Oh the turkey’s roasting and the pies are baked ”tis glad Thanksgiving day.” So let’s have a look-see at our turkey Tracy, our super chef, just took from the oven. YUM! YUM!

My son-in-law Tracy Drake filled the turkey with oyster stuffing, I had ask for it,  placed it in a bag and baked it for three hours. He also made a corn casserole, a green bean casserole, corn bread and gravy.

My granddaughter Sarah Drake made mashed sweet potato casserole and red mashed potatoes.

Tracy and Sarah, our families super chefs, with final details as we all look on with the delicious aroma wetting out appetite.

And my daughter Pamela Drake set the beautiful table. Still more food to be added. And we all sit down to the table to rejoiced in that delicious feast. AND………IT WAS A DAY TO BE TRULY THANKFUL FOR FAMILY AND ALL LIFE HAS GIVEN US.

FRF ❤️

It rained and rained and rained……………Bokes Creek bordered my father’s York Center stone quarry. A bridge was right there on the north west corner of the quarry.

My father kept close watch as it continued to rain and the creek water kept rising up close to the bottom of the bridge. If this continued the creek water would overflow the bridge, flooding the road that ran beside the stone quarry and that water would flow into the stone quarry.

On my father’s orders his working men scrambled to get truck loads of sand and burlap sand bags, hurriedly filling them and closing off the road over to the high banks around the quarry.

Because……….they had to stop that roaring creek water from flowing into the quarry and filling it with water. That would be a catastrophe.

But it kept raining and raining and despite all those men’s furious work to block that rushing, rising creek water we watched as it broke through the bags and rapidly flowed into the quarry. As it continued, it filled the quarry…………………

That put THE ROCKHOLD STONE QUARRY out of business! A VERY SAD DAY…………..

If it were possible to put the pictures of this happening from my brain into my IPad I could show you pictures of this catastrophe. Sorry! I don’t have that ability!

Now, what to do? That’s right! A sump-pump would have to pump that water over the bank surrounding the quarry along Bokes Creek and put the water back into the creek. I don’t remember how long that took but that time was lengthy.

So again as when Old Doc Thompson had put the quarry practically out of business for a couple years we lived the same this time.

When someone ask me “How could you live without any income” I told them “We lived off of what we had”. To someone who knows only living on a paycheck each week that was probably difficult to understand.

Well… to be sure,,,,,you tighten your belt…to manage getting by during the time of recovery when you are again back in business.

But believe me when I say, as we watched that roaring creek water fill the stone quarry with water IT WAS A VERY SAD DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRF❤️

In my search for ancestors, from Nannie B Nimmo who wrote “The Rockholds of Early Maryland” I learned that Robert Rockhold the son came to America from Fitzhead England in the year of 1634. His father also named Robert Rockhold remained in England.

(1) My many greats grandfather Robert, the son, married Sarah Greniffe and they had a son John Rockhold.

(2) John Rockhold married Mary Richardson and their son Charles Rockhold was born in Maryland in 1685

(3) Charles Rockhold married Elizabeth Wright and their son John Rockhold was born in1711 in Maryland.

(4) John Rockhold married Elizabeth Talbot and their son Jacob Rockhold was born August 27 1740 in Maryland.

(5) Jacob Rockhold married Elizabeth unknown and their son Jacob was born March 7, 1770 in Maryland.

(6) Jacob Rockhold married Eleanor Rutledge and they had 10 children. Their first born was William Rockhold born September 20, 1791.

(7) William Rockhold married Ann Collett and they had two children Elisha John Rockhold born November 11,1827 and Mary Matilda born February 24 1829. William died April 19, 1886 in Muskingum county Ohio.

(8) Elisha John Rockhold married Elizabeth Louisa Miller June 13, 1858. They both died in Union County Ohio, they were my grand parents on my father’s side.

Back row Aunt Mary Matilda, Uncle Will Rockhold, Aunt Jane, Aunt Laura  seated Grampa Elisha Rockhold standing my father Levi Gilbert Rockhold sitting Gramma Louisa Rockhold

My father Levi was 17 years old when his mother Louisa died. Louisa was 40 years old when my father was born the baby of the family . His sister my Aunt Mary Matilda Bowen told me since he was so much younger than his siblings they had all spoiled him.

