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Monday, April 06, 2009

Memory Monday----Expeditions In The Front Yard

About 15 years ago, I decided that I needed to get started on my personal history. I had gotten a memory maker book from someone. It was a paperback version----one that you could write in----and it asked questions about different things to help spur your memory and get you started.

It was really helpful, and I wrote about 10 entries before I stopped----you know, my present life kept getting in the way.


But, with this blog, I feel that I have a perfect outlet to write about my personal history and hopefully, every few years, I can make this blog into a book for my children. It is already, basically, my journal. I don't really write about everything personal, but if I want to vent or tell of the ridiculous things that happen to me, I feel that I can do it here.

So, once a month, or maybe twice----I have decided to do a Memory Monday. I wish that I could do it every week, but I have a hard time writing more than two times a week. I know. I know. If I could just not do the other 9 or 10 things that I have to do! Well, some of those things fall by the wayside, as it is....

But I digress.

I was born in Colorado. My Dad was in the Air Force, and he was stationed there. My Mom said that the house that we lived in has since been torn down, but the corner is still there....
I have pictures of me----scrawny, with skinny legs and sparse hair.

Hmmmm---where is everyone?

With my sister, Janene, at 6 mo. old.


I had one older sister, Janene, who was two years older than me----she took care of me, stood by me and was my best audience.

I, basically, came out of the womb an entertainer. I have seen film from when I was just barely sitting up and pulling myself up to the couch. My Mom would put on records and I would dance and dance---up and down----up and down----to the beat.

My sister would laugh and laugh, and of course, clap.
I was addicted to applause at an early age.


Real camping when I was about a year old---with my sister and my Mom.

Blonde and cheerful at a year and a half.


When I was still a toddler, we moved to a farm in Utah. My grandpa owned acreage there, and a house, so we went to live there. This was where my first memories begin.

The house was very small, with only two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and one bath. I shared a bedroom with my sister, and when my brother was born, when I was three, he had a crib in my parents bedroom.
Two years old and what a cutie!

I loved living there, as there was a lot of space for us to play outside. In the summer, one of our favorite things to play was "going camping". My sister and I used to load up a red wagon with our dishes, blankets, dolls, some reading material and some snacks. We would then proceed to
go around the perimeter of the yard several times before coming to rest under the trees at one end. The yard was a large grassy area flanked by trees on one end, a gravel area on the other end, the driveway on one side and the house on the other.

We started out going over the uneven grassy terrain, taking turns pulling and pushing the wagon. We would sometimes sing as we traveled----this was something that we did in the car, so since we were traveling, we did it then.

At times we would stop and get a drink out of our thermos, (we didn't have water bottles then, folks) then continue on to our destination. When we felt that we had gone around the yard enough times to seem like a long journey, we would stop under the trees and start to set up our "camp".

This was my favorite part of the expedition, as we would try to figure out how to build our tent out of the blankets that we had brought, using the edge of the playground equipment that was next to the trees. After we got our tent built, we would sit our dolls up, get out our "picnic" and eat, chatting about our journey so far. Sometimes we would read for awhile and then would go to "bed" for the night, laying down with the blanket above us, watching the sun make a dappled pattern through the leaves cast on the top of the blanket.

I still remember the warmth of the sun as we shut our eyes and how the grass smelled alive, as we waited for the "morning" to come. There was a certain sound that we would make for morning---a tune that sounded like a sun coming up. And then we packed up our things and headed for "home".

At the gravel area, we would usually stop again. It was time for our water break, and we would also play a bit---running around on the gravel---dancing or chasing each other.

The farm where we lived, standing here in the field with my sister.

There we are---the yard travelers....and there's my new little brother down in his bassinet.

It was at this point that our Mom would yell out of the front door, telling us to come in to dinner. It was still light outside, as the summer days seemed to stretch on long and lengthy---especially when you are young, so it seemed early for dinner, but we didn't want to get into trouble, and started getting our things together.

We made sure that everything was back in the wagon and pulled the wagon back to the front porch. There we would fill our small arms with our blankets, dolls and trash from the lunch, going back and forth, taking our things into our bedroom.

And the wagon? It was placed there in the corner of the front porch.



Waiting for our next adventure.

