Both Deb and I, and possibly a few others on this list, subscribe to the Quebec Research Rootsweb list. This is a wonderful list to belong to if you have an interest in French Canadian research. Two of the most frequent posters are a retired priest trained in canon law and a civil lawyer, both of whom have the linguistic skills that most of us do not possess. If you have any knowledge of the early days of Detroit-Windsor, you will recognize some well known names who have authored articles and books and the webmasters from some of the better known French Canadian genealogy sites. The range of postings and the help the listers provide is phenomenal. Just before Christmas it was suggested that we all trace our ancestry through the maternal lines and see how far back in time we could go. Now this was NOT the tracing of the women who married into your paternal line and are usually not much more than a name and a few dates, this was meant to be a real exercise in finding the mother of your mother, her mother's mother and then her mother and so on. As one person put it - womb to womb! The results were tabulated by one person and posted to the list every few days. The oldest date was mid 1500s with most in the mid 1600s time period. The countries where they were born were all over the European map. Many "Filles du Roi" turned up along with a few First Nations women. I know that my own efforts produced some very interesting results and filled in blanks I didn't know even realize were there. Just for fun, try it! These women were as much responsible for your existence as the woman who married your 3Xgreat grandfather and certainly deserve recognition from you, their descendant. Just in case, someone on the list suggests it, I am working on the mothers in my father's line. Another genealogical 'game' for 2011. And in case you do not hear from me again in 2010, best wishes for a 2011 that breaks down brick walls and gives you a better insight into the lives of those to whom we owe so much! Pam