The Great Microfilm Battle

Last week I briefly spoke of my difficulties trying to get a readable digital image from a roll of microfilm at my local Family History Center.

I returned to the scene for a second attempt this week. I avoided the good microfilm machine altogether. Instead, I put the roll on one of the manual (hand-crank) machines. The lights were off on my side of the room, which helped me see the records better. I took some photos of the records using my digital camera.

I am pleased to say that most of the pictures are good, and I now have some of the probate records for my Williamsons in Pope County.

Some of the images came out fuzzy, which just shows my need for a basic photography class. I plan on going back to the FHC and taking more pictures to replace the blurry ones.

Once again, my digital camera saves the day.

Greatest Hits

My parents are visiting from California this week. Important events (such as mother-daughter pedicures) are taking time away from the ol' blog. To keep you entertained, I'm sharing some of my better posts from the past. I hope you enjoy them.

This is a four-part series, best read in order:

Looking for Sergeant Jones, Part 1

Looking for Sergeant Jones, Part 2

Battle of Calcasieu Pass Memorial

The Little Cemetery That Could

Thanks for playing.

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Halloween Edition

Tombstone Tuesday: GGGG Grandmother Edition

Sally (Tate) Williamson is my 4th great grandmother and wife of John R. Williamson. This marker is in Shiloh-Williamson Cemetery, Russellville, Pope County, Arkansas.

IN

Memory of

SALLY WILLIAMSON

BORN

June 5, 1788,

DIED

Oct. 19, 1857.

AGED

69ys. 4ms. 14ds.

Book Review of Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4

RootsMagic 4 is the latest edition of a popular genealogy software series. The program allows family historians, hobbyists and professionals to record ancestral lines, create family trees, publish documents and more based on user preferences. Though it’s easy to get started with the program, there are so many features that users may miss some while concentrating on others. How do you know what you don’t know about RootsMagic 4? Fortunately, there’s a book to enlighten readers on all the features the program has to offer.

Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 (affiliate link) is the companion book to the program of the same name. It is divided into many chapters, each covering a different step or feature of the program. Section titles include: The Main Screen, Editing People, Sources – Proving It, and Wall Charts & Timelines. The chapters also provide further guidance through tips, warnings and notes readers can use to enhance the user experience.

Author Bruce Buzbee clearly states in the introduction that this book is not intended to be a software manual. Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 does begin with brief introductions on creating a database. However, after a few pages of basic details, the subject matter focuses on all the bells and whistles offered in the program. Readers needing more introductory guidance and technological hand-holding may want to seek out a tutorial, or play with RootsMagic 4 a bit to get used to the program’s feel.

There are many illustrations throughout the book acting as guides to the program’s features. All are in black and white, which would be an issue if this book claimed to be a step-by-step resource. However, the images are acceptable for the type of book advertised, and likely keep the cover price down as well. As they are, the illustrations are clear and uncluttered making it easy for readers to follow along with the examples.

RootsMagic 4 is a powerful genealogy program with a ton of wonderful features. So many features, in fact, that it’s easy for users to miss some of the best details. Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic Version 4 spells out each tool so readers will be aware of each and every one by the time they finish the book. RootsMagic 4 users should read the book at least once, though readers would also benefit from a second (or third) browse through the pages as their experience with the program grows.

Getting the Most Out of RootsMagic 4, by Bruce Buzbee. 336 pages. $14.95. ISBN 1-932932-07-0

[Note: I received a copy of this book from the author. There was no expectation/implication that a review be written, nor was I endorsed by author or publisher for the piece. The opinions stated above are my own as a user of genealogy products.]

