I was remembering playing with my brothers when we were kids. Every Easter we each got a stuffed bunny in our Easter basket. The bunnies were named really original names like "Girl Bunny" and "Boy Bunny". For some reason my younger brother's bunny was named "Dirty Bunny". I know that wasn't its first name but that is the name we called it when we played together.
I had lots of dolls and I played with them by myself since brothers don't know how to play dolls. I don't remember being the dolls' mother. I do remember pretending the dolls were orphans and I was in charge of them. I couldn't remember my dolls' names or I changed their names so often the names didn't stick. Suzy was a popular name for my dolls.
But back to the bunnies. My brothers and I played pretend games with stuffed animals like the bunnies and small, molded plastic animals that came in sets. I had a plastic lamb called "Cornelia". Now there is a name for a toy and why can I remember that? I think I was reading a book with a main character named Cornelia.
Anyway, my brothers and I made up fantastic adventures for our animals. We built buildings and roads out of blocks, boxes, and whatever we could find. It was much more fun than playing orphanage alone with my dolls.
This was back before Legos but I did have a set of American plastic bricks and Michael had Lincoln logs. We would build elaborate towns and beg to be allowed to leave them up so we could continue our story the next day.
The TV wasn't on all day long. There were no video games or computers. We found ways to entertain ourselves for hours with our imaginations and basic non-electronic toys.
What do you remember about childhood playtime?
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
More Mom Memories
Yesterday I tried to get mom to tell me about a trip her parents took when she was six or seven years old. I asked her about the doll they brought back to her from that trip.
She remembered what she was doing when they came home from the trip. She was playing outside on their seesaw. A sister was sitting one end and mom was walking up the board to the other end.
Their parents came up in the car and her sister got up to run to their parents. Mom fell on a nail that was sticking out of the seesaw handle. They had to pull her off the nail. After she told me about this accident, she remembered two more times that she hurt her knee.
Mom was not sickly as child but she was not as active as her siblings. She had some foot issues and had to wear corrective shoes for a long time. It is interesting to me that she is has lived longer than her sisters and brothers even though she was less healthy as a child.
She remembered what she was doing when they came home from the trip. She was playing outside on their seesaw. A sister was sitting one end and mom was walking up the board to the other end.
Their parents came up in the car and her sister got up to run to their parents. Mom fell on a nail that was sticking out of the seesaw handle. They had to pull her off the nail. After she told me about this accident, she remembered two more times that she hurt her knee.
Mom was not sickly as child but she was not as active as her siblings. She had some foot issues and had to wear corrective shoes for a long time. It is interesting to me that she is has lived longer than her sisters and brothers even though she was less healthy as a child.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Seed Planting
It is so very cold. Not even near seed planting time. This is another memory post after visiting with mom. I brought mom a plastic tub of children's books because it has been so cold she hasn't been able to go to the library to check out books and she has read everything in her house more than once.
For some reason this made her remember about when her family moved from Brookhaven to Jackson. Their first weekend was spent in the boarding house of a Mrs. Jones. I think it was somewhere near Poindexter Park. The landlady took mom and maybe her sisters to the public library to get library cards on that first Saturday in Jackson. Then on Sunday she took them to church at Calvary Baptist Church. That is how mom became a member of Calvary.
Years later mom was a Sunday School teacher at the same church. She visited families who had children who rarely came to church. Mom encouraged parents to bring their children to church. The little girls in one family she visited started coming to church regularly and grew up at Calvary. The girls each had two children that I taught in choir and Sunday School.
Now one grandson of the original family is grown, married, and going through chemo for cancer. He writes a blog that I just started following. Praying for him and his family.
Thinking about the seed that Mrs. Jones planted in 14 year old Helen and the sweet Christian that Bryce has grown to be.
For some reason this made her remember about when her family moved from Brookhaven to Jackson. Their first weekend was spent in the boarding house of a Mrs. Jones. I think it was somewhere near Poindexter Park. The landlady took mom and maybe her sisters to the public library to get library cards on that first Saturday in Jackson. Then on Sunday she took them to church at Calvary Baptist Church. That is how mom became a member of Calvary.
Years later mom was a Sunday School teacher at the same church. She visited families who had children who rarely came to church. Mom encouraged parents to bring their children to church. The little girls in one family she visited started coming to church regularly and grew up at Calvary. The girls each had two children that I taught in choir and Sunday School.
Now one grandson of the original family is grown, married, and going through chemo for cancer. He writes a blog that I just started following. Praying for him and his family.
Thinking about the seed that Mrs. Jones planted in 14 year old Helen and the sweet Christian that Bryce has grown to be.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Two weeks well spent
Going back to work in the morning and I just have to reflect on these two weeks off.
