Wednesday, March 15, 2023

ST. PATRICK'S DAY-GROWING UP ON A PENNSYLVANIA FARM

 Sometimes life is bittersweet, isn't it

remembering the days when

people in our lives celebrated

special days with us?

Days like St. Patrick's Day!

I was always well aware of 
being Irish.
My grandmother was an Owen
and her family immigrated 
from Ireland.

She died long before I was born
so I never had the pleasure of
knowing her.

The family unit I knew as a child 
is all gone now.
A father, a mother and 
one younger brother.
We celebrated 17 years 
of Sundays  together 
before I left home. 
17 years out of a lifetime isn't much but
 0h! the memories created then.

My parents were not religious people
but they were believers.

I grew up right next to 
a Catholic church
but never attended there.
This was taken from 
the road in front of our house
before the road was paved..

I don't remember my father ever
going to a church service.
My mother took us kids 
sporadically over the years.

When I was a young teen, 
I started going on my own
with some cousins.
A little country church 
with a marvelous pastor,
Melvin Shultz.

His wife, Thelma, had 
the voice of an angel
and I loved
to sit as close to her 
as I could on a 
Sunday morning..

My father always 
pared the farm work down
to a bare minimum on all
Holidays and every Sunday,
doing only the chores
 that were necessary to 
get by for the day.

My Grandfather, 
dressed in his Sunday suit,
 would stand here by the
road on a Sunday morning 
to greet people
on their way home from 
the Catholic church
just up the hill.

He lived with us for about 5 years
until I was 6 or so.

I remember when my father planted
the elms on the left hand side
to give some shade to the front yard.
They were mere saplings then.
The big barns are long gone now.
The house burned to the ground 
15 years ago or so.
The shed that you see 
in the picture above
(that is hidden behind the trees)
is the only building that remains
of the original farm buildings.
I remember when my Father 
and two neighbors
built that shed for wood, 
storage and butchering.

Going the other way, down the hill,
the road makes a sharp curve 
then leads down
 to my Aunt Bessie's house.
She, too, is gone these many years.

 I spent a lot of time in the woods
that grew along the road..

Sweet, sweet memories this morning.
Memories of coffee percolating
on the kitchen counter-
Watching the sun rise 
and flood the East facing kitchen 
with light.
Bacon sizzling in the frying pan-
the sharp crack of eggs 
against the side of the pan-
Biscuits with home-churned butter 
and honey
from the bees from the hives
down past the little pond.

Sunday Memories-
Sharp-
Strong-
Stored Forever-


And----just so you don't think 
I have gone
all smarmy  and  sappy on you
here is what I plan to serve MyHero
for breakfast St. Patrick's Day
 morning if he
doesn't shape up.

It will go great with a side of
poisonberries boysenberries.
.
You can order your very own
SKULL EGG SHAPER here..

I guess I got sidetracked from a
St. Patrick's Day Post...
but that is what you get when you
visit me.  lol...
You never know what lane my
mind will go down.

ANYWAY~
I hope you have a wonderful
St. Patrick's Day &
upcoming weekend.

Make the day special and 
tell someone
you love them.

As for me--
I'll be looking for leprechauns
and I really need to visit
the Blarney Stone
before I die!

Who knows what I could talk
MyHero into after that!
your photo name

47 comments:

Donna said...

Sappy?? You almost had ME bawling!! Lolol
What sweet memories!
Hope you have a wonderful St Patrick's Day dear friend!
hugs
Donna

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

Diana,
Great post! It was wonderful to read your memories of a time long gone...Great memories to have..I did get a laugh at the end!! Love your humor, my friend!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!!
Hugs,
Deb

Cecilia said...

We didn’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day except of course, to wear green so as not to get pinched. But I too, miss the family gatherings with all of us children running around Grandma and Grandpa’s yard, the table loaded down with food…their house is gone now too. The house I grew up in is still there but surrounded by apartments. The woods are gone. Life marches on, doesn’t it?
Hugs, Cecilia

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I hope you have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! I too have happy memories of being on a farm at my Grandparents house. The homemade biscuits, churned butter and honey were delicious. They really had everything they needed there on the farm. I'm so lucky to spend time with them. There is only a tiny bit of Irish in me due the fact that one of my English ancestors married an Irish Girl, but for sure I'll be putting on my green and celebrating.

Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes said...

The first picture of your family farm is beautiful! I've gone back to the home I grew up in quite a few times, but the neighborhood has changed, and the house was falling apart the last time I went, so I probably won't go again. It's great to pull out those old family memories now and then! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Junkchiccottage said...

What a beautiful place to grow up. Have a great St. Patty's Day on Friday. Hugs. Kris

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Certain times of the year bring back the memories! Love seeing the photos and hearing about your childhood. I have such good memories of mine and always loved Spring and summer in the South. Hugs, Diane

Debra She Who Seeks said...

So many memories are bittersweet, aren't they? I didn't know they would be when I was young, but I sure do know it now. And that skull egg -- LOL! I bet it's hard to get those yolks positioned "just right" -- my skull egg would probably end up cockeyed!

Pam said...

I have always looked for those leprechauns under rocks and such....no luck. I have always tried to locate that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow also....no luck...lol....Love those memories. It is hard when you think back on some of those memories when the folks are no longer with you or like my granny's home, its gone. I have my memories of being there, loving her front porch, the meals, the dogs...etc but not being able to go back, that hurts. I would love to be able to do that. Times with cousins, and other families was always great but of course I was younger, a kid and we all know that times change when you become that adult.

HIBISCUS HOUSE said...

Beautiful memories of a very beautiful home and farm! Thanks Diana for the smiles always xoxo Dolly

Rita C at Panoply said...

I love both the sentimental memories and the sick humor. Poisonberries, lol! Happy St Patrick's Day to you and yours, Diana!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful heart felt memories ... ty for sharing. Hubby kissed Blarney Stone ...

Anonymous said...

We celebrate our son’s birthday on St. Patrick’s Day. His name is Shane Patrick. When he was born his older sister called him St. Patrick.

This N That said...

Thanks for the lovely walk down memory lane..looks like Pa country!!
Sweet memories..
Love the skull shaper...only you!!
Happy St Patricks Day!! Hugs

Red Rose Alley said...

Diana, I so love your stories of growing up on a farm. And I didn't realize you have a few pictures from back then. The area was beautiful. That's nice that you have such good memories at your Aunt Bessie's house. I told you once I also had an Aunt Bessie, but she passed away many years ago. Now, is that your house on top of the hill? Look at how green and groomed the grass is! Nothing like the wild terrain we see in the mountains. I loved hearing about how your father worked the farm and did the chores throughout the day, and how your grandfather would greet the people from church. Sometimes we just think about these special times cause they are a big part of who we are now. Keep telling your stories, Diana. You should write these stories down. I wrote a few short stories for my kids to let them know their mom better. You should do the same. They are wonderful to hear.

~Sheri

Brenda Pruitt said...

I love your stories! Please keep telling them. Yes, we lose people along the way. Nothing we can do about it, but oh, it is sad.
Brenda

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Diana, you grew up on such a beautiful farm. I enjoyed reading this post and wishing you a happy St. Patrick's Day.

Rose L said...

If you kiss that blarney stone you will be a force to contend with!

Shari Burke said...

Memories like that are precious.

Have a fun St Patrick's Day!

Lorrie said...

Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories with us, Diana. What a lovely spot to grow up in. Love the mental image of your grandfather greeting the passersby from the church.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!

Ginny Hartzler said...

What wonderful memories you have; and what a shame that it is all gone now, except for in your heart and mind. The elm tree path is gorgeous and still there though. How on earth did you come across the skull mold, it is awesome!!

Bill said...

Wonderful memories of the good old days. Have a great St. Patrick's Day.

MadSnapper said...

I enjoyed your fond memories, and I agree it was a beautiful place to grow up. love the view with the dirt road. I grew up on dirt roads in GA and KY and spent 19 years in my parents home. 2 homes in KY and 3 in GA.

Ann said...

I have not been down memory lane in a long time. Your stories make me want to take the trip.

HappyK said...

Nice to take the trip down memory lane with you. :)

Billie Jo said...

