2024 National Neighbor Day is 28 Sep....I am always late posting. Boxes to new members of Windmill Park HOA 

 Windmill Way HOA honored our Veterans 11 Nov 2024 with a luncheon. John was having trouble with hearing aids and did not attend.

 This is November 2024

and just now posting my 85th Birthday photo. Family came from Federal Way, WA and Houston, TX. A good time was had by all.

2023 National Neighbor Day Boxes

 Made and gifted these boxes to volunteer members of Windmill Park at Brown's Farm HOA. 27 Sept 2023

NC Webbs

 May 2024         The first time NC Webbs have visited us in Georgia and the first time we met Cam/Cameron. A wonderful afternoon.

Little Late with 98th Birthday

 11 June 2024

John's 98th Birthday Party, 30April 2024

left to right

Scott, Darcy Judy, Spencer, Hayden, Biddie, Judy, David, John, Hunter Doug, Jamie, Wren, David McCleskey, Gabby, Allison, Bill and Emory . 

Move to GEORGIA. October 2022

In June 2022 Biddie, David, John and I visited McCleskey Families in Carroll County Georgia. It was a special weekend with lots of laugher and love. Biddie and David loved Doug and Judy's home and after hearing about much lower taxes started looking into moving. John and I couldn't wait. We started downsizing, Doug and Judy started looking for us a house. 

 Scott came from Federal Way, helped us pack and move to 108 Windmill Way. Then he helped unpack and settle in. December 27, 2022 was our 60th Wedding Anniversary.   All is well.

 Really!! Can't believe I forgot to post this...had to wait on the flag....In January 2022 University of Georgia Bulldogs beat U of Alabama for the 2021 Championship. It has been 41 years since our last Championship.  So Happy and Congratulations Bulldog 2021 team.

Finishing up 2021

   April 30th, 2021

Going back over 2021 on the blog, realized I had not posted JOHN'S 95th BIRTHDAY photo! 

     Biddie/David hosted the gathering. A wonderful party.  Family from both coast! Missing are Molly and Kate....Covid protocol at Kate's school.  We are Blessed.

Christmas gathering 25 Dec 2021. So happy our NC children could come. A new variant, Omicron, has entered the pandemic picture. Once again, life is altered by Covid. Everyone, Everyone is ready for it to die. Now, over two years the World has been dealing with this terrible virus. Thank goodness for the vaccine and the good judgement of those who have taken it. Lots of people have not.

    John was not feeling well Christmas Day and missed the great dinner Linda had prepared. What ever he had was short lived and he was able to visit the next day. The four children really enjoy each other, Danica, the supervisor, leads them in the correct direction.  All are well behaved and enjoyable.

     I was able to donate 10 boxes to a Spring Branch neighbor who gathered gifts for elderly and lonely neighbors;  it was extremely rewarding. She is very thoughtful and I enjoyed getting to know her...Lauren...do not even know her last name.

    It is about time for the Alabama Crimson Tide to meet U of Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl as 1/2 the College Football Playoff; Georgia Bulldogs meet U of Michigan tonight in the Orange Bowl for the other 1/2 playoff. Winners of these games meet in January for the National Championship. Not since 1980 has Georgia won the National title. Dawgs have had a difficult time going through Alabama!!

   Recently, we had our yearly physicals. Both, got good reports. We start 2022 in a comfortable home and in good health.  

     Holding close, a prayer, that the Pandemic will die this year.  Happy New Year.

    

 

Happy Day

     It is always a Happy Day when I complete a new box or boxes. Over the summer I have made several boxes, some using paper I had on hand and some using digital papers I have accumulated over the years. These 3 are all from digital paper and printed on my Epson 3760 color printer. Over the last 18 plus months we have been staying close to home. I have enjoyed reading but have a need to create, thus, the boxes.  Not sure exactly, but I am up over 110 boxes!!  Have about 15 on hand, deciding how or who to donate. 

    It has taken me years, but finally adventuring deeper into the wonders of Photoshop Elements. Have found you can learn almost anything by watching YouTube videos. May add a few Christmas cards I made for 2021.

 

We even managed to attend Hayden's high school graduation. 