Texas Genealogy Events: Week of October 26 - November 1, 2009

Straight from the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, here's what is happening in Texas for the week of October 26 - November 1, 2009:

Monday, October 26:

Greenville: Walworth Harrison Library

Genealogy Program, 6:30pm

Speaker: Tami Glatz Topic: "Have You Really Looked Everywhere? Genealogy Research on the Internet" Location: W. Walworth Harrison Public Library #1 Lou Finney Lane Greenville, TX 75401-3096 903-457-2992

Tuesday, October 27:

Austin Genealogical Society General Meeting Social time: 6:30-7 Meeting 7-8:30 Highland Park Baptist Church, 5206 Balcones, Austin, Texas Topic: Gray and Blue Civil War Pensions Presenter: Earle McBride and Peggy Fox

Wednesday, October 28:

Clayton Library Event, 6pm

ProQuest: Historical Newspapers Webinar Historic Newspapers from ProQuest include the New York Times, the Chicago Defender, the Atlanta Daily World and more. This webinar will be training presented via the Internet and will offer tips and hints for searching historic newspapers. The Historic Newspapers from ProQuest are available at all HPL locations and from home with your HPL Powercard Library Card.

Thursday, October 29 - October 31:

International Black Genealogy Summit

Allen County Public Library

Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Thursday, October 29:

Clayton Library Bown Bag Lunch Event, 11am

Roots Television: Cemetery Records-Brown Bag Discussion Each Roots television session offers a 30 minute web based video to be followed by a 30 minute question and answer session with a staff member. Participants may bring their own brown bag lunch to consume during the presentation of the video. Registration required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Friday, October 30:

Clayton Library Event, 3pm

Unusual Sources for Genealogy Research - Hey that is Some Cool Stuff! Description: Learn about some very unusual record groups for genealogical research, sources not often thought of or known. Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Bay Area Genealogical Society Meeting Speaker: David Bowles Topic: Research techniques Social coffee time: 6:30pm, Meeting at 7 University Baptist Church 16106 Middlebrook Drive Houston, TX 77059 Saturday, October 31:

Clayton Library Event, 11am

Railroads and the Settling of America Throughout the history of the United States railroads have served as transit systems of mass production, metropolitan connections, and migration. As the railroad developed so to did settlements along the lines. Learn how the railroad shaped the migration patterns of people across the United States and how to use such information for furthering genealogical research. Registration required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens For further details on these events, see the Texas Genealogy Events Calendar. Please confirm all dates and locations with the host societies and organizations.

Do you have an event you'd like to see on the calendar? Contact me using the email address at the right side of this blog. Events should occur in Texas or be of interest to Texans (neighboring states welcome). Speakers are encouraged to publicize their presentations.

I've Got Mail

In what has to be a land speed record for obtaining NARA documents, I received my requested military service records in 22 days!*

The file in question is the service record for Max Baerecke. I'm almost positive he's my great-great-great grandfather. The reason I can't say for sure is I don't have that one definitive document that says Max's son Harry Baerecke is the same person as my great-grandmother's father H. H. Barecke. All the supporting documentation I have says so, and an email from a fellow Baerecke researcher says so, but I need that one paper that says YES!

Anyway, I sent off for Max's service record to see what it could tell me. He was part of the 26th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War. He mustered in as a Sergeant for Company "I" 17 September 1862, but was reduced to ranks 1 July 1863. Once he was docked 62 cents pay for lost shoes.

Max is short for Maxmilian. His pre-military occupation is listed as miller. He had a healthy complexion, a medium build and a height of 5 feet 6 inches. He had sandy hair and brown eyes. He was 35 years old when he mustered in. His birthplace is difficult to read, but it looks like Eisenach, Saxony.

I'm still waiting for some pension records. Based on previous research, it looks like Max had a disability pension. After his death, his wife applied for and took a widow's pension. I'm curious to see what these documents hold. Hopefully they include the key to my Harry Baerecke identity crisis.

* I ordered these records from NARA online.

[Notes for my family: Buster > Gertrude > Harry > Max]

Tombstone Tuesday: Jackpot Edition

In July of this year, I visited St. Joseph Cemetery in Iota, Louisiana. I have a great-great grandmother buried there as well as various aunt, uncle and cousin types. I took a checklist with me and crossed off names as I found their graves.

When I came to the grave shown below, I was quite excited. Can you guess why?

Genealogists are well aware of the challenge of trying to determine ancestors' foreign birthplaces, and here they were all spelled out in stone. These are my third great uncle and aunt. Jules' sister is my great-great grandmother. Julia's brother is my great-great grandfather. Yes, one brother and sister pair married another sister and brother pair. I am especially excited to see the birthplace information because I can't find the burial site for my great-great grandparents. At least I know where they came from.

