Inspect My Favorite Links
Genealogy Websites:
- Ancestry: A great resource for genealogical research.
- Berks County and Reading, PA: Includes birth, marriage, death, and estate searches.
- Berks County Genealogical Society (BCGS): Provides genealogical data of interest to both amateur and professional genealogists, including a searchable catalog and genealogy classes.
- ChicagoAncestors.org: Allows users to discover historical information about addresses in Chicago, including memories, notes, photos, and more.
- East Trent Genealogy: Offers historical data from the parishes of the East Trent Benefice in Nottinghamshire, including transcriptions of baptisms, burials, and marriages.
- FamilySearch: My favorite as all the records are free. I am also a volunteer consultant at one of their many FamilySearch centers around the world.
- Family Tree Maker: lets you quickly and easily build your family tree, with single-click synchronization with Ancestry
- Find a Grave: The world’s largest gravesite collection, providing access to millions of cemetery records and memorials.
- Findmypast: Focuses on British and Irish genealogy, offering access to unique records and resources.
- Fold3: Specializes in military records, providing access to a wealth of documents related to military history and genealogy.
- Genealogy and Local History Library: Located inside the Sanilac County Historic Village and Museum, it offers a collection of genealogical and local history resources for Sanilac County, Michigan.
- GenealogyBank: Provides access to historical newspapers, obituaries, and other documents that can help trace family history.
- Geneanet: A community-driven website offering a vast collection of genealogical records and family trees from around the world.
- Gravestone Photographic Resource (GPR): An international directory of grave, tomb, war, and other death memorials, offering access to millions of cemetery records and photographs.
- GRO (General Register Office): The official government office for birth, marriage, and death records in England and Wales. It’s a valuable resource for obtaining certified copies of vital records.
- Illinois Death Certificates Database, 1916-1972: Provides listings of death certificates filed with the Illinois Department of Public Health between 1916 and 1972.
- Legacy Find an Obituary: A comprehensive database to find obituaries from various locations and newspapers.
- Local Family Database Belgard-Schivelbein: Provides a list of surnames and access to genealogical records from the Belgard and Schivelbein regions.
- Long Island Genealogy Birth Date Calculator: A tool to calculate birth dates from death dates and ages.
- Michiganology: Provides access to a vast collection of Michigan-related historical records and genealogical resources.
- Missouri Digital Heritage: Provides access to more than 9 million records from the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library, and other institutions across the state.
- MyHeritage: Offers extensive genealogical records, family tree building tools, and DNA testing services.
- National Park Service’s Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS): Contains information about the men who served in the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.
- Newspapers by Ancestry: A vast archive of historical newspapers that can provide context and details about ancestors’ lives.
- Registers Tyrol: Provides access to various parish records and historical documents for genealogical research.
- State Archives of the Canton of Bern: Provides access to Swiss parish records and other historical documents for genealogical research.
- The National Archives (UK): Provides access to a wealth of historical records related to England and Wales, including birth, marriage, and death records.
- USGenWeb Project: A volunteer-driven project that provides free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.
- Washington State Archives: Offers access to a variety of digital archives, including birth, death, marriage, and census records.
- WieWasWie: Allows users to search through more than 245 million historical records from the Netherlands, bringing Dutch family history to life.
- Winthorpe with Langford Parish Council: Provides historical data and records from Winthorpe village, including baptisms, marriages, and burials dating back to the 17th century.
DNA Testing Services:
- 23andMe: Offers DNA testing services that include ancestry breakdowns, health reports, and family matching.
- AncestryDNA: Provides DNA testing services along with genealogical records and family tree building tools.
- Gedmatch: A free third-party tool where you can upload raw DNA data from various testing companies to find matches and explore genealogical connections.
- MyHeritage DNA: Provides DNA testing services along with extensive genealogical records and family tree building tools.
Gardening Websites and Resources:
- 2025 Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Calendar (PDF): A detailed schedule for planting, harvesting, and managing your home garden.
- Garden Planning, Plant Preparation, and Planting (PDF): Provides detailed information on planting dates, seeding rates, and recommended varieties for various vegetables in Tennessee.
- Garden.org Frost Dates: Provides detailed charts and probabilities to help you assess the risk of frost on any given day, based on your zip code or location.
- Growing Tomatoes (PDF): A valuable resource for growing tomatoes, including planting, care, and harvesting tips.
- MIGardener YouTube Channel: Offers gardening tips, tutorials, and inspiration for gardeners of all levels.
- Next Level Gardening YouTube Channel: Offers tips and tricks to take your organic gardening to the next level, with in-depth tutorials and information to grow any fruit and vegetable you want.
- Stewardship in Soil Management (PDF): An additional resource focusing on soil management and stewardship practices.
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Provides planting calendars, gardening tips, and advice based on weather patterns and growing zones.
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac Planting Calendar: A specific tool to determine the ideal planting times based on your location.
- The Rusted Garden YouTube Channel: Provides a wide range of gardening videos, tutorials, and supplies for vegetable gardening and growing food.
- UT Extension Publications:
- SP 291-O: Guide to Spring-Planted, Cool-Season Vegetables: General information on planting cool-season vegetables.
- SP 291-P: Guide to Warm-Season Garden Vegetables: General information on planting warm-season vegetables.
- SP 291-G: Guide to Fall Vegetables: General information on planting fall vegetables.
General Note:
These UT Extension publications provide good general information on various gardening topics. For specific planting dates and advice tailored to your location, it’s always a good idea to check with your local county extension office.
Latest Posts
This is an easy salad that I made for Thanksgiving. The dressing melds the flavors beautifully and can be prepared the day before. All you need is a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a bowl. Most of the vegetables …
I never planted Swiss chard in my garden, or I should say, I didn’t have any success in growing it my first year. I do remember my mom growing Swiss chard, but as a kid, I wasn’t too fond …
Roasted Root Vegetables is an easy recipe I developed with input from Copilot, or as I refer to him, ‘Bluebee.’ Before he changed to Copilot, he was the symbol of a blue “B” for ‘Bing.’ To me, Bluebee symbolizes a …
I haven’t blogged about the Pickle Patch lately, and the perfect ending for the harvesting season was naturally Thanksgiving. It seems that our house is the hub for the holidays. I might be retired, but I am kept busy with …
I haven’t paid much attention to Ancestry as I have been working steadily on my research on my maternal grandfather’s mother’s lines through the records on FamilySearch. I finally figured out which Michael Kubinski was mine, which I mentioned in …
While making chicken soup, I thought of this great title. I wasn’t planning on posting about chicken soup, but when a good title comes along, I must write about it. What can I say? This soup is made after feasting …
Do you ever get stuck on an ancestry problem where you have no one to ask about it or you feel uncomfortable always emailing your friend for help? Now, I could schedule a free 20-minute consultation, which I have done …
Hi again. I didn’t forget about posting my favorite bread and butter pickles. I have been making this recipe for 22 years. According to my recipe, I started making them July 31, 2002. What can I say? It is our …
I am a little late on this post, but I am sure you will understand why, as I have added another plot (25’x100′) called ‘the back 40′ directly behind the pickle patch (25′ x 100’). Our cucumbers started coming in …
You are probably thinking that something broke on my new computer, and I lost my genealogy work. I can safely say my computer is fine, but my genealogy thumb drive is toast. To me this was a freak accident as …
Nancy Dru Focus
Ancestry is just documenting your family story, which doesn’t always mean dates and documents it could be:
Family Favorite Recipes
Family Treasures
Hobbies
Memories
Photos
Stories
Videos
You make it uniquely yours.
Happy Sleuthing!