March In Like a Lion!!

I surely hope that a Feb. 28 storm counts as March coming in like a lion!  I would hate to think we have to get another bad storm. We didn't have the damage that many people in our area had but this is a picture of our driveway which looked like a river. Thanks to my husband and son's hard work last spring we didn't get any water in the house. In the past we would have gotten water in the house with a rain like yesterday.

The Electric Power Board said there were 37,000  people without power after the storm. Many trees were down on power lines and houses. Our power never went out but Mom's was off for 19 hours! If you want to read more about the storm go HERE

Even our cat Starsky (6years old) knew what to do during a storm, when it was over I found him coming out of the closet. Bentley who is just one slept peacefully through the whole thing on our bed. I guess he hasn't lived through enough storms to know he should go hide! You may be asking how does Starsky get in the closet? If the door isn't open he will work until he can slide the door open just enough to get in.

I'm happy that today is a BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY!!

Forest Hills Cemetery - part 4- Lindsey/ Cooke graves

Where has time (my time) gone! I've only made 5 post for the entire year of 2011. I really need to do better!

Often times we forget a few minutes is all we need to get a lot done. I'm excited that my few minutes to run by the Forest Hills Cemetery was so successful! Cemetery map and information in hand on where my husband's Great Great Great Grandmother, Sarah Richardson Lindsey and two of her daughters were buried, I started my search. I've been once before looking for Sarah but didn't have any luck.

I found the graves fairly quickly and to my surprise my husband's Great Great Grandmother, Ada Lindsey Cooke was buried next to her mother and sisters. Wow! I knew from Ada's obituary she was buried at Forest Hills, however, she didn't appear on their website search. I had thought it would be necessary to go by their office with a copy of the obituary to have them check it out.

I can tell next visit I need to carry a broom to brush off the dirt from the markers and take new pictures.

I was also pleased to find the grave of my Mom's friend who died last year.

Tombstone Tuesday - Forest Hills Cemetery part 3

Every cemetery it seems has a section where babies and small children are buried and Forest Hills Cemetery is no exception. It's always sad to see so many children and babies who have died but it seems we are drawn to the section and we read the names and wonder the story of each child.

The marker has Brumbley, however, the Forest Hills Cemetery website has him listed as Ernest Brumley.

This marker for Cordelia Reed was just in front of the one for Ernest Brumbley, so it looks like he may have been at the Vine Street Orphans' Home.  It is possible that the name on the marker was misspelled and since he was an orphan no one had it corrected.
We have no record of a Ernest Brumley in my husband's family. Maybe no one knew about him, maybe his parents also died. Based on when my husband's grandmother had her children, daughter April 1925 and son June 1926, this one could not have been her child.

Tombstone Tuesday - Forest Hills Cemetery part 2

John Lee Girton is buried at the Forest Hills Cemetery in Chattanooga,Tn

John Lee Girton was born in North Freedom, Wisconsin. Joseph Girton and Mary Powell Girton were his parents. John L. Girton was married to Mabel Cooke Girton. John and Mabel had four daughters, Mary Elizabeth, Louise, and twins Hazel and Helen. He worked for the railroad as baggage master and died en route to Chattanooga.

John L. Girton was my husband's great grandfather.


Bentley's Adventure!

Yesterday was a busy day, we were all in and out of the house. Then my daughter came home and asked where is Bentley. Don't know haven't seen him since morning. We searched the house in all of Bentley's favorite hiding places. Called him opened a can of food, walked around shaking the dry food bag. No Bentley! He always comes out of hiding in a few minutes so after 30 minutes we decided he had gotten outside! Wow! he has never gone out like this before.
We walked around outside looking for him. Then drove around the street behind us. Still no Bentley. Went outside calling him and carrying his food. Saw something white move, a cat! No not Bentley another cat all white. He followed me around the yard, wanting to be fed.
As it grew later Starsky seemed to be worried also. He went from door to door and window to window looking for Bentley. Finally, at 11:30 we went to bed. Everyone except my daughter and Starsky. Starsky would call out and then walk through the house. My daughter went to bed at some point.
At 4:50 something woke me up, I went downstairs to check it out. Starsky was at the kitchen door looking out. I looked but didn't see anything. I was talking to Starsky when I heard a cat. Looked outside again and there was Bentley on the bench. I opened the door but had to go out and get him. Boy was I happy to see him. I took him up to my daughter and put him on top of her. She woke in shock, not sure if she was dreaming. She grabbed Bentley and hugged him.
Where did he go? I guess he decided since he is now 1 year old he needed an adventure. Starsky smelled his paws when he came in. Looked like big brother was checking on WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN YOUNG MAN!!

Tombstone Tuesday - Forest Hills Cemetery

I finally made it to Forest Hills Cemetery, the cemetery is located in St.Elmo which is just outside of downtown Chattanooga. Forest Hills Cemetery is beautifully located at the foot of Lookout Mountain and was started in 1880. I've always heard what a beautiful cemetery it is and especially in the spring with the flowers in bloom but I don't think I've been before.  Forest Hills has a  useful website which gives you information on when the person died and the lot where they are buried and then they have maps of each section to help you locate the graves. http://foresthillscemetery.net/ 

I found several of the Girton family who are buried together. I plan to go back and try to find more from the Girton and Cooke families.

Mabel Cooke Girton was my husband's Great Grandmother, he was a small child when she died so he doesn't remember her. We did get to scan some pictures of the Girton family, however, the pictures do not have names and we don't know who they are.

Let It Snow!

Enjoy the snow!