What Mom and Dad Told me. Home Remedies
It would not seem right to include the my mothers remedies and my Fathers thoughts here.
With my mothers family being Welsh , and the family being so close, many things have been passed down for many many years. Easy enough back then when a child was raised by Mother, Grandmother, and Great- Grandmother. My Father on the other hand was half Indian (Sioux ) and half French, so his thoughts turned more for the care of the Earth and how to respect it, and folk lore. Funny thing though I never thought of these things as Folk Lore or remedies just a way of doing things . Of course I was brought up in a house of Older parents my mother had me at the age of 40. I lost my father in 1991.
With my mothers family being Welsh , and the family being so close, many things have been passed down for many many years. Easy enough back then when a child was raised by Mother, Grandmother, and Great- Grandmother. My Father on the other hand was half Indian (Sioux ) and half French, so his thoughts turned more for the care of the Earth and how to respect it, and folk lore. Funny thing though I never thought of these things as Folk Lore or remedies just a way of doing things . Of course I was brought up in a house of Older parents my mother had me at the age of 40. I lost my father in 1991.
Poison Ivy Cure
This is a great home remedy for poison ivy.
Put Jewel Jewel-weed and alcohol in a blender and apply the substance on the Ivy. About 1/4 amount of alcohol to one part Jewel weed. Oh and by the way Jewel weed can be found growing near Poison Ivy.
They say you can not transplant this. It's simply not true if you have the right soil. However beware, as this plant grows so close to poison ivy, you can by accident bring poison ivy into your yard. This happened to me. Once you get poison ivy in your yard, it's very hard to get rid of.
Please be aware sensitive skin will not like the alcohol. You can also use a milder astringent such as witch hazel. Mom also added Aloe Vera to her mixture. No matter how you make it, it could smell better!
Notice in the picture below, jewel-weed is a succulent. The stalks are nearly translucent from the moisture. This is how you will know you have the right plant.
Put Jewel Jewel-weed and alcohol in a blender and apply the substance on the Ivy. About 1/4 amount of alcohol to one part Jewel weed. Oh and by the way Jewel weed can be found growing near Poison Ivy.
They say you can not transplant this. It's simply not true if you have the right soil. However beware, as this plant grows so close to poison ivy, you can by accident bring poison ivy into your yard. This happened to me. Once you get poison ivy in your yard, it's very hard to get rid of.
Please be aware sensitive skin will not like the alcohol. You can also use a milder astringent such as witch hazel. Mom also added Aloe Vera to her mixture. No matter how you make it, it could smell better!
Notice in the picture below, jewel-weed is a succulent. The stalks are nearly translucent from the moisture. This is how you will know you have the right plant.
Swimmers Ear, (Water in the ears)
Get a dropper and fill 1/2 Vinegar 1/2 rubbing alcohol. Tilt the head put a few drops in the ear until the person can feel it, let it sit a minute or two until it's warm. Tilt your head back over with a cloth or towel over the ear. The water is out!!!! I still use this and I make a new batch every swimming season!
Do not use if the person has a severe earache. This is preventative only.
Do not use if the person has a severe earache. This is preventative only.
Ear Aches
Blowing smoke into the ear several times until the pain subsides. My mother did this and I don't know if it was the warm air or the Tar in the smoke but it seemed to help. We also made use of the heating pad. The heat really helped the pain
Burns
Burns ....Aloe, Aloe and more Aloe hee hee. My mothers had so many of these plants it's unreal! Cut off a sprig and slice down the middle and put it on the burn. This Includes sunburn. Make sure when you cut from an Aloe you never cut from the 3 most center leaves! The only other thing I have found to ease pain, is cold water, or ice. Butter is not recommended! Aloe has healing properties, where cold only eases pain.
Emergency Gauze
Spider Webs, yup you heard me, to thicken a poultice or for a gauze you can use new spider webs. Now of course we didn't ever need to use this but my dad told me about this as a child they used it when away from home. Hunting Camping Ect.)