Another Date with RootsMagic

This weekend I had the house to myself. I used the time to add more to my fantabulous well-documented RootsMagic family tree. If you remember, I recently started building a database from scratch, also taking the time to learn the ins-and-outs of RootsMagic 4. Every bit of information must have a source before it can be added to my new tree. That's the rule.

Given the amount of detail required and the few chunks of free time I get, I haven't made it very far back in my fancy new database. I was born in California and in my tree I'm still there, documenting records from the 1920's thru 1960's.

On Saturday morning, I browsed through some Los Angeles city directories, available online from the Los Angeles Public Library. I didn't realize how much history I had there, including seven surnames to search. I was able to find a source template to use on RootsMagic, so the entry of information was easy. It just took three hours to get through all the books and names.

I love, love, love city directories because they tell me where people lived, what they did for a living and even sometimes when they died. Always check out the city directories in your research areas.

After lunch, I started on California Voter Registrations: 1900-1968, available at Ancestry.com. Depending on the year, these records can tell you the names an addresses of registered voters, occupations, political affiliations and even neighbors if you scan the page. These records also are helping me narrow down a timeline of marriage, divorce and remarriage for one of my ancestors. I had some trouble finding a ready-made source template for this type of record in RootsMagic. I don't quite understand how to make my own, either. I ended up using a template designed for local records that allowed me to include film roll numbers and voter precinct numbers in my citations. Sort of like duct-tape source citations, I just pounded on that square peg until it fit in the round hole.

Getting through Ancestry's index of California Voter Registrations was easy, though through a little browsing, I noticed that the index is far from complete. For example, a search through the index of voter records for John Smith might give results in 1940, 1946 and 1950, but a manual search (page-by-page) shows records in 1942, 1944, and 1948 as well. I got what information I could through the indexes. Now I am going page-by-page looking for ancestors' names. Sometimes it's easy to find them by precinct. Sometimes it is not. This is just another lesson on why we can't rely solely on Ancestry indexes to provide leads to all the information in a given record set.

Anyway, my marathon session went really well. When RootsMagic users add a source to a particular fact, a check mark pops up on a given person's timeline. It makes it easy for users to see which facts have sources and which do not. In my own experience, I find it very rewarding to look at my own ancestors' timelines and see check marks all the way down the list. That's why I'm staying disciplined with this source rule, and that's why I keep turning those digitized California voter records page by page by page.

The devil is in the details, but so is the family history pay off.

Texas Genealogy Events: Week of October 19-25, 2009

Straight from the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, here's what is happening in Texas for the week of October 19-25, 2009:

Monday, October 19

Clayton Library Presentation, 10am

Convicts to the Colonies

Reservations required, please call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Angelina County Genealogical Society

Meeting, 5pm

Kurth Memorial Library

706 S. Raguet Street, Lufkin, TX 75904

Wood County Genealogical Society Meeting, 7pm

Quitman Public Library

202 E. Goode St. (Hwy. 154 east)

Quitman, Texas

Tuesday, October 20

Clayton Library - Presentation, 2pm

Passenger and Immigration Records

Registration required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

East Bell County Genealogical Society

Meeting, 6:30pm

Temple Public Library

101 North Main Street.

The library is on the square in downtown Temple.

Wednesday October 21

Clayton Library - PERSI Session, 3pm

PERSI: The Periodical Source Index - An Underutilized Source

Reservations required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Thursday October 22

East Texas Genealogical Society

Get Acquainted Luncheon, 11:30am

Heartland Ham Co.

3400-A South Broadway, Tyler 75701.

(903) 581-2802 These meetings are a chance to meet other members of the society in a relaxed, informal, social atmosphere -- all while enjoying a delicious lunch. We talk about all sorts of subjects: genealogy, computers, kids, grand-kids, etc. Come and enjoy yourself!

Saturday October 25

Clayton Library Presentation, 9:30am

Beginning Genealogy

A tour of the library and our genealogical gems is also included. Limited Seating: Reservations required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teen

Van Zandt County Genealogical Society

Meeting, 2pm

Van Zandt County Library

317 First Monday Lane

Canton, TX 75103-1052

903-567-4276

For further details on these events, see the Texas Genealogy Events Calendar. Please confirm all dates and locations with the host societies and organizations.

