Wordy Wednesday

 

The Widow and The Widower

by Todd Connor

Before Christmas, we visited the Briscoe Western Art Museum in San Antonio. The man in the picture reminds me of an old coworker of my husband. The quote was above the painting.  

Weekly Roll

 

Sunday Morning View

Did you survive the storm/snow Armageddon? Yep, Southeast New Mexico got hit.  I am not sure our town even owns plows.  

This what it looked like Saturday Morning

Inappropriate Thoughts

Snow makes me feel lazy.  I have no excuse for not posting this at its regular time.  I literally did nothing of importance yesterday.  I crafted a tiny bit, watched a dumb movie, did a bit of puzzle and took a 2-hour nap. There were probably less than 10 cars that drove up our street. I think mail delivery was canceled. 

52 ancestors- Theory in Progress

The prompt was for 52 Ancestor in 52 Days was Theory in Progress.

One of my brick walls involves Jane Marie Devault Hoyt, my great great grandmother.  So, I was looking at my great grandfather's name of Reason Teagard Hoyt, Jane's son.  Teagard is unusual middle name unless it referred to a mother maiden last name being Teagard or Jane's mother's maiden name. My brick wall is that I don't know who Jane's parents are. I think Teagard is the shortened version of Teegarden or Teagarden. 

I am related to Teagarden's, but I can find no connection between Devaults (Devolts) and the Teagarden's so far. 

my great grandfather Reason Hoyt

was Rachel Teagarden Virgin great great grandson

I don't know if this "theory" holds water because Jane's guardian was George Teagarden Virgin. His mother was a Teagarden. Is that why she chose Tegard as a middle name? I think Reason was after Rezin Virgin who was a son of Rachel Teagarden Virgin.

It is interesting to see what names are repeated. Frequently you see names used over and over. I know my own son has a nickname for Reason for his middle name. We specifically chose it to honor Reason.

It appears that Jane's sons and daughters carry some family names

Hiram - Jane's brother Hiram

Alanson - after William's father

James Mitchell - after William's brother James Mitchell, Civil War POW

Sarah - after Williams's mother Sarah

Wordy Wednesday

 

Weekly Roll

very small hint about my valentine card

Linky Love

Lion Mountain Attack - I am late to share this. It happened in Colorado. I have driven by this trail head so many times. After hiking in the Pacific Northwest, I am most afraid of cougars.

 Inappropriate Thoughts

Tabithasewer mentioned how sad she is sad JoAnn's is gone. I share that sentiment as well.  You betcha in 2016 I was hitting JoAnn's. Nothing quite hits like the smell of JoAnn's despite my husband calling it the smell of crafty desperation.

Deep Thoughts

There were a lot of notable deaths this past week with Scott Adams. But also, a pioneer in the Civil Rights movement, Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on the bus.  She was only 15 years old and gave up her seat 9 months before Rosa Parks. She died at 86.  Claudette is featured in Sharon McMahon's book, "The Small and Mighty". 

52 Ancestors - Records that add color/Genealogy Meeting Tale

The 52 ancestors in 52 weeks prompt was Records that Add Color.

 Well, I had picked out my own ancestor but then I went to genealogy meeting, and I thought I would share a tale I heard there. Oral history provides something that regular records don't. They bring color.

I meet once a month with other people who are researching their family history. We have our meetings at a local library. Well, this time the internet was down so we couldn't research because basically most of our research is done on the internet.  (this is really annoying) 

In walked a guy I am going to call Will.  He is a lifelong New Mexican.   He had been researching his family. Will had lost his dad when he was 8 and then his mother when he was 18.  He also suffered an injury in 2023 that made his memory not as reliable.  So, he was researching his family to put the pieces of memory and history back together. His family came from Otero County New Mexico.  This is near where the Lincoln County War happened and Billy the Kid and lots of stories of the wild west.

He asked me if I wanted to hear an old western story.  I am always up for a genealogy story. He said his Uncle Shorty was a purveyor of meat and also a teller of tales. Uncle Shorty had a very wide definition of meat could be beef, horse, chicken, or wild game. Well, Uncle Shorty was out of meat to sell. So, he went out in the hills basically poaching for meat.  He had a wagon of deer when he was caught by Fish and Game.  The Fish and Game agent was on a horse.  So, he ran but he got his revenge by shooting off the horn of the saddle. Will said his Uncle Shorty had a lot of stories many including this one which he didn't believe were true. However, years later when working a late shift at the refinery when guys spill yarns. He told this story, and it was confirmed by someone else to be true. A lot of family tales can't be proven true especially the more colorful ones, but Will got unofficial confirmation that his uncle's tale had kernel of truth.

Favorite Postcards 2025

 I received over 60 postcards last year!  I have them hanging EVERYWHERE! I have them on the refrigerator hanging as a banner in the oasis. 

I did have a few favorites and far too many to show but a few are below.

But more than the fronts of the cards, I enjoyed reading each post card.  Many of the post cards told me the places that I should visit.  They told me of places that were on their bucket travel list.  Many had visited New Mexico.  Post cards allow us to visit places through the mail.

I received post cards from all over the world

see below