Emergency Gauze
Spider Webs, yup you heard me, to thicken a poultice or for a gauze you can use new spider webs. Now of course we didn't ever need to use this but my dad told me about this as a child they used it when away from home. Hunting Camping Ect.)
Dryness in the House
If your house is dry from winter heating put water and sassafras in containers on the registers, or on low on your stove. This was to put moisture in the air and it was an aid in healing. I'll tell you something though, when I was little I got a bad flu and all I could smell was sassafras and it was for-ever before I could stand the smell again lol. So if it's the flu bug don't use it! You can use any herb or favorite spice in the pot. Around Yule I use nutmeg and cinnamon. Or get your favorite smelling oils!
Upset Stomach
Upset stomach was always a scary thing for us at home. mom always put a couple teaspoons of baking soda in warm water. Now it does work but I just couldn't hack it and went to 7up or Ginger Ale.
Cough Syrup, or relief from a bad cough
Lemon, Honey and Scotch or Whiskey, we took two table spoons of that every couple hours. This is really important in this day and age...My parents gave this to me when I was very young. I don't recommend this today. Funny how things change but giving whiskey or scotch to a small child can land you into trouble. The old double standards when most cough meds today still have some form of alcohol. Better safe then sorry right?
Or for a nagging cough at night small chipped up ice. ( and then she used to wrap an ace bandage around our ribs, and even though this helped for the soreness today it shouldn't be done, I do believe it has something to do with rupturing something :)
Upset Stomach
Upset stomach was always a scary thing for us at home. mom always put a couple teaspoons of baking soda in warm water. Now it does work but I just couldn't hack it and went to 7up or Ginger Ale.
Cough Syrup, or relief from a bad cough
Lemon, Honey and Scotch or Whiskey, we took two table spoons of that every couple hours. This is really important in this day and age...My parents gave this to me when I was very young. I don't recommend this today. Funny how things change but giving whiskey or scotch to a small child can land you into trouble. The old double standards when most cough meds today still have some form of alcohol. Better safe then sorry right?
Or for a nagging cough at night small chipped up ice. ( and then she used to wrap an ace bandage around our ribs, and even though this helped for the soreness today it shouldn't be done, I do believe it has something to do with rupturing something :)
To Stop a Cut From Bleeding
Cuts that won't stop bleeding was always a thing at our house.Mom always had a huge amount of vitamin E at our house. This works great for shaving cuts as well... take a knife and slice a vitamin E capsule open and put it right on the cut, and it stops the bleeding. Any cut too large? Get to the hospital and get stitches!
Hiccups (hiccoughs)
Hiccoughs are such a bummer for me, if I get them for to long I get sick. Now Grandma always had sugar cubes on hand for this but a teaspoon of sugar works just as well. Now if this doesn't work (and I always hoped it did) put a small amount of vinegar on the sugar. (ick)
The fastest I ever got rid of hiccoughs was when my teacher stopped in class and told me if I didn't stop I would have a detention. He waited and they stopped. He had a grin on his face. I haven't been able to repeat that sadly.
Splinters
Make a poultice of wheat germ or oatmeal and as it hardens it removes smaller splinters. Also soaking in Epsom salts can bring out some splinters
Getting Rid of Rabbits from Your Garden
Every year when the garden would go in, we had two problems One was rabbits the other Ground Hogs, Well mom used a 410 for the groundhogs ( haha) but for rabbits Human hair... Seriously just hair, My cousin cut hair and would bring it over and she put it all around the garden several times a year, They smell the hair and avoid it. I have some rabbits that just refuse to give up so I use human hair and Marigolds. For some reason they really hate Marigolds. In my herb gardens I buy a couple of flats of marigold and make a circle around my herbs (and tomato plants) Stop by your local Barber, I'm sure they would be happy to give you hair! Make sure you do this often. After a few rains it's a good idea to lay down more hair.
I also have bought plastic forks, put them in the ground forks up. This is the only way I have found to start sunflowers. Small animals do not like to step on those bad boys.
