My Childhood--Gatha

Growing up on a farm that was two and a half miles from either Romeo or Antonito, it was necessary to travel to stores. Romeo didn't have a clothing store or a drug store, so sometimes we drove to Antonito for things that were not available in Romeo. We had an old car, but it was quite serviceable. There were eight of us in our family. so sometimes we were crowded in our car. Seat belts changed the number of people that can ride in a car. There were eight of us. I grew up through World War II, so there was a lot of things that were not available to purchase. Nylons, sugar, tires, gas was rationed, Being on a farm, gas was more available.

We had a garden that was about an acre. All of us pulled weeds and hoed. Our garden was very productive. One year we raised enough carrots to fill a wagon bed. We had a cellar that was big enough to park our car in through the winter when it was cold. There were bins for different vegetables. We always had enough potatoes to last until the next harvest. We had enough carrots that year to feed many people. The vegetables, and fruit that was raised in the San Louis Valley had a better flavor than any I have tasted since leaving there. We always had cabbage, onions, beets, and many other things. We raised rhubarb and we had a big strawberry patch, and we raised raspberries. I think the reason that I like raspberries so well is because Mom canned them. She did them in hot water bath. They were so good.

We had meat that we raised. We always had pork, beef, and sometimes mutton. We lived through the depression, but on a farm there was always food. That was a blessing.

The best part of growing up was the great love and acceptance we felt. I always felt that I was loved and approved of. I think my growing up years were very special.

New blogs added to blog list

Recently, Larry and I have added some new blogs to the list:

• Jordan and Candice is Laraine's son and his wife who live in NY City. They both graduated from BYU in April and Jordan got a great job working for an ad agency in NY. They always have lots of fun and Laraine tells us they are a bit crazy.
• Are they still alive? is the blog Laraine's daughters posted in Europe last summer (2007). They documented their trip sailing around the Mediterranean with their dad. They came home in July and never finished blogging about their adventures because they all went back to their busy lives. But it is entertaining.

I would like to add other blogs of family members. If you are aware of one I have missed, please contact Kent Vance with the URL and a little about why the link should be added.

Growing up in Romeo

We had a kitchen table in the kitchen, where we always sat down together for our meals. We had an assigned place at the table. In the winter when the nights were long, we would sit around the table and visit about what had happened through the day and what our plans were. Sometimes we would read stories or play table games. We had a fireplace and it was fun to have a fire there. Our heat was all wood and coal. Daddy and the boys would go to the mountains in the Summer to get wood. It would take them 2 days, with a team and wagon. We bought coal by the ton. We had a coal shed. We didn't have a pickup or a truck.

We often had friends stay with us. Nona and I spent a lot of time together. We would often go to family members and visit. Our life was good. The church was our life. That is where our friends and neighbors met and had church, mutual, parties and dances. We had a good life.