Thursday, August 23, 2007

Childhood Photos

I found these photos in my Grandmothers album the other day and thought they were so neat.

All of these were made at my grandparents farm in White Gate, VA.
The first one is too funny. I had broken my arm that summer while playing "War" in a tree. One of my "friends" pushed me out of the tree and I landed on a rake handle and broke my arm. I don't even want to think what would have happened if I had landed on the pointy part of the rake. Anyway, I climbed back into the tree and slugged him before I went and told anyone that my are hurt. The dress I am wearing is homemade from my great aunt Clara, I loved that dress. Check out the injured doll. This was my favorite doll. She was cloth with a thin plastic face. The whole forehead part of the doll is punched in. She was very loved. The little girl with me is my sister, obviously hogging the Bugles. There is also a lovely shot of the cow "patty" beside me.
To get to my grandparents farm, you had to cross a swinging bridge. That's me at 6 years old, hanging on for dear life. If the water was low enough, you could drive through the ford in the creek, but not always. We crossed that bridge in sleet, snow, wind, you name it. There was also a nice little hike through the woods to get to the bridge. It was a real pain to carry groceries to the house this way, but we did what we had to do.
This is a picture of my whole family including my grandfather. This was made at the edge of their property that bordered Bland Correctional Farm. At the time it was a low risk detention center that put inmates to work on a farm. My grandfather was a guard there for 35 years. My mom is standing beside my grandfather. I have very few pictures of my mother as she was usually the one behind the camera. My mom died from leukemia about 3 years after this photo. She was 37 years old. I am sitting on the far right on the fence. I was about 13 years old. My Dad and sister are sitting on the fence with me.
I love looking through old photos of our family, I love to see how the clothing styles have changed, how the interior of homes have changed, but mostly just looking at the people that I love brings such a warm and comfortable feeling in me.
Have a blessed day!

Linda

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

How priceless are these photos?! WOW! What a find...

Andrea said...

I can tell these old pictures brought back some find memories. Nice pictures to be from way back when.

Tamara B. said...

Thank you for sharing such wonderful memories. I remember when I was a kid, we loved bugels. Do they still make those?

Kelli said...

Those are wonderful photos, Linda! I would have been nervous crossing that bridge but it's a very neat way to get to your grandparent's house! I had to laugh when you said you went and slugged the kid who pushed you!
Kelli

Suzy said...

Wonderful photos from the past!!
As a child, you had to think that the swing bridge was just the neatest thing!(and you were probably too young to be fearful!

smilnsigh said...

Oh thank you for sharing these lovely old photos with us.

I love it that you climbed back up and punched out the 'ratty' kid!!

And I love the rope bridge to the house. I can't imagine having to use it, in bad weather, though. But as you say, we do what we have to do.

More so in the older days though, I think. Or am I just sounding old, when I say that? -giggles-

Mari-Nanci