I am still learning. Michelangelo

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. C.S. Lewis

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

28 Nov, Boxes 45 through 48


I believe these are boxes 45 and 46. These were given to Dr D and Lillian, our Vet and her assistant. So glad to have New friends to share my boxes. I made 2 of each style which would be 47 and 48, I kept both of these. I must have gotten confused on my measuring for I had to add chipboard to the tops to make them tight....so I will be using them myself. I found a pad of paper that represents the seasons of year, so, they'll be more seasonal boxes.
     My box making will slow over the next few weeks so I can work on my menus and grocery list. Scott, Darcy and Spencer will arrive on Dec 22.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Forty-six Boxes....15 Nov 2018

Forty-six Boxes!  As of this week, I have made 46 boxes and given 44 as gifts!! I found a note in my junk journal that says the first two were made for Max and Kate in Oct 2016. That would average out to 23 boxes per year. I have photos of perhaps half of them. Several of the children have been recipients of multiple boxes. I have made all the albums I need and turned to boxes for my creative (what little there is) expression. I enjoy the construction and the lovely papers make them easy to decorate. They are crafted as useful, utility boxes, to be used.

My list of family and friends I have given boxes has run out of space in my Judy's Journal, so I am putting the list here: (as listed in the journal):
Max and Kate Webb. Vicky and brother Alfredo Moreno, children on our maid Maria in Lindsay. They both graduated high school and wound scholarships to college, Vicky to TX Women's U in Denton and Alfredo to Tufts near Boston. Hunter, David M, Joe, John Jr, Scott and Spencer. Hayden, Darcy and Sandy. Danica and Nealy Elden. Alison, Wren and Gabby. Biddie and Linda. Judy and Doug. David Mc Family, 7 boxes that includes 2 Halloween, Proper Gentleman, G 45 butterfly, generic butterfly, 1 Bohemian G 45, and 1 pretty paper.  Neal and Cynthia Elden, Alison Mc, Senior Year. Sofia and Hudson, school and one for their mother Elyse. Halloween Boxes: Max, Kate, Danica and Nealy; cousin Kate and her son Alex. Remebered severak other: Jay and Susan Rogers and Susan Gregory.



New Cousin....15 Nov 2018

Several weeks ago I received a call from a young woman saying she found me through Ancestry.com....and we were cousins. She is descended through Thomas McCleskey, a brother of my great grandfather David Sanford McCleskey. We both go back to Thaddeus Henderson McCleskey. She was born and raised in Houston but her Mother was born and raised in Arkansas where Thomas migrated after the Civil War.

Meet Kate Zavala, my new McCleskey cousin. (I gave she and son, Alex 2 of the Halloween boxes you see on the shelf behind me.) She and her family live west of us, maybe 5 miles. She owns a Pet Sitting franchise and is very busy. We hope to spend time together visiting and working on her genealogy. 

Seven Boxes.....17 Nov 2018

17 November 2018. Last week 7 boxes went off to the David McCleskey Family, that cleared the storage shelf. Instead of taking photo, I made a video, that was a mistake, the file is so large I can't mail from phone to me in e-mail. So, there will not be photos of the boxes: 2 were Halloween and enough photos; one for Jamie had butterflies, for David the signature sheet of Proper Gentleman (I have another Proper Gentleman and Butterfly (Graphic 45) and will probably make a second box from each); a different butterfly; and 2 boxes from colorful paper. David, Jamie and blended family have moved to a country home in Temple, GA. The home is over 100 hundred years but has recently been renovated. They are loving it...and the 4 acres. He called to say the gift boxes had been well received and would be put to good use.

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Junk Journal 27 Oct 2018

My One and only time into Junk Journals. Several years ago, and up to current time 27 Oct 2018, all the rage was Junk Journals. You went through your trash, saving Junk Mail and recycling into a journal. I didn't use example of junk mail. Junk mail is in this journal but I found it to take up space and be unusable. Making the journal was an exercise in learning something new: tea or coffee dying paper, folding and making signatures, and sewing the signatures into the spine to make the journal, among other techniques. I had fun and if I was to make another journal, I'd leave the junk mail out and just use copy paper and lined notebook paper. The cover for this journal was a hanging file folder that worked well.
    These pages covers my bone folders and how much I LOVE the new ones made from Dacon. They do not make marks on your paper when using to crease. And liquid glue or tape will not adhere, a real bonus.
    I will not be making anymore journals. John has a fascination with small note books and we have received some as gifts. There are plenty on small note books in the house for me to use. Right now, I am in the process of making boxes (many examples posted) using up my left over designer papers.




