A Tribute to my Grandparents.....

When I was a child, my sister and I spent many summers at my grandparents house. They lived in a teenie, weenie town in northeast Arkansas. Their little house had a screened in front porch where grandma had some plants in pots. Outside their yard was full of all kinds of gardens; flower gardens, a strawberry patch and a large vegetable garden.

Now these things didn't really appeal to me then but I reckon this is where my love of gardening comes from. I remember they would spend hours in their gardens, sometimes just weeding or picking fresh veggies. Of course, I really loved it when they picked strawberries.

Strawberries were my favorite fruits. I remember standing by grandma in her little kitchen and watching her clean them. Seems like she put lots of them in the freezer for storing. But we always had fresh ones as well. She sprinkled a little sugar over them, let them make their own juice, added baked pie crust strips and we would have a great strawberry shortcake.

At night, grandma and popa never turned on their t.v. Instead we always sat on the front porch. I always sat by grandma in the wooden swing and we'd rock back and forth while we listened to the singing of the bugs. Then finally, we'd turn in for the night.

Becky and myself

My sister and I had a game we played after we went to bed. We called it "Kisses for Momma". Grandma and popas house was right down from the railroad tracks. Every night we always heard trains going back and forth. We missed mom lots so we decided to send her kisses by way of the train. When we heard it coming we blew kisses to it in hopes it would take our kisses to her. It was a silly little thing we did, but it brought us much comfort.

Now you are probably asking is there a point to all of this? No, not really. It's just that I spent so many happy days with my grandparents and I wish I had paid more attention to what they said and did. I'd probably be a much better gardener/person now if I had.