Thrifty Thursday - Use the Photo Software You Already Have!

If you have a reasonably new computer, chances are you already have photo editing software on your computer.  My computer came with Microsoft Picture Manager.  Arguably not proper editing software, but it's not without it's uses and it was FREE...or at least it didn't cost any more money to have it on the computer I was already buying!

I know PhotoShop is excellent software (my sis swears by it and is well-versed in using it).  Drawback....it is expensive!  Yes, there are toned-down, cheaper versions of PhotoShop, but if I'm going to shell out the $$$ I don't want to start playing around and realize that it's missing something I want.  If you're going to be doing a lot of photo editing, perhaps it's a good option, but I couldn't make the commitment.  Buyer-fear and my sister is a 2 day drive from me so if I get stuck, she's not there to rescue me!

The photo editing software I eventually purchased is certainly a topic for a future post, but what I wanted to illustrate is that the free stuff isn't without worth.  In fact, I use Microsoft Picture Manager before editing with my other software.  It's not that my other software can't do something that Picture Manager can, but it's just so easy that I've over-looked learning it on the new software.  I'm bad, I know, and eventually I'll learn it.

If you checked out my "Wordless Wednesday" post yesterday you'll see 5 pictures as I went through the editing process to correct a fairly faded family photograph.  Here's the original photo and the first adjustment I made:

Adjustment #1

Original

A pretty noticeable difference isn't it?  I did it by clicking one button on Picture Manager...the "auto correct" button...and I'm not joking.  That is the difference that one, uneducated click made in recovering this picture.  Keep in mind that I scan all of my pictures at 600 d.p.i. (at least).  You want as much detail as possible.

I use my Picture Manager to rotate, crop (which I don't often do with genealogy pics like this one), adjust color, contrast, and remove red eye.  The tools that come with the program are supposed to be simple.  Just remember not to hit "save" if you aren't happy with your finished product!

Wordless Wednesday - Repaired Card Photo

Original Photo

Adjustment #1

Adjustment #2

Adjustment #3

Final Picture

It's truly amazing what photo software can do!  The only difference between the final product and Adjustment #3 is just adjusting the color to make it more black and white than sepia-toned, but I like the sepia just as much (and I didn't take it completely out of the final picture either).  In fact Adjustment #3 looks a bit sharper to me...maybe I need to call that the final product!

Tuesday's Tip - Are You Using Message Boards To Their Fullest Potential?

I'm taking the "Social Media for the Wise Genealogist" course through NIGS that I blogged about previously.  While so far I'm finding the course a bit more basic than I would have liked, it's certainly an excellent course for people that haven't quite embraced new technology because they didn't think that they needed to, or because they were afraid to.

What I'm also finding while taking this course, is that despite the fact it's about social media, I see in fellow students' posts that they are still fighting it.  I don't blame them for that.  It took me quite some time (and convincing by friends) to even join Facebook, let alone begin blogging!  One of our recent assignments was to post our experiences with Message Boards if we've used them and if we haven't, to poke around some surname boards and relay our findings.  Do we think that they are useful in our research?  I was shocked to see how many posts there were about how worthless message boards are!  I began wondering if maybe they just weren't being used properly, and I posted my assignment suggesting just that, with some helpful hints, which I will go into more detail here.

We're bloggers or blog followers here, so it's most likely that we've all figured out how to use an RSS feed and some form of aggregator, i.e. - Google Reader,  to read them through.  That was also one of the first bits of reading covered in our class. I most commonly use Ancestry.com message boards, so that is what I will be referring to here.  We all know that we can go to Ancestry Message Boards and search for information on a relative, hoping to find something.  If we don't, sure we may think that the message boards were useless, but did you post a message to the board requesting the information or are you merely hoping to glean information from posts others have made?  Don't be afraid to post!  It may take awhile to get a response, but you won't get a response if you don't post anything!  With a mentality like that there'd be no posting going on at all!

If you find a post with information that you may be interested in and you post a follow-up to it, what's next?  If you check back you may get some information in your inbox, but what if you missed something in your initial search?  Why not subscribe to the posts from that message board?  If anyone posts to it, the information will be sent to your RSS aggregator and you'll be able to skim through it to see if it may pertain to you!  You never know...perhaps someone looking for that common ancestor won't find your post in their search and they create a new one.  If you've subscribed, you will see that new post and be able to contact them! 

Keep your email address up to date on Ancestry as well!  Have you ever come across a post that was made 10 years ago (or more)?  They're still worth responding too, particularly if that person is still at that email or updated their profile.  If someone responds directly to the post you made, you'll receive an email notification!

The message boards are free.  You just need to know how to manage them so that you can use them to their fullest potential.  I haven't covered every way this can be done, but I've touched on what I find easiest for me.  I can't begin to count how many distant cousins I've met through Ancestry Message Boards.  It didn't happen all at once, but it did happen and I've broken through some pretty big brick walls using them (always verifying information, of course!).  If they haven't worked for you yet, don't disregard them.  Think of how best to use them and give them time!

Amanuensis Monday - Rosiere School Photo

Clipping from the "Algoma Record-Herald", unknown date

"JOHN MURPHY was the teacher when this picture of the Rosiere school was taken about 1907 or 1908.

The picture originally belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Guilette and was provided the Record-Herald by the daughter, Mrs. Lewis (Hazel) Lemens.