Thursday, October 4, 2018

Halloween Boxes

4 October 2018  Preparing for Halloween!!  It is Halloween box building time. My friend Kathy King, a scrapbook designer, now turned paper designer has published two paper selections, one is a gorgeous Travel set and the other, Halloween. I'm not organized, nor does it matter when the paper came and I began building and decorating boxes for Halloween. Anyway, today is 4 October and I have 6 boxes finished and enough paper to complete 2 more. The pictures you will see are the first 4 boxes: Max, Kate, Danica and Nealy. So much fun for me. Heaven knows what family and friends will do with these boxes. LOL


Not only do I decorate the tops, but also the inside lid. Happy Halloween to ALL.

Wednesday, August 15, 2018

15 Aug 2018. For the last several weeks our son John Jr and wife Sandy have been preparing for a driving trip to Alaska. They are now on their way, with a stop-off in Federal Way, Washington to see his youngest brother, Scott, Darcy and Spencer. Here are a few photos so far:

While in Federal Way, they parked in front of Darcy's parent's home (Sheryl and Raoul Martin).   Today they called from Hope, British Columbia to say they have cancelled plans to go to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper then join ALKAN Hwy. The Canadians are busy fighting 19 wild fires with lots of smoke in the air along with lots of airplanes fighting the fires. They will make Northward turn and head for Alaska. It is very long way.

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

I will be adding a few more photos and comments to My Favorie Books. This is a start: I moved and held these books for years, only donating them in Summer of 2017 as we prepared to move to Houston. I miss them but my family will be happy.  All of these books are Historical Fiction, the ones by Delderfield are about life in England, several generations; Ben A Williams, early America; John Jakes, early America, several generations; Dick Francis, English mysteries (while traveling); Wouk, WW II; only one by Margaret Mitchell, Gone With The Wind, my favorite!; A J Cronin, morality...English. Mary Higgins Clark, I read dozens of her quick reading mysteries while traveling.  YOU must read to be enlightened.

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

At the end of April we gathered again to Celebrate John's 92nd Birthday! We didn't get a group photo, just look at Christmas '17, the same group. For those who may see this years later.....he is still driving.😍


How could I be so slow to realize I hadn't added Christmas photos from 2017. Not only was it a Family Gathering for Eldens and Webbs, but John's and my 55th Wedding Anniversary. Our first Christmas in Houston since 1977. The gathering took place at home of Joe and Linda Bundcho. Little Kate Webb of the NC Webbs was a wonderful addition with her brother Max, joining their cousins Danica and Nealy Elden. We made so many New Memories. Wonderful!

