Holt Family Story written 8/20/2019

 This is The Thomas Holt Family of Clayton Co, GA. The Family had gathered to Celebrate Thomas Holt's 70th Birthday. (Center with beard). His birthday was last day of May and was occasion to bring his large family together. But this story is about the Celebration of about 1918. I am repeating the story as told to me by my Mother (Estelle Holt). Her Mother Mary Jackson Holt is pregnant with her in this photo.

In the Spring of 1918 Thomas Holt and his second wife Fancina are living with his son JT Holt, Jr and their family on New Hope Rd, Fayette Co, Ga. His son (also called Tom) is building his father a small home for retirement in Fayetteville. They are preparing for the annual birthday gathering and Tom, SR request they roast a goat for the Celebration. The goat is secured and is being fattened up for the roast. He is tethered to a tree when a strong thunderstorm blows through; it blows a wash cloth off the clothes line and wind sends it straight for the goat, who in-turn eats it!! My Mother had great delight telling the story and laughing. It gives me pleasure to tell her story and remember how a simple life story can give you a smile and pleasure.  

    The idea of writing this story comes from a book I am reading by Blaine Bettinger. He tells about the stories we carry in our DNA. Yes, we might carry it in our DNA but unless we write them down they will not be heard. Write a happy story about your family today.

Recent Boxes, June 2019

This is the last batch of boxes. 16 June 2019. Bottom four made from Paper Phenomenon paper, Flutter and Bloom. Kathy King is scrapbook designer I follow and she recently, working with graphic artist, has begun designing and selling her own line of paper. The Halloween paper was another example. Haven't decided where these boxes will go but wanted to record. The bottom four are not finished, may take another photo later but I mailed some recently without making a record for me.

addendum: 9 Aug 2019.  Sent the bottom four boxes and the middle box on top shelf to four of my US Army Intern friends and a daughter of one who just bought her first home. They were well received. Who wouldn't enjoy a box with beautiful butteries or pretty flowers?  

Gift Boxes

7 June 2019....I do not always take photos of the boxes I make. Sent package off this week with one Proper Gentleman for Lee Russell and a box each for Perla      and Morgan Henderson. They are our financial managers at Edward Jones in Gainesville. Today, I can list 53 remembered boxes and have several on shelf and making 4 new ones.  Rotating between work on boxes and research on Ancestry.com, trying so hard to find my G G Grandmother Bethena/ Parthena/ Matheny Bustre's parents...or just her correct name. Many, Many FaceBook groups to listen and offer advice. Today I was sent to Georgia Archives Virtual Vault. Found image of Henry Co, Wedding book 1822-18??
Copied "B" page, maybe, Matheny had brother that married around time she did. Hopefully I can crumble that her brick wall.

1 April More Boxes!

Just for me to remember boxes I made.

Ethnicity from Ancestry

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.

14 January 2019     The Homes I have lived in.

     I heard someone say recently that Americans move a lot. About eleven times in your life.  Let's see:  The first homes where I lived, my parents chose (Atlanta, GA area):  1.     Langston Ave, (the home that I came to after my birth;  2.        Fletcher St., we moved to this home before my first birthday and the home I started Kindergarten at George W Adair School. The next year I marched off to 1st grade from that home but walked to #3.    831 Stewart Ave in afternoon. This was my favorite childhood home. Many friends and being part of community. This was our home until Christmas Holidays 1949 when we moved into a home my parents built in Fulton Co., #4 2060 Dodson Dr., just pass the City Limits. From this home I boarded a yellow school bus to attend Ben Hill Elementary. I do not know if we were annexed or by arrangement, but for High School our area attended a brand new SouthWest High where I graduated 1957.
      From the Dodson Dr home, my next four years were spent in various # 5.,University of Georgia dormitories.  Graduating in 1961. By this time I had been accepted into a United States Army Dietary Program that included my Internship. Thus, a long move from Atlanta, Georgia, my parents home to #5. US Army residence on Fort Sam Houston Army Base, San Antonio, Texas. I would have to do some real research to find my address!! This is were I was living when I met  Major John A. Webb, M.D. Meeting John began the largest chapter of my life and moves that we made together. I do not have scanned photographs of the above home, but I do have all of them in scrapbooks.
     John and I married in December 1962. He had already moved from an apartment to a home. The house at 5202 Kinglet, Houston, TX was number 6.  With the addition of our first child to his two boys it soon became very tight!  After I became pregnant with our second child, it was time to move into something larger: #6 6202 Wigton.  During our stay on Wigton, we be became very interested in Brittany bird dogs. We also bought a semi-finished beach house at Sea Island development on West Galveston Island. I will not count The Cutty Sark as a home, but it did furnish us with great memories and a way for John to relax and boat and fish. However, as our interest in campaigning Brittanys on the field trial circuit increased, the amount of time at the beach diminished and we sold. Also the interest in the dogs demonstrated the need for more land. A friend told me her neighbors were putting their home on market and it had an acre of land. Perfect! Number 7 for me 9926 Rolke Rd in SW Houston, but still in the city limits. The move came  a little to late for John; by the time we moved the traffic and grind of a large laboratory practice was taking it's toll. The participation in American Brittany Club and campaigning our dogs was also seeing long trips to North Texas and Oklahoma. Why not get out of the rat race, move north and have more time! We did. The next move was to a small ranch outside Wichita Falls, Texas, # 8  11261 Longley Rd.  We live there 30 years! Our next move was to get closer to one of our sons. He found us a beautiful home in Lindsay, TX but with a Gainesville mailing address: #9  15 County Road 3630.   If you add up the years.......John was in his eighties and I wasn't far behind. What we learned in the nine years we lived there was medical care wasn't what it is in larger cities.  And , our driving skills aren't what they once were. Our second son, arrived in our driveway one Saturday morning to visit and encourage us to move back to Houston where some of the World's most skilled doctors practice. We did, in September 2017, #10 9829 Pine Lake Dr. The most arduous move for me was the move from the ranch. John had built a large barn with living quarters and large store room. They were both packed full. John is a bit of a Hoarder! My brother came out, we told John to stay in the house and the two of us made trips to the landfill. What we took from the barn went to make more mess for our eldest son at his Shop. He, too, is a Hoarder!
     The next chapter is yet to be written. John and I are very comfortable here, convenient to great shopping and medical care. Our next adventure will be learning to use Uber.  So, if 10 moves is a lot, I am guilty. I have great memories from homes I remember and photographs made by my Mother of the early ones.

831 Stewart Ave, Atlanta, Ga...my favorite home and neighborhood. 1945-1949

Family Christmas, 2018

2019, January

Three of our four sons: John and Sandy, David and Biddie, Scott, Darcy and grandson Spencer. Linda and Joe Bunscho (Biddie's sister: .)  Good food and fun for all. L to R: Linda, John and Sandy, Judy, David and Biddie, Joe, John, Spencer and parents, Darcy and Scott. Christmas dinner at Sr. Webbs.