Just don’t grow up so fast
There’s only so much sand in the hourglass…
So don’t grow up so fast
Nobody wants a bee-hind full of nettles
Over the years, the old-timer-up-the-road has given me a lots of advice… albeit, mostly ridiculous advice, but advice nonetheless. “Never get involved with the mafia,” he whispered to me one day in the barn, peeking over the back of a cow. “Whaaaaat?” I replied incredulously, as my eyes rolled around a little. “Hush, girly,” was…
Memorial Day
A white marble headstone, in the Netherlands American Cemetery, marks the grave of a man who gave his life for his country during WWII. He was killed on February 23, 1945 during the battle of the Roer River. He was just 22 years old. His ultimate sacrifice will not be forgotten. Our flag does…
WPC: Half-Light (pronounced ‘lĕh-‘nérd ‘skin-‘nérd)
It’s no secret that I’m a die-hard Lynyrd Skynyrd fan. I may be giving away my age by divulging that I spent my early childhood listening to 8-track tapes of the band. Not even a ruler crack across the knuckles, from Sister Innocenta, could break my devotion. Matter of fact, “Sweet Home Alabama” is my…
WPC: grid (haymow)
True craftsmanship has become a thing of the past. The days of horse-drawn logging, hand-hewed beams and even handmade nails are mostly extinct. Fortunately, the legacy of those skilled workers still lives on in many old barns around the country. With nothing more than hammers, saws and measuring tapes made from leather, they constructed grids…
Windowsill tomatoes
One of my earliest childhood memories is the kitchen of my paternal grandmother. It was a tiny room with baby blue walls and a hulking white enamel, coal fired stove. A harvest gold refrigerator sat catty-corner across from the stove and was always filled with Hershey’s fudge pops. And next to the fridge, were two…
I hope you had the time of your life…
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test and don’t ask why It’s not a question but a lesson learned in time It’s something unpredictable but in the end is right I hope you had the…
Cherry chapstick and other important things
After a long day, complete with an unfortunate incident involving a deer and my vehicle, I have concluded that I no longer want to be an adult. I am officially resigning as a grown-up and immediately reverting back to a time when the most important things were: Splashing in mud puddles Snow days The ice…
My roots are starting to show…
Growing up, I only had the privilege of knowing my grandparents. My great-grandparents were lost to the ages well before I was born. So was all their history – their parents’ names, the towns they were born in, the stories of their journeys to America. Not knowing who these people were has always haunted me.…
Last of the dairy cows
For almost 85 years, my husband’s family milked cows at our farm. Twice a day, everyday, without fail. In 1949, during the time his grandfather milked, there were 2,299 operating dairy farms in the county where we live. Small dairies generated enough income to support the family and the farm operation, and if you were…
My first 8-track tape (aka Why I will always love John Denver)
I first met John Denver in 1974, when I sat down in front of the TV to watch “The John Denver Special.” I was five years old and instantly smitten and a die-hard John Denver fan was born. About a year later, I was able to get my hands on his latest album “Windsong” after…
The old milking stool
This was Buck’s milking stool. He was a dairy farmer most of his life. He milked with his sons, twice a day, every day. He worked from sun up ’til sun down. There were never any vacations, sick days or holidays. It was a hard life, but if you asked him, he would tell you…
The Farmers in the Dell 