Do you have an event you'd like to see on the calendar? Contact me using the email address at the right side of this blog. Events should occur in Texas or be of interest to Texans (neighboring states welcome). Speakers are encouraged to publicize their presentations.

Mo' Films, Mo' Problems

This week, I got a call from my local Family History Center saying my microfilms of Pope County, Arkansas probate records had arrived. This was a small victory given my history with ordering items from the Family History Library.

I arrived and located my films. Given my luck, I fully expected them to be for another state's Pope County or some other error. Not only were they the right films, but I saw the surname I was looking for. Progress!

Unfortunately, the index on the second roll was lacking. If my great-great-great grandfather's will was there, it wasn't mentioned in the index. I did see many references to Williamsons, including my John Williamson as executor and witness. In the coming weeks, I'll return to the FHC and go over this roll frame by frame.

My FHC has a film reader that allows patrons to print records or digitally scan them. There are several Williamson wills I want, so I tried the digital method. All of them came out unreadable, though they looked clear-ish on the screen.

Time ran out, so I had to leave. When I go back next week, I'll bring a camera to attempt to photograph the clear screen, and I'll bring a few dimes in case the printing option works.

Either way I'm just glad my record-ordering curse is over. Onward.

Genealogy Society Blogs

I wrote an article for WorldVitalRecords.com's Family History Bulletin and it was published today:

Should Your Genealogy Society Have a Blog?

If you don't feel like reading the piece, my answer is "yes" simply because blogs are one of those rare tools that are cheap/free, easy and fast.

If your genealogy society starts a blog, let me know. I read them all, regardless of location or focus.

Tombstone Tuesday: First Name as Last Edition

While running through a cemetery taking ancestral photos before a pending thunderstorm, I came across this stone for the Amy family. My first name is their last. Of course, I had to pause for a photo. (St. Joseph's cemetery, Iota, Louisiana, July 2009)

Texas Genealogy Events: Week of October 12-18, 2009

Straight from the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, here's what is happening in Texas for the week of October 12-18, 2009:

Monday, October 12:

Humble Area Genealogical Society Meeting, 7pm
Humble Senior Activity Center
1401 North Houston Ave in Humble

Tuesday, October 13:

McClennan County Cemetery Interest Group, 5:30pm
Schumacher Room
Waco-McClennan County Library
1717 Austin, Waco, Texas.
Library phone number 254-750-5945

Fort Worth Genealogical Society
Computer Users Group, 6:30pm
Fort Worth Central Library (Downtown)
500 West 3rd Street
Fort Worth

Wednesday, October 14

WEBINAR - Clayton Library 6:00pm
(all of Houston Public Library system)
Webinar training offered via the Internet directly from ProQuest.
Topic: PERSI
Reservations required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Friday, October 16:

Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library, 5:30pm
Branching Out in Genealogy Seminar
Speaker: Carolyn Earle Billingsley, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker.
MC: John Sellers.
Lake Charles Civic Center Contraband Room
For more details, contact library at 337-721-7110.

Saturday, October 17:

Clayton Library Lineage Day - ALL DAY
Come speak to representatives from many different lineage socities about their organizations, requirements for membership and much more. This is a free event, and all are welcome. There are no reservations, members will be sitting at tables for you to talk to.

Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library, 8:30am
Branching Out in Genealogy Seminar
Speaker: Carolyn Earle Billingsley, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker.
MC: John Sellers.Lake Charles Civic Center Contraband Room For more details, contact library at 337-721-7110.

Clayton Library - "Understanding the Census" 10am
Tips and Tricks for Locating Hard to Find Ancestors
Reservations required. Call 832-393-2600. Adults/Teens

Fort Worth Genealogical Society
Board Meeting, 10am
All members are welcome.
Southwest Regional Library
4001 Library Lane at Hulen St.Fort Worth, Texas

Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries
Plano Saturday Seminar, 10:15am
FREE
W.O. Haggard, Jr. Library,
2501 Coit Rd., Plano, Texas,
Registration is not necessary.

