Pieces in the Garden - Steps to the Altar - Block #6

 “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 for a cup of tea as Tressie tells me some of her favorite summer memories.

Grandma, what was your favorite activity in the summer?  How did you keep cool?

I loved to roller skate and play outside.  We would high jump.  I had stilts.  I had a wagon that I would use to haul ice from the ice house.

This was the first that I recall hearing about the Icehouse in Trinidad.  I had to ask Mom about it.  Several of the surrounding communities, many of them coal mining towns, have made note of (and made a big deal about) their Icehouses.

Did you have a bike?  Where would you ride it to?

I had a bike, but I never learned to ride it.

Did you ever go camping?  Where did you go?

I went camping with Campfire Girls.  Mom and Dad would take us up around the North Lake area.  The first fish I caught was in that area.  Campfire Girls would go to Whispering Pines that was by Duling Lodge.  (Duling Lodge is now a part of the Bar NI Ranch.)

We heard of Tressie's love for camping and the outdoors in the first Teatime with TT & Carol.  

Did you have a favorite pet?  Tell us about them.  What was a funny thing they did?

When we lived out on the ranch on Grey Creek Road, we had lots of pets.  This was during World War I.  Goldie was a cow; Jewel was a calf and our dog was Bob.  

We also had a cow named Pet.  Pet had died, so we had funeral for her.  My sister, Velma, played the piano.  She played a famous piece by Petroski.  Also, at the farm we had another little house and there were some old bedsprings out there and one of the cows got tangled up in the springs.  We finally got her untangled.  

We had a black horse.  We would get onto this horse by a high back porch.  We couldn't get the horse to go anywhere except the well.  Mom was very good on this horse and would go out on the horse a lot.  

After we moved back to town, we took our dog, Bob, and our cow Goldie with us (Goldie was a milk cow).  Bob was a bulldog. The dog next door didn't like Bob and they would fight.  Goldie was right there helping out her friend Bob.  Goldie's milk had TB in it so we had to get rid of her. 

After Bob, I had a dog named Kip.  He would chase Roy Simpson down the sidewalk and into his car.

Roy Simpson was the same guy that (inconsiderately) sat on the curb while Tressie changed a flat tire to take him to the train depot.  I say Kip had a good judgment of Roy by chasing him back to his car.  Good dog!  😂

Interestingly enough, Grandma didn't mention any memories related to July 4th celebrations.  She did have one memory about babysitting a niece...

It was the 4th of July and my friend, Anna May and I were babysitting Marie Louise, Velma's daughter.  Mom, Dad and Velma had gone to the West Theatre.  Marie Louise was crying and crying.  We walked her around and pushed her in my doll buggy.  She just cried and cried.  After Velma got home "Sid", Marie Lucille was born.  Mom and Dad told me the next morning and I didn't know that anything had happened.

I was expected to help around the house and in the kitchen.  I would help with the cooking.  I would help make peanut butter fudge and hot cocoa.  I had to do dishes and I helped clean house.  After high school I cleaned house and mopped the floors.  

I would sometimes go with Dad into town to check streetlights.  Since they were arc lights, he would have to report the lights that were out to the Power Company, and they would fix them the next day.  I went with him one time to the old powerhouse.  The water in the pond at Central Park ran the powerhouse.  We had to go along this walkway and down some stairs to where the big furnaces were.  I didn't really like that.  I was kind of skittish.  I especially liked going into town to check the street lights in the summer.

I have a notebook full of recipes that Tressie collected over the years... I think it is something that she started as she and Forrest were planning to get married. She needed to be ready to prepare meals for her new husband.

But I still chuckle at the statement that they had been "tried and tested... and found safe but in all instances, not savory."

What a contrast to Katie Schleich, my Paternal Grandma, who didn't use recipes and seemed to have NEVER failed at offering a savory meal.

Many of the recipes are noted to be from family members and friends. There happens to be fudge and peanut butter fudge recipes... Though I cannot guarantee that it is the same recipe that was used when she would help to make the fudge she mentioned in the story above. 😉

I don't eat much fudge anymore (my sweet tooth has diminished over the years), but I have always been a fan of nuts in my fudge!  

Now is the time to grab the pattern for the Steps to the Altar block.  It is a 6" block and you will need eight blocks.  Don't forget to come back when you have your blocks complete to link up a photo for the chance to win a prize package from Cornerstone Tea Co.  This month Stephanie is offering a 30% discount if you place an order and use SAVORY as your discount code.  Valid through July 20th.

What is your favorite fudge flavor?

Nuts?  Or no nuts?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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