Happy 5th Blogiversary to From Maine to Kentucky

This is blog post number 353 over the past five years. In 2015, I successfully blogged at least once a week because of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge, in which I wrote about various direct-line ancestors once a week.

I have two major goals this year:

One is to continue to learn about genetic genealogy and get a variety of cousins to test. (This week, there are sales at both AncestryDNA and FamilyTreeDNA. Click here for details.)  I got to hear Cece Moore, Your Genetic Genealogist, speak at the Massachusetts Genealogical Council Seminar last weekend. I am hoping to learn about mapping my chromosomes. From the ISOGG Wiki:

Chromosome mapping is a technique used in autosomal DNA testing which allows the testee to determine which segments of DNA came from which ancestor. In order to map DNA segments on specific chromosomes it is necessary to test a number of close family relatives. Ideally one should test both parents, one of their children, and a number of first to third cousins on both the maternal and paternal sides of the family. 

Many of my popular blog posts have had to do with DNA testing (which I have tagged with DNA). Everyone is trying to understand it and I hope I provide understandable explanations (as well as direct readers to the more experienced genetic genealogy bloggers out there).

Recently shared: my grandmother

My other goal is to share more Surname Saturday posts. I like to share these for my family so they can see the variety of surnames and locales that are in our ancestry. (Remember: sixteen 2x great-grandparents, thirty-two 3x great-grandparents, sixty-four 4x great-grandparents, and so on; there are a lot of surnames in our tree!) Of course, these are also good cousin bait.

And I do have many more photographs I know I should share in Wordless Wednesday posts. I will do my best to find the time to post at least a couple of these every month.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you continue to read and enjoy!