A few weeks ago we decided we would drive by and see how "the old home place" was doing. My grandmother, a widow, bought this home and farm the year I was born. At the time my dad was stationed at a nearby military base, and we lived with her and her brother, my great uncle, a veteran of WWII, who worked the farm with her. My great uncle never married, it seems while he was overseas, he got a "dear John" letter from his fiancee, telling him she had married someone else. I know "very sad."
I spent so many wonderful years at this home, my grandmother and my mother both had a kitchen of their own, ~smile~ someone was very smart! Probably my dad. lol, but most of the time we ate together like the Walton's, I think one reason I enjoy the Walton's series so much is that I relate to them in so many things, my mother and grandmother did the household chores together, though my mother didn't milk the cow, nor feed the chickens, that was my grandmothers job, with us children's help.~wink~ They churned the milk and worked the gardens, and did laundry together.
The memories I have would fill a book.
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See the tree trunk... My dad planted this tree, and 7 more by the driveway, they had just been cut down. boo hoo
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I remember so many times following my uncle as he plowed with his mule, (he later bought a tractor) trying to step in his foot prints.I can just smell the freshly plowed soil, and hearing my uncle call to his mule to "Gee", means turn to the right, "Haw" turn to the left, or Whoa!,we all know what that means. lol Many times I brought him cool water while he was working.My siblings and I used to play under a big oak tree in the back field while my grandmother and mother weeded and thinned the cotton.
Eventually my dad was transferred to another base in Georgia, that was one of the saddest times in my life. But when uncle Sam says "GO", you go. When he was sent to Korea we went back to live with them. As I grew older, and after living at different military bases, we finally settled in a county nearby.
Eventually my dad was transferred to another base in Georgia, that was one of the saddest times in my life. But when uncle Sam says "GO", you go. When he was sent to Korea we went back to live with them. As I grew older, and after living at different military bases, we finally settled in a county nearby.
When school was out for the summer, we spent those summers on the farm, working and were willingly paid well to buy our school clothes. Did I jump for joy about working, no, but it taught me a work ethic that carried over into adulthood. And for that I am most thankful. It also afforded me the opportunity to spend quality time with my grandmother, and my great uncle who was just like a grandfather to me.
Look at this big oak tree, it was there when I was a child, I was so happy to see it.
To see how well preserved and taken care of this "old home place" is makes my heart so glad. I would give a jar of my strawberry jam to be able to go inside and take a look see. lol
Jeremiah 29: 11~ I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I am writing this today for several reasons one being to say how important I think family farms are in this country, and each year for one reason or another family farms are becoming obsolete.
Early one morning this week, I woke before day, just lying there meditating, when I heard one of our roosters crowing, I was immediately brought back to this "old home place", and of long ago hearing another rooster crow,all the while piled high under so many quilts that I couldn't turn over, ~smile~, and smelling coffee, not brewing, but boiling on the stove, as my grandmother was making "home made" buttermilk biscuits.
I smiled, pulled the covers up tighter and just lay there relishing those memories. A great way for me to start my day.
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| ~The same chimneys are still there~ ahhh! memories |
I wish I had the time to talk about all the memories of time spent at this "old home place", memories that I have stored in my memory bank, and of how special I was made to feel, no matter how busy the adults were here, they always stopped, gave us lots of hugs, answered our questions, explained what they were doing, and why. You see memories like these will carry us through the "GOOD" and the "Not So Good", times.
Sometimes we can get so overwhelmed with life, and a memory will come and we reminded not to worry that everything is going to be alright.
You see the other morning as I was awake, I was thinking about some stressful situations in my own life, and after praying,mediating and reviewing this memory, everything seemed to take on a better light.
To be continued.......
Love,
Sue
~Why do we love certain houses,
and why do they seem to love us?
It is the warmth of our individual
hearts reflected in our surroundings.~
T.H. Robsjohn_Gibbings