First, time spent with family was enjoyable. Friday (Dec. 20) Liam spent the night and wore Gran and Grumps out! Martin and I went to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at church. Sang lots of favorite carols-remembering Christmas Eve in London. Then we had everyone for lunch on Christmas after eating breakfast with Ben and Emily and watching Liam open presents. More presents at lunch and fun with a remote control helicopter that Martin bought for the 'older' kids. Took some goodies to mom with Joey and Jessie. Martin hadn't thought to take off the day after Christmas, so had to go to work. The 3 J's went to see the second Hunger Games movie. Dinner at Biaggi's then Joey and Jessie drove home.
New Year's Eve I spent with Emily and that was fun. We shopped, ate lunch with Ben, went grocery shopping, had some quiet reading time, then picked up Liam and visited with mom. No fireworks but comfortable conversation and time together. Just right!
I had two quilt projects that I wanted to get done so I spent lots of time sewing. Tonight I finished lap quilt # 3. Just a few minor details to do before they are completely done-labels and a little hand-sewing. Oh and almost forgot-made a little corduroy jacket and fleece blanket for Liam. Didn't get a photo but was happy with the finishes.
The sewing didn't take all my time. I read three novels and started two more. I'll write more later about the books. Got to go to choir practice. Back to the routine.
First, time spent with family was enjoyable. Friday (Dec. 20) Liam spent the night and wore Gran and Grumps out! Martin and I went to the candlelight Christmas Eve service at church. Sang lots of favorite carols-remembering Christmas Eve in London. Then we had everyone for lunch on Christmas after eating breakfast with Ben and Emily and watching Liam open presents. More presents at lunch and fun with a remote control helicopter that Martin bought for the 'older' kids. Took some goodies to mom with Joey and Jessie. Martin hadn't thought to take off the day after Christmas, so had to go to work. The 3 J's went to see the second Hunger Games movie. Dinner at Biaggi's then Joey and Jessie drove home.
New Year's Eve I spent with Emily and that was fun. We shopped, ate lunch with Ben, went grocery shopping, had some quiet reading time, then picked up Liam and visited with mom. No fireworks but comfortable conversation and time together. Just right!
I had two quilt projects that I wanted to get done so I spent lots of time sewing. Tonight I finished lap quilt # 3. Just a few minor details to do before they are completely done-labels and a little hand-sewing. Oh and almost forgot-made a little corduroy jacket and fleece blanket for Liam. Didn't get a photo but was happy with the finishes.
The sewing didn't take all my time. I read three novels and started two more. I'll write more later about the books. Got to go to choir practice. Back to the routine.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Happy Boxing Day
Well, I don't know if that is the greeting for December 26 but had to try it. Yesterday was fun with family. Went to B & E's to watch Liam open presents. At 18 months he doesn't quite have the concept of presents and opening wrapped packages but he loved all the things he got. Then we came to our house and finished getting lunch ready. Joey & Jessie made good time from Memphis and we had lunch and time for presents again. I made Liam a navy corduroy jacket and fleece blanket with trucks all over it. Martin gave me five pairs of cute socks and four pairs of earrings. Be on the lookout for cats on my feet and ears.
Today Martin had to work but Joey, Jessie, and I went to see the Hunger Games movie # 2. It was actually better than the book. Ready to see the next one. Tomorrow the guests will drive home, Martin will be back at work, and I will get some sewing done. I have a zigzag quilt started for Alicia and have several ideas for quilts that I want to start. Then there is the list of unfinished quilts I need to complete.
Oh, and what am I reading these days? I picked up two free paperbacks at the library. They are mysteries written in the 1940's. The detective is a former governess, Miss Silver. Really enjoyed reading the first one and can't wait to read the next one. Hope there are more at the library. Enjoying time at home.
Today Martin had to work but Joey, Jessie, and I went to see the Hunger Games movie # 2. It was actually better than the book. Ready to see the next one. Tomorrow the guests will drive home, Martin will be back at work, and I will get some sewing done. I have a zigzag quilt started for Alicia and have several ideas for quilts that I want to start. Then there is the list of unfinished quilts I need to complete.
Oh, and what am I reading these days? I picked up two free paperbacks at the library. They are mysteries written in the 1940's. The detective is a former governess, Miss Silver. Really enjoyed reading the first one and can't wait to read the next one. Hope there are more at the library. Enjoying time at home.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Busy, Busy, Busy
I am busy. Can you tell from the post title? Putting together a reading conference and working full time as a teacher makes me a little crazy, right? The conference is driving me crazy. The number of participants is way down from previous years and I am having to cut items to save money. The last count has only 127 registered. That is impossibly low. Last year we had over 300. Did that many people feel that meeting at a casino was a vital part of the conference? I hope not. If so, I am very disappointed in the professional quality of my peers.