Hiccups (hiccoughs)
Hiccoughs are such a bummer for me, if I get them for to long I get sick. Now Grandma always had sugar cubes on hand for this but a teaspoon of sugar works just as well. Now if this doesn't work (and I always hoped it did) put a small amount of vinegar on the sugar. (ick)
The fastest I ever got rid of hiccoughs was when my teacher stopped in class and told me if I didn't stop I would have a detention. He waited and they stopped. He had a grin on his face. I haven't been able to repeat that sadly.
Splinters
Make a poultice of wheat germ or oatmeal and as it hardens it removes smaller splinters. Also soaking in Epsom salts can bring out some splinters
Getting Rid of Rabbits from Your Garden
Every year when the garden would go in, we had two problems One was rabbits the other Ground Hogs, Well mom used a 410 for the groundhogs ( haha) but for rabbits Human hair... Seriously just hair, My cousin cut hair and would bring it over and she put it all around the garden several times a year, They smell the hair and avoid it. I have some rabbits that just refuse to give up so I use human hair and Marigolds. For some reason they really hate Marigolds. In my herb gardens I buy a couple of flats of marigold and make a circle around my herbs (and tomato plants) Stop by your local Barber, I'm sure they would be happy to give you hair! Make sure you do this often. After a few rains it's a good idea to lay down more hair.
I also have bought plastic forks, put them in the ground forks up. This is the only way I have found to start sunflowers. Small animals do not like to step on those bad boys.
Remove Mites from Plants
To Remove little mites from your plants just put in a spray bottle warm soapy water ( not to much soap) that is it
Getting a Handle on Slugs If you have slugs and want to protect a certain plant there are two ways you can do this Salt Water or Beer in Containers, around the plant. At night they creep out and are attracted to it, they climb in and it kills them...Salt will melt a slug. It's really disgusting, but it works. So I'm sure salt water would work the same as beer.
Pure Water for Plants
The very Best way of making clean water for you plants is to get big gallon containers and drop egg shells and Coffee grounds, it takes out the impurities (haha you know the chemicals they put in it for us to drink, that plants HATE!). And let it sit for a day or two.
Cleaning Copper & Silver
Cleaning Copper was also a big thing mom only had Iron Skillets or Revere Ware, and when her Revere Ware got icky she mixed Baking Powder and Vinegar.
Apple Dolls
Apple Dolls... I don't know why this was a thing maybe just for the fun of it. My mother loved making Apple dolls, she peeled an apple carved a face and let it dry, then make a body of wire and wrapped cloth around it until it looked right added hands and feet and cloths. They really are fun. No two Apples look the same as they dry differently. The Very Best Window Cleaner
This is so easy and so much cheaper then some of the name brand Window Cleaners. In a spray bottle put 1/2 Vinegar 1/2 Ammonia. If your hooked on that high price stuff add blue dye if that makes you feel better, although the windows won't know the difference. That is it! Now if the smell is to strong for you, cut it with some water. The only thing we used to clean the windows was this, and Newspaper, as it leaves no streaks and no little particles behind.
Getting a Handle on Slugs If you have slugs and want to protect a certain plant there are two ways you can do this Salt Water or Beer in Containers, around the plant. At night they creep out and are attracted to it, they climb in and it kills them...Salt will melt a slug. It's really disgusting, but it works. So I'm sure salt water would work the same as beer.
Pure Water for Plants
The very Best way of making clean water for you plants is to get big gallon containers and drop egg shells and Coffee grounds, it takes out the impurities (haha you know the chemicals they put in it for us to drink, that plants HATE!). And let it sit for a day or two.
Cleaning Copper & Silver
Cleaning Copper was also a big thing mom only had Iron Skillets or Revere Ware, and when her Revere Ware got icky she mixed Baking Powder and Vinegar.