Although not listed in rows, the following are among the pupils pictured:

Emil Kaye, Agnes Novak, Anna Tlachac, Emma Kaye, Xavier Naze, Leona LeDocq, John Hucek, Laura Cayemberg, Emil Dlorig, Frances Svoboda, Emily Kaye, Steve Tlachac, Frank Cayemberg, Martin Joseph Cayemberg, Henry Cayemberg, Lucy Cayemberg, Ella Cayemberg, Felix Cayemberg, Augusta Martin, Eddie Undlack, John LeCloux, Adele LeDocq, John Dlorig, Charles LeDocq, Fred Naze, Fred Charles, Henry DeVillers, John Hucek, Joe Tlachac, William Hucek, Josephine DeVillers, Philip DeVillers, Math Tlachac, Owen DeVillers, Harry DeVillers, Ida Wautlet, Madeline Wautlet, Bill Andre, Anna Cayemberg, Agnes Tlachac, Mayme DeVillers, Ella Andre, Alice Andre and Henry Vandermause.

The identification was provided Mrs. Lemes by some of these early Rosiere pupils."

So sad that it isn't by row!  It would be great to see all the Cayembergs.  I don't have pictures of all of them.  Lots of familiar names.  Names of family members and possible family members.  I've seen many of these names in funeral cards that I have, but haven't made connections with.  Seeing all these names helps to remind me that they may not all be related.  They may have been school friends as well.

Sunday's Obituary - Mrs. Nick Uelman

Unknown Wisconsin newspaper clipping

"Mrs. Nick Uelman [hand-dated Nov. 30, 1961]

Funeral services for Mrs. Nick Uelman, 76, West Bend, who died today at St. Joseph's hospital there, will be Monday at 9 a.m. at Millers Funeral home, Kewaskum, and at 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael's church at St. Michael.  The Rev. Matthew Urban will officiate.

Mrs. Uelman had been in ill health for six months.  She was born April 20, 1885, near St. Killian and lived there until 1921.  Between 1921 and 1958 she resided in the St. Michael area.  She moved to West Bend three and one-half years ago.

In 1908 she married Andrew Delling, who preceded her in death in 1915.  She married Nick Uelmen April 5, 1921, at St. Killian.

Surviving are her widower; one daughter, Mrs. Roman Boegel, Theresa; three step-children, Mrs. Herbert Donath, West Bend, Frank Uelman, West Bend, and Elroy Uelman, West Bend; 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. Al Herriges, Wayne Center, and Mrs. Ben Wondra, Theresa.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 2 p.m. Sunday until the time of services."

Very odd that they don't mention her maiden name or parents in the obituary, but I suppose they may not have known (or felt it important).

NOTE:  Surname is spelled Uelman and Uelmen in this article.  I have seen several variations in different articles and memorial cards.

Facebook Friday - Reuniting Families on FB

Is there a Facebook Friday?  Well, there is today!

I was multitasking and a story popped up on my Facebook (click to read the story) newsfeed, posted from Facebook itself.  A wonderful story about a family that was reunited with cousins in Italy through the social networking site.

I would retell the entire tale here, but I wanted to share the link.  Ain't technology grand?

Family Recipe Friday - Bunny Buns

 

Since Easter is just around the corner, I figured I'd share a recipe that my mom used to make each Easter when my sisters and I were little kids.  It's from the "Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Cook Book".  I managed to get a copy of it on eBay and look forward to making some of the other breads and treats that my mom used to make each year!

These bunny buns are so yummy and my kids love them!  I've only ever made the twist bunnies, but perhaps I'll make the curlicue bunnies this year as well so I can get a picture!

Bunny Buns

1 pkg active dry yeast                                                                       

1 tsp salt

¼ c. warm water (110 – 115 degrees (F))                           

5 ½ c flour

1 c milk                                                                                                      

2 eggs, beaten

1/3 c. sugar                                                                                              

¼ c. orange juice

½ c. shortening                                                                                      

2 tbsp orange peel, grated

In a small bowl, soften the yeast in the warm water.  Heat together the milk, sugar, salt, and shortening until the shortening melts.  Cool to lukewarm (110 to 115 degrees (F)), then stir in 2 cups of the flour.  Beat well.  Add the eggs; mix well.  Stir in the yeast mixture.  Add the orange juice, peel, and enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.  Rest 10 minutes.

Knead dough 5 to 10 minutes.  cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 2 hours).  Punch down.  Cover.  Let rest for 10 more minutes.

Shape into bunnies.  Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Let bunnies rise in a warm place until almost doubled before baking.  Bake at 375 degrees (F) for 12 to 15 minutes.  Drizzle with a mixture of confectioners’ sugar and milk.  Makes about 20 bunnies.

TO FORM BUNNIES:

TWISTED BUNNIES:  For each, you’ll need a 14-inch strip of dough.  Wrap one end of the strip over the other to form a loop; now bring the end that’s underneath up over the top end, letting the tips extend to the side for ears.  Plat the tips of the eats to shape a point.  Roll a small ball of dough and place in the middle of the loop at the bottom of the bunny for the tail.

CURLICUE BUNNIES:  For each, you’ll need a 10-inch strip of dough for the body and a 5-inch strip for the head.  Make a loose swirl of the body strip.  Swirl the strip for the head and place close to the body (they’ll “grow” together as the dough rises).  For the ears, pinch off 1 ½ inch strips and roll between hands until smooth and cigar-shaped.  Let the point make the tip of the ear; snip off the opposite end and place the ear next to the head.  Pinch off a bit of dough and roll into a ball.  Place the ball next to the back-end of the bunny for the tail.