They do Barbalee, especially when somebody comes up missing!

Love your little Sebright rooster. Kitties are cute too!

I hardly know when or where to begin, but I can relate to and appreciate the backgrounds and interests of many of you including Bonnie, Sherry, Arlyn, Lucy, Tom, Mary Ann & Leslie to name a few! I will try my best not to bore anyone to death; and I’ll try to keep it simple (and short).

Like Tom I began my formal education in a one-room school building. I began as a kindergartener with about ten other local kids going half-days. We walked to & from school on a dirt road a little more than a half mile. That was in the days of “Dick & Jane along with Spot, Puff and baby Sally”. “See Spot run. Oh look at Puff jump.” It is strange how these simple things are never forgotten! This was my only kindergarten picture unless there’s one still in a shoe box somewhere.

We farmed at that time in Jackson Country, Michigan. Crops included corn, potatoes, and onions, onions and more onions! We smelled like onions at harvest time. All work was done manually without the modern convenience of herbicides and twelve-row planters. Food came from the vegetable garden or from a Ball or Mason jar stored in the cellar. Town and grocery stores were rare weekly trips; and fried chicken came from the chicken house- not from KFC! Milk came from the milking stall out in the barn, or from little glass bottles at school. We had not heard of Pizza except the leaning one in Italy. It was to say the least a very different world and lifestyle back then. How the world has changed!

I suppose that was the beginning of my indoctrination of “green thumb-itis” back then. Somehow in the childhood years of my life the idea of growing things became ingrained into my brain as being necessary and vital. I have no other explanation. Entertainment was a free black and white movie shown on a large white sheet in the town square on Saturday nights in summer. In winters it was most likely a radio broadcast from Nashville on Saturday night. Usually everyone listened and enjoyed the pure unadulterated sounds of true country genre. This has disappeared from today’s culture totally! Among my personal favorites of today are the late Johnny and June Carter Cash, the late Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, the late Marty Robbins and Dolly Parton to name a few, and I want to mention Red Foley and Kitty Wells too.

I said I would keep this short. A more recent picture with another hobby.

Leon, I remember Dick and Jane, and see Spot run. I grew up in the city and in early grade school we had a small garden at the school which we planted radishes and some other vegetables. Maybe that's where I first started my love of gardening.

So I'm guessing your a pilot, and Tom lives by an airport....

Loved it, Leon. More please.

I see where you are going with that Barbara. Yes, use of a plane would be great for the "night" diggers.

Tom - I say you are in the second row, second from the left.

Leon - the kittens are so cute!!

iciris said:Leon, I remember Dick and Jane, and see Spot run. I grew up in the city and in early grade school we had a small garden at the school which we planted radishes and some other vegetables. Maybe that's where I first started my love of gardening.

So I'm guessing your a pilot, and Tom lives by an airport....

I'm not even qualified for a crop duster!

I am lynn and addicted to Iris. I have a backyard that is all garden but I can always find places to put more plants! I used to garden professionally before a knee problem that resulted in 2 right knee replacements. I garden in Michigan south of Detroit Zone 6.

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Leon, how well I remember those bottles of milk! And did you take those "goiter" pills? (Iodine pills) We had a wood furnace down in the basement, and we had to stack wood and feed the fire in the winter. No running water in school, only a large crock bubbler. Out door toilets! Oh God how funny this would all seem to kids today.

Leslie, you got it!

Awesome to hear, @SpringGreenThumb. I can't imagine 17, as my 3 felt like g-force! And add teaching piano and gardening...I further can't imagine!

tveguy3 said:Leon, how well I remember those bottles of milk! And did you take those "goiter" pills? (Iodine pills) We had a wood furnace down in the basement, and we had to stack wood and feed the fire in the winter. No running water in school, only a large crock bubbler. Out door toilets! Oh God how funny this would all seem to kids today.

I can't remember the iodine pills, but I sure do remember the wood burning furnace. Ours also had a tank for warming water for hand washing. And our "gurgle" water dispenser came with little paper cups that looked like funnels. And yes, we had outdoor toilets too! Unbelievable in today's world! Somewhere I know there's a picture of my first grade class, and when I find it I want to post it here. Funny how things get lost after 40-50 years!
We also had a bell in the belfry above the school building: It was hand operated with a long rope. That would be priceless today!

Barbalee said:Awesome to hear, @SpringGreenThumb. I can't imagine 17, as my 3 felt like g-force! And add teaching piano and gardening...I further can't imagine!

I'm sure the blessing of them all is true...mine were all blessings and I would have liked to have more. Life just didn't work out that way! I'm glad it did for you!!

Yup we had the bell tower too, but usually the teacher rang the hand held bell to call us in from recess.

Hi you all,

Howdy from Texas,
My name is Nanette, I am a stay home Mom with 2 grown boys, used to work at Real Estate and Property Management overseas.
I am originally from Jakarta, Indonesia and came to the US a little over 26 years ago and love it here.
Because of my husband job as a Contractor we had to live in few different countries and the last place we lived was Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, before made Fort Worth, Texas our home 11 years ago.
My love for gardening came from My late Mom before she died many years ago. She loved her flowers and Roses was her favorite...
The hardest part I found to do my gardening was when we lived in Jeddah, there was only a little part of the year that was quite nice and I can have my Petunia, moss Roses, Zinnias etc.. before the fierce heat made it impossible to keep them looking great... But the bougainvilleas grow really good there..beside Dates and Palm trees they are allover the place...
I don't even remember how I found this site but I am soooo glad I did it...It's been a wonderful experience, lots of learning and most important is get to know all of you, my kind, helpful, super friendly and generous gardening friends... and now I have to admit I am an addict too...

Thank you Gabe and everyone,

Wow, Nanette! This is all good to know!

Thanks Barbalee...and I found you too...

So Leon -- if you're not a pilot, why are you leaning casually against an airplane?

Have I mentioned that I refuse to fly? I tried it once (actually twice because we had to come home) -- and I didn't like it. See no reason to repeat an unpleasant experience. So -- if I can't drive there, I don't go there!!!!

I am also of the *Dick and Jane, see Spot run* era. There's an age giveaway!!! We didn't live in the country, so no outdoor toilets. However -- my Mom's hometown was in southern Indiana, and when we went to visit, THEY (and therefore we) had/used outdoor toilets. *Outhouses*, as it were. What an eye-opener THAT was.

Betsy -- 17 children? Seventeen children?? SEVENTEEN children?????????? That must be some kind of record. I am in awe. (Thoughts from a mother of none).

Howdy Nanette!!! (where's a cowboy hat when I need one...........)

Seriously Leon -- why are you leaning against an airplane?????