Apple Dolls
Apple Dolls... I don't know why this was a thing maybe just for the fun of it. My mother loved making Apple dolls, she peeled an apple carved a face and let it dry, then make a body of wire and wrapped cloth around it until it looked right added hands and feet and cloths. They really are fun. No two Apples look the same as they dry differently. The Very Best Window Cleaner
This is so easy and so much cheaper then some of the name brand Window Cleaners. In a spray bottle put 1/2 Vinegar 1/2 Ammonia. If your hooked on that high price stuff add blue dye if that makes you feel better, although the windows won't know the difference. That is it! Now if the smell is to strong for you, cut it with some water. The only thing we used to clean the windows was this, and Newspaper, as it leaves no streaks and no little particles behind.
"You must Always leave an area as you found it"
When you leave a camp area or even when hunting and such never show any signs you have been there. Trash Buried ect, hey we weren't even allowed to break a branch
"Trust no man not even your brother with hair one color and beard another"
I don't know I felt compelled to put this here (haha) Other then it was a saying of his and I always loved it,
A Real Corn Roast
Every year my dad's whole family came over and we had an old fashioned corn roast. and it goes something like this....
Dig a hole about 4 ft deep and 5-6 feet wide. (depending on how many are invited we had about 30 people) Build a fire a very very hot fire and this could take a couple hours Because what you want here is many many hot coals that can burn for sometime with no fire. After you get a large amount of hot coals you let it go down so it's all hot coals ( no flames) spread them out much like a grill. Now you add the corn that you have cleaned of the silk but leave the shuck on it. wrap the corn tightly in foil (optional) and drop right on the coals or use a grate of some sort to avoid scorching.( the grate is best if you don't wrap the corn in foil, the flavor is better this way) Once all the corn is in put a large piece of aluminum over it and cover back up with dirt. Let it stay like that for about an hour, or two ( let me ask my mom and get back to the time). I'm telling you this is the best corn on the cob you will ever have!
To Catch a snake
Why would anyone want to catch a snake? I don't know, all I know is I learned how to do it when I was very young. You can do it a couple different ways by grabbing the tail pulling back quickly and grabbing behind the head. or if your quick and gentle put your foot behind the head then pick up from behind the head. You can trap the head with a stick too In all honesty we did this all this. We never killed any snake around our house other then Copperheads (they are mildly poisonous) Around my house Black snakes, garter and King snakes were very welcome, (outside!, mom found one wrapped around the toilet, where knowing how to catch them came in handy, unlike dad, mom didn't care for snakes ) If you have these you have no mice. It's funny just the other day (this summer) there was 2 black snakes in moms house. The first one my brother took out and brought it to his house, 2 seconds *bam* he had it. The second Mom called a cousin who said they knew how to handle it. They chased that poor snake all over the kitchen. Now mom fears with 2 snakes in her house babies will be surfacing soon. The good news is she has no mice.
"Trust no man not even your brother with hair one color and beard another"
I don't know I felt compelled to put this here (haha) Other then it was a saying of his and I always loved it,
A Real Corn Roast
Every year my dad's whole family came over and we had an old fashioned corn roast. and it goes something like this....
Dig a hole about 4 ft deep and 5-6 feet wide. (depending on how many are invited we had about 30 people) Build a fire a very very hot fire and this could take a couple hours Because what you want here is many many hot coals that can burn for sometime with no fire. After you get a large amount of hot coals you let it go down so it's all hot coals ( no flames) spread them out much like a grill. Now you add the corn that you have cleaned of the silk but leave the shuck on it. wrap the corn tightly in foil (optional) and drop right on the coals or use a grate of some sort to avoid scorching.( the grate is best if you don't wrap the corn in foil, the flavor is better this way) Once all the corn is in put a large piece of aluminum over it and cover back up with dirt. Let it stay like that for about an hour, or two ( let me ask my mom and get back to the time). I'm telling you this is the best corn on the cob you will ever have!
