Catherine Sevenau's Blog: Writings~Rambles~Rhymes, page 54

1.9 Canada, Cuba, or Bust

A letter from my grandmother, Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (age 30) to her younger sister Mamie Chamberlin (age 16). At the writing, Nellie had five children: Charlie Jr., Leo, Howard, Roy, and 6 month old Nella May. Two years after Roy was born, Nellie Mary “Nella May” Chatfield came along. She was estimated to be two-and-a-half pounds when she […]

1.08 Crazy Quilt

1895 – 1915 • Nellie ~ My grandmother started her crazy quilt in 1895, the same year she started her family. Twenty years later, with the birth of my mother, Noreen Ellen “Babe” Chatfield, she completed them both. During Nellie’s first period of confinement (it was improper for pregnant and nursing women to be seen in […]

1.8 Crazy Quilt

1895 – 1915 • Nellie ~ My grandmother started her crazy quilt in 1895, the same year she started her family. Twenty years later, with the birth of my mother, Noreen Ellen “Babe” Chatfield, she completed them both. During Nellie’s first period of confinement (it was improper for pregnant and nursing women to be seen in […]

1.07 Backstory: My Maternal Grandparents

Dec 26, 1894 • Fruita, Colorado ~  In a ceremony in her parents’ home, my grandmother, twenty-one year old Nellie Chamberlin, married Charles Henry Chatfield, a ranching man of twenty-four. Nellie was a no-nonsense Catholic girl and exceedingly religious, but she also had a mind of her own, and refused to consummate the marriage. In frustration, […]

1.7 Backstory: My Maternal Grandparents

Dec 26, 1894 • Fruita, Colorado ~  In a ceremony in her parents’ home, my grandmother, twenty-one year old Nellie Chamberlin, married Charles Henry Chatfield, a ranching man of twenty-four. Nellie was a no-nonsense Catholic girl and exceedingly religious, but she also had a mind of her own, and refused to consummate the marriage. In frustration, […]

1.06 Chico and Grandma Chatfield

1940s • Chico, California ~ Every summer Mom took the kids to visit her mother, Nellie Chatfield, who still lived in the two-story house on Boucher Street where my mother grew up. Chico was even hotter than Sonora during the summer, in the 100s every day. To cool off the family took daily picnics to […]

1.6 Chico and Grandma Chatfield

1940s • Chico, California ~ Every summer Mom took the kids to visit her mother, Nellie Chatfield, who still lived in the two-story house where my mother grew up. Chico was even hotter than Sonora during the summer, in the 100s every day. To cool off the family took daily picnics to Bidwell Park and […]

1.05 Summer Camping

1945 • Pinecrest, California ~ Every summer the family spent a couple of weeks camping in Pinecrest, pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars at night, boating, swimming, and fishing for perch and bluegill all day. Dad came up on weekends. The kids were free as wild finches from dawn until dusk, Larry and […]

1.5 Summer Camping

1945 • Pinecrest, California ~ Every summer the family spent a couple of weeks camping in Pinecrest, pitching a tent and sleeping under the stars at night, boating, swimming, and fishing for perch and bluegill all day. Dad came up on weekends. The kids were free as wild finches from dawn until dusk, Larry and […]

1.8 My Mother’s Father

Charles Henry Chatfield • 1870 – 1942  ~  Chico, California: When my grandfather wasn’t working the fields rice farming, he spent his time in his garden with his Leghorns, his sleeping quarters the large backyard shed, his cot sharing space with kindling brought home from the Diamond Match Factory. He didn’t have to account for his gambling […]