Genealogy Traces

January River of Small Stones - Jan 26, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:01:00 +0000

Sundown at Possum Kingdom

Rose petticoat furled

Same moon and north star shining

Indigo apron

January 26, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 25, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Rainy Images

Silver trails of rain

Rushing down midnight sidewalks

Streetlights make images

January 25, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 24, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:58:00 +0000

Chalk Sunflower

Sidewalk chalk flowers

Powder blows yellow and green

Remnants of child’s play

January 24, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 23, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:06:00 +0000

Picky Cardinals

Red pyracantha berries

On tall leggy bushes

Hang in grape-like clusters

End of January cardinals

Picked and picked and screeched

Now they’re nearly gone

January 23, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 22, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:39:00 +0000

Abnormal Temperature

I’ve been sick the last few days with one of those winter colds that isn’t too terribly bad, but bad enough to stop you from feeling like doing anything very constructive, like housework, or baking, or sewing, or even reading very long. I read stones half of the morning and didn’t move from my chair, but I kept dropping off to sleep. I notice that my face feels very warm, but when I take my temperature the thermometer reads below normal. Is that normal? Do you think I may be abnormal? Do you think something may be terribly wrong? Probably just a hypochondriac speaking, you say? Yes, I imagine that’s it. But I am sick with a cold. And I’m going back to bed now. Toodles.

January 22, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 21, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:50:00 +0000

A Day at the Laundromat

Curly haired Anna gave her mother a quarter when asked.

Another, said her mother, and then another.

Can you press the round green button?

Standing on tip-toes, stretching her little arm, her tiny finger made contact.

The striped, purple, yellow, pink and green of her shirts and socks flew

Around and around as the girl stood in wonder and cocked her head

First one way, and then another.

A whirling bumpy noise then snagged her attention.

Quizzical look upon her face, Anna looked up at her mother,

Then in the most grown-up of voices, she declared, “This machine is very jumpy.”

January 21, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 20, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:09:00 +0000

Skeleton Swing

It is warm today giving me time to sit and bask in the sun.

Gentle breeze lifted my hair;

A dried seed pod from the tree above floated down

To join the many other brown twelve-inch long pods littering the ground.

The skeleton of a backyard swing sat forlorn

Above the stepping stones I brought on the plane from Carolina.

No children now skipped upon the stones nor leapt into the once swinging chair;

Broken, it stood bare and alone, the frame waiting for a new occupant.

January 20, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 19, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:25:00 +0000

Blue Moon

Fuzzy blue thread right

Smooth white threads left and middle

Needle moves up, down

Blade cuts excess fabric strip

Cow jumps over moon emerges

January 19, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 17, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:13:00 +0000

Haiku: Curling Wind

Wind is warm today

Clouds are hanging low and gray

The grass twists and curls

January 17, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 16, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Discovered Pearls

Reading old news clippings

Faces and names jumped out at me

Charcoal dresses with red accessories

It’s a Christmas wedding

What a joyful party!

The bride wore a waltz length gown of white

With a finger-tip length veil falling from a pearl studded tiara

From an old family scrapbook

This newly discovered piece of my past

Will add another layer of self to my memory.

January 16, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 15, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:27:00 +0000

Pink Neon

As I took some time to quietly observe the place where I sat, I realized that there was quietness within me amidst the hustle and bustle of those around me. Living in a city it is hard to find that quiet at times, but I began to look at the pink neon lights that shown so brightly around the popular ice cream store that we frequently go for milk shakes. You might think the pink would be garish or harsh, but in reality, it was not. The sky had darkened to pitch black and the pink neon parallel bars surrounding the building rose to a half moon in the center above the doors with the lights neither wavering nor flickering. Floating above the bars of light were the letters spelling out the name of the ice cream. It hung there, suspended in air, against the black of the night. I heard the noise of the traffic, the people, the distant freight train, but it was muted as I concentrated on the calmness of the pink neon lights.

January 15, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 14, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +0000

Michael

Michael

Born today

Loving, shining, caring

Blond head bobbing happily

Son

January 14, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 13, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 05:59:00 +0000

Acrostic: Michael

MICHAEL

Make way for the birthday boy

Is the cry on parent’s lips

Cake is served on the patio table

Have you brought your gift in, Joe?

Anyone can see the boy is eager

Else why would he be here instead of there

Leaning over the fishpond?

