Sylvia and Elizabeth Chime In

Sylvia writes:

“Do we ever stop being Genies??? For anyone whose pioneer ancestors are here in the PNW, please let them know that Pioneer Park will be open this coming weekend with tours of the cabins as it's Old Settlers Picnic weekend. I will be there on Sunday from 12-2 in costume in the schoolhouse. It's a great way to learn how your Pioneer ancestors really lived. Local libraries and Whatcom History Society have lots of info on family histories and genealogy.”

Festivities go from Friday the 27^th through Sunday the 29^th with parades, garden show, classic car show and live music every day.  Check out the activities here:  http://www.whatcomoldsettlers.com/  

Elizabeth chimes in too.  “I've listened to some podcasts.  Does that count as genealogy work? The Lisa Louise Cooke one that you mentioned was a great story.”

Of course, podcasts count as genealogy work.  Unless there is a hammock involved.  Often I find myself spending more time pursuing education than doing actual family research.  Oh, no!

And Elizabeth continues: “And then there is the fact that I keep running into the consequences of DNA tests in friend's families. Just yesterday, I heard from a former co-worker whose family situation includes a half-brother born before my friend's parents met. DNA showed that the father of the half-brother wasn't the man his mother thought it was.  Amusement seems to be the reaction of all involved (his mother, half-brother, friend). There was no mention of the newly IDed father. He may not know and may not still be alive. I'll be asking.

“Did you see the Nicole Brodeur column in the Seattle Times about her newly discovered (through DNA) family? 

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/the-affair-the-son-and-the-cousin-who-came-to-dinner-finding-a-new-family-member-through-a-dna-test/  Fun.

“My "pioneer" ancestor is also too distant to be of much interest except for the fact that the pioneering was with a LDS migration. That's a first.”

Thank you, Sylvia and Elizabeth, for your comments.

I’m starting to get ready for the Northwest Genealogical Conference just south of us in Arlington, WA on August 15-18.  It’s less than a month away.  Elizabeth, Sylvia, Peggy and I have our registrations in.  Some of us are staying down there and some are commuting.  You can dip your toe in with the free beginners class on Wednesday, August 15 or try just one day.  All the details are at http://www.nwgc.org.  Let us know if we should keep an eye out for you too.