Country roads……
Take me home….
To the place….. I belong…..
West Virginia, mountain mama…..
These are the kind of country roads John Denver sang about. This is the road in front of the farmhouse. It’s so narrow, if you see someone coming, you have to pull over because two cars can’t drive on it at the same time. When I was a kid, the road stopped just past the farmhouse, which was owned by Great-Uncle Carl and Great-Aunt Ruby. Carl was an influential man in the county or the road wouldn’t have been paved at all. They paved it up to his farm, and stopped.
Carl and Ruby’s son Bob was in the West Virginia House of Representatives, and he called himself the honorary mayor of Johnson Creek (the creek back behind the house). Carl, Ruby and Bob are all gone now, but Bob’s wife Georgia still lives on the farm in their house. Next door in a new house lives their son, my cousin Mark. Mark is the county district attorney, but when you see him on the farm in his overalls, you’d never guess it.
Georgia tends the garden and cooks for everybody. The garden’s mostly done now except for some corn and tomatoes. She’s a great cook, and she’s the one who takes care of the old farmhouse for company. When I was a kid, we stayed at the farmhouse with Uncle Carl and Aunt Ruby on our way up to the cabin, then stayed with them again on the way back.
Sometimes Aunt Ruby cooked rhubarb from her garden and I always hated that because we had to eat whatever Aunt Ruby cooked. They had a pony when I was little, and one of my most vivid childhood memories was the time that pony got away from us and we ran down the muddy road trying to catch it because we sure didn’t want to tell Aunt Ruby we lost her pony. It was Aunt Ruby’s dying wish that the farmhouse be kept just as it was and open for family to use.
There’s no TV in the farmhouse, so the children have to resort to ::gasp:: playing outside.
Shooting at Coke cans with the BB gun is another form of entertainment in a world with no TV.
Me, I’m planning to sit on the porch today and read. :yes:
Melissa says:
Suz,
I’ve really enjoyed all these pictures. They bring back such great OH/WV childhood memories for me. I had two friends who both took me to their grandparents’s farms on weekends. Wow, the fun we had.
Question: Living in Ohio and visiting WV these grandparents would tell us as children to watch out up in the hills. It was usually a tale of some crazy man running around spitting on you. Myths like this. Did you ever hear any of these?
Thanks for the book. :bananadance:
On September 5, 2005 at 9:09 am
Melissa says:
Btw, Happy Labor Day. I plan to read as well.
Heard any good bluegrass? :guitar:
On September 5, 2005 at 9:10 am
Carol says:
I’m enjoying looking at all the pictures!
It sounds like a really great place!
Happy Labor Day everyone!
On September 5, 2005 at 9:15 am
StDebb says:
I wish I could sit on your porch and read, too. It’s too hot here to sit outside at all.
I wish my son were without TV for awhile, too. And computer games. He could play outside with your two.
Debbie
On September 5, 2005 at 9:46 am
Estella Kissell says:
Reading is a good idea for today!:yes:
On September 5, 2005 at 9:50 am
Mary says:
I’m so glad you’re having a good time.You deserve a rest!
On September 5, 2005 at 10:00 am
Jill says:
I’m getting such a kick out of your pics!
On September 5, 2005 at 10:09 am
Jaq says:
Thanks for sharing the pictures and the memories with us, Suzanne.
On September 5, 2005 at 10:34 am
Michelle says:
Your boys have grown so big!! Where did the time go? Love those pictures. 😉
On September 5, 2005 at 10:42 am
Eve says:
Does CPS know you are depriving these kids of TV and playstation games?LOL
This just sounds so amazing and soul soothing. I think everyone could use a holler right now. Thanks for sharing a bit of it with us.
On September 5, 2005 at 10:45 am
Eve says:
Hot Target is done? Ended? Finished? Awwww Suzanne your killing me. I loved it and I want more:hissyfit:
On September 5, 2005 at 11:32 am
Toni Anderson says:
Suzanne, your boys are so big!!! Mine was 3 yesterday 😕
And they can really survive–without TV 😉
On September 5, 2005 at 11:39 am
Lynn Daniels says:
It looks so relaxing. Enjoy your time on the porch!
On September 5, 2005 at 12:24 pm
Carol Burnside says:
Sounds like a plan.
On September 5, 2005 at 12:44 pm
Mary Stella says:
I love the tales of your trip to the Holler!
On September 5, 2005 at 12:45 pm
Tori says:
It looks and sounds sooooo relaxing. :zzz:
On September 5, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Trish says:
I’ve enjoyed all the tales from the holler, having grown up in a Kentucky holler myself. 🙂
On September 5, 2005 at 2:32 pm
Danica says:
Suzanne, I am really enjoying your trip. I’m not even there, but it feels like I am. Thanks so much for sharing!
On September 5, 2005 at 5:51 pm
Mechele Armstrong says:
Love the pictures. this has been such a neat trip.
On September 5, 2005 at 9:02 pm