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Aunt Naomi’s Story (Part 45)

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There was a swing in the oak tree on the eastside of the house when I was small.  The tree was later cut down and a new one planted.  The peach trees in the yard were always favorites, as well as the fire bush, harvest bells and mom’s beautiful roses.  We ran bare-footed all summer long.  Our feet got real tough.  We stepped on bees a lot, but it never hurt as much as those darn sweat bees!

On the southeast side of the smokehouse was a grove of plum trees.  They were so good.  We played a lot and made play houses there.  It was always cool and shady.  We buried plums in old glass jars pretending it was treasure to find or to eat later, who knows?  They must still be there today.

Aunt Naomi’s Story (Part 41)

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We had a barnyard between the barn and the west side of the house.  Cattle were passed from one pasture to another through the barnyard.  Machinery was stored there and our driveway form the main road (Route H) came right up to the yard gate.  Actually, the front of the house faced North, but that entrance was seldom used.  When the weather was dry the dusty barnyard was a good place to “build roads” for our play cars.  We built roads and cities and drove our cars on the fine dust.  Close to the barn the dirt was filled with little depressions.  These were the homes of the “doddlebug.”  If you put your mouth close to the depression and called doddle, doddle, doddle many times, a bug would come up to greet you.  They are dark gray and about ¾ inch long.

To the north of the house was a small field that was used for pasture, calves and an orchard.  We had pear, apple, and peach trees at one time.  There was also a large area of spearmint growing there.  We used to crush the green leaves to get the flavor out and make the best spearmint tea… both cold and hot.