There are some things in life that should never become a thing of the past as so many unique things have. I am talking about the old drive-in movie theaters...if you are one of the lucky ones to have experienced a night at the outdoor theater, then you probably share my sentiments.
In our neck of the woods there wasn't much to do at all for entertainment so the Drive in theater was the " in place" to be. We would always get there before the sun went down, to get a good parking place, and make a trip or two to the snack bar, not only for popcorn & coke but to check the joint out and see who was there..
At the very front of the theater, just below the screen there was a little play ground for small children, swings, slide etc. there was always a crowd there. Being a teenager, we really didn't want to be up there pushing our siblings in the swing--Not cool at all..
By the time the sun disappeared and the twilight evening arrived we were settled in our car, the movie speaker clipped onto the car door or window, can you recall all of the crackling noise the speakers made? Hey, it was the best that we had ever known and we never thought a thing about it. At times you would loose the sound for some reason and that caused people to start honking their car horns---the same honking would occur when the movie film would break or run off of the reel.
Every Wednesday night was "Buck Night", a carload of people could get into the movie for one dollar. We could really 'pack'em in" all of my friends and sometimes people that I didn't even know, they would hear us talking of going to the theater and ask to ride with us--we usually put them in the trunk of the car! We weren't the only ones stashing people in the trunk on dollar night--you could look around after you parked and most all trunks were opened with people falling out of them like mexican jumping beans!
There are so few of the old drive-in's left but the one that I have my memories of is still operating--granted they had to re-do the screen because of a tornado hitting the old screen, and they no longer use the speakers for the movie sound, now it comes through your car radio... that would have sure been tough on us back then because half the time the radio's were broke.
The one movie that I recall that was such a "Blast" for all of us was "Jailhouse Rock" with none other than Elvis Presley--the place was so packed we were sharing speakers !! Not very exciting for the teens of today but we had lots of fun.. I wonder if all of my old friends ever think back to the good ole days and the fun we shared at the old drive-in theater--it was great! If you had to get there squashed up inside the car or packed into the trunk it was well worth it...
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Peanut Butter Cookies
Thinking about school, teachers, shopping for school etc.etc. reminded me of what I have not reflected back on--the lunchroom. I suppose in the cities they were probably referred to as the school cafeteria, but our country school had a lunchroom!
There was no pre-mixes or instant food prepared there, only fresh and home baked goodies. I remember the hot rolls were delicious, running a close second was the fried chicken--remember that I'm the gal not fond of chicken but it was great!
As the students went through the serving line the little ladies serving would ask if we wanted this or that, you didn't have to have everything put on your plate--you could request 2 rolls etc.in other words you got to eat exactly what you wanted. All of the students loved Fridays because they normally served Peanut Butter Cookies for dessert, they were soooooo good! The lady that was in charge of the lunchroom shared the recipe with Mom many years ago, I hope that you will enjoy them as we have through the years. I have baked them many,many times for my hubby,they are his favorite cookie.
Peanut Butter Cookies
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 white sugar
1/2 baking soda
1 1/4 cup of peanut butter
5/8 cup margarine
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine ingredients together and mix completely. Take a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll into ball's. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. With the tines of a fork flatten the cookie slightly--dip the fork tines into some white sugar each time you flatten. I criss-cross my cookies with the fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 7--8 minutes or until set and turning light brown.
Every time I smell these baking it reminds me once again of the small things in everyday life that makes a lasting impression upon us. These little lunchroom ladies have been gone for many years now but I still remember their smiles and the pretty aprons they always wore and of course their delicious food.
There was no pre-mixes or instant food prepared there, only fresh and home baked goodies. I remember the hot rolls were delicious, running a close second was the fried chicken--remember that I'm the gal not fond of chicken but it was great!
As the students went through the serving line the little ladies serving would ask if we wanted this or that, you didn't have to have everything put on your plate--you could request 2 rolls etc.in other words you got to eat exactly what you wanted. All of the students loved Fridays because they normally served Peanut Butter Cookies for dessert, they were soooooo good! The lady that was in charge of the lunchroom shared the recipe with Mom many years ago, I hope that you will enjoy them as we have through the years. I have baked them many,many times for my hubby,they are his favorite cookie.
Peanut Butter Cookies
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 1/4 white sugar
1/2 baking soda
1 1/4 cup of peanut butter
5/8 cup margarine
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine ingredients together and mix completely. Take a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll into ball's. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet. With the tines of a fork flatten the cookie slightly--dip the fork tines into some white sugar each time you flatten. I criss-cross my cookies with the fork. Bake at 375 degrees for 7--8 minutes or until set and turning light brown.
Every time I smell these baking it reminds me once again of the small things in everyday life that makes a lasting impression upon us. These little lunchroom ladies have been gone for many years now but I still remember their smiles and the pretty aprons they always wore and of course their delicious food.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Starting to school
With all of the talk on the news and in the press about how much the sales of school clothing and supplies will be "off" this year--I have to confess my thought is "Big Deal!" Now I realize that the merchants depend on parents--grandparents buying little Johnny & Suzie all of the cutesy trendy things they have weighted their shelves down with and I don't wish them a loss of income BUT whatever happened to making do with what you have??
Growing up most people felt very fortunate to get a new pair of shoes to start to school in --for many of us if a relative or older sister had outgrown a pair then they would polished them up and you were the proud owner of a second hand pair of shoes. Mom would often go to the fabric store and buy STACKS of fabric to sew our new clothes from. She was so creative and could make a calico dress look like a designer creation---at least I thought she could. She would sew new shirts for Mick and Mike--adding pearl snaps and all--
She gave the girls a hair permanent--usually a Toni Or LILT--do you remember those? Oh, my they stunk to high heaven but you had these pretty curls by the time it was over. One time my Aunt gave my cousin a home permanent and got sidetracked by something else and forgot to "time it" correctly, she had some curling rods to just fall off--hair attached! Looked like she had the mange!! I always thought of that and would perch myself right in front of the clock--taking no chances..
Our school supplies were not at all complicated--notebook theme paper, a couple of composition books--pencils and later on ink fountain pins along with the bottle of ink, ruler and crayons and if you needed it a note book to carry it all in or maybe a book satchel. Think they use back packs today.
Stating ALL of this to make my case--some things were just simpler in the old days- no hassle having to dress in the latest fad--a lot less expensive and we were just as happy with what we had as the children of today are. Yea, I confess some new shoes every year would have been a nice touch BUT that would have made us different from the other kids ---not a good thing!!
Growing up most people felt very fortunate to get a new pair of shoes to start to school in --for many of us if a relative or older sister had outgrown a pair then they would polished them up and you were the proud owner of a second hand pair of shoes. Mom would often go to the fabric store and buy STACKS of fabric to sew our new clothes from. She was so creative and could make a calico dress look like a designer creation---at least I thought she could. She would sew new shirts for Mick and Mike--adding pearl snaps and all--
She gave the girls a hair permanent--usually a Toni Or LILT--do you remember those? Oh, my they stunk to high heaven but you had these pretty curls by the time it was over. One time my Aunt gave my cousin a home permanent and got sidetracked by something else and forgot to "time it" correctly, she had some curling rods to just fall off--hair attached! Looked like she had the mange!! I always thought of that and would perch myself right in front of the clock--taking no chances..
