Usually when I start looking through photos, it leads to some story. This photo led to a story and a recipe. Those of you who know me will know that this photo is obviously the BEGINNING and END of my “rodeo” career. I think I am around 6 years old and the man in the hat is my Uncle Watts.
I spent a lot of time as a child at the house of my Uncle Watts and Aunt Estelle. We would fish. My Uncle Watts had bookshelves crammed with books that he would let me read. And my Aunt Estelle made the best chicken and dumplings, teacakes, and fruit cookies.
When I found this photo, I sent it to my cousin Annette, who is the daughter of my Uncle Watts and Aunt Estelle. What follows is: Annette clearing up my aunt and uncle’s loves story, my cousin Debbie sharing memories of living next to door to Watts and Estelle and then the fruit cookie recipe from my childhood. Enjoy. 60 year love stories are a rare thing these days.
Estelle Mitchell Clement and Watts Clement
Aine: Annette, as you know we loved to go to your mom and dad’s house. Your mom would make teacakes for us and your dad had all those great western novels that he would let me read. But please clear something up for me. My dad always kidded your mom that she met and married your dad the same day. She would just laugh but she never said otherwise. So what is the true story as I know they were married 60 years?
Annette: In May of 1947, Watts noticed a pretty girl across the street at his Uncle Buford Sonnier’s home and went across to meet her. Estelle was visiting her Aunt Jewel. They rode together to see the aftermath of the Texas City explosion that had happened back in April. Three days later, Watts and Estelle were married. They were married 60 years on May 12, 2007 just before Estelle passed away on May 31.
Aunt Estelle and Uncle Watts
Aine: Debbie, I know you and Audie (Debbie’s husband) lived next to Aunt Estelle and Uncle Watts. Can you share some memories you have of that time?
Debbie Masterson: Yes. I have good memories of those 10 years being neighbors with Aunt Estelle and Uncle Watts. Audie and I both talked about our good time there! They had a pasture a few miles down the road from their house and had cows there too. We had bad weather related to hurricane in Gulf, I think..it washed away part of culvert and Uncle awaits couldn’t check his cows in his truck…I told him hop on my 3-wheeler and I’ll get you there! We made it and he saw all his cows were okay , but I laugh at that memory now 20 years ago.
Aunt Estelle would call me early morning or I would call her and we would talk about how cold it was or how windy. She made the best chicken & dumplings, beside her Christmas cookies. Loved her okra, onions,and tomatoes that she would put up. When they were putting their honey up, we went and watched them at work…it was so delicious. I remember when we first moved to Dawson, we had to lay a 1700 ft water line across the pasture..Uncle Watts , kindly brought his tractor over and it must have been in the 20’s, but Aunt Estelle and all of us were bundled up warm with insulated coveralls and he dug that water line for us! They were happy to help us and we appreciated them so much. Loved the time we spent being neighbors…it was a bonus that they were Aunt & Uncle!!
Aine: Oh yes her Christmas fruit cookies. My mom has this date cookie recipe of hers that she would make, but do you mind sharing her fruit cookie recipe?
Debbie: Not everyone likes fruit cookies, but warm out of the oven..yum…that’s why I asked for her recipe.
Annette: Momma’s recipe for the fruit cookies actually came years ago from the mother of Debbie, my brother AW’s wife. Let me know how they turn out. And Ron (my husband) is jealous now so I may have to make him some.
Fruit Cake Cookies (from Deb’s Mom, Evelyn Clark)
1 lb candied cherries
1 lbs candied pineapple
1 8 oz dates
1 lb pecans
3 c flour
½ tsp soda
½ c butter
1 ½ c sugar
3 eggs
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp lemon extract
Cut fruit in small pieces, chop pecans. Sift flour, soda and salt together, sift gain over fruit and pecans. Cream butter and sugar until light. Combine all together
Bake by dropping by spoonfuls on to greased baking sheet
325 degrees
recipes of things past 