Sunday, June 3, 2018

You'll have to go back several weeks to see the "Before" photo of house and yard. This is the way the house and yard looks today 3 June 2018. We are so pleased! Love the new walk-way. Over fifty-five years, this is home number 6.
Do not believe I have each home digitally recorded, but in our family album, do have them all represented. Four of homes are in Houston, one in Wichita Falls (we lived in home number 4 for 30 years! in the Gainesville home almost 9 yrs.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Saturday, 23 February 2019.   My blog is cataloged as Scrapbooking. Yes that is my prime interest but the blog has turned into sort of a Journal: scrapbooking, Family and what interest me. For thirty-three years I have been a Family Historian. First, my interest was to document a Revolutionary Soldier so I could join Daughters of American Revolution. James McCleskey, my great-great-great-great grandfather was my first ancestor documented. His application for a pension said his father's Bible stated he was born in 1755 in Pennsylvania.
     When I started my family research, personal computers were not common and there was NO internet. My research was done mostly in Georgia, my mother was huge asset for Holt and Jackson research. Visits to National Archives in East Point, GA; Georgia Archives, downtown Atlanta and later Stockbridge; Fayette County Historical Society, Fayetteville; Clayton-Henry Historical Society, McDonough; many visits to cemeteries in both GA and AL; visiting family members that I discovered through snail mail. On and On, all before the Internet.  Now, the National Census for each state is easily searched on line through Ancestry.com.
     That brings me to current times. John and I and three sons and their wives have all had DNA test. After thirty years on research, I felt I would not find a single length to The Old World. Our ancestors had mostly immigrated to America in the early 1700s. If records kept, they are lost or haven't been published yet. Our DNA test show where our ancestors came from. Yes, they keep changing, as more and more people are tested, the results will become more accurate. But, today, they are best we have.
     Through research, I found my maiden name McCleskey to be Irish. I have even visited Dungiven, Ireland, our ancestral home. Another of my unusual (to me) names is Stalnaker, German.
     So here is my DNA history as of today (from Ancestry.com test): England, Wales and Northwestern Europe 78%: Norway 9%: Ireland and Scotland 8%; France 3%: European Jewish 2%: Sweden 1%.  My migration path  North Alabama Settlers and Southern States Settlers. I am happy to accept these countries. I was surprised to find 2% Jewish and only 8% Irish/Scotland. We have traveled to Europe many times and was well aware that the Norse men traveled all over Europe spreading their nationally.
     What I cannot accept is data published to Ancestry.com that has no Proof. It will take some time for the data entered to be proved or unproved.
GiGi, John's cat.

A dress from my 1st year! 

Kipper

Some of my favorite things


Scrapbooking buddies: Judy, Sheryl and Judy. Teacher Debbie Schuh and Tracy Burtt.








I kept these books until we moved to Houston in Sept 2017. I loved each and everyone and should have kept and reread.

One of my most favorite memories and experiences was researching in Library of Congress. Have to hunt date. As a student in the early '50s the GA Safety Patrols made a trip to Washington DC; you could stand and peer into the Main Reading Room. It was a thrill to actually walk on the floor. The Family History Room is down the hall and that is where I did my research.

Sunday, May 13, 2018

I am cleaning out old and/or duplicate photos. This one was taken on 12 May 2014. Judy and John, Sandy and John,Jr with Hayden and Hunter and Kipper.  Love it. Very appropriate for Mother's Day! today 13 May 2018  The date of 12 May 2014 must be when I moved them for this photo was taken much earlier, thinking '09 or '10.


My borther, Doug and Graves cousins: Calvin, Ann and Kathleen.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

continuing 24April 2018    Photo on new Houston home...before landscapping.

I spent an additional 30 minuets on another photo and our DNA studies from Ancestry.com. My efforts vanished, no amount of looking can bring data back. So, I'll try to repeat. Our move from Gainesville to Houston hasn't been covered. All of it moved so fast. David arrived sometime late April or early May telling us we needed to move to Houston. Knowledge that we needed to be in a larger city with better medical facilities had been building. The older we got the less likely we would be to jump on I-35 to Denton or Hwy 85E to Sherman/Denison for hospitalization.  Scott came down to go with his Dad to his 65th Medical School Graduation; after their return they came to Houston...and found a home that fit our thoughts: near David and Biddie and near Memorial Hermann and doctors.  All of it worked out.
We moved 26 September, are settled and now waiting on Landscape Designer and his crews to transform front yard into beautiful space. Consider this the Before, will add After when yard is finished.
      Also in the "lost entry" is John's DNA results. Will wait to repeat results next time. J

4/24/2018 Loving Spring 2018

April  24, 2018
     I visi my blog so infrequently that I have to learn how to post each time. It is probably good that I do not post very often for I now live a very settled life. It wasn't always this settled, in recent past we campaigned Brittanys and traveled the world. We miss the travelling most of all.
     On the April 28th we will wish our son Scott birthday wishes for number 51, then on 30th we will Celebrate John's 92nd with a family gathering of fifteen.
John is happy man, new Lexus NX
A Happy Man with his 2018 Lexus NX