Our school supplies were not at all complicated--notebook theme paper, a couple of composition books--pencils and later on ink fountain pins along with the bottle of ink, ruler and crayons and if you needed it a note book to carry it all in or maybe a book satchel. Think they use back packs today.
Stating ALL of this to make my case--some things were just simpler in the old days- no hassle having to dress in the latest fad--a lot less expensive and we were just as happy with what we had as the children of today are. Yea, I confess some new shoes every year would have been a nice touch BUT that would have made us different from the other kids ---not a good thing!!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
What all the hog provided
The hog killing and curing out the meat for the winter was only the beginning for the those doing the "hog work". The women would have a big cast iron wash pot heating over a open fire outside and the fat from the hog was placed inside it to melt down and this would be the lard (we now use shortening). I have used lard to make pie crust and they are MUCH better--flakier. I remember Momma had a real big tin can with a lid that she would put the lard in, it was kept sitting by the old kitchen cabinet--made it handy for her to use . In those days the kitchens weren't decorated as they are today--they were totally functional--no frills just serviceable.
The women would use some of that melted fat to fry the cracklings in (the pork skin); when they floated to the top --out they came and were salted and ready to snack on. Sometime you put some of the cracklings in your cornbread batter --made it rather crunchy. A lot of people think the meat in the hog head makes the best tamales ever---WELL, I'll take their word for it---Mom never tried it ...
The old lard that the women would save from frying food in, was put to good use in making the lye soap--that was a all day job. You would skim off as much of the "Food bits" from the melted lard before adding your lye etc. I won't bother to tell all they put into the soap as I REALLY doubt that anyone is biting at the bit to make a batch of soap. After it had cooled in the big pans that Mom poured the soap into, she would cut it into bars. She usually had me,Mickey and Mike to shred some of the bars with a grater to be used for washing clothes and for washing dishes. The other bars would be used for bathing---you sure didn't want to scrub very hard using this soap--it would remove skin and all! It was a luxury when people started buying bought soap...My Aunt would put some crushed lavender in her soap--smelled good but would still take the hide off!
Now, I'll just bet that a lot of you really didn't realize how much the hogs helped out people in the good ole days, HUH?? Fed us, provided fat to cook other foods with and kept us clean to boot!!
The women would use some of that melted fat to fry the cracklings in (the pork skin); when they floated to the top --out they came and were salted and ready to snack on. Sometime you put some of the cracklings in your cornbread batter --made it rather crunchy. A lot of people think the meat in the hog head makes the best tamales ever---WELL, I'll take their word for it---Mom never tried it ...
The old lard that the women would save from frying food in, was put to good use in making the lye soap--that was a all day job. You would skim off as much of the "Food bits" from the melted lard before adding your lye etc. I won't bother to tell all they put into the soap as I REALLY doubt that anyone is biting at the bit to make a batch of soap. After it had cooled in the big pans that Mom poured the soap into, she would cut it into bars. She usually had me,Mickey and Mike to shred some of the bars with a grater to be used for washing clothes and for washing dishes. The other bars would be used for bathing---you sure didn't want to scrub very hard using this soap--it would remove skin and all! It was a luxury when people started buying bought soap...My Aunt would put some crushed lavender in her soap--smelled good but would still take the hide off!
Now, I'll just bet that a lot of you really didn't realize how much the hogs helped out people in the good ole days, HUH?? Fed us, provided fat to cook other foods with and kept us clean to boot!!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Hog Killin
There was some things about the the "good ole days" that did not appeal to me--although it was necessary, I am speaking of the time of year that it was "Hog killing" time. Getting meat for the winter...
When the first blast of frigid cold would sweep across the plains and settle in on our part of the country, the men would get together bring their hogs with them and they would help one another clean,scrape, and process the hog. Daddy wouldn't allow me or my sisters to come out to the area where they worked.
Since one of my chores had been to "slop" the hog I really felt like I should know what the men were doing out around her pen---not aware that it was THAT time of year!! Well, I was in for a shock when I peeped through cracks of the barn--there hanging from a hook was my old hog--naked as a jaybird--no hair at all --just naked and waiting to be processed...My brother saw me and tells Daddy (that boy did love to get me in trouble) as though I couldn't find it on my own!! After Dad chewed me out and tells me to go to the house-- I vowed that I would NEVER slop a hog again and I never did.. It was just way, way too much to ask of this gal to fatten them up so we could kill them and eat them..Don't get me wrong I love pork and there is NOTHING better then the sugared cured pork that Dad made. He would go into the little room we had out back for curing meat and rub the sugar cure mix all over the hanging meat everyday.
If you haven't ever experienced going into the kitchen on a cold-cold morning and smelling some good sausage or sugar cured bacon or ham cooking along with hot buttered biscuits with homemade jam , I promise you one thing there is nothing and I do mean nothing that makes your mouth water and the morning a whole lot brighter...
Heck' that ole naked hog never crossed my mind after entering the kitchen!!!
When the first blast of frigid cold would sweep across the plains and settle in on our part of the country, the men would get together bring their hogs with them and they would help one another clean,scrape, and process the hog. Daddy wouldn't allow me or my sisters to come out to the area where they worked.
Since one of my chores had been to "slop" the hog I really felt like I should know what the men were doing out around her pen---not aware that it was THAT time of year!! Well, I was in for a shock when I peeped through cracks of the barn--there hanging from a hook was my old hog--naked as a jaybird--no hair at all --just naked and waiting to be processed...My brother saw me and tells Daddy (that boy did love to get me in trouble) as though I couldn't find it on my own!! After Dad chewed me out and tells me to go to the house-- I vowed that I would NEVER slop a hog again and I never did.. It was just way, way too much to ask of this gal to fatten them up so we could kill them and eat them..Don't get me wrong I love pork and there is NOTHING better then the sugared cured pork that Dad made. He would go into the little room we had out back for curing meat and rub the sugar cure mix all over the hanging meat everyday.
If you haven't ever experienced going into the kitchen on a cold-cold morning and smelling some good sausage or sugar cured bacon or ham cooking along with hot buttered biscuits with homemade jam , I promise you one thing there is nothing and I do mean nothing that makes your mouth water and the morning a whole lot brighter...
Heck' that ole naked hog never crossed my mind after entering the kitchen!!!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Mom's Pecan Pie
With all of this talk of the cafe and Mom's great cooking I want to share with you her pecan pie recipe. My hubby always loved her pecan pie, so she passed on the recipe to me many, many years ago. It is fast to mix and bake and believe me you will love it --- Grab your mixing bowl and pie plate-----
1-- 9 inch pie crust---(my sister uses the bought ones--not me, I do it the good ole' way and roll my own..) Either kind works
3 eggs, beaten well
1 cup of sugar
1/4 stick of margarine--melted
1 cup of Karo Syrup (white)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pecans to cover the top of pie--think it takes a couple of cups
Mix the above ingredients well
Pour into unbaked pie crust
Spread pecans on the top of pie, covering all of the top
Bake @ 350 for 35 min. or until done
I hope that you and your family will enjoy it as much as we have through the years. Mom never minded giving her recipes out to people, in fact she was always honored when asked to share one....ENJOY!!!!
