Friday, May 29, 2020

Memories...

This was originally posted in 2008. Since then, the house has burned down. So much has changed up there that it does not seem like the same place. I don't know if any one that reads my blog now has read this. Partly cause I cannot remember if I have ever reposted it.
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I debated on posting about this but I just want to share it, though I doubt if I can make you understand the way I feel about this place.

Once upon a time, when my husband and I were young and had stars in our eyes and thought all things were possible, we decided to quit our jobs here in Terre Haute, Indiana and move to Tennessee, my home state. We moved to the little house/cabin in the top picture. I have no idea how old it is, but I have loved that place since I can remember. I still love it, and would move there in a heartbeat--though I don't know what I would do with all my sewing and my husbands things would not fit anywhere there. But there is no house on earth that I would trade that place for if it were mine.

The other picture is one of the views we had from our front yard. And you go on up the holler past that barn to get to the place that Neal and all of us lived...where most of us were born.  (I was and one brother was born in the hospital.)

When we lived up there, my mom's best friend lived at this house pictured here.
In our case, my best friend/sister-in-law lived less than half a mile on down the road from us, and my mom a little bit farther. I visited with both daily, either by phone or actual face to face...and it took me forever to be broke from that when we moved back to Indiana. But it was so good while it lasted.

Out by the barn, I had a garden that would be by most standards a big garden--I had potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, hickory cane corn with cornfield beans growing up those stalks, bush beans , cucumbers, and what all else I cannot remember. I canned beans, and sold beans, and canned sliced green tomatoes and made tomato juice. And canned whole tomatoes. We bought peaches and I canned those.

My husband could shoot his guns off the front porch if he wanted, though he always got out in the front yard and used a picnic table as a rest. He could get in I think 500 yard shots to sight in his rifles....he could shoot his bows in the front yard as well...it was the ideal for us.

I got to stay home while he first got a job at a local college, and from there a lumber yard, and then he got to go to a vocational school and learn to weld. Well, being a little older than the students out of high school, he got along real well with his teacher who was a wonderful man.

There was also machine shop classes taught there--and it had a remedial course it taught two nights a week for people that needed refresher courses.
Roger talked to that teacher and he agreed to let Roger come and set in on those...he would not get credit or anything but he would still have some knowledge of lathes, etc. So he really took advantage of everything he could there and it has served him well throughout his life.

I do not know what the hold is that this place has over me...most of the time autumn makes me so homesick for it. And I dream about it...not as often as I used to, but often enough. And I don't like to wake from the dreams. I always try to go back to sleep and dream more. There is just a feel to the place...it has always had a hold over me.

When we were kids, the owners of this place lived in Michigan and we mowed the yard for them. I loved having that excuse to go up there and go in the house. It never seemed to get hot enough to matter in the summer...about all we ever did when we lived there was open the window in our bedroom and open the back door. The cool air coming off that mountain cooled everything out.

I am linking this to Timeless Thursdays...a bit late.  


21 comments:

  1. Such wonderful memories of a great time in your lives! I am glad you shared it. I appreciate hearing of others lives the way you have shared yours!

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  2. I absolutely loved reading this, Rose. I can just imagine the cool, mountain breeze, the view, the garden. Very special memories. xo

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  3. Such a lovely memory! Makes me want to go to Tennessee. I understand it's a great place to relax.

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  4. Oh, those are some precious memories . Memories help us get through some of life's difficult times.

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  5. Thanks for sharing these delightful memories with us. I know exactly what you mean about feeling attached to a certain place. It is like an invisible cord that seems to hold you eternally tied to a certain spot, a special place where you just 'know' you belong. How wonderful that you actually got to live there for a while and make such special memories. Hugz, Mxx

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  6. I wish you could make the dream come true and move to that house. It sounds like a wonderful place.

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  7. Wonderful memories of a perfect time. How awful that it burned down!!

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  8. What a sweet little house and sweet memories that you will always keep in your heart. You must have been so happy there. It does sound perfect.

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  9. I like the house that holds so much memories for you. So nice to be living so near your mom's and friend's house. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  10. I can understand everything about your memories. I think we all have these wishes of returning to the happy times and being young & close to family.

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  11. How neat and I love your story. This seems to be the week for remembering! HUGS

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  12. Hello,

    I enjoyed your lovely story and happy memories. I like the cute house and the barn is cool. It is great looking back over our lives and happy times. Enjoy your day, have a great weekend!

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  13. I have not read this before and did not know you once lived in TN.. I beleinve it has a hold on you because you were happy there, i can tell you loved it and all the things you could do. the house that has a hold on me the same as this is one i only lived in for a little over 2 years, in KY.. i think i long for it because that was the happiest years of my child hood .. i love this story and I like the house. sad it is burned down

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  14. Thanks for sharing your happy memories of long ago.

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  15. It's probably in your DNA. I really do believe some things we can't explain are passed on to us from generations before. It is wonderful that you can keep such precious memories in your dreams.

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  16. Thank you for sharing this. I loved hearing about your special place in your home state. I understand the hold it has over you very well. A part of you and a part of your heart will always be there as it is your original home. I grew up in Arkansas but I have not lived there since I was 18. A part of my heart and love will always be there as it is my original home. I have a new home now for over 40 years and my children and grandchildren live here. I imagine it is similar for you now with your children and grandchildren near you. Thank you for telling us about this wonderful place.

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  17. It's so interesting how certain places bring back such strong memories and feelings. It must have been a home (and a time) when you felt happy and safe.

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  18. Love your memory post - and yes, looking back at the best parts of lives - is always a good thing. Sad your little house (gone) on the "prairie" (probably wasn't in such place) but it looks that to me. Me who has no idea what a prairie looks like, though.
    Both of you learning those "now old time skills" that helped you both get a head, or was it stay ahead. And probably through out your life have used the skills time and time again. Your own quilting is via that memory, I would image.
    You make me think of the pioneers who took off towards the West, to find those promised lands and in the process found it wasn't all "streets paved with gold" but to survive, they used those honed skills to make it all work...

    I've probably read too many books on that matter, as it was the colonists that came to NZ - bringing much that recreated life her for the indigenous people not always in their best interests...but more about what the Motherland, the United Kingdom needed.

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  19. Rose this is such a beautiful beautiful post that you shared. The way you described the house made me so happy especially that it never gets too hot even in summers (which is a big dream for me because summers here are oven like). Also I am so proud of Roger and you and how you shared those early days of your life together and how Roger worked hard and studied his way to learn new things, that is very admirable!

    And Rose, super super thanks for joining Timeless Thursdays! It made me so happy to see you linked up and you are never too late Rose. I really hope to see you again on our next sessions with such amazing memories like these :) I don;t just get to travel through time, but what's special about this is that I learn more about my friends like you :) Happy New Week dear Rose!

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  20. You wrote so well of your memories that I could see a picture of everything in my mind. Now I miss it too!
    Jeannie@GetMeToTheCountry

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  21. Wow Rose--oh Wow! I remember this piece or one similar. What a charming story you are so eloquent I love reading your words. Take me home, Mountain Mama----I have always loved to hear the stories coming out of the hollers.
    It is where your heart is and the memories are wrapped around your heart.

    Well good for Roger going fishing. He looks very happy and certainly was good for him.

    Have a good week and dream on
    MB

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