Pieces in the Garden - Bachelor - Block #3

 

“Bride’s Quilt”

Once upon a time, there was a little girl, who wore a bow in her hair.  When she grew up, she began a friendship with a young bachelor.  As the hours and days passed, they began to look at each other with stars in their eyes, and as their love grew, they thought about taking steps to the altar.  So, the young girl got out her spools of thread and made clothes to get ready for their wedding ring day.

After they are married, some of their times together will be bright as noon and others will be dark as night.  But they will try to share their happiness, their miseries and their chores – she grabbing a wrench to help with household repairs and he grabbing a towel to help with the dishes.  Sometimes they will have broken dishes, but they will try to remember that “things” can be replaced, whereas harsh words, possibly spoken about the broken dishes, could chip away love.  They will try to follow the Golden Rule as they are learning to communicate openly with each other.

They will also try to keep in mind the symbolism of Jacob’s ladder – “steps of communication” between themselves on earth and God in heaven.

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Please join me (and Grandma & Grandpa) for a cup of tea as Forrest Teegarden tells me of his childhood...  The block is, after all, Bachelor. (You will notice that he was a man of few words, with his short and concise answers to the questions.)

Grandpa, tell me about when and where you were born.

I was born August 9, 1912, at 828 Western Avenue in Trinidad, Colorado.  

Do you know why you were given the name you have?

I was named after Forrest Mayes who was a very good friend of the family's.

What events happened the year you were born?

The Titanic sank in April, 1912 and Arizona and New Mexico became states.

A few other noteworthy events ~ 

    •    Alaska organized as a US territory

    •    Congress authorized the Parcel Post System

    •    Jim Thorpe won Olympic golds in the decathlon and pentathlon

    •    The Progressive (Bull Moose) Party nominated Teddy Roosevelt for President.  It was called the Bull Moose Party because they stated that he was "fit as a bull moose."

    •    3,000 cherry trees were given to the US from Japan

    •    Perry Como, Gene Kelly and Art Linkletter were all born in 1912

    •    The US President was William Howard Taft and the Vice President was James S. Sherman

    •    The Boston Red Sox won the World Series over the NY Giants 

Grandpa, tell me about your parents and your siblings.

W.D & Lala Teegarden

My Dad's full name was David William Teegarden.  He was known as William David.  He was born on April 14, 1868 in Ray County, Missouri.  This was about 5 miles south of Polo.  He grew up in Ray County.  My Dad worked for the Santa Fe Freight Office for 35 years.  He was retired longer than he worked.  After he retired he had a flower garden.  He raised violas and sunflowers.  The sunflowers grew to be about 6 feet tall.  Once my nephew, David Weller, tried to climb one and it broke off.

My Mama's name was Atchafalya Davis.  She was known as Lala.  She was born on October 14, 1876 in Ray County, Missouri.  Lala bore the lovely Indian first name that her family shortened to Lala.  Mama was a seamstress in town (Trinidad, CO).  She also cooked meals at the Christian Church once a week.  They served complete dinners there for 35¢.  I would help Mrs. Hendrick serve the ice cream.

Ladies Aide Society - Christian Church

Trinidad, CO

Lala is on the far left of the photo

I had three siblings, two sisters and one brother, all older than me.  Luna (1894), Viola (1896), Donovan (1904).  My brother and I shared a room, and later, I shared a room with my nephew, William David (Luna's son), from 1932 until I got married.

Side Note: Grandpa's sisters were quite a bit older than he was.  When he began talking he couldn't pronounce Viola's name correctly and when he tried, it would come out sounding something similar to Bob or like the spelling of B-O-B and was then forever know by the rest of the family as "Auntie Bob."  Auntie Bob was married to Ollie Russell, the son of Marion Sloan Russell who was the focus of the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail sew along.

C. 1916 - Photo by Luna (Teegarden) Weller in Missouri
Forrest - 2nd from right, front row
WD Teegarden - 2nd from right back row
Lala standing 3rd from left & her mother on her left

Mother and I went by train to where the Grandparents Davis lived when I was about 13 or 14 years old.  I complained that the train seat was not long enough for me to lay down.  Grandma served oatmeal without salt and I didn't like it.  