1-- 9 inch pie crust---(my sister uses the bought ones--not me, I do it the good ole' way and roll my own..) Either kind works
3 eggs, beaten well
1 cup of sugar
1/4 stick of margarine--melted
1 cup of Karo Syrup (white)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pecans to cover the top of pie--think it takes a couple of cups
Mix the above ingredients well
Pour into unbaked pie crust
Spread pecans on the top of pie, covering all of the top
Bake @ 350 for 35 min. or until done
I hope that you and your family will enjoy it as much as we have through the years. Mom never minded giving her recipes out to people, in fact she was always honored when asked to share one....ENJOY!!!!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Truck Driving Gal
There are some things that you do growing up and you reflect back on the the incident you are amazed that you are still here and kicking..Freddie keeps reminding me that I haven't written this particular story so here it is---oh, by the way, I think this should put to rest any doubts that we all have a guardian angel.
I was left at home to watch after Mick,Mike and Cinda while Mom and Dad were working at the cafe----well, everything went real well until around 1 O'clock or so and the 2 little brothers decided that they didn't want to stay out there in the country any longer..they convinced me that we should take Daddy's "bob tail truck" (that he used to haul hay) we talked it over and made the decision that we could drive it into town ( 10 miles).
The major problem that we faced was that we were so young and driving ANY sort of vehicle was non existent. Heck, it didn't faze us, I was the oldest and tallest so I was the driver--Mickey remembered how Dad started up the truck and shifted gears so he helped me with that, while Mike sat on the floor and held the foot feed down. We didn't really know about the brake and clutch so I was mashing both of them down.
We managed to drive that old truck those 10 very long miles to town...had to cross a Hwy. and I do remember that we were pretty "spooked" over that but our angel must have cleared the way for these little idiots.. Dad always pulled the truck to the back of the cafe and parked --the alley was very narrow and I drove over some trash cans but other than that no harm was done, except Dad had to buy Mrs. Salmon a new trash can. Mike was still sitting in the truck floor helping with the driving and he gets to really pumping the breaks while I was mashing the clutch--When I asked--o.k. when I yelled at him asking what he was doing he told me this is how Daddy stops this thing!!
When we go walking into the cafe and Mom & dad see's us and wants to know how we got to town---wellllll,I knew right away my chances of going to the movies that week-end was slim to none!! Daddy gets real pale looking. They were NOT happy with any of us--Cinda stayed clear of trouble as she told them that she was too little to help us..
By the way --the reason sweet little Mike was pumping the brake like a pump jack gone wild was that Dad was having brake trouble and was waiting on the mechanic to come out to the house and look at it---he was afraid to drive it into town..
This "outlaw" blood that runs in the family just has to "crop" out every now and then . ..It's a thousands wonders that we didn't drive right through the back of the cafe . Yep, we were certainly protected but I just got to tell you, it was one heck of a ride!!
I was left at home to watch after Mick,Mike and Cinda while Mom and Dad were working at the cafe----well, everything went real well until around 1 O'clock or so and the 2 little brothers decided that they didn't want to stay out there in the country any longer..they convinced me that we should take Daddy's "bob tail truck" (that he used to haul hay) we talked it over and made the decision that we could drive it into town ( 10 miles).
The major problem that we faced was that we were so young and driving ANY sort of vehicle was non existent. Heck, it didn't faze us, I was the oldest and tallest so I was the driver--Mickey remembered how Dad started up the truck and shifted gears so he helped me with that, while Mike sat on the floor and held the foot feed down. We didn't really know about the brake and clutch so I was mashing both of them down.
We managed to drive that old truck those 10 very long miles to town...had to cross a Hwy. and I do remember that we were pretty "spooked" over that but our angel must have cleared the way for these little idiots.. Dad always pulled the truck to the back of the cafe and parked --the alley was very narrow and I drove over some trash cans but other than that no harm was done, except Dad had to buy Mrs. Salmon a new trash can. Mike was still sitting in the truck floor helping with the driving and he gets to really pumping the breaks while I was mashing the clutch--When I asked--o.k. when I yelled at him asking what he was doing he told me this is how Daddy stops this thing!!
When we go walking into the cafe and Mom & dad see's us and wants to know how we got to town---wellllll,I knew right away my chances of going to the movies that week-end was slim to none!! Daddy gets real pale looking. They were NOT happy with any of us--Cinda stayed clear of trouble as she told them that she was too little to help us..
By the way --the reason sweet little Mike was pumping the brake like a pump jack gone wild was that Dad was having brake trouble and was waiting on the mechanic to come out to the house and look at it---he was afraid to drive it into town..
This "outlaw" blood that runs in the family just has to "crop" out every now and then . ..It's a thousands wonders that we didn't drive right through the back of the cafe . Yep, we were certainly protected but I just got to tell you, it was one heck of a ride!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Old days health care program
Let's continue on with some more of the old days remedy's----hey I'm trying to save you some money here!!! I have decided one thing for sure, had I been subjected to most of these treatments--NO ONE would have EVER known if I was ailing in any way!!
CUTS-- Let your BEST dog lick any cut that you may have. This is a quick and sure cure for the cut...
COLDS----Starve a cold and stuff a fever--Cross a creek backwards..(I bet crossing the creek did the trick!)
HEADACHES---10 sniffs from a pair of dirty socks should do it...(I think that I
had much rather cross the creek).
CHICKEN POX--- This is a good one y'all .... For the chicken pox--undress your child and roll him under the chicken roost...This is suppose to stop the itching...
Doesn't it seem to you like the chickens played a huge roll in the old days such as eating the wart seed,providing the "droppings" beneath the roost, providing the feathers for pillows and feather beds, not to mention the eggs for cooking and of course the unfortunate chicken that had it's head rung off and than was fried southern style!!
The last treatment is for:
If your eyes feel tired or sore, lay down and close your eyes and rub Vick's on the eye lids..Keep them closed until the BURNING ends....
Just so you know---I MIGHT would have let the best dog lick my cut ---and I could starve my cold and crossed the creek backwards but no way and no how would I have smelled the dirty sock nor would I have rolled my child in the chicken Poop and I can promise you that my eyes could NEVER have gotten tired enough or sore enough for me to burn the heck out of them with Vick's!!!
Treatment's were crude and some didn't make a lick of sense but it was all they had and it was what our ancestor's were raised with....
CUTS-- Let your BEST dog lick any cut that you may have. This is a quick and sure cure for the cut...
COLDS----Starve a cold and stuff a fever--Cross a creek backwards..(I bet crossing the creek did the trick!)
HEADACHES---10 sniffs from a pair of dirty socks should do it...(I think that I
had much rather cross the creek).
CHICKEN POX--- This is a good one y'all .... For the chicken pox--undress your child and roll him under the chicken roost...This is suppose to stop the itching...