The conference program book is coming along but I will need help with the layout. Hopefully, hubs will help since that is his daily work. Soon I will finish the preparations and just have to sit back and let things happen as they will. Very hard for a control freak like me.
My book escape has been and continues to be the Stephanie Plum Mysteries. I try to save reading the books as a reward for getting something done on the conference.
My quilt escape actually is two quilts. I started a chevron quilt for a niece and then had a brainstorm to give the conference keynote speaker a quilt. So I will be working on quilts during Thanksgiving break. That should keep my mind off things I can't control.
Breakfast is ready so I will sign off.
The conference program book is coming along but I will need help with the layout. Hopefully, hubs will help since that is his daily work. Soon I will finish the preparations and just have to sit back and let things happen as they will. Very hard for a control freak like me.
My book escape has been and continues to be the Stephanie Plum Mysteries. I try to save reading the books as a reward for getting something done on the conference.
My quilt escape actually is two quilts. I started a chevron quilt for a niece and then had a brainstorm to give the conference keynote speaker a quilt. So I will be working on quilts during Thanksgiving break. That should keep my mind off things I can't control.
Breakfast is ready so I will sign off.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Visiting Grandmother in the 1930's
On Tuesdays when I visit mom, I try to get her to remember things from her childhood. This week she remembered visiting her grandparents in Clinton. They lived in Brookhaven and took day trips to Clinton to visit her maternal grandparents. I remember their house because when I was a kid we would visit one of mom's aunts who lived in the old home place.
Mom remembered stopping at the Redwood Inn on Terry Road on the way back to Brookhaven. If they behaved at their grandparent's, they could get a foot long hot dog or a cold soda.
Nowadays there are many ways to go from Clinton to Brookhaven but back in the 1930's the main roads were Clinton Boulevard and Terry Road. Mom said the pavement ended around Terry and was gravel from there to Brookhaven. She said sometimes they would take a back road short cut that went from Terry cross country to Clinton. She didn't think it was Springridge Road or Midway but maybe McRaven or Maddox. She said that it was a narrow, dirt road.
I asked how all seven children fit in the car. She said they sat in the front and back seats and there was a system of taking turns sitting in the front, back, and by the windows. She said she didn't care that much about sitting by the window because her hair was cut in a short bob and the wind would whip her hair into her eyes and mouth.
Corona, mom's mom, was the youngest of a large family. My uncle John said the Smith family first lived in Brownsville which is down Tinnin Road outside of Clinton. There is nothing there now but at one time there was a schoolhouse.
When I was in high school I asked my great-uncle Sam, one of Corona's brothers, about the brick streets in Clinton. I thought the bricks had been there since the Civil War. Uncle Sam said he remembered when the streets were paved with bricks in the 1920's. And he told me about the first time he saw a car. He went to Mississippi College and lived in the dorm. He said the students had to cook their own meals over the fire in their rooms. Uncle Sam was a teacher, principal, and administrator in Louisiana.
This has rambled more than I thought it would but I want to record these memories. Mom is the last of her siblings. I never knew my grandparents. I would like to have these to read over again.
Mom remembered stopping at the Redwood Inn on Terry Road on the way back to Brookhaven. If they behaved at their grandparent's, they could get a foot long hot dog or a cold soda.
Nowadays there are many ways to go from Clinton to Brookhaven but back in the 1930's the main roads were Clinton Boulevard and Terry Road. Mom said the pavement ended around Terry and was gravel from there to Brookhaven. She said sometimes they would take a back road short cut that went from Terry cross country to Clinton. She didn't think it was Springridge Road or Midway but maybe McRaven or Maddox. She said that it was a narrow, dirt road.
I asked how all seven children fit in the car. She said they sat in the front and back seats and there was a system of taking turns sitting in the front, back, and by the windows. She said she didn't care that much about sitting by the window because her hair was cut in a short bob and the wind would whip her hair into her eyes and mouth.
Corona, mom's mom, was the youngest of a large family. My uncle John said the Smith family first lived in Brownsville which is down Tinnin Road outside of Clinton. There is nothing there now but at one time there was a schoolhouse.
When I was in high school I asked my great-uncle Sam, one of Corona's brothers, about the brick streets in Clinton. I thought the bricks had been there since the Civil War. Uncle Sam said he remembered when the streets were paved with bricks in the 1920's. And he told me about the first time he saw a car. He went to Mississippi College and lived in the dorm. He said the students had to cook their own meals over the fire in their rooms. Uncle Sam was a teacher, principal, and administrator in Louisiana.
This has rambled more than I thought it would but I want to record these memories. Mom is the last of her siblings. I never knew my grandparents. I would like to have these to read over again.
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