January 13, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 12, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:01:00 +0000

Evening

Interwoven limbs

Like the fingers of two hands

Bare trees meet in light

Of moon and evening star shine

Beckoning me home

January 12, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 11, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:10:00 +0000

A Birthday Game

Today is my youngest grandson’s birthday. Eleven years ago he came into this world a beautiful, perfect angel and has not changed. Excitement shines in his eyes as he shows me his newest game, knowing he will be the one to tromp me at the end. It’s an old game with new rules and new gadgets. He loves it! And I love the way it makes him light up.

January 11, 2012

I participate in A River of Stones

January River of Small Stones - Jan 10, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Pale Yellow Room

Changing the paint in the bedroom lifts my spirit

Like changing the linens on her little bed

Pale yellow walls, lily white trim surround me

As I look at the soft cream and mint with rose-colored flowers
Awaiting her sweet curly head.

January 10, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 8, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Cinquain: Closet

Closet

Empty, Christmas

Stacking, storing, waiting

Housing family holiday decorations

Sideboard

January 8, 2012

January River of Small Stone - Jan 7, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 00:14:00 +0000

Grateful for a Job

Workers lock the gate

Bright signs along the building

Ready for the night

Seven men and two women

Leave for home, tired but happy

January 7, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 6, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:09:00 +0000

Tanka: Wrinkled Face

Wrinkled Face

Old straw hat, sunglasses

Old gloves and rolled up shirt sleeves

Old blue jeans with holes

Old worn shoes with familiar scratches

Old face bearing wrinkles smiles

January 6, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 5, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000

Acrostic: Bobby

BOBBY

Bushy brows draw together as the old man draws paint

Over the wood – he tried to make his shaking hand glide smoothly.

Both the paint and the brush left a squiggly line,

By the look of his face

You knew he was not pleased with his efforts.

January 5, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 4, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:07:00 +0000

City Sounds

City sounds greet the chirping birds in the elm tree outside the gate. The cold air still lifts the dry leaves which noisily swirl around the feet of the stroller. Quiet greets him, but he listens more carefully and hears the faint roar of traffic in the distance, the engines of a passenger jet making its way across the sky, and then the whistle of the Burlington Northern freight train passing through in the distance. As he passes on through, he hears the quiet melody of a neighbor’s wind chime. The city sounds here are soothing.

January 4, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 3, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Pink Sandwich Platter

The large sandwich platter had been resting under several dishes for a long time. Inside the cupboard it seemed to be waiting for someone, anyone, to reach in and lovingly lift it from its place of hiding. Why hadn’t anyone noticed it before? The pale pink glass glittered in the bright light of the dining room chandelier and the edges, like inverted diamonds, begged to be touched. The back of the depression era piece was a cutwork of crisscrossed lines that ended in the center starburst. This holiday the platter would be used and admired and afterwards not be hidden away and forgotten.

January 3, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 2, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Old Trees Shed Their Gowns

I hurry because it is cold, even though the sun is shining so brightly. The breeze is lightly touching my cheeks with icy fingers. My shadow goes before me, slightly to my right. I hear the newly fallen leaves crunching under my heavy shoes in the front yard, but as I go through the gate into the back I notice the leaves have been mulched and there are no newly fallen leaves. The old trees there have already shed their gowns and lift their arms to the blue skies waiting for whatever the season might bring them.

January 2, 2012

January River of Small Stones - Jan 1, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:53:00 +0000

Pagoda Shaped Bird Cage

My eye saw movement to the right and a large bird cage came into view. The pagoda shaped aviary seemed out of place in the bed of the tan pickup that was streaked with dust and driven by a tired looking woman with short grey hair and a cigarette hanging from the fingers of her left hand. I wondered what kind of finicky bird called this magnificent cage home. The inside was draped with strings of colorful buttons, toys, shells, flowers and mirrors. The mirrors twinkled in the sunlight and I watched until it was only a speck in the distance.

January 1, 2012

A Pyramid of Candy at Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Judith Richards Shubert) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:30:00 +0000

Betty Fails Richards

April 1962

The Christmas holidays always brings to mind my Aunt Betty Richards and the many hours she spent in the kitchen cooking candies, breads, cakes, pies, and her famous cinnamon rolls. She was a great cook and there were many cousins, aunts and uncles who stopped by during the holidays expecting to find their favorite sweet.

During their later years, my grandparents lived with Uncle Johnny and Aunt Betty in Lingleville, which is a small stop in the road just outside of Stephenville in Erath County, Texas. My cousins, Linda, Brenda, Jerry, and DeeBo had the enviable privilege of getting to know them better than any other of their 46 grandchildren. Yes, I said 46. That number always astounds me, even today. I am the third oldest grandchild, and the oldest living today; next in line is two years younger than I am, and the youngest is young enough to be one of my children.