Doesn't it seem to you like the chickens played a huge roll in the old days such as eating the wart seed,providing the "droppings" beneath the roost, providing the feathers for pillows and feather beds, not to mention the eggs for cooking and of course the unfortunate chicken that had it's head rung off and than was fried southern style!!
The last treatment is for:
If your eyes feel tired or sore, lay down and close your eyes and rub Vick's on the eye lids..Keep them closed until the BURNING ends....
Just so you know---I MIGHT would have let the best dog lick my cut ---and I could starve my cold and crossed the creek backwards but no way and no how would I have smelled the dirty sock nor would I have rolled my child in the chicken Poop and I can promise you that my eyes could NEVER have gotten tired enough or sore enough for me to burn the heck out of them with Vick's!!!
Treatment's were crude and some didn't make a lick of sense but it was all they had and it was what our ancestor's were raised with....
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Home remendies
Thought that you may be interested in some of the old home remedy's from the good old days. I'll tell you one thing for sure, I would have to be sick enough to die to try these --but it was all they knew to do and the remedies were passed down from generation to generation.
Sore throat-- Make a poultice of Kerosene, turpentine & pure lard & place this on your neck. In 5 minutes you will be able to taste the kerosene in your throat, and the cure will have begun. Then take 2 to 3 drops of kerosene oil in a spoon with a pinch of sugar--swallow this to complete the treatment. ( I wonder if the people that took this treatment stayed away from any open flames??)
Ear aches--Heat in oven either salt or cornmeal. Tie it up in a soft bag or sock and apply to hurting ear. Mom made many of these for me as a child because I had a lot of ear aches--after smelling the hot cornmeal all night I would wake up wanting cornbread that day. The heat did ease the pain some.
How to get rid of a seed wart--Are you ready for this???
The directions say to pick at the seed wart with a needle to make it bleed, get one of the seeds and feed it to a chicken, and the wart will go away!!! Now don't you just have to wonder how on earth ANYONE could come up with this---don't ask me if it works--I'm just passing these things along....
Sore throat-- Make a poultice of Kerosene, turpentine & pure lard & place this on your neck. In 5 minutes you will be able to taste the kerosene in your throat, and the cure will have begun. Then take 2 to 3 drops of kerosene oil in a spoon with a pinch of sugar--swallow this to complete the treatment. ( I wonder if the people that took this treatment stayed away from any open flames??)
Ear aches--Heat in oven either salt or cornmeal. Tie it up in a soft bag or sock and apply to hurting ear. Mom made many of these for me as a child because I had a lot of ear aches--after smelling the hot cornmeal all night I would wake up wanting cornbread that day. The heat did ease the pain some.
How to get rid of a seed wart--Are you ready for this???
The directions say to pick at the seed wart with a needle to make it bleed, get one of the seeds and feed it to a chicken, and the wart will go away!!! Now don't you just have to wonder how on earth ANYONE could come up with this---don't ask me if it works--I'm just passing these things along....
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Soda Pop
Enjoying a soft drink was a treat for people when I was young or at least it was in our part of the country. We called them soda pop, and there were brands and flavors that have been gone a long time----darn that makes me feel old!! My favorite was a NuGrape, it was bottled in the neatest little bottle, recently while we were shopping in a antique store Freddie found a Nugrape bottle and bought it for me---a Man after my own heart giving me the old bottle--I love it.
All of us had our favorites--Jerry & Bev both liked Coke's, Mickey loved Dr. Pepper- Mike's choice was usually Root Beer and Cinda's preference was Orange Crush.
Later people quit calling them soda pop and started saying soda water---then some would say soft drink..Later it was just Coke--someone would ask if you wanted a coke and sure I did , then the orders would be for Dr. Pepper, Nugrape, 7-up anything maybe except a coke. Coke just covered ALL soft drinks. I am not sure what people call it today--I still say Coke and figure everyone knows what I mean...
Speaking of the drinks that are no longer made, reminds me of a few candy bars we loved that fell by the way side--soft peanut patty. Toppers, Jo-Boy,we liked a few others that are no longer made but I can't remember the names------(my memory is becoming a thing of the past too.)
All of us had our favorites--Jerry & Bev both liked Coke's, Mickey loved Dr. Pepper- Mike's choice was usually Root Beer and Cinda's preference was Orange Crush.
Later people quit calling them soda pop and started saying soda water---then some would say soft drink..Later it was just Coke--someone would ask if you wanted a coke and sure I did , then the orders would be for Dr. Pepper, Nugrape, 7-up anything maybe except a coke. Coke just covered ALL soft drinks. I am not sure what people call it today--I still say Coke and figure everyone knows what I mean...
Speaking of the drinks that are no longer made, reminds me of a few candy bars we loved that fell by the way side--soft peanut patty. Toppers, Jo-Boy,we liked a few others that are no longer made but I can't remember the names------(my memory is becoming a thing of the past too.)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Summer
With the days getting really nasty and hot ( I am not a fan of hot weather) I am sure thankful for all of the air conditioning that we have today--our homes--our cars and when we shop all of the stores are cool. Not so in the old days, as I have mentioned before, at bedtime we would get our quilt and go looking for whatever breeze may be blowing into the house and that was the spot that we put down our pallet. A few people that we knew had electric fans--(they lived in town)...guess that the country folks had to be tougher or crazier to survive the heat of the summer.
The stores in town had several ceiling fans but no air conditioners. Its funny how and what you remember--like the things I so vividly recall about the drug store--from the wonderful smell of the soda fountain to the sound that the ceiling fans made--a distinct swishing sound.
You traveled with every car window down when you went anywhere--most women would tie a headscarf over their hair to try and keep it half way presentable-- - it was all to no avail. When you stepped out of that furnace called a car your hair looked like Phillis Dillards--big sweat rings were somewhere on your clothing--the ladies make-up had melted and rolled to their stomach. In general you looked like something the dog's dragged in!!
The first car air conditioner I ever saw was a round oblong tube looking thing that you stuck into your car window--rolled the window up than placed ice inside of this "object". It had a little fan that in theory blew across the ice than into the car---ahhh to be rich enough to ride in such style would have been nice!
The old days and old ways are and will always be near and dear to my heart but when it is 100 degrees plus outside I don't hesitate to enjoy the modern way of life.
Remembering how hard the work days were for people back then--never mind the weather--hot or shivering cold they had their work to get done. All of the canning the women had to do was always in the heat of summer standing over the hot stoves. Life was tough but most never complained-it was all that they knew. It is no wonder that the life span was much shorter back in those days.
The stores in town had several ceiling fans but no air conditioners. Its funny how and what you remember--like the things I so vividly recall about the drug store--from the wonderful smell of the soda fountain to the sound that the ceiling fans made--a distinct swishing sound.
You traveled with every car window down when you went anywhere--most women would tie a headscarf over their hair to try and keep it half way presentable-- - it was all to no avail. When you stepped out of that furnace called a car your hair looked like Phillis Dillards--big sweat rings were somewhere on your clothing--the ladies make-up had melted and rolled to their stomach. In general you looked like something the dog's dragged in!!
The first car air conditioner I ever saw was a round oblong tube looking thing that you stuck into your car window--rolled the window up than placed ice inside of this "object". It had a little fan that in theory blew across the ice than into the car---ahhh to be rich enough to ride in such style would have been nice!
