| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| downbranchroad |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 09:25:56 AM
I sent this memoir for a contest. I have not heard from it yet...please to do not use this without permission.
Thanks
Visiting Grandma and Grandpa on Edwards Mountain
Grandma and Grandpa Edwards lived on Edwards Mountain in Wayne County, Kentucky, near the Tennessee border. We did not live near them but visited at least once a month in the the summer, sometimes more often. They had ol’ hounds who knew way before anyone got there that company was coming. Those dogs would start "cuttin'a dido" and Grandpa would say to Grandma, "Sally, git some coffee on. Someone’s comin’."
We didn’t go as often in the winter because the road on the mountain was very rough. When we did go I remember that Grandma would always have a big pot of beans with ham hocks or fatback (salted bacon)and a big iron skillet of "taters" on the wood cook stove in the kitchen, and a big pone of cornbread in that little warmin’ cubby above the stove. She always had a biscuit pone for Grandpa because he didn’t eat cornbread much.
I don’t ever remember going there on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day. They would usually come off of the mountain to one of the kid’s house, and everyone would go there. The old log house was small and very cold (Grandma would say those youngens will take new-moanie (pneumonia) if you all come here, so usually they spent holidays with family.
Grandma and Grandpa lived in a three-room log house. In the "front" room they had an iron bed (where they slept), and, of course, where I slept when I was there. The "front" room also had a couch, some straight-back chairs, a treadle sewing machine, and an old dresser. Yes, all in the "front" room.
Oh, I almost forgot, in the winter time an old sheet iron stove sat in the middle of the floor. I remember grandpa would feed that ole stove wood and it would be red hot all the way through the ceiling. Not sure how they kept from burning the house down. They had an old cream-colored battery radio that sat in the window sill, and they listened to Eddie Neal tell the news every time it was on the air. The signal was poor, but they would move the wire clothes hanger antenna around until they got what they thought was the best signal. At this time the house got quiet because Grandpa would raise cain if he missed a word of the news. He always wanted to hear the weather and the obits.
The middle room had an old wardrobe, an iron bed, a rocking chair and tons of "stuff". The kitchen had a table and chairs, a stove, (I remember when they only had a wood cook stove) a table where they washed dishes, a cupboard, and a table by the back door where the water bucket sat, and another table with a "looking glass" over it, where Grandpa kept his "wersh" pan (he shaved at this table). They had an outhouse and then just a place in the woods where you went when you needed to go "outdoors". They never owned a car. Someone took them places, or Grandpa rode his mule.
I knew it was "different" on the mountain (we had so much fun there), but I had no idea that my Grandpa and Grandma were so poor. They may have been poor but they showered us with love and we didn’t even have a clue.
Grandma had 16 "youngens," as she would say. She raised 11 until they were grown. Jesus called Grandpa home in 1976. Grandma was with us until 1993. I still miss them and the old house on the mountain. Aww, but what memories!
Picture of them are on my Blog.
Appalachian Girl
Jem
*If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.
My new blog!
http://downbranchroad.blogspot.com |
| 10 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 1:47:54 PM
To me you already won. What memories you have. I only knew my Grandmother--we called her 'Grammy'--on my mother's side and she was a doctor. She died in 1974 at the age of 94.
We all have our own memories. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| farmgirl blessings |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 1:34:17 PM
Reading your story has made me all misty. I am missing my own dear mountain grandparents as well. I hope you win. You have my vote!
Blessings, Lea
www.farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com
www.farmhouseblessings.etsy.com
www
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot |
| Lainey |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 12:18:55 PM
Joy, what wonderful memories! I wish you luck and hope you win. Some of my great grandparents on my father's side lived a lot like that and I remember visiting my great grandmother, her house was similiar to that right down to the 'drinking water bucket' along with the water dipper. I can still remember the taste of that cool well water.
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
| miss wilma |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 12:01:05 PM
Joy that is the sweetest story, I wish I could be the judge picking,Id pick you
Farm Girl #96
http://www.picturetrail.com/misswilmasplace
http://misswilma.blogspot.com/ |
| downbranchroad |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:30:03 AM
Yes that is what I meant...thanks so much
quote:
Originally posted by JudyBlueEyes
Joy, that is a beautiful story, filled with loving memories! Thank you for sharing. (comment, on your introduction line, do you mean to say, "please do not use this without permission" ? You could edit your post if that's the case.)
I looked at the pictures on your blog and your Grandma and Grandpa look so sweet! Thanks, Judy
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden!
Appalachian Girl
Jem
*If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.
My new blog!
http://downbranchroad.blogspot.com |
| kydeere40744 |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:17:07 AM
I really enjoyed reading this Joy!! It really takes you back in time visiting them. I hope that you win.
~Jessica in Kentucky & Miss Wilma's Niece~
Gardening is a way of showing that you believe in tomorrow...
http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ |
| joyfulmama |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:11:13 AM
you are so lucky to have such wonderful memories. My extended family was/is filled with disfunction. But I did spend a lot of time with my maternal grandmother and do have good memories of that.
Blessings, Debra
Psalms 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want."
http://myvintagehome.blogspot.com
http://woolieacres.net |
| a rose |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 10:08:54 AM
I remember a similar scene though, it was my Aunt and her brood in a log cabin in the woods of the Adirondacks. No lights, no running water, and a wood stove to heat and one to cook on. The spring was so cold year around that they used it as a refrigerator. They also took baths in it BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. They were poor but, I didn't know it when I was a kid. I thought it was a little bit of heaven.
Remember me as a rose. |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 09:39:01 AM
That was a nice read Joy, kind of like the intro to a book???
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| JudyBlueEyes |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 09:33:18 AM
Joy, that is a beautiful story, filled with loving memories! Thank you for sharing. (comment, on your introduction line, do you mean to say, "please do not use this without permission" ? You could edit your post if that's the case.)
I looked at the pictures on your blog and your Grandma and Grandpa look so sweet! Thanks, Judy
We come from the earth, we go back to the earth, and in between, we garden! |
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