Cheddar, Chatter, and Chitter
My post about the girls being gussied up brought more than a few comments about the extra girl in the photo. The girl with Chatter and Chitter is my niece, my older brother Steve’s daughter. She’s actually the one who gave the monikers Chatter and Chitter to the girls years ago. At the time she said she guessed she’d be Cheddar, which as you might imagine made us all laugh.
Cheddar is almost to the day exactly a year younger than Chatter and Chitter. Their birthdays are separated by 5 days. To say the 3 girls have grown up close is an understatement. In the old days the threesome would sometimes split when two teamed up against the other one. Chitter used to call it “ganging out.” She’d say “Momma I come home because Chitter and Cheddar are ganging me out again.” Then the tide would turn and someone else would be ‘ganged out’. Luckily the small spats never lasted more than an afternoon and before you knew it the 3 would once again be whispering, giggling, and playing somewhere in the holler.
You can go to my About Blind Pig and The Acorn page to see a full cast of family characters.
Over the years I’ve written about the 3 girls. When they were young I was always teasing them about being Three Indian Princesses. You can re-visit those old posts and see some of their play spots around the holler by clicking on the links below.
- Three Indian Princesses
- The Three Indian Princesses Move to New Territory
- Down the Creek
- In the Pines
- Scared Me Half to Death
- Take a Notion
One other question that was asked yesterday was about the sword you can see hanging above the girls’ heads. After Pap returned from serving in the Marines, his parents lost their house to a fire. It was during the night and there was barely time to get everyone out. Pap was at home and he helped his mother and father salvage anything of value they could before the fire became to large, he never gave a thought to saving his Marine uniform, medals, or other items.
A few years ago my brothers, Steve and Paul, came up with the idea of trying to find out what medals Pap had been issued and to see if they could get them replaced. They were able to and at the same time Steve got the sword from a man he knew named Colonel Pullium. The sword is what Pap would have worn with his dress blues. Pap is hard to buy gifts for because he literally needs nothing. He’s very satisfied with simple things he already owns. But the year the boys pulled off the medals and the sword gift Pap’s eyes shone brightly.
Tipper
The Three Indian Princesses all grown up- Good Lord! I feel a wee bit elderly.
I thought the third girl was you Tipper. LOL
Never knew Pap served in the Marines. So did I, 1969-72, a sergeant…a long long time ago, sometimes seems like a different lifetime altogether. Tell him I said Semper Fi, if you will, and thank him for his service to our country.
God bless.
RB
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The sword/medals were a very thoughtful gift, and the kind that will always be remembered. The previous posts concerning the princesses make a nice timeline of growing up. The bittersweet of time marching on. Turn around and they are young ladies going out of your door.
Tipper,
They are such sweet girls….well, I haven’t met Steve’s daughter yet, but I am sure she is a sweet one and kind as well. Someday maybe she will be attending a singing…Does she sing or play an instrument? Just wondering!
I remember some baby/toddler pictures of them that you posted too…or was I daydreaming and thought I remember the girls when they were very small…
A bit cooler here and drizzling rain again…Sort of a gloomy day…
Better half brought in some “suet” from the K-rogers store, so I am rendering it down to make my annual winter bird food bars and rounds….The wrens are “foundering” themselves this morning on the last of two bars I have left. This itty bitty cold snap this morning must have them concerned and hungry…I also wonder if the bugs and spiders crept into dryer crevices during the deluge we had here for three days…so they are having a harder time finding them even with the warmer temps…
It was so cold last winter I had to make two runs…Not this year, unless of course it gets really cold before April…
Thanks Tipper,
You are so blessed to have a beautiful family and all together!
Well then, as usual I got off the subject of your post…Sorry!
Tipper,
I’m glad to see the girls together again. They could all 3 pass for sisters, and just like Chitter and Chatter, Cheddar is gorgeous too.
One time at Martin’s Creek I told Pap about some knives I gave Chitter and Chatter and they were to give one of them to Cheddar. Pap took me over to meet Cheddar and asked her if she ever met the man that gave her a knife. Cheddar didn’t remember a knife at all, so Pap said “I recon our girls shafted her.” That was funny…Ken
Great post….gives us a feel good day!
Three beautiful girls! They look enough alike that they could pass as triplets instead of twins.
I think it is wonderful that Pap got his medals and sword replaced. Thank him for his service to our country! I would like to wish you and all of your wonderful family a joyous New Year filled with blessings.
I enjoy your posts so much and look forward to what you share with us in the coming year!
Yes, I was one wondering about the third young lady! Thanks for answering the question. My husband took all his medals/awards and had them placed in a shadow box arrangement. This way he can place them on the wall and when asked he can tell his sons what each one means. One can gather a few medals/awards after thirty-two years. Thanks to Pap for being an important part of keeping our country safe and free.
Thanks for sharing those stories, and all the stories of your family. I feel priviledged to be invited to ‘come in’ virtually. I hope those three girls will always be able to remain close.
Your story of the medals and the sword illustrates the very finest in gift-giving. The sword deserves to be a family heirloom not so much as a sword but as the symbol of thoughtfulness and service. It speaks volumes about your Dad that in the fire he was not saving his own things, as in “charity . . Seeketh not her own,” And the same applies to Steve and Paul.
All three of the girls are just simply beautiful!
All I can say about this post is AWESOME. Thanks for closing out the year with something this enjoyable. The equal to this are the pickin and grinin music posts. Thanks much, Tipper and a very Happy New Year to all the gang.
Mike T. In Florida
You will not find three prettier girls anywhere in Appalachia than the Three Indian Princesses and you will not find a kinder, gentler or more upstanding man than Pap! Tip, you have a fine family.
My eyes are probably shining a bit brightly right now.