The old days and old ways are and will always be near and dear to my heart but when it is 100 degrees plus outside I don't hesitate to enjoy the modern way of life.
Remembering how hard the work days were for people back then--never mind the weather--hot or shivering cold they had their work to get done. All of the canning the women had to do was always in the heat of summer standing over the hot stoves. Life was tough but most never complained-it was all that they knew. It is no wonder that the life span was much shorter back in those days.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Mom's ice cream
Our days are getting warmer and all too soon we will be be sweltering in the hot days of summer. I am not a warm weather person, never have been and never will be. Our family like so many others would get out the old crank ice cream freezer frequently-- to enjoy homemade ice cream. Every child anxiously awaited to see if they would be the one to get to sit on the top of the ice cream freezer...After Mom had filled the freezer with the ice cream mixture, she put it inside of the wooden freezer bucket-placed the crank on it than put the ice and ice cream salt all around the bucket--alternating the ice & salt. The final step was folding a towel & placing it on top of the freezer..Now this was the place that EVERY CHILD wanted to be... it really cooled you off--also gave you the coldest bottom north of the Brazos. The job of turning the crank wasn't near as much fun, in fact as the cream hardened, the cranking became very hard to turn.
We had some peach trees and Mom was always making peach cobbler or peach fried pies to go with the ice cream. Sometimes she sliced the peaches, sprinkled some sugar over the fruit and we had it as a topping....That was my favorite.
Mom's ice cream recipe is not a real rich tasting cream but it is still our favorite-- in later years she started making a much richer ice cream I will post later---but for today, go get your ice cream freezer and lets "crank up" some of Mom's old fashioned ice cream ==
6 eggs-- beat good
3 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 can pet milk
Homogenized milk
Dash of vanilla--(I use 1 tsp.)
After mixing all of the above real good, pour the mixture into the freezer can- place the can into your freezer bucket. Finish filling the freezer can with homogenized milk..Put the lid on, attach the crank---now you are into business!! If there is a little one around, slap a towel on top and place your little sweetie pie on top -- don't forget while you are cranking be sure to tell them a story of the good ole days.....( I am well aware that probably NONE of you have a crank freezer but it may be a good investment--for you & for the lucky child that will have the memory .)
We had some peach trees and Mom was always making peach cobbler or peach fried pies to go with the ice cream. Sometimes she sliced the peaches, sprinkled some sugar over the fruit and we had it as a topping....That was my favorite.
Mom's ice cream recipe is not a real rich tasting cream but it is still our favorite-- in later years she started making a much richer ice cream I will post later---but for today, go get your ice cream freezer and lets "crank up" some of Mom's old fashioned ice cream ==
6 eggs-- beat good
3 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 can pet milk
Homogenized milk
Dash of vanilla--(I use 1 tsp.)
After mixing all of the above real good, pour the mixture into the freezer can- place the can into your freezer bucket. Finish filling the freezer can with homogenized milk..Put the lid on, attach the crank---now you are into business!! If there is a little one around, slap a towel on top and place your little sweetie pie on top -- don't forget while you are cranking be sure to tell them a story of the good ole days.....( I am well aware that probably NONE of you have a crank freezer but it may be a good investment--for you & for the lucky child that will have the memory .)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Storm cellars & Bad Clouds
If there is ever a bad storm cloud brewing on the horizon, It has my undivided attention. I hold a very heavy respect for storms and what damage they can do. In the old days most everyone had a storm cellar and it was always near the house, believe me when a bad storm hit you didn't want to go walking half of a mile to the cellar. People didn't call them storms as much as they were referred to as "bad clouds". The cellars were just dug by hand and most would be 6 feet deep or so, cross ties or some sort of timber would be the ceiling then of course the dirt piled on top of that. I remember our cellar door had a rope hanging down on the inside and while we where inside of the cellar during a bad cloud Daddy would sit on the bottom step and hold on to the rope to keep the door from blowing open. Many times I remember the winds being so strong he would brace his feet across the steps and hold on with both hands. Pretty scary, huh?? Mom would store her canned vegetables down in the cellar, there was a lantern down there & maybe a chair or 2. As we would be heading out the door for the cellar Mom would grab a couple of quilts for us to use as pallets.I remember one time we had gone to the cellar and she threw the quilts down on the floor before Daddy got the lantern lit--we were laying there- think it was Mickey,Mike ,Bev and myself on the quilt and Mike (he was very young)told Mom that something was wiggling under his back...I assure you a bolt of lighting couldn't have struck any of us we were moving sooo fast clearing away from the quilt. Unfortunately in a small cellar you just can't go very far--Daddy let go of the door & jerked the quilt up with one hand and used the old shovel he kept down there to club the BIG RATTLESNAKE to death. It was quite exciting, Mom hollering for Daddy to be careful,yelling for us to stay out of the way (HA, no problem there) the kids crying, the ole snake doing his rattling number VERY loud--a tornado could been on top of us and we wouldn't have heard it!! We spent many a night in our old storm cellar "riding out" bad clouds, and not one good memory do I have of those good ole days. First of all its just plain spooky being under the ground, BUT there was a time that many of us would have kissed the dirt floor of a cellar if we could have only been in one. You want to hear about a tornado??Well I have a tale for you!!Tomorrow--
Monday, May 18, 2009
Family time
I am the first to admit that the comforts of our homes today far exceed what we had in our homes in the good ole days --things like air conditioning--no longer necessary to grab your quilt and go looking for the coolest place to make your pallet for the night. Electric dishwashers have to be the best invention EVER--no more fussing whose turn it is to wash dishes--heating the water etc. Many things that have made our life easier and made us more comfortable--I think that these very things have also cost us in the form of time spent together as a family. While doing the dishes with any of my sisters or on a rare occasion my brothers (they always seemed to escape the dish washing)we would talk about everything and share things with one another.. Had we not been thrown into sharing our job together I doubt that we would have talked & shared as we did.
On cold winter nights I reflect back to the nights that Dad would have a big fire going in our old wood stove--which sat in the very center of the living room, we would all "drag" our chairs around the stove and Mom & Dad talked about their day or talked to us about something that was going on in our lives. It was always a family pow-wow--everybody had an input, some more than others (ahem). Many times Mom would pop popcorn and have homemade fudge for us to feast on while we enjoyed the warmth of the stove. If it happen to be a Sat. night we would listen to the Louisiana Hayride on the battery radio--Beverly was the only one that could find the station as something was wrong with the dial, she clamped a wooden clothes pin onto the dial wheel inside of the radio and would turn it just right.It just didn't get any better than those nights- Moms good candy and corn, the big stove generating wonderful heat and that ole radio pumping out great country music..Sometimes Mom & Dad would sing along with them... contentment filled the room. Isn't it strange that something so simple and really just a normal night in those days, left such a lasting impression ----a family of 8 sitting together around the stove,talking,laughing and listening to one another...Now that I look back on it I realize it wasn't just contentment that was felt in the room ,it was the love my family shared -- now dear ones I promise you memories like this can't be beat!!