 12 March 2021       The Pandemic Anniversary

Actually, the anniversary, so the news says, was a few days ago. I believe the anniversary is a few weeks from now.  On 12 March 2020, How could anyone foresee the virus as a Pandemic?! 

John and I, David and Biddie and our extended Elden, Bundscho families navigated the Covid 19 successfully, none of us contacted the disease! David lead the way with reading and researching what was said and what was actually the fact. 

Fiirst Vaccine

    No Photo, but important date. On Wednesday, 5 January 2021 John and I received, each, the 1st injection of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. So far, groups 1a (health care workers, 1st responders), and 1b (over 65 with conditions) are receiving the vaccine. Memorial Hermann, our health care provider, sent an e-mail invitation, we signed up. Worked like "clock work."  Biddie took us. Now, we are waiting 28 days for the 2nd and final dose. It is hard to understand that some people are resisting. The only side effect we had was a little soreness at the injection site.

   A rise in those catching the disease has States tightening rules and regulations. Bars and restaurants are getting lots of blame. The ranting and begging people to be careful doesn't affect John and I; we mostly stay home except for our weekly dinner with family. Grocery delivery has been wonderful, David and Biddie help with other needed items. It is not hard to feel that the virus has stolen a year of our lives. 

   Both of us have filled our time with reading: John is plowing through a new biography on U.S. Grant. I am in an on-line scrapbooking club that also reads and discusses a book per month. The scrapbook teacher is very talented in design and book discussion. It has been very enjoyable for me, pushing me to read books I would not ordinarily choose. Variety only goes so far with me, the new list has sci-fy and horror. NO thank you to either. I did read my first black author and his The Underground Railroad. the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. and several more awards. Like I said, reading books outside my comfort zone. Total number of books for 2020 was over 45. I read a few before making a list. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas 2020

 

Both holidays were Celebrated at Joe and Linda Limb Bundscho's home, Neal, Cynthia and Danica & Nealy Elden. Biddie and David Webb with seniors: John & Judy Webb.  Great Love and Fellowship.

 4 June 2020

Happy Birthday

This was John's 94th birthday party.....in our front yard, "social distancing." Richard Fink, a friend we made through Linda, a retired opera singer, serenaded John, then lead these friends and several neighbors with Happy Birthday song. Truly, a birthday to remember.  From left to right: Sharon and Richard Fink, Cynthia & Neal Elden, Judy and John, behind Judy, David Gugino, David, Linda B and Our daughter n law Biddie (sister to Linda) and Joe Bundscho  (Linda's husband). In front Nealy and Danica. This group makes up our extended family in Houston. April 30, 2020; Our home in Houston.

23 May 2020.

Celebrating 75th Anniversary Year, End of World War II

My first cousins from the Graves Family of Fayette Co Georgia. Top photo is Jasper Graves, lower photo is Calvin Graves.

3 April 2020 My daughter-in-law posted this on FaceBook today about the affect and effect of Covid-19. A good reference to what is going on nation wide in USA. This is day 22 John and I have "shelter in place." At ages 93 (only 27 days from 94) and 80 we cannot afford to catch this terrible disease. In the last three weeks we have had personal contact with David, Biddie and Jessica (our maid). 

Just so I NEVER forget..... April 2, 2020
Work closed through May 4th
Gas price a mile from home was $2.59
School cancelled - yes cancelled
Self-distancing measures on the rise.
Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (6ft) from each other.
Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, lineups outside the store doors.
Non-essential stores and businesses mandated closed.
Parks, trails, entire cities locked up.
Entire sports seasons cancelled.
Concerts, tours, festivals, entertainment events - cancelled.
Weddings, family celebrations, holiday gatherings - cancelled.
No masses, churches are closed.
No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, now 5 or more.
Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home.
Children's outdoor play parks are closed.
We are to distance from each other.
Shortage of masks, gowns, gloves for our front-line workers.
Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill.
Panic buying sets in and we have no toilet paper, no disinfecting supplies, no paper towel no laundry soap, no hand sanitizer.
Shelves are bare.
Manufacturers, distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks, hand sanitizer and PPE.
Government closes the border to all non-essential travel.
Fines are established for breaking the rules.
Stadiums and recreation facilities open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients.
Press conferences daily from the President. Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths.
Government incentives to stay home.
Barely anyone on the roads.
People wearing masks and gloves outside.
Essential service workers are terrified to go to work.
Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families.