Some of Bob and Willie's 46 Grandchildren

Grandpa and Grandma Richards had eleven children, but they lost the oldest, a little girl they named Iwanda, at age six. She died on January 13, 1921 and is buried in Whitt Cemetery, Parker County, Texas.

You can imagine how many of my aunts and uncles stopped by during the holidays to visit their mom and dad, bringing their children to play with their cousins. There was usually a house full of adult conversation, noisy laughter and kids running in and out.

Aunt Betty cooked from Thanksgiving until Christmas making all of the favorites: fudge, coconut pecan balls, divinity, sausage balls, peanut brittle, cookies, pecan pie, and her specialty, cinnamon rolls.

My cousin, Linda Ruth, tells the story every year about her mother making a platter full of candy and threatening the kids, that if they touched it they would be in a “heap of trouble, more than they had ever been in before!” This particular year Aunt Betty had stacked the platter with the candy in a pyramid shape and set it on top of the refrigerator, knowing that the kids would have a difficult time reaching it.

Later in the day three of the uncles came by with their families and Aunt Betty went into the kitchen with Aunt Jean, Aunt Bobbie, and my mother, Mildred, to get some of the food out to serve to the men and the kids.

When Aunt Betty reached up to get the platter of candy, it still looked as beautiful as ever; and so while making allowances for the heavy platter of candy, she used too much force and the candy literally flew over her head landing on the floor behind her!

You see the platter was “top heavy”, because Grandpa Richards had been sneaking pieces of candy from the back of the pyramid all day long. There was NO candy in the back of the pyramid - just a large hole! He had a sweet tooth, and he absolutely loved to torment Aunt Betty!

I asked Linda how her mother knew it was Grandpa who had gotten the candy and not one of the kids. She said she figured they were not clever enough to have thought of that trick yet!

I’m not sure what choice words Aunt Betty had to say to him, but I imagine his ears were burning for a while after the laughter died down.

Aunt Betty now has Alzheimer's disease, and although she no longer cooks, she still has a host of beloved nieces and nephews, as well as her own grandchildren who visit her and bring her candy, remembering the times when she was the matriarch of the family and held court in her kitchen.

Grandpa Richards also suffered with Alzheimer's disease and died in 1975. Grandma Richards died after struggling with breast cancer in 1966.

John Robert Richards married Willie Laura Homsley November 12, 1912 in Peaster, Parker Co., Texas. Their children were:

1. Iwanda Richards, born March 22, 1915 in Parker County, Texas; died January 13, 1921 in Whitt, Parker Co., Texas.

2. Leon Fremont Richards, born August 26, 1916 in Peaster, Parker Co., Texas; died April 08, 1985 in Ft. Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas.

3. Floyd Alvin Richards, born July 28, 1918 in Wealand, Texas; died March 10, 1979 in Grand Prairie, Texas.

4. Syble Maedean Richards, born February 22, 1922 in Whitt, Parker Co., Texas; died April 07, 2004 in Modesto, California.

5. J.D. Richards, born December 28, 1924 in Whitt, Parker Co., Texas.

6. Lloyd Frank Richards, born November 07, 1926 in Whitt, Parker Co., Texas; died March 05, 2005.

7. Bobbie Louise Richards, born January 11, 1929 in Whitt, Parker Co., Texas; died October 02, 2001 in Eastland, Texas.

8. Thurman Wayne Richards, born April 20, 1931 in Weatherford, Parker Co., Texas; died December 5, 2011 in Hemphill, Sabine Co., Texas.

9. Mary Ella Richards, born June 01, 1933 in Weatherford, Parker Co., Texas; died October 01, 2004 in Paris, Lamar Co., Texas.

10. John Robert Richards, Jr., born March 01, 1937 in Weatherford, Parker Co., Texas; died November 11, 2005 in Erath Co., Texas.

11. Richard Edwin Richards, born October 27, 1939 in Weatherford, Parker Co, Texas; died December 02, 2000 in Athens, Shelby Co., Texas.

SOURCES:
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Original Photographs from Collection belonging to Betty Richards, Digital format, Used by Judith Richards Shubert December 8, 2011
Story Handed Down by Linda Ruth Richards to Family Members
Genealogy Information taken from Family Bible and Notes Written by Willie Homsley Richards