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Hickory Teabushes

Category: The Daytime of Life | Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:46 pm

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In the Sherrill's Ford section of Catawba County, NC near the old gold mine, there is a section of property still fondly remembered by old-timers who still abide there as the "Old Barnes Homeplace."

I am told that the house caught fire one day while Elsie Barnes, my grandmother, was roasting peanuts.

Not long after, the family moved to Newton. My father, John Douglas, was still serving in the Korean War at this unfortunate time.

Not so many years ago, if you walked up the overgrown lane, you could see the huge cedars that Daddy and Aunt Elaine planted as saplings ions ago. My dad told me the year they were planted and how old he and Elaine were during that time period.

Unfortunately, this tidbit of information has been lost to an ailment that I fondly call "Old-Timers Syndrome." The chimney to the old house still loomed in the midst of tangled trees and honeysuckle vine. [IMG] And if you went in the late spring, and had a very keen eye, you would see purple irises, my grandmother's favorite flower, and daffodills still competing with the weeds. She loved flowers, and I recall that everyplace that she lived, flowers adorned her yard.

If you looked to your left, tucked snuggly in the tall weeds and brambles by a pigpath of a road, you would see an old coupe, once driven by Uncle Wayne, abandoned where it "gave up the ghost" decades ago.
During my childhood, Daddy would take us there, from time to time. I remember looking around, and prompting him with a question, "Daddy, where are those Hickory Teabushes?" He turned, and gave the question considerable thought,"Hickory Teabushes?" I elaborated on my honest question, "Yes Daddy, Hickory Teabushes. You know, you said when you were a child, Granddaddy Barnes would cut a switch from a bush, and make the hickory tea run down your legs." My dad laughed and then went on to explain what he really meant. Needless to say, I was very embarrassed at my own limited point of view.
Years later, after my mom and dad moved to Clearmont, Florida, when they came up for the Christmas holidays, he always made a point to drop in and pay a visit to the Edwards' Family, old neighbors from an era gone by, and to bring them some Florida sunshine (citrus fruit) as a gift of old friendship.
I returned to that section of the county, about a year ago, but could not access the road. There are private property signs and a new sawmill barring the way down memory lane. I couldn't see the ancient cedar trees, daffodils or majestic irises, but to my amazement the hickory teabushes were still thriving in abundance, and seemed to be screaming out, "Beware, to all children who don't listen to their parents!"



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Fall Brings Out My Best

Category: The Daytime of Life | Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 1:56 pm

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Pumpkin bread muffins with coffee . . . for my household. . . I love the fall!!!

Wish you were here to enjoy!!!

My Hens and Chicks . . . I have had them for about 15 years . . .



My mom used to grow her's in a washpan when she was alive . . . My seventy five year old aunt gave me these long ago . . .




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Easy Like Sunday Morning . . .

Category: The Daytime of Life | Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 1:31 pm

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I love my weekends, and love the fall of the year . . .

These are my newest girls . . . They looked sort of pitiful until the weather cooled down a little . . . I also have been watering them about once a week. . . (We are in a drought situation here.)

I had to go out of town on business this week, and we had a little rain while I was gone . . . I was so pleased to go out back, and visit with them when I returned. I love to pinch . . . pinch . . . pinch them, and deadhead them also!!!



Would you like to know a little more about caring for mums in an enjoyable way? (My mom is gone on to Our Maker.) I learned from reading a short story back in my college American Literature class. It is "Chrysanthamums," by John Steinbeck. It is a wonderful short story, and has some good tips for caring for mums in it. It was written in 1938, and takes place in the Salinas Valley in California. I also think we gardners can also relate to the woman in the story as it goes along. Copy Paste Read Enjoy
www.nbu.bg/webs/amb/american/4/steinbeck/chrysanthemums.htm







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