Farm Life

I grew up on a farm

a real one

An actual working cattle and hay farm

And this is my grandparent's house

I lived across the road

which meant anytime I felt like being spoiled I walked across the road

I have so many memories of walking across the road 

to visit my grandfather in his shop, watch my grandmother work in the kitchen, or just to play

I played a lot

and I worked in the barns...a lot

at the time, it felt like I worked as much as I played, but I'm certain this wasn't really the case

It really didn't feel like work most of the time either

I loved to be around the animals and listen to the radio while I cleaned stalls or talked with my Dad

My grandmother was such a great cook, her fried chicken could knock your socks off

My brother and I would get dropped off after school at her house and we would have a "snack"

we would have a peanut butter and jelly or ham sandwich with pringles and a milkshake

while we sat and watched Ghostwriter, the Magic School Bus, or Flintstones

after that

it was time to explore and we were on our own

We hung out in the woods or played with the dogs 

mostly we just entertained each other

It was wonderful

T and I went up to my grandparents house this weekend

we now live down the road instead of across the road

 I got to show him so much of where and how I grew up

These two were really taken with one another

Can you tell?!?

Coming in to see what all the commotion was about

The "Dad"

The bravest one of them all

Protective Moms

many of you can relate :)

Speaking of playing

My brother and I spent hours here 

This is my playhouse

I'm not sure if it was bought as a playhouse or some sort of storage

but I won out

The bottom half of the door is now torn off, but it was a split door with a little shelf

perfect for playing house, shop, and keeping out little brothers

We got a long most of the time, but he was still a little brother, but also a best friend

I even had a peep hole

And my little house, is still decorated like I had it more than 15 years ago

This the first place I ever got to "decorate"

I used my grandmother's discarded basement items

This was part of the "kitchen"

My little cups and bowls are still there

and my place mats :)

I wish I took more pictures to show you...

My "chairs" were still there (green ottomans from the 70s)

and there are still Southern Accents and Traditional Home magazines beside the chairs

My passion started early

I used to torture my poor brother and make him sit there pretending to read those things

So mean

Sadly, my little house is falling apart and is home to many wasp nests

before that it became one of our bird dogs favorite places to sleep (hence the hay)

T and I walked and talked and compared childhoods

I can only hope we give our children a similar experience

We were so loved and spoiled and gushed over

Not in a bad or excessive way, believe me I still got my fair share of spankings, but in a way that you knew you were loved

You also knew how to love back and how to respect others and elders and yourself

And you learned how awesome these people who loved you really were

It was a wonderful day