Grandma and Grandpa Washington and the "Good ole days"

Grandma and Grandpa with 4 of their children.

When I was just a little girl, I stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Washington.  I love those two old people, I would "help" Grandma.  I had to dust off  all the furniture, wasn't much.  
She use Old English oil rag made the house smell good.  She did not know that oil held the dust. I had to swept the kitchen after every meal.  They first lived way out in the woods on Joe White's place.  I remember Grandpa coming in out of the garden and telling Grandma, "I told Joe White you get blood out of a turnip" Grandpa must have been late with the rent. 

My Step-dad, Lawrence and Momma

My Mother was at an army camp with Lawrence Murphy, my step daddy.  She would send them money to take care of us, but she must have been late, Grandpa paid his debts.  One time my brother Charles, decided he did not want to go to school, I was not old enough so I was home all day.  He had a way of coughing and it sounded like Whooping Cough, which then was really bad.  He pulled this stunt two or three times and Grandma would let him stay home.  Not long after the bus ran Charles got better.  I heard Grandpa tell Grandma he thought Charles had Schoolitis.  Grandma said  she would see if  Black Draught tea would cure him.  Now I hear this but I do not tell Charles.  The boys took care of me expecially Charles, but I did not see any need of me taking care of them.  I don't know if you know what this tea is but it is a laxative worst than castor oil.  Then we did not have running water, electricity, nor indoor plumping, and it was cold outside in that out house.  The next morning Charles was coughing, sounded really bad.  Grandma boiled up the water and gave Charles the tea. I have never felt so sorry for any body in my life.  I really wished I had told him.  We did not have Chaming with Aloe Vera, we used Sear Robuck catologs or corn cobs.  I am sure in the cities they had toilet paper, but except at school I never saw any.  Well the next morning and every morning after, Charles got on the bus.  I will tell more about Grandma and Grandpa at a later date.  You know how your childhood runs through your mind every once in awhile, that is why I wrote this.  I was thinking about Grandma.  I lived through the "Good ole days" and don't know anything good about them, except they are gone.

Walter, Charles, Eddie, Me and Momma

 Carrels says the "Good ole days" are a product of some ones  bad memory.  But every once in a while we walk down memory lane. 

Garden Tip:  Cut your roses back: fertilize  everything but Azelias if you fertize them  they will grow new growth and will not bloom.  Put iron on all everygreens and roses.  Bone meal on Peones but make sure dogs can not get to them they will smell the bone meal and dig them up.   We have a small wire fence around ours.  Thank you for watching my garden grow and bloom and I hope you will grow one of your own.  Happy gardening to you from me, Juanita