Tuesday, March 22, 2011

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


26 comments:

-Emily- said...

What a wonderful post!! I love to go back to where I grew up....it brings back so, so many fond memories and smiles :)

Megan said...

This was such a beautiful post- I so enjoyed reading and looking at the pictures. I have always imagined growing up on a farm to be that idyllic... such sweet memories!!

Ashton said...

Wonderful post! It reminds me of my childhood. I didn't grow up on a farm, but both of my grandfathers were small farmers. I loved playing outside out their houses and helping them. One of my grandfathers had chickens, and I though it was so cool to go collect the eggs.

Travel With Lulu said...

Gymnastics - my favorite too :) But my husband put our name in the hopper for track&field seats - snoozy

My kids would say you were the luckiest person ever! We dream of moving to the English countryside one day - with chickens and a little pig. {Sigh}

Alexandra Bee Blog said...

wow! what an idyllic childhood! my cousins lived on a farm, and growing up it was (and still is) one of my favorite places to visit. we would run around the corn fields, take tractor rides down to the barn, and enjoy lots of home cooking!

ALSO--that playhouse! SO jealous!

Molly said...

how beautiful and picturesque! i certainly wouldn't have minded living across from my grandparents either :)

Fit With Flash said...

what fun. i love stuff like that. and let me just say that Ghostwriter was my favorite show in the entire world. I never got to see the end. still hurts.

Michelle @ Ten June said...

Ok I have so much to say I can't even contain myself!! Ha.

1) Are you kidding me with those pictures? You need to go run and buy a bunch of white frames with big fat white matting, print all of these off in black and white and get you a gallery wall, ASAP! :)

2) Did I miss where you're from? Because the Blue Willow Inn is in my neck of the woods! Kind of! Email me and we'll talk Peach State deets :)

3) I loved the Magic School Bus with my whole heart! Ah, Miss Frizzle.

Sam W. said...

these pictures are so great!! love the cows :)

Natalie {Designer Bags and Dirty Diapers} said...

What a beautiful trip. And how lucky are you to live so close to your family. Gorgeous pictures!

Ashley said...

SO cool! I love all these pictures and the fact that your cups and plates are still there :)

Kristen said...

what a great post! I love learning where people come from.

Kat said...

Katie, this is such a lovely post. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your childhood with us!

Michaela said...

I second Michelle on her gallery wall idea! AH! You're a fab photographer.

What a fun post, girl! I love learning more about you. How lucky you were to grow up in such a beautiful place (:

Alexandra Bee Blog said...

I was given the Stylish Blogger Award with directions to award 5 other bloggers-- I pick you! Check out my post today for more info!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for showing us around your little slice of heaven. I love 'going home' and sharing stories of my childhood with my hubby as well. xoxo

More than the stars in the sky said...

Nice farm! You should keep some of your old toy dishes as keepsakes. I am sentimental and if you have a daughter one day she could play with the same ones. How neat that would be. I'm nostalgic what can I say.

Amanda

Michele said...

I think farm life is idyllic--simple, easy, real. How neat to grow up across the road from your grandparents. These are great images. It's so neat that you got to share where you grew up with T. This post makes me want to build our forever home in the country more than ever. I want my boys to play in the woods and explore just like you did as a child. So special!

Tessa said...

How sweet is your little playhouse!! and that it is still decorated!! although I would have expected a little more blue & white from you! ha!! :) you know how lucky you are to have grown up across the street from your grandparents, right?! I was very close to my Nana, but all my family was in Belgium, Denmark and England so once we moved to the US we only saw them once or twice a year. I don't know how my Mum did it. I couldn't bare the thought of living so far from my parents. Wonderful pictures, I felt like I was on the walk with you & T!

xo,
Tessa

WhatMissLoves said...

Aww this post made me smile so much! It was so sweet to read. I loved my childhood and driving by my old house is so bittersweet :)

New follower!
whatmissloves.blogspot.com

Mom said...

Well, your father had a good cry after reading this one. I'm so glad we were able to be close to all four of your grandparents. I think the playhouse will have to be remodeled before my grandchildren arrive!

Jenny N said...

This is all so wonderful. The baby cow is so cute.

I grew up in a small town and can't wait to move back to the country!

Kristen said...

beautiful photos! what a fun place to grow up :) i'd love to live on a farm some day and give my future kiddos all the stuff you mentioned here!

Sarah Elizabeth said...

What a wonderful and heartfelt post. I too was brought up on a farm and I had a magical childhood. Yes, it was hard work but our family was always together and we had so many places to explore and play. It was truly idyllic. I hope I can give my kids such a happy childhood. Thanks for sharing your memories x x

Home Is Where the Hart Is said...

This was such a beautiful post and I loved all the photographs! My grandparents have a cattle farm here in Kentucky (not sure if I've ever said that or not) and as a child I spent many happy days there playing with my cousins, sisters, aunts and uncles. :) We work with horses now (Thoroughbreds) so I understand the farm life you speak of. I think it's great for children. This post really spoke to me. I guess because I have a lot of similar memories and hope all those same things for my children that you speak of.

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

Looks like perfection! That would be a great way to grow up!

 
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