OK, OK, so that’s not how it goes, but what you see in the picture is what I saw happening outside by back door this morning. It’s pouring rain. And there are DUCKS on my deck. I KNOW! In SEATTLE? We call them 7-11 ducks, because they’re not the least bit bashful about pecking on the back door to get our attention.

So what’s that got to do with family history? It reminded me of some of my Dad’s favorite expressions, grandad’s, too.

Now, my family being what it is, me being who I am… things could get a little more, uh, earthy.

• Colder than a witche’s t*t.
• Colder than a well-digger’s ass.
• Tighter than the bark on a piss-ant tree. (Ever seen one?)
• North end of a south-bound mule.

Yunno, this topic sounded a lot funnier in my head. So how ’bout you? Got any weird only-in-my family expressions?

Odds & ends
Haven’t had much time to research lately, but I can tell you we’re working on getting some daguerreotypes converted to digital photographs. One of them is a picture of Mary (Van Ort) Leonard, mother to Edmund, Isaac, Uncle Dan, et al. Given the fact that she died in 1868, this will be one of the oldest photographs ever taken of a Leonard!

Please vote!
Never shy about prostituting myself, I’d like to encourage you to vote for Leonard Family Legends & Legacies in Family Tree Magazine’s “40 Best Genealogy Blogs” poll. Polls close Nov. 5th, results published in the May 2010 magazine! We’re listed in the Personal & Family category about halfway down in the last category. You’ll have to click inside the voting window and then scroll down. While you’re at it, go vote for FootnoteMaven in the much tougher All-Around Category. fM came out as one of my “mystery visitors” earlier this week.

Coming soon
Personal memoirs & archival materials. I bought a do-it-yourself memoir book (hard back, acid-free paper) for my Dad last Christmas, sight unseen. The idea is to answer questions about your life right IN the book. Last week, I ordered one for myself. Then it occurred to me, I have no idea what type of pen or pencil to use for the best results. Researching that now.

Until next time… Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.