, Mass.

The Account image is:

The transcription of this record is (transcribed line by line):

May the 3d Day 1794
heare followeth a just accompt of David Kerby administration
to the Estate of Ichabod Kerby Late of Westport Deceased in the
County of Bristol.
the accompt Charges him Self with an Inventory in Lawfull
money to the amount of                                      £359=4=11.0

administrator prays allowance for the several 
Disburstments as followeth in Lawfull money
N1  to Rachael Kerby her Recept                     £47=0=9.0
   2  to John Kerby his Recept                             49=3=9.2
   3  to Reachel Kerby Jun her recept                  12=13=0.
   4  to David Briggs his Recept                            1=17=6.
   5  to Temperance Wilbor her Recept                 1=17=6.0
   6  to David Sowle his Recept                            1=17=6.0
   7  to Jeremiah Brownell his Recept                  1=17=6.0
   8  to Humphrey White his Recept                    1=17=6.0
   9  to Humphrey Kerby his Recept                    0=7=6.0
 10 to Ichabod Wilbor his Recept                        0=7=6.0
 11 to Robert Kerby his Recept                           0=7=6.0
                                                                      £ 119=7=6.2

The source citation for this account is:

Ichabod Kirby Family Papers (loose papers on scrapbook page, created after 1801 by unknown persons), digital image of loose papers privately held by Susanne Nisbet, [address for private use], Wake Forest, N.C., 2016 (7th great-grandchild of Ichabod Kirby), Account of David Kirby, administrator, 1794; Provenance is David Kirby family of Westport, Mass. ca 1801 to Susanne Nisbet 2016, provided to Randy Seaver March 2016 via email.

I tried to figure out who these persons were on this list:

1)  Racheal Kerby is the widow of Ichabod, Rachel (Allen) Kirby
2)  John Kerby is the first son of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
3)  Reachel Kerby is the daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
4)  David Briggs is the husband of Elizabeth Wilbor, the daughter of Ruhamah (Kirby) Wilbor, daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
5)  Temperance Wilbor is the daughter of Ruhamah (Kirby) Wilbor, daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
6)  David Sowle is probably the husband of one of the daughters of Ruhamah (Kirby) Wilbor, daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
7)  Jeremiah Brownell is the husband of Rebecca Kirby, daughter of John Kirby, son of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
8)  Humphrey White is the husband of Sibel (Kirby) White, daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
9)  Humphrey Kirby is the son of John Kirby, son of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
10)  Ichabod Wilbor is the son of Ruhamah (Kirby) Wilbor, daughter of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby
11)  Robert Kirby is the son of John Kirby, son of Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby

The only person I have not identified is David Sowle.  It is possible that he is the husband of Marcy Kirby, daughter of John and Phoebe (Waite) Kirby.  It is more likely that he is the husband of Ruhamah, Mehitable or Temperance Wilbor, daughters of Ebenezer and Ruhamah (Kirby) Wilbor.  He may be a guardian for one of the minor Wilbor children.  There is a David Sowle, born in 1761 in Westport, who married Peace Sherman in 1789.  A David Sowle married Phebe Kirby in 1790.  A David Sowle married Mary Russell in 1799.  So I haven't figured out how David Sowle is involved here.  

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The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/treasure-chest-tuesday.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Guardianship Records of Spendthrift Thomas Dill (1755-1838)

While I was searching for information for my 5th great-grandfather, Thomas Dill (1710-1761) two weeks ago on Ancestry.com, I noticed that there was a probate estate file for my 4th great-grandfather, Thomas Dill (1755-1838) on Ancestry.com in the Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 database.  The index said a record was in Volume 15, page 5 in Barnstable County.  When I found that record in Volume 15, (for Barnstable, Probate and Guardianship Records, Vol. 14-17, 1763-1785), it was a probate docket index for him on page 5:

Thomas Dill's list of probate documents is on the right-hand page, the second one down from the top.  The docket says:

*  1821, Sept. 13, Guardian's Appointment, Volume 40, Page 145
*  1832, Oct. 29, Petition for Discharge of Samuel Freeman, Volume 259, Page 200*
*  1832, Oct. 31, Account of Samuel Freeman Filed and Allowed, Volume 52, Page 409
*  1832, Oct. 31, Bond of J.P. Atwood Filed and Approved, Volume 252, Page 43*
*  1832, Oct. 31, Letter of Appointment of J.P. Atwood, Volume 46, Page 0
*  1838, Oct. 31, Account of J.P. Atwood Filed and Allowed, Volume 61, Page 72
*  1826, Mar. 29, Guardian's Account, Volume 45, Page 196

I could not find the second and fourth items on the list in these records.  I did find the following:

1)  The 1821 Guardian's Appointment in Volume 40, Page 145 (right-hand page):

This document is almost unreadable.  Samuel Freeman was appointed guardian of  "Spendthrift" Thomas Dill.