To Catch a snake
Why would anyone want to catch a snake? I don't know, all I know is I learned how to do it when I was very young. You can do it a couple different ways by grabbing the tail pulling back quickly and grabbing behind the head. or if your quick and gentle put your foot behind the head then pick up from behind the head. You can trap the head with a stick too In all honesty we did this all this. We never killed any snake around our house other then Copperheads (they are mildly poisonous) Around my house Black snakes, garter and King snakes were very welcome, (outside!, mom found one wrapped around the toilet, where knowing how to catch them came in handy, unlike dad, mom didn't care for snakes ) If you have these you have no mice. It's funny just the other day (this summer) there was 2 black snakes in moms house. The first one my brother took out and brought it to his house, 2 seconds *bam* he had it. The second Mom called a cousin who said they knew how to handle it. They chased that poor snake all over the kitchen. Now mom fears with 2 snakes in her house babies will be surfacing soon. The good news is she has no mice.
Mushroom Hunting, and freezing Morels
Here in Ohio in April it's the big morel mushroom season! (Some spell it murel mushrooms) Even though you have to look close everywhere for these, the best places are where the ground has a lot of rotted wood, anywhere where the ground is well composted and moist. Take a stick to gently push aside leaves where they could be under and haven't pushed through yet, and to push aside the May-apples (May-apples enjoy the same soil as a morel's, Don't hack the may-apples to find them okay? Many animals enjoy the flowers) We never took the root but snapped them off at the base, hoping for the same patch the next year. After You find a good amount it's treat time!
You take the mushroom and cut them in half so the hollows are showing,( splice right through the middle) you cover them in salt water (lots of salt) Other little bugs and microbes love these too so you have to let them soak to rid the mushrooms of all these. If your a real stickler you may want to soak them twice after you see what comes out of these bad boys. Now you roll them in flower, and salt, and cook in butter or oil, Yummy!
Freezing, and storing Morel mushroom
If you want to freeze these bad boys just layer them cut in half on wax paper and put in something that won't allow freezer burn. Make sure they are dry before you freeze. You don't want ice on these when they freeze.You can have morel mushrooms all winter long!
I read some where folk lore about Morels. This person confused the lore of Mandrake with Morels. There is no English lore on Morels, as they are indigenous to North America. The Indians might have lore, but I have not found it as of yet. The only magical properties of Morel that I know of, is how well they hide. I can be looking right at them and not see them. My father used to say "if you listen you can hear them pop out ot the ground". I must not of been born with those ears. My Dad could see a mushroom yards off. He didn't pass down those eyes to me either, It skipped a generation, my son can see them a mile away. Dad also knew other mushrooms to take home to eat. including Sulfur Shelf, and Puff Balls. They don't even compare with Morels in taste and texture.
Morels have no set date when they come up. That is why they say between March and May. The best time to start hunting is after a good rainy period, followed by fair weather. The season is starting late this year, as spring is also late.
One more thing. Mom would take the water from the soaking, and throw it out in our wooded area.Sometimes we would have mushrooms in our back yard. Morels replant by spores.
Catalpa worms and Fishing
My uncle Sammy had a Catalpa tree and the worms,( or caterpillars some call them) Were plenty. The best way ( and this is gross.) Is to splice them and turn them inside out. It's messy but the fish love it!
Always leave a gift when taking from Nature
He taught me when taking rocks, plants and so on, you always leave tobacco and now I have found reference of this in books. He may have known this was an Indian Tradition and maybe he just was taught that, and in turn taught me and didn't know why, he never said. He also said when gathering plants never take all from the same spot always take a little from here and there. This is also and Indian Tradition but it also makes sense as far as plants depending on each other to re-produce.
Hop, Skip and A Jump?
You know this is more a question then anything. We went to a family reunion of my dad's family years ago in the hills of Ohio. It was very interesting no running water no electricity, a wonderful outhouse and lots of hunting dogs. This was my Grandmothers Brothers place,( Great Uncle Lloyd ) and the reunion wasn't there, it was at a park he said was "just a hop skip and a jump down at the hollar" (Tar Hollow) It took us in a car about an hour to get there (snicker) So you tell me, what is a hop, skip and a jump?
