Part 1 (introduction)
I am going to tell you about a woman, who was an integral part of my life. This lady was from the old southern way of life. So, needless to say, she had her “old south” way of thinking.
Grandma, was born back in the late 1800’s and lived to be the ripe old age of 99yrs. three months and nineteen days. She almost made it to a hundred. She managed to make it through the Civil War era and lived quaintly in a sheltered manner. Women, had it rough back then, but somehow made things happen without all our modern appliances.
My Grandmother, raised thirteen kids, and worked in the fields right along beside her husband. She would go to the river, and fish for supper. Bring the fish home, clean them and cook them. During all these times, she had everyone of the babies, at home, while tending to household chores and the need of the older children.
As I try to write about my grandmother, I will write about her in episodes. Each episode, will give character to the lady and her long healthy life.
Introduction-Part 2
Born in 1861, Grandma lived in the modest manner of a “share cropper’s” child and yes even later, wife. The Mobile, Alabama area would be her home for awhile and on to Georgia, then Texas, as they family moved along to have better resources to survive. I guess they followed the other families that migrated to Texas in search of jobs.
Grandma, was a small girl and even later a small built woman. I don’t believe she stood more than, 4′ 11″ during my time with her. If she weighed 100 lbs. I would have been surprised.
As a young girl she, played with her brothers and sisters, while her mom, sat in the house in the loom weaving cloth for clothes. Her father would work for other farmers in their field’s for a days wages, and a portion of the crops available. He worked the fields at home and raised as much food as he was able to each year. Thirteen kids plus a wife, was a large job to maintain. Each year they had to salvage as much food as they could, to make it through the winter and into the next spring. They raised cows, chickens, pigs, goats, & sheep to slaughter for meat, milk, eggs, lard and use other portions of the animals, for hides, wool and you name it. They canned what they could, smoked the meat in a smokehouse, where it hung until used. Put the other food in a cellar or under the house, to save for later. The older children assisted in these chores, while the smaller children pacified themselves, with the home made toys they had. Nothing was ever store bought, unless it was “staples”, and that wasn’t very often.
