Before the back porch was turned into a family room it was a wonderful place for storage, playing and work. We had a porch swing there that the entire family enjoyed. The washing machine was used there and wash was hung on clotheslines along the south and west of the house. If the lines were full, we used the wire yard fence to hang them. In winter we hung them out and they froze. We could sit on the porch swing and try to catch sparrows that had built their nests up under the eaves by throwing salt on their tails. (We were gullible.) After the wash was done, we used the water (nothing was wasted) to wash down the porch and cistern rock. The cistern got slick when it was wet, so we could “swim” or skate on it. Under the porch was a crawl space. Usually the kittens were born under there and we had to crawl in that spidery, snakey place to get them. One time there was a cottonmouth snake around the cistern rock. We had to be very careful after that. The gutters from the house brought the rain into the cistern rock and this was pumped up and carried into the house for cooking, cleaning and washing.
kittens
Kittens… by Carolyn Jean
This memory is brought to you by Carolynn Jean Schlichmann.
Now, one summer morning around the fourth of July, if not on the fourth, Aunt Marjorie, Uncle Edgar and Kathy stopped by on their way out to Grandma’s for the day. They offered to take me along and I was thrilled to be able to spend the whole day at Grandma’s. Upon departing my Dad said, “Why don’t you take a couple of kittens along because Grandma needs some!” I was happy to oblige, so Mom got a box, put some rags in it and two little kittens. I didn’t think we needed a box, we could hold them and play with them on our laps, but I went along with the idea anyway. Off we went motoring out Tanner Bridge Road. Not far down the road a horrendous odor filled the car. Aunt Marjorie made a comment as we passed a barn lot. Well, I knew better and now I knew why Mom had insisted on bringing the box of rags. Although the odor didn’t go away, we did finally make it to Grandma’s in good shape.
I took the box of kittens to the house, placed the box on the porch and took the kittens to give to Grandma. Now Grandma didn’t seem as thrilled to receive the kittens as I was led to believe she wanted them. Obviously it was more my Dad’s idea of getting rid of some kittens rather than Grandma needing some.
I have many wonderful memories of participating in holiday get-togethers and reunions at Grandma & Grandpa’s. I remember how cozy and warm Grandma’s house was in winter with the wood burning stoves and the endless buffet of delicious meals.