Three snows past the forsithia bloom
I live in Ohio and this sadly is always true. No matter if it gets up to 80 in the spring you will always have 3 snows after the forsythia blooms. It happened this year and me and my cuz buz Sara both said during hot weather, to bad the forsythia just bloomed. Of course no one believed us but sure enough we got three snows shortly after. This also goes hand in hand with the saying "If you have no winter in winter your bound to have winter in spring"
Snow Ice cream
This is was and still is a treat in my house.... go out and get a lot of snow a huge bowl, mix in milk, sugar, vanilla. You have to get a lot of snow because once you mix in the other stuff it melts down. I don't have a sure recipe but play around with the amounts until it tastes right. It tastes just like homemade ice cream.
Always leave a gift when taking from Nature
He taught me when taking rocks, plants and so on, you always leave tobacco and now I have found reference of this in books. He may have known this was an Indian Tradition and maybe he just was taught that, and in turn taught me and didn't know why, he never said. He also said when gathering plants never take all from the same spot always take a little from here and there. This is also and Indian Tradition but it also makes sense as far as plants depending on each other to re-produce.
Hop, Skip and A Jump?
You know this is more a question then anything. We went to a family reunion of my dad's family years ago in the hills of Ohio. It was very interesting no running water no electricity, a wonderful outhouse and lots of hunting dogs. This was my Grandmothers Brothers place,( Great Uncle Lloyd ) and the reunion wasn't there, it was at a park he said was "just a hop skip and a jump down at the hollar" (Tar Hollow) It took us in a car about an hour to get there (snicker) So you tell me, what is a hop, skip and a jump?
Three snows past the forsithia bloom
I live in Ohio and this sadly is always true. No matter if it gets up to 80 in the spring you will always have 3 snows after the forsythia blooms. It happened this year and me and my cuz buz Sara both said during hot weather, to bad the forsythia just bloomed. Of course no one believed us but sure enough we got three snows shortly after. This also goes hand in hand with the saying "If you have no winter in winter your bound to have winter in spring"
Snow Ice cream
This is was and still is a treat in my house.... go out and get a lot of snow a huge bowl, mix in milk, sugar, vanilla. You have to get a lot of snow because once you mix in the other stuff it melts down. I don't have a sure recipe but play around with the amounts until it tastes right. It tastes just like homemade ice cream.
Bee Stings
This is really pretty simple, vinegar. First of course make sure the stinger is out. Honey bees and Bumble bees leave their stingers. Then just put vinegar on it, it helps almost right away.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
In a sauce pan, put for each cup your making 1Tbs cocoa 2 Tbs sugar couple drops of vanilla. Now you want to add just enough water to make it moist, then heat on low. You want to do it like this because it takes heat to make pure cocoa melt down and not go into dry balls, yet not so hot it burns. When it's all mixed and smooth you add your milk, one cup per serving. Heat it up and it's great, add marshmallows.
Rose Food
Take dead fish or the remains of fish you've caught, bury them in your back yard. when they have decomposed it's the best soil for roses.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
In a sauce pan, put for each cup your making 1Tbs cocoa 2 Tbs sugar couple drops of vanilla. Now you want to add just enough water to make it moist, then heat on low. You want to do it like this because it takes heat to make pure cocoa melt down and not go into dry balls, yet not so hot it burns. When it's all mixed and smooth you add your milk, one cup per serving. Heat it up and it's great, add marshmallows.
Rose Food
Take dead fish or the remains of fish you've caught, bury them in your back yard. when they have decomposed it's the best soil for roses.
Rock Hunting!
This is one of my greatest joys. When I was young my father would take us kids to the waterfall to collect rocks. Back then it was just little rocks, and he would tell us what each rock was. This is something that can amuse children for hours!
