There house had burned down at some point and they turned their one barn into a house. In the back of the house there was a door that went into where they had a stall for a couple of horses. They had no inside plumbing. The main part of the house that I can remember is where the kitchen and livingroom was at. It was all one room. Grandma was a short heavy set lady and Grandpa was tall and thin. There was just enough room between her counter and the table for Grandma to get through. I remember her table always had the dishes on it ready for the next meal. Grandma and Grandpa didn't have much because they had lost most of everything in the fire. But I remember Grandma making a meal out of whatever she had and it was good.
My Mom stayed with them for a while before I was born when my Dad was in the service. I have pictures of my mom hanging diapers that she made on the clothesline.
I don't remember if they had a TV or not but am pretty sure they had a radio of some type. I remember a big dresser along one wall and it had an opening under it and they kept a few toys under there. One toy I especially remember was a pull toy that was a dog. We used to play a lot with it. Grandpa's chair was not far from this dresser.
Grandma and Grandpa didn't have a phone. So Grandpa had to run down to the neighbors to call the doctor. My sister was born in this house and my Grandma delivered her. She had been a midwife and saved everything for the doctor who arrived after my sister was born. Grandma didn't even realize she didn't have her glasses on until after everything was over. My sister was breech and the cord was wrapped around her neck but Grandma saved her. We always wondered if that was why my Sister was a little slower catching onto things or not.
Whitey was born a few months before me. I don't know exactly when he was born but I know he was older than me.
There was a lot of Clay soil at Grandma and Grandpa's. I remember my Mom telling of my Grandpa trying to teach my Grandma Gibbs to drive the tractor in the field. She never did learn how to drive.
I remember us going out to visit Grandma and Grandpa and playing in the dirt. We sure would get dirty. A little soap and water cleaned us up pretty quickly. I wish I had a picture of the house and the barn that shows how the place was set up. But I don't have one. I remember the house was on the right side and there was the outhouse, and on the other side of the driveway was a big barn. I wonder what ever became of the place after Grandma and Grandpa passed on. I know it was in probate for a long time but don't know if it ever got settled or not.
Gosh, I love these photos of clotheslines with your mother and grandmothers in them. Hasn't laundry always fallen into the realm of women's work, and yet there are so few photos of women with their work dancing in the wind. These two photos are precious! Thanks for sharing them.
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