DEAR SUN SPOTS: A cousin is a child of one’s uncle or aunt. Can you please explain what a second or third cousin is? Thank you. — No Name, No Town

ANSWER: No Name has asked about something that Sun Spots, who has a slew of cousins, knows well, but it is a bit difficult to explain. Explanations are available online, but they don’t seem any easier, so Sun Spots will use examples to try and make things clear.

Basically, second and third and so on refer to cousins of the same subsequent generations, while the term “removed” refers to cousin relationships between generations. Say both you and your first cousin have children; those children are second cousins to each other. Any children the second cousins have will be third cousins to each other, and so on.

Another possibility is you have a child, but your first cousin does not. In that case, your first cousin is “first cousin once removed” to your child.

For example, say there are two sisters, Amy and Ann. Amy’s daughter, Beth, and Ann’s son, Bob, are first cousins. They then have children. Beth has a daughter Cathy, and Bob has a son, Carl. Cathy and Carl are second cousins. Their subsequent children, name them Dina and David, are third cousins.

In the example cited, Carl is first cousin once removed to Beth, and Dina is second cousin once removed to Carl. You can also have relationships that are two or three times removed. For example, Beth is first cousin twice removed to David.

Another way to look at it is any first cousin of your parents is your first cousin once removed, while any first cousin of your grandparent is your first cousin twice removed. If your grandparent’s first cousin has grandchildren, they would be your third cousin.

If you draw the generations of your family out on a genealogy chart, it might make it easier to see the relationships.

While there are extended families who track such things and have huge reunions, in many cases, people do not even know their second cousins. Especially in big families, keeping track of all those cousins could be time consuming, not to mention the cost of all those birthday and Christmas cards!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I would like to know if any of your readers could help me. I am trying to find a recipe for mustard pickles, the one that uses brine, not a thick jell. Thank you. — No Name, Lewiston

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Loaves and Fishes of Sabattus would like to remind your readers that we continue to hold garage sales at the Dominican Convent, 61 Lisbon Road, Sabattus, every Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We receive new items on a regular basis.

The need for Loaves & Fishes is great and we encourage all of you to visit our garage sales. We hope to continue through the end of August. — Claudette Therriault, board of directors

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I read your column daily and enjoy it very much. I have a need that I hope your readers can help me with; I am looking for photographs of the old days at L. L. Bean for a project I am doing. The photos could be about any subject; people, buildings, products, etc., and could be from the 1920s through the 1970s. All photos would be scanned and returned. Thank you for your help with this matter. — Jim, Lewiston, 777-7141, jimcyclist@aol.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Regarding American Girl dolls in the July 26 column, I make American Girl doll clothing. Anyone who wants doll clothing should call or e-mail me. Enjoy your column everyday. Keep up the good work! — Lil. 783-3676, poppymeme6@aol.com

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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