2)  The 1826 Guardian's Account in Volume 45, Page 196 (middle of left-hand page):

Samuel Freeman filed his account for 1822 to 1826.

3)  1832 Guardian's Account of Samuel Freeman in Volume 52, Page 409 (middle of left-hand page):

Samuel Freeman filed his account for 1827 to 1832.

4)  1832 Appointment of Joshua P. Atwood as Guardian in Volume 46, Page 20 (left-hand page):

5)  1838 Account of Joshua P. Atwood in Volume 61, Page 72 (left-hand pages):

This account goes through 31 October 1838, so I think that Thomas Dill probably died before 31 October 1838.  I had only an estimate of after 1830 for a death date previously.

I will try to transcribe some of these pages in future blog posts.

Once again, Ancestry.com did not index the principal person for each probate record - in this case they indexed the probate docket page for Thomas Dill (1755-1838).

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/guardianship-records-of-spendthrift.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

New or Updated Record Collections at FamilySearch.org - 27 March to 2 April 2016

I'm trying to keep up with the new and updated record collections at FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list).  

As of 3 April 2016, there were 2,079 record collections on FamilySearch (an increase of 3 from last week):

The new or updated collections are:

* Peru, La Libertad, Civil Registration, 1903-1998; 579,156 indexed records with record images, Updated 01 Apr 2016

*  Minnesota Marriages, 1849-1950; 438,331 indexed records without record images, Updated 01 Apr 2016

*  Texas, Laredo Arrival Manifests, 1903-1955; 866,687 indexed records with record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016

*  Montana, Mineral County Obituaries, 1870-2010; 5,266 indexed records with record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016

*  Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997; 502,888 indexed records without record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016

*  Peru, Cajamarca, Civil Registration, 1938-1996; 24 indexed records with record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016

*  Peru, Áncash, Civil Registration, 1888-2005; 89 indexed records with record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016

*  China, Imperial Examinations and Related Papers (Han Yu-shan Collection), 1646-1904; Browse Images only, no indexed records, ADDED 31 Mar 2016

*  Germany, Prussia, Pomerania Church Records, 1544-1945; 259,156 indexed records with record images, Updated 31 Mar 2016


*  New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980, 581,984 indexed records with record images, ADDED 31 Mar 2016

*  Peru, Amazonas, Civil Registration, 1939-1998; Browse Images only, no indexed records, Updated 29 Mar 2016

*  BillionGraves Index; 19,134,702 indexed records with record images, Updated 29 Mar 2016

*  Brazil, São Paulo, Immigration Cards, 1902-1980; 4,388,493 indexed records with record images, Updated 29 Mar 2016

*  South Africa, Orange Free State, Estate Files, 1951-2006; 62,162 indexed records with record images, Updated 28 Mar 2016

*  Minnesota, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919; Browse Images only, no indexed records, ADDED 28 Mar 2016

The asterisk used by FamilySearch is for "Recently added or updated."  I am particularly interested in new collections, for the obvious reasons.  FamilySearch does provide a listing of which collections are new or updated several days after my post.
 

My friend, Marshall, has come up with a way to determine which collections are ADDED or UPDATED, in addition to which collections were removed.  My thanks to Marshall for helping me out here! 

In order to select a specific collection, go to https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list and use the "Filter by collection name" feature in the upper left-hand corner.

Each one of the collections listed above has a Research Wiki page (use the "Learn more" link).  It would be very useful if the Wiki page for each collection listed the dates for when the collection was added as a new collection and the dates for major updates also.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/new-or-updated-record-collections-at.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Amanuensis Monday - Post 314: 1733 Marriage Contract of Ichabod Kirby and Rachel Allen in Bristol County, Mass.

Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the excellent  TransylvanianDutch blog) started a Monday blog theme years ago called "Amanuensis Monday."  John offers this definition for "amanuensis:" 

"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

The subject today is the 1733 marriage contract between Ichabod Kirby (1705-1793) and Rachel Allen in Dartmouth, Massachusetts: 

The transcription of this marriage record is (transcribed line-by-line):

Whearas Ichabod Curby the Son of Robert Curby of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol in the

Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England and Rachel Allen the Daughter of Joseph Allen of the Town and County aforesaid, Having Declared their Intentions of taking each other in Marriage before Sea-

verall Publick meetings of the People Called Quakers in Dartmouth aforesd according to the good order used

among them (whose proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof with regard to the Rights our

Lord of God and Example of his people Recorded in the Scriptures of with in that care) were allowed

by the sd meetings they appearing Clear of all others and in the year according to the English account one

thousand Seaven hundred and thirty two or three they the Sd Ichabod Curby and Rachel Allen appeared in a

publick assembly of the abovesd people and others met together for that purpos in their publick meeting

place in Dartmouth aforesd and in a Sollemn manner he the sd Ichabod Curby taking the sd Rachel

Allen by the hand did openly Declare as followeth:  Friends, I Desire you to be my witnesses that I take

this my friend Rachel Allen to be my wife promiseing with the Lords assistance to be to her a Loving

Husband until Death Seperate us.  And then and there in the sd Assembly the Said Rachel Allen did in

the like manner Declare as followeth Friends I Desire you to be my Witnesses that I take this my friend

Ichabod Curby to be my Husband promiseing with the Lords assistance to be to him a Dutiful Wife until

Death Seperates us.

And the sd Ichabod Curby and Rachel Allen as a further Confirmation thereof did then and there

to these presents Set their hands the young woman according to the Custom of Marriage

Assuming her Husband's Name.                                                Ichabod Cerby

                                                                                                   Rachel Cerby

                      

And we whose names are hereunto Subscribed being present among others at the Solemnising of

of their sd Marriage and Subscribtion in manner aforesd as Witnesses have also to these presents

subscribe our names the day and place above written.

John Tucker                               Susanna Gifford                               Increas Allen

John Howland                            Joanna Crane                                   Joseph Allen

Jedidiah Allen                                                                                    Bathsheba Cerby

John Russell                                                                                       Nathaniel Kerby

George Soule

Abraham Tucker

Joseph Tucker

Holder Slocum

Stephen Willcock

Isaac Smith

Richard Crane

Daniel Howland

David Akin

The source citation for this marriage record is:

Ichabod Kirby Family Papers (loose papers on scrapbook page, created after 1801 by unknown persons), digital image of loose papers privately held by Susanne Nisbet, [address for private use], Wake Forest, N.C., 2016 (7th great-grandchild of Ichabod Kirby); Marriage contract of Ichabod Curby and Rachel Allen, 1733; Provenance is David Kirby family of Westport, Mass. ca 1801 to Susanne Nisbet 2016, provided to Randy Seaver March 2016 via email.

The marriage of Ichabod Kirby and Rachel Allen is recorded as 1 March 1732/3 in the Dartmouth, Massachusetts town records and vital record book.

Ichabod and Rachel (Allen) Kirby are my 6th great-grandparents.  They had four children between 1734 and 1743.  I am descended from their third child, David Kirby (1740-1832) who married Martha Sowle in 1763.

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The URL for this post is:   http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/amanuensis-monday-post-314-1733.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Added or Updated Databases at Ancestry.com - Week of 27 March to 2 April 2016

The following databases were added or updated on Ancestry.com during the period from 27 March to 2 April 2016:

The databases added or updated include:


*  Mainz, Germany, Birth Records, 1872-1900; indexed records with record images, Updated 3/31/2016

*  Chihuahua, Mexico, Civil Registration Marriages, 1861-1967; indexed records with record images, Updated 3/30/2016

*  Chihuahua, Mexico, Civil Registration Deaths, 1861-1987; indexed records with record images, Updated 3/29/2016

*  Chihuahua, Mexico, Civil Registration Births, 1861-1947; indexed records with record images, Updated 3/29/2016

*  Web: Queensland, Australia, Prison and Reformatory Indexes, 1824-1936; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Chester County, Pennsylvania, Tax Discount Index, 1740-1865; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Chester County, Pennsylvania, Birth Index, 1852 - 1855, 1893 - 1907; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Queensland, Australia, Property Indexes, 1842-1895; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Hibbing, Minnesota, High School Indexes, 1919-2001; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Rhode Island, Historical Cemetery Commission Index, 1647-2008; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Queensland, Australia, Index to Aliens, 1913; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Web: Queensland, Australia, Occupational Indexes, 1857-1922; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/29/2016

*  Falmouth, Cornwall, England, Congregational and Baptist Church Registers, 1763-1923; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Cornwall, England, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records, 1839-1872; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Cornwall, England, Militia and Sea Fencibles Index, 1780 - 1831; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Cornwall, England, Bodmin Gaol Records, 1821-1899; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Cornwall, England, Penzance Dispensary Admissions, 1828-1841; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Truro, Cornwall, England, Police Charge Books, 1846-1896; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

*  Bodmin, Cornwall, England, Inmates at St. Lawrence's Asylum, 1840-1900; indexed records without record images, ADDED 3/28/2016

The recently added and updated page on Ancestry.com is at http://www.ancestry.com/cs/recent-collections.

