The Good Old Days

I look back on how my grandparents used to live on a tiny little farm in central Ohio, back then we were told stories about the good ole days they had, which were much more rustic than anything I ever lived through and I think I might have liked it. I want to live on a farm again. I've been told I am crazy, it is long hours and a lot of work, so I want to live on a farm with someone who will work hard with me. That way I won't have to do it all myself and maybe I could get a back rub now and then. 

Anyways, grandma and grandpa grew their own garden, had a grape vine on a trellis that we used as a fort, we had a couple of milking cows and made fresh butter, we had some stinky pigs that produced yummy bacon and a horse that grandpa would give me rides on, even after a long work day. Oh, how things are different today and no wonder families are not happy anymore...they just aren't living life.;' 

My brother, sister and I stayed at my grandparents every weekend and I loved it. Under the willow tree was our imaginary world, we rode bikes up and down the gravel lane, I loved playing with metal Tonka trucks scooping up dirt and moving it into a pile to play cars on or race ants. I got exercise running from bees, because I was so afraid of them. I was always getting stung even when I didn't try to disturb them. It must have been all that sweetness of my personality. 

Grandma took us to church every Sunday and after church we had a big Sunday dinner where all the kids and grand kids could come over to eat. I never knew until I was grown with kids and grandpa had passed that he made the meat for dinner in a pressure cooker and started the potatoes and veggies, so when "Maw" got home she could finish up before everyone gathered. I miss that most of all, when it was a few of us we got to sit at the table with the grown ups, I don't miss all the food my uncles ate, because I was too slow eating. They'd just grab your plate if all the other food was gone and eat it up.  

We made our own fun. My most favorite thing was playing hide and seek in the barn. One side was grandpa's hangout with his boys and the other was for the tractor, hay loft and animal feed, but it was my place to sneak around and explore, at least, until I got caught. We were not supposed to play in the barn and it was adventurous and scary when grandpa opened the barn door and got onto us for being inside again. I loved that forbidden place.

How to make butter:

Grandma made butter using a butter churn, but you can make it without one. Pour cream into a mason jar and screw on the lid and shake the jar for 15-20 minutes until a soft clump of butter forms. Pour the liquid buttermilk off into a separate jar and keep it for a buttermilk recipe. The solid butter can be placed in a tub or wrapped in a piece of plastic.