24 comments:

mCat said...

What a great idea! I love the Memory Monday and just might start it on my own after my Missionary Monday's are over. Love the walk down memory lane. I felt like I was right there "camping" with you! How fun!

Rachel said...

I love that idea. I look forward to the other memory Mondays. I also use my blog as an outlet these days. It's a big part of me these days. Silly silly I know

Renee said...

That's a great memory! I remember when we could play outside alone for hours and even into the night. And camping! My have times changed!

I like your memory Mondays! It's a nice idea!

Jewels said...

I. Loved. This. LOVED it! How tender that you and your sister would go camping in your yard, that is the best memory in the world. And that picture of your Mom at the 'real' camping site? That should be a postcard. I would buy it.

Julie said...

LOVE the pictures Shawn - so cute - and they're even in COLOR! I think most of my baby pictures are black and white. Yikes! What does that say about me?! :)

kado! said...

That is a wonderful memory!!! I loved reading along while you were remembering it!

that dress you are wearing on your 2nd b-day is SO cute....looks like you have an awesome family!

thanks for sharing!

Just SO said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love Memory Monday. I should do something like this but since my memory of childhood is very limited. So I wouldn't have many posts. I love how you traveled around the yard a few times before settling in to camp. And I'm a thermos girl too! I remember taking those or canteens on hikes.

Miggy said...

just checked out your historical house! bummer... what an amazing place. We're still not in the clear yet, but things look good. **fingers crossed**

Lynne's Somewhat Invented Life said...

So, you're really a farm girl? Who would guess? Darling photos, you were a looker early on.

Word verification: Shess

Heather said...

WOW! You have a good memory for someone of your age. LOL JK love ya big sis. Love the pics, I think we used to see those on slides.

Syed said...

This is SUCH a beautiful post :) I love the idea of Memory Mondays. I suppose documenting the little things that happen that you would otherwise forget, alongside important memories is always fun. There was that art piece where some guy wrote down every woman he met over a year and catalogued it. I guess those fleeting memories are quite nice to look back on :)

Kate Coveny Hood said...

You were an entertainer from birth? Who would have guessed that...?

Beautiful story though. It reminded me a lot of the pretend games I played as a child. Very elaborate with lots of props.

Shawn said...

Hey all,
I'm SO glad that you like my idea!

I would have done a neat visual, but I am HTML brain dead and don't know how to do it----anyone want to volunteer?

I would like a logo to go with it to use every time I write a post...

Ok, so I will be waiting.

zelzee said...

This made me pull out a "Grandma's Memories" book that my daughter got me a couple years ago.

You at least had about 10 entries before you put it away.....mine is blank and I just blew the dust off of it.

Loved the stories with your sister. Didn't it just bring a smile to your face thinking about those times?

(You can get thru just about anything with a sister)

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed taking a look back at your memories with you. I'm looking forward to enjoying your blog!

Kelly Deneen Raymond said...

I totally love this idea! Your pictures and stories were wonderful! :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier today!

Debbie said...

Wonderful photos and what a great idea! You will be so glad to have this all documented.

Mom n Pop Wilson said...

Brings me back! I'm impressed that you remember so many of the details. I don't remember the thermos but I do remember the morning song.:)

Great idea but I'm lucky to get in one post a week.

Elly said...

What cute little sisters! I don't think I ever heard that story before, I just remember the walk past the graveyard story... Traveling around and around the yard sounds like a lot more fun. :)

miche said...

Good idea! Thanks for always commenting on my blog too Shawn :-)

~j. said...

Awesome! You have a talent for painting images with your words. I love your pioneer adventures with your sister. And that picture of you..."hmmm..." - Awesome.

Omgirl said...

how fun! That is a great idea, to write your memories down. You and your sister look like you were actually FRIENDS growing up!

p.s. Did I ever send you my address for the giveaway? I can't remember if I actually did it or just thought about it.

susette said...

What little town in Utah did this take place? Those were some pretty precious memories you shared. I remember when our family would go on trips and mom had the thermos. She would fill it with postum. We loved the stuff!

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

Love the idea of Memory Monday. Your post and the pictures were terrific. I can just imagine what these adventures with your sister were like...even the sound effect of the sun coming up!

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