On cold winter nights I reflect back to the nights that Dad would have a big fire going in our old wood stove--which sat in the very center of the living room, we would all "drag" our chairs around the stove and Mom & Dad talked about their day or talked to us about something that was going on in our lives. It was always a family pow-wow--everybody had an input, some more than others (ahem). Many times Mom would pop popcorn and have homemade fudge for us to feast on while we enjoyed the warmth of the stove. If it happen to be a Sat. night we would listen to the Louisiana Hayride on the battery radio--Beverly was the only one that could find the station as something was wrong with the dial, she clamped a wooden clothes pin onto the dial wheel inside of the radio and would turn it just right.It just didn't get any better than those nights- Moms good candy and corn, the big stove generating wonderful heat and that ole radio pumping out great country music..Sometimes Mom & Dad would sing along with them... contentment filled the room. Isn't it strange that something so simple and really just a normal night in those days, left such a lasting impression ----a family of 8 sitting together around the stove,talking,laughing and listening to one another...Now that I look back on it I realize it wasn't just contentment that was felt in the room ,it was the love my family shared -- now dear ones I promise you memories like this can't be beat!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
My Goose
I told you about Mick & Mike horses and Cinda had her a dog naturally- but I have told you about my pet--guess you could call him that..Mean as the old devil he was - he would chase you to get a a little pinch of your skin than he would twist until you screamed. I am thinking that he got out of Uncle Huts truck one day while he was there--since I have told you how mean he was, don't guess any explanation is needed as to why Uncle Hut left him!
I have never really been a animal lover --(the rest of the family made up for my lack of it) but there was just something about the old contrary goose that I did like. He made me laugh that's for sure --- like the time that uncle Presley was staying with us and was sitting on the porch step about half asleep and ole goosie woosie snook up behind him and got a nice big chunk of Presleys ear--didn't have time to twist it though as Uncle Presley screamed. jumped up and was swinging his fist. The goose takes off around the house- half running and half flying just squawking like crazy...don't blame him as there was a crazy old man running barefoot through the grass burrs cussing him and making all kinds of threats of a cooking pot.
The goose would chase Mick,Mike,Jerry & Bev but never did me or Cinda. Do you think that he may have recognized the contrary nature of my ways?? He was pushing his luck with Daddy-- Mom was always telling Daddy she wasn't cooking a goose. One day Mom was outside hanging out the laundry and this awful commotion started up--the way Mom was yelling my name I knew it wasn't good. As I get to the door I saw daddy sitting in the truck laughing like all get out-all the family was peeking out the windows and telling me that I had better hurry--and what trouble that goose was in..and that this goose was cooked for sure!!!There by the clothes line was Mom going around in circles holding a wet shirt with a goose attached to the end of it -- poor old goosie woosie looked like one of those tilt a whirl rides at the fair being slung around with his wings flapping up & down---up & down-- around & around--. He refused to let go ... I took the shirt from Mom and thought that he would keep holding on and she could go the house---WRONG off he goes chasing her. She made it inside -- don't ever recall seeing Mom run like that.
I came in from school one day and there was no sign of the goose---there wasn't anything cooking in the oven--I couldn't find any feathers laying around. Its a mystery to this day whatever became of him but I wouldn't be at all surprised if one of the neighbors didn't have him laying real close to some cornbread dressing!!
I have never really been a animal lover --(the rest of the family made up for my lack of it) but there was just something about the old contrary goose that I did like. He made me laugh that's for sure --- like the time that uncle Presley was staying with us and was sitting on the porch step about half asleep and ole goosie woosie snook up behind him and got a nice big chunk of Presleys ear--didn't have time to twist it though as Uncle Presley screamed. jumped up and was swinging his fist. The goose takes off around the house- half running and half flying just squawking like crazy...don't blame him as there was a crazy old man running barefoot through the grass burrs cussing him and making all kinds of threats of a cooking pot.
The goose would chase Mick,Mike,Jerry & Bev but never did me or Cinda. Do you think that he may have recognized the contrary nature of my ways?? He was pushing his luck with Daddy-- Mom was always telling Daddy she wasn't cooking a goose. One day Mom was outside hanging out the laundry and this awful commotion started up--the way Mom was yelling my name I knew it wasn't good. As I get to the door I saw daddy sitting in the truck laughing like all get out-all the family was peeking out the windows and telling me that I had better hurry--and what trouble that goose was in..and that this goose was cooked for sure!!!There by the clothes line was Mom going around in circles holding a wet shirt with a goose attached to the end of it -- poor old goosie woosie looked like one of those tilt a whirl rides at the fair being slung around with his wings flapping up & down---up & down-- around & around--. He refused to let go ... I took the shirt from Mom and thought that he would keep holding on and she could go the house---WRONG off he goes chasing her. She made it inside -- don't ever recall seeing Mom run like that.
I came in from school one day and there was no sign of the goose---there wasn't anything cooking in the oven--I couldn't find any feathers laying around. Its a mystery to this day whatever became of him but I wouldn't be at all surprised if one of the neighbors didn't have him laying real close to some cornbread dressing!!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mom
Today being Mothers day my thoughts have been on Mom (& also my sweet mother-in-law')
They were such wonderful women and a blessing in my life.
Being the mother of 6 children, Mom certainly knew every detail of being a mother and always seem to have a solution for any problem that we had, big or small she had answers. Mom was alot like Grandpa Corley- her ability to laugh at so many things when some would want to cry--and she had
the gift of telling great stories as he did. She took after Ma Blanche with her cooking --she was a great cook as most of you can recall. She would carry food to every elderly person that she knew and most likely some that she didn't know. The woman could sew ANYTHING--and didn't use a pattern most of the time. When Jerry was rodeoing -Mom made all of her
riding clothes--no pattern, just design it as she went.When Bev was in high school she wanted a skirt- I believe they were called squaw skirts-anyway they were very popular but too expensive for us to buy. Mom made her one that was beautiful! She made all of our clothes and I don't recall that it bothered any of us not to have store bought clothes--hers was much prettier. She continued loving to sew until her health and eye sight prevented it. One of my funny memories of her sewing is about a little cloth black doll. She called me one day and asked what I was doing--I tell her that I was sewing a little black doll with pig tails. She asked about how tall, how did I do the face, dress her etc.etc. So the next day when I called her she gets to laughing and tells me that after we had talked the day before she goes in & finds some black fabric and cuts out a doll--no pattern, of course--just free hands all of it. I asked how it turned out and she really laughed and said "its the ugliest thing you ever looked at". I told her to keep it that I wanted to see it. My next visit I walk in & she has it sitting on her table & I burst out laughing because sure enough it was the ugliest thing that I had ever seen. She was going to trash it but I told her I wanted it--The little ugly thing is on a shelf in my dining room and makes me smile every time I see it. Mom was a great quilter when she had the time. For years she would meet with the ladies in our community when they met & quilted at each others home. She never could put her name in the drawing that they held each time to determine what sort of covered dish they were to bring to the quilting--they just told her she had to always bring her angel food pie & coconut pie.