The complete Ancestry.com Card Catalog is at  http://search.ancestry.com/search/CardCatalog.aspx.  

By my count above there were 15 NEW databases ADDED this past week, per the list above. There are now 32,555 databases available as of 3 April, up 15 from last week.  

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The URL for this post is: http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/added-or-updated-databases-at.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.

Best of the Genea-Blogs - 27 March to 2 April 2016

Hundreds of genealogy and family history bloggers write thousands of posts every week about their research, their families, and their interests. I appreciate each one of them and their efforts.

My criteria for "Best of ..." are pretty simple - I pick posts that advance knowledge about genealogy and family history, address current genealogy issues, provide personal family history, are funny or are poignant. I don't list posts destined for daily blog prompts or meme submissions (but I do include summaries of them), or my own posts.

Here are my picks for great reads from the genealogy blogs for this past week:

*  When You Think You're the Only One by Jacqi Stevens on A Family Tapestry blog.  Jacqi ponders who will be the next family historian.

* Strengthening Children Through Family History: Bruce Feiler’s Tips from RootsTech 2016 by Nicole Dyer on the Family Locket blog.  Nicole shares how she is using Feiler's tips from RootsTech in her family.

*  More Accusations of Plagiarism Leveled at Barry Ewell by the writer of The Ancestry Insider blog.  This is a compendium of the charges to date, except for the Cyndi's List issue.  Reader beware.

*  Concepts – CentiMorgans, SNPs and Pickin’ Crab by Roberta J. Estes on the DNAeXplained -- Genetic Genealogy blog.  Roberta explains things..

*  Ending the Myth of “Data on the Internet Lasts Forever” by Michael J. Leclerc on the Je Me Souviens blog.  Who knew?  There's a good lesson here, geneabloggers!

*  Why Knowing Jurisdiction Leads to More Records by Jake Fletcher on the Legacy News blog.  Jake has it right, and provides some excellent links to resources too.

*  Patience, Grasshopper by Michele Simmons Lewis on the Ancestoring blog.  Michele has an interesting research challenge.  Ah yes, patience - a wonderful thing, isn't it?

*  How Mobile Were Our Ancestors? by Lorine McGinnis Schulze on the Legacy News blog.  More than we know.

*  "Over There" by David Allen Lambert on the Vita Brevis blog.  David writes about his great-grandfather and his World War I service.

*  Breaking Out of Your Genealogy Comfort Zone by Amy Johnson Crow on the Amy Johnson Crow blog.  Good ideas from Amy.

*  Road Trip With a Surprise by Russ Worthington on A Wothington Weblog blog.  Russ was driving home and stopped several places.

*  Alyce Hall Lived to At Least 105 Years Old by Christine Manczuk on the Ancestry Island blog.  Christine finds many records for a distant cousin's life.

*  One Photo, Many Emotions by Diane Weintraub on the Nuts From the Family Tree blog.  Diane discusses a photograph of Maryland miners and her family.

Here are pick posts by other geneabloggers this week:

*  Friday Fossicking April 1st  2016 by Crissouli on That Moment in Time blog.

*   GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 1 April 2016 by Jill Ball on the GeniAus blog.

*  Recommended Reads by Linda Stufflebean on the Empty Branches on the Family Tree blog.

*   Friday Finds 21 April 2016 by Nichelle Barra on the Copper Leaf Genealogy blog.

*  Follow Friday ~ Fab Finds for April 1, 2016 by Jana Last on Jana's Genealogy and Family History Blog.

*  This Week's Creme de la Creme -- April 2, 2016 by Gail Dever on the Genealogy a la Carte blog.

*  Favorite Reads of the Week: 2 April 2016 by Nicole Dyer on the Family Locket blog.

*  Saturday Serendipity (April 2, 2016) by John D. Tew on the Filiopietism Prism blog.

Readers are encouraged to go to the blogs listed above and read their articles, and add their blogs to your Favorites, Feedly, another RSS feed, or email if you like what you read. Please make a comment to them also - all bloggers appreciate feedback on what they write.

Did I miss a great genealogy blog post? Tell me! I am currently reading posts from over 1590 genealogy bloggers using Feedly, but I still miss quite a few it seems.

Read past Best of the Genea-Blogs posts here.

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The URL for this post is:  http://www.geneamusings.com/2016/04/best-of-genea-blogs-27-march-to-2-april.html

Copyright (c) 2016, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.