Well I'm grown now, and rock hunting has taken a whole new meaning, No more filling my pockets with little treasures. Now me and my best friend/cousin, take pick up trucks, and wagons, old shoes, and beer. We are so hard core, we take the truck right down into the creek. Some rocks weigh more the we do, and takes a tag team to bring the rocks out. Sometimes we go looking for flat rocks, but mostly we go for the big heavy ones. We walk the creek for dozens of yards collecting, then move the truck and continue. By the time we are done, the trucks springs are moaning. We are wet, muddy and buzzed, and laughing our butts off..
To let you know just how seriously we take our rock hunting. When I moved, my cousin helped me take my rocks to the new house. The my realtor thought I was nuts, but those rocks were coming with me, and it was in my contract. It took us five trips to bring my rocks to their new home. Don't judge my realtor too harshly, I have known her for years and she knows I'm nuts.
Rock hunting is a great way to play, and enjoy the great outdoors. Each rock also has a memory for us. Why go out and buy rocks, when rock hunting is so much fun! Take the kids, they love finding rocks with different colors and designs. Mine are thrilled when they find flint, and the love getting wet, and dirty.
Well I'm grown now, and rock hunting has taken a whole new meaning, No more filling my pockets with little treasures. Now me and my best friend/cousin, take pick up trucks, and wagons, old shoes, and beer. We are so hard core, we take the truck right down into the creek. Some rocks weigh more the we do, and takes a tag team to bring the rocks out. Sometimes we go looking for flat rocks, but mostly we go for the big heavy ones. We walk the creek for dozens of yards collecting, then move the truck and continue. By the time we are done, the trucks springs are moaning. We are wet, muddy and buzzed, and laughing our butts off..
To let you know just how seriously we take our rock hunting. When I moved, my cousin helped me take my rocks to the new house. The my realtor thought I was nuts, but those rocks were coming with me, and it was in my contract. It took us five trips to bring my rocks to their new home. Don't judge my realtor too harshly, I have known her for years and she knows I'm nuts.
Rock hunting is a great way to play, and enjoy the great outdoors. Each rock also has a memory for us. Why go out and buy rocks, when rock hunting is so much fun! Take the kids, they love finding rocks with different colors and designs. Mine are thrilled when they find flint, and the love getting wet, and dirty.
Family it's in your blood
My Mother and Father were not Ozzy and Harriet. or Ozzy and Sharron. They were not always happy, and didn't teach us daily morals like the TV shows, and sometimes they were not even politically correct. I think my Dad's biggest draw to Mom, was her love of family. Dad never had that. Mom's side of the family is so big, and so close. We hang with cousins far removed. Just in my graduating class, there were six cousins. Either out in the sticks at our Christmas tree farm, or out at my Aunt and Uncles pond, or in my Grandmothers huge Victorian in the middle of town, we were always together. Dozens of us gathering for dinners and just plain ol' beer drinking and card playing, while us kids roamed rooms or the woods. We only knew each other, and rarely made friends outside of the family until we were older.
Today you can still find me with my cousins. Gatherings are here, or at an Aunt or Uncles house. We don't go around having eight or nine kids like they did back then, but they laid the ground for a massive family. A family we can trace to the late 1400's, and nothing can come between us.
Maybe we were lucky, not much money but lots of love. Our family, our heritage was instilled in us, and we carry that today, and teach our children the same. We have different religions, different politics, but we share our love of family, and never talk about faith or politics. My best friends are cousins, brother, Aunts and Uncles If you can manage it, put aside everything else, and keep your family close, it's in your blood.
Today you can still find me with my cousins. Gatherings are here, or at an Aunt or Uncles house. We don't go around having eight or nine kids like they did back then, but they laid the ground for a massive family. A family we can trace to the late 1400's, and nothing can come between us.
Maybe we were lucky, not much money but lots of love. Our family, our heritage was instilled in us, and we carry that today, and teach our children the same. We have different religions, different politics, but we share our love of family, and never talk about faith or politics. My best friends are cousins, brother, Aunts and Uncles If you can manage it, put aside everything else, and keep your family close, it's in your blood.