Standing my mother Mary Etta Longbery Rockhold , Uncle Elmer Longberry sitting Grampa Perry Longberry, Aunt Bertha Longberry Rish, Gramma Louisa Longberry

(9) Levi Gilbert Rockhold married Mary Etta Longberry and they had13 children.
(1) John  (2) Carl (3) Edith (4)Mabel (5) Geneva (6) Burl (7) Bee (8) Edna (9) Hazel (Bobbie) (10) Fannie (11) Earnest (Ernie) (12) Florence (me) (13) Howard (Bugs)

Levi and Mary Etta Rockhold had over 50 grandchildren. So to those of my nieces and nephews who are still living this is how you got to be AMERICANS.

I’m PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN land of the USA!!!!!!!!! It was just 14 years after the Famous MAYFLOWER ship LANDED IN Massachusetts that our many greats grandfather Robert Rockhold landed at Baltimore Harbor.

When my granddaughter Evin was in school her teacher ask whose relative came to this country first and she was the one whose relative did. In fact HER MANY GREATS GRANDFATHER CAME TO AMERICA log before anyone else in her class.

If you do a search of you ancestors you may find a grandparent who came to America way back when…………….

YOU MIGHT GET A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRF❤️

He had such beautiful long curly hair no one wanted to cut it so my brother Ernie at age five was  still running around every day looking like a beautiful little girl.

Take a look see!!!

It was a very difficult decision to finally make, to cut off  those beautiful curls. But in all fairness to this little boy they had to break down and finally say………..ok! It’s time.

No one ever told me who did the honors but I know my sister Geneva used to cut hair so it is possible she did the honors. Anyway you gotta see the results.

So take a look see now!!!!!

LOOK AT ME NOW MOMMA! I’M A BIG BOY !!
And……….so he was!!!!!!!

FRF❤️

I want to start by showing you a picture of the handsome young man in Ohio who works with my grandson Matt Bender and puts my blogs on line for me. I type my stories on my IPad, place the pictures and then Email the completed blog to him in Ohio. I have to have someone smarter than me put   them on line for me. He is my angel!!!!

Kevin Dreslinski with his friend Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown

It was my choice, because they, my daughter Pamela and my son–in-law Tracy Drake, kindly ask me where I wanted to go, my choice was Marina Jacks restaurant located on Marina Bay. So on Saturday after my birthday we three pile in Tracy’s van and away we go for a 20 minute drive.

Marina Bay by Marina Jacks is where I found that big sailboat with the young captain and his wife as mate that I chartered for a five hour party celebrating my daughter Susie and Terrell Smith’s wedding so many years ago when I lived in Venice. I wrote a blog about it.

Their so nice valet parking allowed us to drive right up to the entrance and we all walk in, me with my walker (no wheelchair). It was quite a walk through until we got to the outside where we were seated at a table shaded by an umbrella on the intra-coastal water way. BEAUTIFUL SPOT!

Pamela took the above photo of me with her iPhone

Tracy and Pamela each ordered a cocktail but since I had a glass of white Zinfandel wine before  leaving home, old lady me dare not drink anything but refreshing water.

Tracy ordered Oysters Rockefeller with a side salad, Pamela wanted a side salad with grilled grouper and French fries. And for my 94th birthday 2:30PM lunch ( it is too much for this old lady to go out to dinner) I ordered my favorite coconut shrimp with a side salad. YUM!! Yum!!. Marina Jack’s chef made the best coconut shrimp I have ever had. A delightful surprise to savor the flavor.

Then just when I thought we were about to leave……. on my left side our waiter on the table in front of me, placed a slice of Key lime pie topped with whip cream, a little lavender orchid and a candle that he lighted and they sang happy birthday to me right there in the restaurant and I blew out the candle. With the three clean forks he placed on the table we had each tasted but were too full to finish. I ate that at 1:30AM orchid and all. This old lady never goes to sleep until well after midnight!

Oh but the celebration isn’t over because when we get back home my daughter Pamela brings a coconut cake to the table, lights the six candles and they sing happy birthday again. We each have cake with Breyers strawberry ice cream and how nice, they gave me a big bag filled with gifts. It just keeps on getting g better!

There is a new lamp for my bedroom, a pretty dressing gown, a box of cards to mail greeting to my friends and family, and bag of Lindh chocolate covered coconut cream truffles. My favorite!

This was the end of a perfect day. JUST HOW LUCKY CAN I GET???????

How some ever………I have a treat for you as my finally, have a look see at my family ready to attend this years Deer Creek Halloween party.

My daughter Pamela and her husband Tracy Drake. He is walking with a cane because he just had a hip replacement. How you like that light blond wig???????

Hope you enjoyed!!!!

FRF ❤️