The kids went swimming in the river.  I was the only one with a store-bought swimming suit.  They all thought we were rich because of  that.  The girls wore overalls for swimming and I was surprised and they showed too much of the girls.

What do you remember about your childhood home and neighborhood?

Helen Tennyson was a next-door neighbor, and we would play out on the sidewalk.  I would give her rides up and down the sidewalk in a wheelbarrow.  At 800 Western Avenue, the Floyds lived next door.  Clay was younger, Alan was the oldest.  They had a younger sister, Margaret Mae.  

Alan Floyd was a genius at flying kites.  We would have to make them because you didn't buy them back then.  We would use a brown kraft paper to make them.  They would fly so high they would barely be seen from the ground.

I played kick the can, Run, Sheep, Run, and hide & seek.  As I got older I played dominos and cribbage.  I would play with Ma, but she always beat me because she could make 15 out of anything.

Forrest Teegarden 
6 years old and ready for school
c. 1918

Did you ever ride a bike?  

I never had a bike, but I had a little tricycle.  I wore the tires right off of that tricycle.

Who were your best friends in school?

Russell Morris, Clay Floyd and Camby Newcomb.  We used to do everything together.  I used to go to Newcomb's ranch after I got into high school, especially during round-up time.  We had a cook wagon.  The grub wasn't bad to begin with, but it was all full of sand by the end of it.  

This one time we were rounding up horses that had been out all winter.  They needed to go through a gap in the wall that wasn't very wide.  I went to open the gate and before I got out of the way all the horses had gone past me and I wasn't ever touched.

What was your favorite summer activity?

We would go to Stonewall to live all summer.  I would stay cool by swimming in the lake.  I would sane for fish with Uncle Ollie.  The water lapping up over the edge of the boat and sunk the boat.  I had on hip waders and they filled with water, but I soon discovered that I could stand.  Uncle Ollie was laughing.

We would celebrate Independence Day each year.  We didn't have much money to spend on fireworks, but we would buy some lady fingers.  We would put carbide under a coffee can, pour a little water in the can.  We would light the carbide and it would blow the can about 15 feet in the air.  Nobody ever got hurt that I knew of.

Did you have a favorite pet?  Tell me about them.

My favorite pet was a cat.  All I ever had was cats.  I don't remember names.  This one cat I had though... Lee (Viola & Ollie's son) and I were playing with this cat, and we were called to lunch.  there was a barrel there and Lee was afraid that the cat would get away, so he put the cat in the barrel (with a lid on it).  It didn't end well for the cat and I don't remember ever getting a cat after that. 

Did you ever hunt? 

I would go with Uncle Ollie (Viola's husband) on his turkey hunts and when he went deer hunting.  I had to watch his gun at turkey shoots so that no one would tamper with the sights.  He used to win the turkeys and then keep them in the basement where it was cold until we used them - usually for Thanksgiving.

I imagine that there was home-made ice cream served often during the summers in Stonewall.  Forrest loved ice cream!  And, I'm pretty sure he was willing to help the Christian Aide Ladies serve lunches, helping to serve the ice cream, because he was allowed to have a bowl (or an extra serving) when the meal was done.  I don't think he ever met an ice cream flavor he didn't like.

So, before you leave to get your pattern... in honor of Forrest ~ the "Bachelor" ~ leave me a comment...

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Do you like it in a dish?  Or on a cone?

Toppings?  No toppings?

I, like Grandpa, like just about any flavor.  but I like vanilla because it is versatile and can have toppings of any sort added without a clash in flavors!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Be sure you come back to link up your finished blocks for a chance to win a 1-ounce selection of tea from Corner Stone Tea Company!  I encourage you to check out her tea selection and use ICECREAM in the promotion box to get a 15% discount for all teas through March April 27th.  

Follow me on facebook at Melva Loves Scraps or on instagram @MelvaLovesScraps and use these hashtags so that everyone can see our gardens grow!  

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Linking with:

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