Clayton Library Orientation, 11am
Lasts approximately one hour. No reservations needed, meet at the Information Desk in the library.
832-393-2600

Rains County Genealogical Society Meeting, 1pm
Rains County Library
150 Doris Briggs Parkway
Emory, Texas 75440
Phone: (903)473-5000 ext 283


For further details on these events, see the Texas Genealogy Events Calendar. Please confirm all dates and locations with the host societies and organizations.

Do you have an event you'd like to see on the calendar? Contact me using the email address at the right side of this blog. Events should occur in Texas or be of interest to Texans (neighboring states welcome). Speakers are encouraged to publicize their presentations.

Edna Ferber, White Hats and My Family Tree

Recently, I've been corresponding with a third cousin who found me via my ramblings on the Internet. One of our common ancestors is our great-great grandfather, Frank Wiley Jones (1859-1942). If I had the time, I'd write a book about him. He led an interesting life.

Born in North Carolina, Frank and family moved to Texas when he was a baby. He led the cowboy life as a young man, eventually driving cattle on the Chisholm Trail. He also managed a ranch for a widow and ended up marrying her eldest daughter. After the birth of their first daughter, Frank and wife Carrie moved to what is now Oklahoma, acquiring land through Carrie's Chickasaw heritage. During the process of having five more daughters, Frank gave up the cowboy ways and settled in to life as a business man. The one constant through all of Frank's life was the white hat he wore every waking hour of every day.

During one of the emails from my newly-found third cousin, she mentioned that her grandmother said that Frank was interviewed by Edna Ferber for her book Cimarron and he was even credited as a source.

Curious, I asked my librarian friends to look on their shelves to see if they had the book and could find Frank's name in the front or back. None did. I ordered the book myself through interlibrary loan just for my own amusement.

The copy of the book in my possession does not list Frank as a source. However, the subject matter indeed reflects the type of life Frank led as he moved his family from Texas to the land that would eventually become Oklahoma.

In the introduction of Cimarron, Ferber says her characters are imaginary, made up of many bits, pieces and observations that when sewn together create a picture of the spirit of the time.

I'm only a quarter of the way through the pages, but it is quite possible my great-great grandfather was interviewed for this book. He's not one of the characters, but his voice may have helped paint the landscape of the tale. And though the leading man, Yancey Cravat, physically doesn't not resemble the real Frank Wiley Jones, there is one similarity I just can't shake.

At the beginning of Cimarron, Yancey Cravat is described as wearing "always, a white felt hat, broad-brimmed and rolling."

Well what a coincidence. My great-grandfather did, too. Always. Until the day he died:

Carrie Colbert Jones and Frank Wiley Jones
early 1940's, Oklahoma

Wordless Wednesday: Four Corners Edition

Family Tree 40 Blog Nomination

I had a nice little surprise come my way yesterday. It seems that this little blog has been nominated to be part of the Family Tree 40!

Yeah, I had to look it up, too. A few weeks back Family Tree Magazine asked readers and web site visitors to tell them about their favorite blogs. Someone nominated We Tree, so to that person I say thank you!

So here is the list of all of the nominees in all of the categories. We Tree is in category #10 Personal / Family blog. It's such a thrill to be in that category among so many good blogs. Feel free to vote for your favorites. You can do so (once a day I think) until November 5. Winners will be listed in the May 2010 issue of the magazine.

I know some of you have voted for me and I deeply appreciate it.

Another Rung on the ProGen Ladder

Today was monthly chat day for my Pro Gen 3 peer group. On the first Monday of each month, we get together in a closed chat room and talk about the assignment we worked on for the month.

September's assignment was on the transcribing (fancy genealogy talk for copying something word-for-word) and abstracting (fancy genealogy talk for copying only certain important parts) of wills. I don't have a lot of experience in these areas. I do transcribe documents when necessary, especially for this blog. Abstracting, though, I just don't do unless asked to for an assignment. I prefer the whole document, and am too afraid I'll leave out something important.

My assignment turned out ok. I transcribed the will of my great-great-great grandfather, Alexander Lenertz.** The handwriting on this document is easy easy easy to read, so transcribing was a breeze. Peer feedback on my abstract for the most part was pretty good, but it's clear this task wasn't my most shining moment in genealogy to date.