Like grandpa, she loved to play jokes on her children and grand-children. How many of you remember playing outside at night and she would slip out the back door and come around the corner of the house with a sheet covering her--making a scary sound? There are so many fun things that she did that I will tell later on....she was a character!!
She loved to make up poems and was good at it--the ones she mailed to us I have saved and I know that Tom has all of the ones she sent him-
There is much to said about Mom one doesn't really know where to start or where to end. We will be remembering her many times in our stories of the old days - she will continue to make us smile with the memories she left everyone of us--We were blessed to have had the love that she so freely bestowed upon all of us--
They were such wonderful women and a blessing in my life.
Being the mother of 6 children, Mom certainly knew every detail of being a mother and always seem to have a solution for any problem that we had, big or small she had answers. Mom was alot like Grandpa Corley- her ability to laugh at so many things when some would want to cry--and she had
the gift of telling great stories as he did. She took after Ma Blanche with her cooking --she was a great cook as most of you can recall. She would carry food to every elderly person that she knew and most likely some that she didn't know. The woman could sew ANYTHING--and didn't use a pattern most of the time. When Jerry was rodeoing -Mom made all of her
riding clothes--no pattern, just design it as she went.When Bev was in high school she wanted a skirt- I believe they were called squaw skirts-anyway they were very popular but too expensive for us to buy. Mom made her one that was beautiful! She made all of our clothes and I don't recall that it bothered any of us not to have store bought clothes--hers was much prettier. She continued loving to sew until her health and eye sight prevented it. One of my funny memories of her sewing is about a little cloth black doll. She called me one day and asked what I was doing--I tell her that I was sewing a little black doll with pig tails. She asked about how tall, how did I do the face, dress her etc.etc. So the next day when I called her she gets to laughing and tells me that after we had talked the day before she goes in & finds some black fabric and cuts out a doll--no pattern, of course--just free hands all of it. I asked how it turned out and she really laughed and said "its the ugliest thing you ever looked at". I told her to keep it that I wanted to see it. My next visit I walk in & she has it sitting on her table & I burst out laughing because sure enough it was the ugliest thing that I had ever seen. She was going to trash it but I told her I wanted it--The little ugly thing is on a shelf in my dining room and makes me smile every time I see it. Mom was a great quilter when she had the time. For years she would meet with the ladies in our community when they met & quilted at each others home. She never could put her name in the drawing that they held each time to determine what sort of covered dish they were to bring to the quilting--they just told her she had to always bring her angel food pie & coconut pie.
Like grandpa, she loved to play jokes on her children and grand-children. How many of you remember playing outside at night and she would slip out the back door and come around the corner of the house with a sheet covering her--making a scary sound? There are so many fun things that she did that I will tell later on....she was a character!!
She loved to make up poems and was good at it--the ones she mailed to us I have saved and I know that Tom has all of the ones she sent him-
There is much to said about Mom one doesn't really know where to start or where to end. We will be remembering her many times in our stories of the old days - she will continue to make us smile with the memories she left everyone of us--We were blessed to have had the love that she so freely bestowed upon all of us--
Friday, May 8, 2009
Little brothers
Children didn't have a lot of toys when I was a little girl--oh we had some toys but nothing like the children nowadays. We used our imagination and created things to play with. Mickey had all that he needed--in the little quarter horse Daddy bought him. Her name was Crybaby--she was a short compact heavy muscled sorrel-and would do ANYTHING he wanted her to do. He roped on her--competed in pole bending--she was good at running the barrels because she very fast. He had the patience to train her to do whatever he wanted--truthfully as long as he was fooling with a horse he was happy and content. Mike would work along with him but if we were playing rodeo Mike would use Daddy's horse. Seems we played rodeo REAL often--like everyday! I would normarly be the announcer and Cinda would clap and cheer. We had an old billy goat --(lands alive I can still remember how bad he smelled) they roped him for awhile until the goat got wise to it. He would go off and hide if he saw Mickey or Mike saddling the horses.
Someone left a mean ole jackass at our house once--now that got to be really fun!! They turned into bronc riders--got their tails thrown off the first few times but was persistent in trying for that 8 second ride... guess that was the first of many ,many 8 second rides for both of my brothers--they were good at what they did!
They had some little metal horses that we would play in the sand with--didn't have a truck or horse trailer so we made them out of match boxes--we'd pick up twigs from tree limbs and build our horse lot out of that. Onetime I carried a little doll out to play with her and fixed her up with a little match box car --colored bright red--really a snazzy little rig--heck I told them she was a cowgirl but before you could say "coming out of chute # 1"--Mike had stepped on the snazzy little rig and Mick had pulled the dolls arm off---they threw a fit that I would try to play with a doll in their rodeo.. NOT TO WORRY though because their sister stepped on the silly horses and bent them--trashed the precious rodeo fences and proceeded to knock the fire out of them--of course the fight was on. Cinda would get scared when we would get to fighting and would run to the house for Momma. Mom could call out our names in such a way that all action ceased in a hurry...
We would fight and fuss but don't all siblings? Not a one of us ever questioned that we were loved by the other. They were the best!
Someone left a mean ole jackass at our house once--now that got to be really fun!! They turned into bronc riders--got their tails thrown off the first few times but was persistent in trying for that 8 second ride... guess that was the first of many ,many 8 second rides for both of my brothers--they were good at what they did!
They had some little metal horses that we would play in the sand with--didn't have a truck or horse trailer so we made them out of match boxes--we'd pick up twigs from tree limbs and build our horse lot out of that. Onetime I carried a little doll out to play with her and fixed her up with a little match box car --colored bright red--really a snazzy little rig--heck I told them she was a cowgirl but before you could say "coming out of chute # 1"--Mike had stepped on the snazzy little rig and Mick had pulled the dolls arm off---they threw a fit that I would try to play with a doll in their rodeo.. NOT TO WORRY though because their sister stepped on the silly horses and bent them--trashed the precious rodeo fences and proceeded to knock the fire out of them--of course the fight was on. Cinda would get scared when we would get to fighting and would run to the house for Momma. Mom could call out our names in such a way that all action ceased in a hurry...
We would fight and fuss but don't all siblings? Not a one of us ever questioned that we were loved by the other. They were the best!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wading mud Puddles
I got to thinking today about the different things that we were told as children for instance--we (Me-Mickey-Mike & Cinda) loved to wade in mud puddles --well in the front of Grandpa's house would be one as big as a small tank-oh it was great fun until grandpa told us we best get out before a turtle grabbed one of our toes because if it latched on to our toe it wouldn't let go until it thundered again ! That really gave us reason to worry about it a little because in that part of the country you can go a LONG time and not hear it thunder. On that particular day we decided we'd just stay right in the middle of the big puddle and Grandpa wouldn't come get us and besides we didn't see any turtles---wasn't long until mike gets to hollering & crying Momma ' Momma help me a turtle has my toe---Beverly came out there & removed her shoes & waded out to get Mike and to remove that big ole turtle--the way he was hollering it just had to be a monster of a turtle--She picks him up and gets to laughing --he had stepped on a big cockleburr & it was wedged between his toes...I don't know why me or Mick one didn't go to help him--guess being ornery or else we thought there may be a big turtle in there after all---
Remembering our ancestors
I hope that sharing stories about our Grandparent's has been giving you a pretty good impression of what kind of people they were and perhaps that you now know them in some small way....it is sad for me to think of these dear people being forgotten in time so hopefully sharing a bit of our heritage--yours and mine--taking a glimpse into their lives -will make all of us keep them alive in our hearts. I believe that the person we become has much to do with someone in our past that made a deep impression or inspired us in some way. That person for me was my Ma Blanche--her labors of love that she performed everyday for her family and other people--her creative and talented hands forever busy making something for someone.. My love for old primitive kitchen antiques goes back to those "good ole days"--my love for sewing and quilting I know I learned from sitting by her side. I would NEVER claim to be the cook that she was but I do still enjoy cooking many of her dishes --even my feeble attempt to tell stories goes back to listening to Ma Blanche & Grandpa telling us stories. Everyone should be so blessed in having such a remarkable and memorable Grandmother.Whenever I read or hear Proverbs Chapter 31 Verses 10-31---I am thinking " that's my Ma Blanche!"....She passed away at the age of 94..