What a beautiful post! Your words and photos created the most lovely picture of your life growing up. Thank you for sharing the memories that live in your heart!

Debby said...

The pictures of your farm and roads from when you grew up were special. I can't even imagine how nice that would have been, growing up on a farm. By the way, you told the story, it was like we stepped back into another time.

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories with us here.
Happy St Patricks Day.

All the best Jan

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Aw! Sweet memories, Diana. They do tug at the old heart strings and are wonderful to share with the family. It looks like a beautiful place to grow up. I left home at 17, too. I grew up near Boston and went to the St. Patrick's Day parades that were always in every town back then. Lots of Irish there! I had 7 Irish-Catholic Aunties to keep me in line, too. Wishing you a Happy St. Patrick's Day - keep those Irish eyes smilin'. xx K

Bless said...

You have some lovely memories of your childhood! St. Patrick's Day is not something I celebrated growing up and I still don't. I do like that breakfast you are preparing! :D

Kim said...

I've been thinking a lot about being small, all the wonderful childhood memories and missing my family members lately. Is it spring? I don't know, but they are definitely bittersweet...xxoo

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Oh, I loved this so much! PA memories...I also was born on a farm in PA, and the house is now long gone due to a fire. I think the barn is still standing, but it's been about 20 years since I've been there. We left the farm when I was almost 6 and moved to Florida, so my memories aren't as keen as yours about farm life in PA. But I sure loved your memories and pictures. Happy St. Patrick's Day indeed...be sure to wear some green or you'll get pinched!

Theresa said...

Oh how I enjoyed this walk down your memory lane! I love looking back and thinking about the sights and smells of long ago. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to pick a time to go back for just one day? Yep, I would pick a day from my childhood:) Sweet memories! Enjoy your day and thanks for sharing! OH and now I want some eggs:)

Carol said...

It sounds like a wonderful place to grow up. I love a beautiful farm. Animals are what more kids need in their lives right now.

Nellie said...

You have some great memories! Traffic on those unpaved roads really made the dust fly during a dry summer!

Mevely317 said...

What a beautiful setting ... and I can practically smell the aroma of your bacon and eggs!
Your line, "17 years of Sundays" reminds me of a poignant Billy Crystal one-man show I saw years ago -- 700 Sundays.

Terri D said...

I love this post, Diana!! Beautiful. xo

Anonymous said...

Thank You Diana for this interesting family history. The area that you grew up in is gorgeous. We are 3rd generation on our late father' side.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
Joan,Marion and Marilyn

pogonip said...

Yes! Family memories are so sweet to recall and I miss the older generation who is now gone. I was/am lucky to have an amazing family.

Not Irish except through my husband, but I'll be wearing green and remembering all those Irish nuns at school!

Ricki Treleaven said...

What a sweet post! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! I'm planning on baking Irish soda bread and Irish oatmeal muffins later this morning. I think if you ever kissed the Blarney Stone you'd be a weapon of mass destruction *giggles*

Jeanie said...

I loved reading your memories -- and especially about your grandpa standing there and waving! Wouldn't you love to spend time with all of them again? Oh, the questions I'd ask, the things I'd tell.

Melanie said...

Thank you for sharing some of the beautiful memories from your past. I get nostalgic when I think of past holidays too, especially because they included my grandparents, great aunt and uncle, and my dad - all of who are no longer with us. My childhood family holiday gatherings were the best.

xoxo

Linda said...

I loved walking down Memory Lane with you showing us all the sights and describing the sounds of those long years ago!!! This post reads like a lovely chapter in a Gladys Tabor book!!

susan q said...

Thanks for the memories of your PA farm life. Everyone is Irish today♥

BeachGypsy said...

I loved this post and loved reading your memories. That picture of the road and that mailbox -- what pretty country! The road to aunt Bessies is gorgeous too. Hope your week is going well

The Happy Whisk said...

Hey Diana! Sorry you didn't get to know your gram. The egg skull is pretty cool looking.

Creations By Cindy said...

Oh my goodness! You had me sitting here with big old alligator tears! I LOVED reading this girl! Made me tear up but it sure brought a smile to me today. Happy week to you sweet lady! Hugs and blessings, Cindy