Keeping Busy at Home...

With the Covid-19 virus keeping us all at home these days, I am determined to get caught up on the myriad of things on my to-do list.  The list (or, actually, lists...) always contains more than I can possibly get done.  Is that true for you, too?

Each day, MSH and I go to our favorite coffee shop for an espresso (take-out, of course).  Today we also stopped at a wonderful bakery for a quick pick-up.  I'm making chicken soup for lunch and we needed a muffin or scone to go with, right?  We couldn't resist getting a cookie, too!  WE ARE HELPING OUT our favorite local restaurants by doing pickup/take-out most days of the week.  I hope you are helping YOUR local small businesses as much as you can.

On a more serious note, we are staying home except for those quick trips.  We're taking a walk most afternoons BUT staying away from other people.  Yesterday I actually took a BIKE ride rather than a walk.  It was a great 14-miles, and as soon as we have another dry and sunny day, I plan to head out north of town for my favorite 20-miler.

At my desk, I'm working on several genealogy projects, including writing a couple of articles for upcoming publications and creating PowerPoint slides for two presentations I will be doing once we are past this crisis. 

I am also using this "found time" to work on several family trees:

• My main focus this week is my WILLIAMS line - my paternal grandfather's family.  These ancestors have been in Tennessee for a long time.  My 3rd great-grandmother was born in 1814 in the same place where my father was born, Lawrence County.  Many of my DNA matches are from this part of the United States.

• A tree for my son-in-law's family.  I want my granddaughter and her two cousins to know about their Dickerson and Piet ancestors in that family.

• Several trees for friends who have questions about their ancestors, what they can learn from their DNA tests, etc.  

I hope you will each take care of yourself and your loved ones, keep safe, and don't forget to WASH YOUR HANDS!