Long before it became the popular catchphrase that it is today, my great~grandparents were living the romantic Prairie lifestyle on their own Prairie outside of Santa Fe,New Mexico...that lifestyle has been mine as well my entire life, although I do not live on a Prairie... but my heart does... and it truly is a state of mind as well...
In the late 1800's, my great~grandfather and great~grandmother Souders homesteaded hundreds of acres outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they built their home and had a ranch... they lived their lives well by the old saying early to bed~early to rise, and worked hard from sun~up till sun~down... I am blessed to have known my great~grandparents well, as they both lived to be nearly 100 years old... and every summer we would stay with them and my grandparents in New Mexico... my great~grandfather was tall and stately... and loved his cigars and pipe... as a little girl, I came to love those smells as well, as it meant my great~grandpa was nearby... my great~grandmother was small and petite... with flowing soft white hair that cascaded all the way down her back... most often, she wore it up in a bun... her cookie jar was always full of delicious cookies she had baked for us... the kind only a grandma can bake... her soft eyes were full of wisdom and love... and from this lady I learned early on in my childhood much of my knowledge of gardening that I have today... she grew wonderful vegetables and beautiful flowers... besides the Prairie flowers that were native there...
My daddy grew up on this ranch on the Prairie... back then, it was not uncommon for several generations to live under the same roof... my grandparents lived on the ranch as well, along with my daddy and his sisters... the old pink stucco house will always be alive in my memories... with the vast Prairie stretching out in all directions around it... I carry these tender memories tucked away safely in my heart... ready to bring out whenever I get nostalgic... like now...
"Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days
sometimes it feels like this world's gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
when the line between right and wrong
didn't seem so hazy" ~ The Judds
This is my favorite photo (above) of my great~grandfather... the little girl is my aunt Sally... this so reminds me of the Judd's song "Grandpa, tell me 'bout the good old days"... my great~grandparents are much a part of who I am... who I have been... and who I always will be... a simple, country girl... whose family is the most important thing in her life... and who cherishes her heritage... and her ancestors who have now passed on... the rural countryside she calls home and the simple country pleasures that make each day a joy to be lived to the fullest... I have posted often about my family before... and I am sure I will post about them many times again...
I am so blessed to have inherited my great~grandpa's gold pocket watch... and my great~grandma's gold and diamond wedding ring... when my great~grandma passed away, her ring went to my grandmother, (her daughter), then to my mama... then when my mama passed away... to me... as I slip my grandmother's ring gingerly on my finger... worn by the ladies in my life I love so very much... I can just hear my little great~grandmother's soft voice telling me the names of all her flowers in her garden... and how her Foxgloves were called that because of the naughty little foxes who would put the little glove~like flowers on their hands to slip quietly into the henhouse... and I would giggle... and say "tell me again grandma"... and she always did... then I gaze wistfully at my great~grandfather's pocket watch... my thoughts drifting back to another time... long ago... I close my eyes and I swear the scent of a good cigar is wafting through the Autumn breeze... yes... my great~grandmother and great~grandfather are close by, in my heart... and always at my side watching over me... the Prairie life... it really has not changed that much in all these years... for me, anyway... I always carry on my family traditions and cherish my heritage and tender memories... I think grandma is smiling down at me and grandpa is giving me a little wink... I hope they are proud of me for carrying on our family traditions... and a way of life they loved as I do now... this Tuesday, November 7th is my great~grandfather's date of birth... I miss you and I love you grandma and grandpa... Happy Birthday Grandpa... xoxo... Julie Marie
9 comments:
Oh what a lovely story! I just love hearing about your family. Such wonderful memories you have of such love and family. You are truly blessed. :) Kit
A beautiful post and photos ! I don't know to much of my families history as my parents came here to Canada from England after the 2nd world war . I do know they were born in England and most of my relatives that are now gone were as well and my dad was a British soldier . I have distant cousins I have never met in Scotland . My Nana , dads mum was born in India when it was a British colony and then moved to England as a child and remained there till she passed . I do remember my mum telling me our ancestors were also French decent ! Have a lovely day !
Great post and photos. I am named for my great-grandmother.
Your story and pictures brought tears to my eyes, but happy ones. You have such a great memory and I know you cherish your family. Beautiful, lovely pictures, too.
My parents moved from Chicago to the prairies of Illinois right before I was born. My mother told us she would look out the kitchen door and see nothing but fields full of wheat and scattered farmhouses, barns and silos. She was very lonely being away from her parents and siblings and friends. There were five other homes surrounding us in what was later to be built up into a little town. I remember walking the little road to the church and our school, swimming in a little fishing hole in the summer and meeting new little friends as more homes went up.
Now my little old town is a thriving community that doesn't remotely resemble the place I grew up in. As you go further west, you will find the farmland again and what reminds me of home. I don't think it ever leaves your heart.
Thanks for helping me bring back those memories!
XO,
Jane
Julie Marie,
this is an awesome post.The pictures of your Great Grands...what a treasure to have.
I just bet it is just like Granpa tell me about the good old days.I always loved that song.
I also love the post below.That is a beautiful moon.And the little blue bird eating the seeds,how cute is that.What kind of bird is that?
Did you have a great Halloween Dearest? I was thinking of you all day.We don't get trick or treaters at my house. We live way into the woods.
I tried to call the other day.Guess what is walking about on our land? A Mother bobcat and two cubs.Right out in back of my house.We had a flood during Issac.We almost got flooded.We were stranded for 4 days.
Well Hon,Bill is calling.We are up kind of late.
Love you Sweetie,
XXOO Marie
PS I love your stories
Dear Julie Marie . . what a beautiful post! No wonder you are such a beautiful lady! I did not know my Great Grandparents, but feel I know them through my Mother's words and stories. Somehow, I know they are there. I was raised in their cottage and always sensed a presence just out of reach.
November 7th is also the birth day of my own, dear, and much loved and sorely missed Daddy.
What a beautiful and heart warming post. Thanks for sharing...a wonderful way to start my morning.
Farmhouse hugs,
Cindy
Julie Marie- I was in tears about half-way through this wonderful tribute to your grandparents. The one thing that shone thru all those memories is the pure love that surrounded you as a child...and continues to warm your heart today. Beautiful message! xo Diana
I was touched by this beautiful post. If we all leave this world with such loving memories instilled, we will have lived a glorius life.
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