Want to give your family some of its history this year for the holidays? It's probably easier and cheaper than you might think. Earlier this year I joined ancestry.com, the huge genealogy website. I know there are plenty of other sites and programs out there. But as a complete novice I went to the big, user-friendly ancestry.com.

I have to say my husband was not thrilled with the new hobby. I would be excited when I found a ship record from Prussia or the town in Sweden where one part of my family comes from. He would look at me like I'd suddenly become a stamp collector. And that I was blowing about $30 a month on old stamps. (There is nothing cheap about ancestry.com; it's anywhere from $13 to $30 a month, with discounts if you buy by the quarter or year.)

But, you don't have to be on it that long to find some neat stuff. Basically, if you're lucky, you may be related to someone who is better at genealogy who will have already traced your tree and maybe even supplied documents that you can access. You'll be able to print out census forms and all kinds of obscure documents. If you're not lucky, it'll take a lot of work. My guess is that I'm probably typical: I got some easy breaks, did some work and hit some dead ends.

The Daily Deal for February 24, 2008

You've waited for him and he's here at last. A garden gnome in realistic full color is shooting the moon. As if the pose isn't great enough by itself, this little pointy capped pixie can be had for the astounding price of just $12.95 plus $5.95 for UPS ground delivery shipping. If you purchase eight of the little buggers, you can have them shipped for free! (limited time free shipping offer).

I found this whimsical gnome at Perpetual Kid by comparison shopping via the amazing NexTag website. If a booty bearing woodland citizen isn't quite what you had in mind for a garden pal, NexTag has comparison prices on thousands of other home and garden items.

This feisty garden gnome will be the talk of your garden. Your ceramic bunnies and wooden twirling cardinals will just love him. Your neighbors will probably turn green with envy. Even the mail carrier should get a chuckle. You can also take him to work and place him in your cubicle, but you might want to stash him when your boss's humorless lumbering footsteps approach your work station.

He's the perfect gift for your green thumbed friends who have everything and he can serve as a gardening reminder also. Remember that old gardening rule: Plant above ground crops by the full moon.