In chat, while everyone else talked about the different ways they abstracted wills, the symbols the used, etc., I just sat there. Since I don't have a big ol' client base that demands this service, and since I just make photocopies/scans of handwritten wills, I didn't have a lot to add to the conversation. I kind of felt like a doofus. Oh well, next month I'll have more to say.

Why am I telling you this? Because I know there is at least one blog reader out there that would love to advance his/her genealogy education (through ProGen, the NGS course, institutes, etc), but is worried that he or she doesn't know enough. My answer is this: you know plenty. And what you don't know, you'll learn through the process.

In ProGen, nobody fails. Everyone in the group moves together. Nobody gets left behind. This was my month to learn while others led the way. Another time, I'll do the leading. To the person(s) that are on the fence about your qualifications for ProGen--or any other genealogy education opportunity, your times to shine and learn will come as well. You just need to take the first step and sign up.


[**I have digital images of the will of Alexander Lenertz. Family members / descendants who want a copy, just email me and I'll get it to you.]

Texas Genealogy Events: Week of October 5-11, 2009

Straight from the Texas Genealogy Events calendar, here's what is happening in Texas for the week of October 5-11, 2009:

Monday, October 5

Montgomery County Genealogical & Historical Society, Inc,
Monthly Meeting, 6:30 pm. Conroe.
Montgomery County Memorial Library,
104 I-45 N, 1st floor meeting room

Ellis County Genealogical Society Meeting, 7pm
Ellis County Woman's Building,
407 West Jefferson Street in Waxahachie
Speaker: Tami Glatz - Using the Internet for Sound Genealogical Research

Tuesday, October 6

San Angelo Genealogical and Historical Society Meeting, 7pm
First Baptist Church, First Place,
14 East Harris Avenue, San Angelo, Texas.
Visitors are welcome.

Thursday, October 8

Denton County Genealogical Society Meeting, 6:30pm
Denton Public Library
Emily Fowler Central Library
502 Oakland St
Denton, TX 76201

Saturday, October 10

Great Family Search Conference
Plano, Texas
Regustration at 8:30am

East Texas Genealogical Society Meeting, 2pm
Tyler Public Library
201 S. College Avenue
Tyler, TX 75702
903-593-1329

East Texas Genealogical Society
Computer Interest Group, 3:30pm
Tyler Public Library
201 S. College Avenue
Tyler, TX 75702
903-593-1329


For further details on these events, see the Texas Genealogy Events Calendar. Please confirm all dates and locations with the host societies and organizations.

Do you have an event you'd like to see on the calendar? Contact me using the email address at the right side of this blog. Events should occur in Texas or be of interest to Texans (neighboring states welcome). Speakers are encouraged to publicize their presentations.

SNGF - A Childhood Memory

Every Saturday, Randy Seaver posts a blog topic under the theme "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun." Also, every Saturday, I have plans which prevent me from fully enjoying the SNGF experience....until tonight. Finally, I get to play along!

Here is tonight's topic: What is one of your most vivid childhood memories? Was it family, friends, places, events, or just plain fun?

Though I'm still young (cough, cough), I have countless childhood memories. How to pick just one? I've decided to go with my earliest childhood memory.

When I was about two years and change, I fell and hit my head against my parents' coffee table. This piece of furniture was the epitome of 70's decor complete with cork touches and smoky glass panels. It was dark, hard wood with very sharp edges & corners that would make today's helicopter parents cringe.

Anyway, I whacked my head on it and took a small chunk out of my ear. It must have looked bad because my earliest memory is of my mom and grandmother inspecting my ear at close range. I don't remember the pain or the gore, just all the people around me staring at my ear.

As you can see, I've recovered from this traumatic experience to become the awesome person that I am. The missing nick is hardly noticeable, mostly because I have an even bigger deformity that gives that same ear a small point like Spock--but that's a story for another night.

This all went down in the early 1970's, but would you believe my parents still have that table? It's such a basic design (save for the corners of death) that it never really goes out of style. It's survived the kids, grandkids and countless child visitors to the house. If there's a toddler around, my parents now throw a sleeping bag over the table for protection. That bit of child safety means I'm probably the only kid that will lose a chunk of ear on that table for many generations to come.