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Grandpa driving (told by aunt Moz.)
Dad went to work on a hay baler for Mr. Ballard and one day Mr. Ballard said "Thead .I have to go home early - you can go home in the truck." Well Dad wouldn't tell him that he didn't drive so when it was time to quit he walked about a mile to Uncle Elmer & Aunt Ruths house and got Uncle Elmer to go get the truck started & when he got it in the right gear for dad -he jumped off of the running board & Dad herded the truck home--next morning Mom did the same thing and he got back to the hay baler and I don't guess that Mr. Ballard ever knew that Dad couldn't drive.
Dad had a beautiful deep bass voice and enjoyed singing. He put nick names on all of his children Marie was -Reecie--Mozelle-Shockie--Lavoice--Peepsie--E.L.-boodie--Foster-Tot--and he called Jan-Janie. When Jan was born and was down syndrone the Dr. told them that her life span would be 8--10 years and that he suggested putting her in a State home ( many did ) Dad sat there a few minutes then said "Thank you Dr. but Jan will live at home and be loved and treated just like our other five." and thats the way it was with him--family and his love for family came first. Jan lived to be 38 yrs.old and had a quality life- could oil paint beautifully- play the organ and was a loyal Steer football fan-she went to all pep rallies and football games. the team honored her one year by presenting her a football jacket. She was such a blessing to everyone1
Dad had a beautiful deep bass voice and enjoyed singing. He put nick names on all of his children Marie was -Reecie--Mozelle-Shockie--Lavoice--Peepsie--E.L.-boodie--Foster-Tot--and he called Jan-Janie. When Jan was born and was down syndrone the Dr. told them that her life span would be 8--10 years and that he suggested putting her in a State home ( many did ) Dad sat there a few minutes then said "Thank you Dr. but Jan will live at home and be loved and treated just like our other five." and thats the way it was with him--family and his love for family came first. Jan lived to be 38 yrs.old and had a quality life- could oil paint beautifully- play the organ and was a loyal Steer football fan-she went to all pep rallies and football games. the team honored her one year by presenting her a football jacket. She was such a blessing to everyone1
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Grandpa & his dogs
Aunt Mozelle continues with her memories--dad loved all animals and always had several dogs--mostly Coon hunting dogs. Late in the afternoon I can still hear him say " Blanche you got time to cook my dogs some corn bread?"she always did and his dogs got sweet milk and corn bread for supper.Dad had a remedy for whatever ailed his dogs,cows,or horses. There wasn't a veterinarian in any of the small towns and rural areas so Dad used remedies that grandpa and granny Miller passed down. I remember him sending me to the Fletchers to borrow some sulphur. He used lots of kerosene,linament,grease from fat meat and sulphur. All of the neighboring men would come by and ask him what he would do for certain illness's. Every week he would go coon hunting with some of his friends- they would come pick him & his dogs up & they would stay out real late sometimes if the dogs was finding coons to tree. He could tell which dog had the coon treed by the sound of its voice. When it was time to call the dogs back & go to the house- he had a horn--made from a cows horn -that he would blow and his dogs would know it was their master & come but the other mans dogs wouldn't as it wasn't the right sound for them. He traded and sold dogs like some do horses.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Grandpa 2
Aunt Moz. continues--One of Dad's favorite memories was when he was breaking a team of horses to pull a plow or wagon.He hitched them to a wagon and Marie (my Mom) wanted to go with him. She was about 2 yrs.old. She was sitting beside Dad and something spooked the horses. They jumped & began to run (its called a runaway) . It threw Marie backwards and she rolled nearly to the back of the wagon. Dad finally got the horses stopped and Marie jumped up & said "Shoot'em
again Daddy shoot'em again". Every farmer around wanted him to stack their bundle feed in the fall because he could put up a neat -tight & strong stack that had staying power.Another memory is that one summer Dad did some fencing for Cecil Ray Epleys dad. Cecil Ray took up with him right away.Cecil had a pony that he rode bareback. One day Cecil came where he was working and he had been running the horse & it had rubbed a sore on his bottom. He wanted Dad to look & see what was hurting ( Cecil was just a little kid) when dad told him it had rubbed a sore & the skin was off - Cecil wanted to know where the skin went. Dad said " Oh it just slid down your leg. He looked around & Cecil was coming out of his pants- dad asked him what he was doing & Cecil said 'I'm hunting that piece of skin so that they could paste it back on"
again Daddy shoot'em again". Every farmer around wanted him to stack their bundle feed in the fall because he could put up a neat -tight & strong stack that had staying power.Another memory is that one summer Dad did some fencing for Cecil Ray Epleys dad. Cecil Ray took up with him right away.Cecil had a pony that he rode bareback. One day Cecil came where he was working and he had been running the horse & it had rubbed a sore on his bottom. He wanted Dad to look & see what was hurting ( Cecil was just a little kid) when dad told him it had rubbed a sore & the skin was off - Cecil wanted to know where the skin went. Dad said " Oh it just slid down your leg. He looked around & Cecil was coming out of his pants- dad asked him what he was doing & Cecil said 'I'm hunting that piece of skin so that they could paste it back on"
Grandpa
I asked Aunt Mozelle a few years ago if she would write down some memories she had of Grandpa and Ma Blanche--she did Grandpa but never got to write Ma Blanche's as her health declined.I want to share with you what she wrote about her Dad (our grandpa).My Dad was a outdoorsman. He knew more about bird tracks and nests and rabbits and even snakes. He watched their tracks -knew habits like where they went for water and what they fed on--and where they lived. He walked most everywhere he went and as he walked he studied the outdoor creatures.He never learned to drive a car & didn't want to. Mom drove wherever we went.My Dad was a prankster & it was his delight to tell one of his tales and the visiting children always believed it. One such was about a night that he was walking home & he heard something coming up behind, getting closer & closer. He saw that it was a big ole ugly black bear & it was gaining on him fast so he stopped and stuck his arm & hand out & when the bear got up there he ran his hand down the ole bears throat, caught him by the tail- turned him wrong side out & headed him back the other way!!
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