Visiting GrandmaWritten by Joyce C. Lock
If creek was up, we had to park car next to gravel country road, then take our shoes off and walk long stretch to barn (wading through water, as water covered road up past barn). The water was knee high ... if you were oldest kid. So, two youngest got carried. While that might have sounded like fun, one was barefoot, trying to keep clothes clean, holding one's shoes up in air, stepping lightly, not knowing what one would be stepping on next. Hopefully, no one would slip and fall into water. And, on top of that, women still wore dresses in those days. So, mom carried lighter little one while trying to keep her dress out of water. It was hard work for all. We also had to make sure to stay in a straight path, so as not to get sucked into creek. Of course, we wouldn't dare cross little wooden bridge, on path before barn, until Dad assured us as to where bridge was located. A miss step could mean creek, of course. Only, hill to house was much steeper; gooey red clay when soaked, with crevices throughout mud road.
| | The Good Old DaysWritten by Joyce C. Lock
Eventful isn't always fun. But, one might as well laugh at it. We worked harder at Grandma's house than any place on earth. There was no electricity in earlier years. Water had to be drawn from well. Milk came straight from cow ... gross. And, food was still alive! The table was set with all sorts of foreign oddities modern day children would abhor. If it didn't come in a box or bag, forget it. This was a really good week to go on a diet! None of us ... absolutely none of us sisters ever have any desire to go camping, fishing, hunting, or even to have a garden. We got our fill in our early years. The good old days my foot! I bet I could write a funny page about them good old days. Grandma thought for sure them there chickens would peck us to death! The only thing worse than stinky splinter potentialed outhouse was dreaded ice cold pot. And, if there wasn't a full moon, you were on your own. We'd often cheat and pee just outside front door, thinking it would be dry by morning, none wiser. Maybe that's why there was never anything green growing around doorway.
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