Are You Faster Than A Grandpa?

We had a fun birthday celebration yesterday!

See if you can beat Grandpa at 

Minute to Win It games!

 It was Grandpa versus the Grandkids in the following contests:

Stacking dice on a tongue depressor--for Grandpa it was stacking on a popsicle stick he held in his mouth!

 Then sorting colors by hand--for Grandpa it was using chopsticks!

 Next it was getting pasta on a spaghetti noodle--for Grandpa the noodle had to be in his mouth!

 Then is was blowing a cup across the table using two straws--for Grandpa it was a larger cup and only one straw!

 See how many fish you can catch.  For Grandpa, it was with a blindfold on!

 And finally it was a Little People race

 Dinner Time!  And the winners are pounding on the table demanding their food!

 What a great party that ended with ice cream cones!

Hope it's a great year ahead for a great sport!

A Little Local History!

I have often read about those fundraising dinners where you pay a huge amount of  money and then you get a nice dinner and maybe win a prize and it earns some money for a good cause.  I have always thought that might be kind of fun but was always too expensive to even consider.    Our friend who is involved with the Folsom History Museum sent an email about a fundraiser dinner for the Pioneer Village in Old Folsom.  The price was quite reasonable and you got a nice dinner and might win a prize.  Hmmm, I thought, maybe this is my chance to contribute to a worthy cause--my own community--and go out to dinner!  

The event was held at the Pioneer Village so we ate outside.  There was some fun live music, a catered BBQ dinner and Snooks Ice Cream for dessert!

There were lots of prizes but I didn't win any.

It was just fun being a part of our community.

The Mormons played a prominent role in the history of Folsom and the discovery of gold.

There were several "storytellers" in character walking around. 

These men represent Sam Brannan and Thomas Rhoads, two prominent Mormons in early California history. 

(That's Jerry Gardner on the left for 7th warders)

It was a pleasant summer evening!

Three Kids, Three Buckets!

Posing At The Park!

We took the Melanchuk kids to the park this morning and Kathryn wanted to set up some poses for photos.
(I wonder where she gets that from?)  

I told her I didn't bring my camera :(     

But then I remembered almost every device we own nowadays 

has a camera, so I was able to take some shots.

 Set up by Kathryn:

Couldn't resist shooting these two!

 And then some individual shots:

Thanks for the idea, Kathryn!

(P.S. 6 bridges!)

Get In Gear!

 Along with Indexing I started another hobby in April.  It's taking me a lot longer to feel comfortable with this hobby since I haven't really done it for 40 years.  There was a short period that I rode bikes in the morning with Amanda (remember the CCC parking lot and the Mayhew Hill?) but that has been about it.   We have miles and miles of beautiful trails within minutes of our home and since it is already one of Dan's hobbies, I thought it would be fun to try it.  These photos were taken with my ipod but at least they give an idea.

Dan rode his bike home from downtown and met me at this bench on a trail near our home.  Here he comes!

After riding more than 24 miles, he was willing to ride a few more miles with me further along the trail.   This part of the trail crosses quite a few bridges and is very scenic.  

(I keep meaning to count all the bridges, but I'm always too busy concentrating--maybe when I get better at it!)

It was a beautiful evening with my best friend!

What Do You DO????

Although it is not part of the indexing, I have had fun looking up the occupations

 on the batches I have done. 

 I have recorded some of the interesting ones including ones that no longer exist. 

 Here is a partial list of what people were doing in 1940!

Farming--this was the most common one I found!

"Laborer" was probably the second most common occupation I found.

Quite a bit of Mining including Coal Mines, Gold Mines and a Quicksilver Mine

Lots of Loggers, Sales Clerks, Maids, Servants, Laundresses, Cooks, Nurses and a few Peddlers and of course some Doctors and Dentists

Lots of WPA workers including Road Construction and 

some CCC Camp workers--remember they were just coming out of the Great Depression.

Now enjoy a bit of nostalgia!

*Messenger boy for Telegraph Company

*Pin Setter at a Bowling Alley

*Crab picker in a Canning Factory

*Cotton Mill worker
*Finisher in a Hat Shop

*Auctioneer

*Typewriter Assembly

*Foundry workers

*Button Sewer in a Tailor Shop

*Musician in Own Orchestra

*Fur Finisher for a Retail Store

*Elevator Operator

*Filling Station Attendant

*Hebrew Teacher in the Bronx

*Projectionist at a Movie House

*Actress on the Stage

*Silversmith
*Milkman

*Woolen Mill Carder

*Rough Neck in Oil Fields

*Ditch Digger

*Dog Catcher

*Usher in a Movie Theatre

*Grocer
*Corset Fitter in a Retail Corset Shop

*Workers in a Cork Factory, Boot Factory, 
 Candy Factory, Match Factory, Broom Factory, 
Shoe Polish Factory, and Umbrella Factory

*Conductor on the Railroad and many other railroad workers

*Manager of 5 and 10 Cent Store

 *Soda Man in a Drugstore

Those were the days!  
What are the most common occupations on the 2010 Census?
It will be interesting to compare!!

Indexing Update!

It's been two months now since I started indexing for the 1940  U.S. Census. 

 I have reached all of my goals so far and am working on my next one.  

#1: Index at least one batch from every state: Fulfilled with a trade of Delaware for District of Columbia

#2: Index at least one batch for the state of California every day in May: Fulfilled with 39 batches done for the state of California and that state is now complete

#3 Index at least 5 batches for every state that was left starting at the beginning of May: Fulfilled with 5 or more batches done in 31 states  (I have done a total of 242 batches!)

#4 Index 10,000 names in the 1940 U. S. Census: Not fulfilled but I have indexed 9,680 names so far. 

 8 more batches and I will reach my goal!

It has been fun having this special project to focus on!