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
Posts