This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, declared March 11th, 2020.

Why, you ask, do I write this status?

One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted.

We have so much!
Be thankful. Be grateful.
Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone.

We are all one! ❤️

Copied from someone else. Copy and share.

Studying....DNA

Some way I moved this post from 1 May 2019 til 20 Mar 2020. AND I can not figure way to correct.

1 May 2019   Another four weeks speeding by. It was a beautiful month, lots of Chamber of Commerce Days.
    The month, for me, was mostly filled with Ancestry.com research and learning about DNA as it applies to family research. Ancestry.com introduced two new features to help in research in early March. It is in Beta release now and the software has several glitches. When Ancestry.com acts up, I go to YouTube and review videos explaining DNA. I have not yet accepted Ambrose Holt as my g-g-grandfather but the evidence is building that he is my g-g-g-grandfather. I am getting many DNA matches saying I am kin to cousins who have Ambrose in their tree. Also, Ancestry.com has added a new child to Elisha. I wrote one of the descendants and we are trying to prove or disprove the connection. Lack of marriage records and other documents are slowing us down.
    This brings up My Matches: I have a total of 158,353 matches!! This covers ancestors: Holt, Jackson, Jackson (have not found connection), Stalnaker, McCleskey, McLain, White, Jarrett, Shaw, Dodd, Kite/Kight and many more. Of these matches, 7,567 are considered Close and 150,786 are considered Distant.

Family in WW II

20 March 2020. McCleskeys who served in US Armed Forces during World War II.
Ancestry.com, perhaps, the largest DNA testing company and Genealogical site on-line, today on Facebook, encouraged followers to post a videos about ancestors that served in World War II. My phone would make a video but I do not know how to edit or post, so that is out for me. I do have several in my family that were in WW II and I have deep feelings about their service and sacrifices for the world.

George Sanford McCleskey, was thirty-five years old when he reported to duty in Dec. 1942.  He and Margaret Middlebrooks had been married fifteen years with no children.  

The modern marvel, The Internet and your favorite search engine can locate much information about Co B, 325th Glider Infantry, 82nd Division.  It landed in Normandy D-day plus 1, (7 June 1944).  On 16 Aug 1944, The Atlanta Constitution prints information on George stating he is in England recovering from wounds, he received a Purple Heart.  

George recovers from his wounds, returns to Co B, and finishes out the War, The company was in The Battle of Bulge and perhpas George was too.  He returns home and to The Atlanta Constitution working his entire career as pressman. 

Observations and Comments: Uncle George was a man of few words, he did not spend the remainder of his life telling everyone about his war experiences. He had a brother and several nephews that also served, perhaps they exchanged stories and experiences but they are unknown to me. What I have, are memories of WW II movies and how GIs (Government Issue) looked at themselves and interacted. A man of 35 years would immediately be known as "Pops." He would be among the oldest men in the company, but expected to do everything the 18 and 19 year olds did. Sure wished we had first hand information from him, but there is much information on Company B, 325th Glider Infantry on Internet. A good read.

 

Friday, 20 March 2020. Another Life Changing Experiences. The Coronvirus!
     John and I are "Sheltering In Place," a plea from State and National Officials for Old, very young and health compromised persons. When you are 93 and 80 years old, to stay in place is not much different than most days. Yesterday, for the first time, I ordered a few groceries from HEB to be delivered to our home. The two of us are trying to stay independent and not interfere with our children's lives; the virus is doing a good job of that. It is very early into the pandemic to comment, US officials, early on, took the out break in China seriously and started with precautions; states and cities are following suit: local school systems, colleges and universities are closed, a new expression, "social distancing" is enforced, the Stock Market has taken a nose dive; restaurants have only drive through and take out, bars are closed and, if you can, work from home. The airlines and cruise ship industry is critically affected and those who make a good part of their yearly income from "Spring Break" has seen it evaporate.  End, Observation #1.