"At a young age we would go with our mother to the wash place. We would carry the water, dip the water, and help hang out the clothes. We had a good life. "
"I would like to see children in this day 'n' time go back and have to live the life that I did. Havin' fun really wasn't thought of much." Rose Ester Shirley Barnes, Fall/Winter 1997
The Foxfire 40th Anniversary Book
Faith, Family and the Land
I recently read a book titled "The Last Child In The Woods." Kids today are missing a lot.....
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've noticed today is that you never see a bunch of kids out playing together. When I was growing up there was always a baseball, football game, etc. etc. being played in a field or in the lot behind the old church. No adults just us kids.
ReplyDeleteI worry about the children growing up today. What skills and discipline will they have acquired to help them survive later in life? I wonder. Super photos. :)
ReplyDeleteI always loved the Foxfire series. Yes, the kids today are sure missing a lot. I grew up in the woods and chores everyday. I didn't have video games or fancy toys but I was always warm, well fed and loved.
ReplyDeleteThere's too much to say and not enough space to comment on this subject. There's such a societal emphasis on immediate self-gratification. Everything has to be fun. Now.
ReplyDeleteI agree!!! It seems that the focus for children over the past several years is to have fun/socialize. Many children no longer have chores or summer jobs. I think this plays a part in the overall work ethic of our country!
ReplyDeleteSo true. Life for children today, sad to say, is next to nothing. This way of life would be meamingless to them. What a waste...
ReplyDeleteSo many simple memories come to mind.....
ReplyDeleteI love these pictures. They are perfect!
there's truth to that, for sure. even my childhood was spent doing chores first, being quiet and non-disruptive, no fancy toys, just grateful for a hot meal and a bed to sleep in as we were very poor. but i did take pleasure in having nature all around - guess it prepared me well to enjoy the life i have now...
ReplyDeleteDon't think just the children would struggle...us adults wouldn't fair too well either.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing is that everyone still had fun, doing the things that needed to be done. Great post, beautiful pics. xoxo
ReplyDeleteRemembering when my Mom used to wash laundry by hand on a washboard and my sister and I would hang it up for her on the lines. Maybe that's why I enjoy doing that now. How much today's children miss with modern conveniences. When the going gets tough, things break down, supermarkets run out, they don't know of any recourse except to complain, hope for the next shipment, wait for repairs while the work piles up, etc...ah, well.
ReplyDeleteI love your photos as always. I'm so glad I'm not a child in this day. It really is sad how much they will miss. Happy Easter to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Next Nine Acres, fun shouldn't be "scheduled", it's part of life. Anything can be fun, and with some people, everything is.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment, Farm Chick.
Love the Foxfire books! Remember wash day really well, lifting buckets of water, from the pump, into the wood stove to heat! My Mom was fortunate though she had electricity and a wringer washer. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteI try to have my grandchildren experience the outdoors everytime they come to my house. I had them last night, and after supper we went outside to look at the buds on the trees. They loved it! Each parent and grandparent can help change the experiences of child and take them back to a simpler time.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha! She's asking a lot in 2011.
ReplyDeleteI loved this...and it made me think of my friend TJ who used to bathe with a big, fat bar of homemade soap, in the river. What memories.
ReplyDeleteAll spring joys to you.
Love across the miles,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I think we can still teach our children to be responsible for chores and duties, and also we can teach them about life's simple pleasures. We are their role models. I don't think we have to go back and wash clothes by the river, but we can teach them that hard work, conservation of land, and common respect are still alive and well in our homes. Good points to ponder!
ReplyDeleteWhat a neat picture of the house.
ReplyDeleteI agree, the modern day kids of video games, blu-ray and tweeting would flip out if someone told them to go down to the creek and wash their own clothes!
Cool. I remember digging in the dirt a lot and it wasn't always just the garden... And actually playing with the dogs outside. Lots of outdoorsy stuff.
ReplyDeleteMy kids would rather do things that don't involve the elements...
Lovely old house and words that ring true. Life seems so fast and different these days doesnt it. I agree, kids are missing out on the joy of being outisde and the adventures it brings. Time is an awesome thing and is always changing this phase shall too pass...hopefully :)
ReplyDeleteMY Mother still lives in the house I grew up in. We used to play football in the street. That wouldn't be possible with the amount of cars parked there now. Computer games I think now and we wonder why we have dietary problems in our societies.
ReplyDeleteI love the Foxfire books. I know the people today would not know much of anything related to our way of life back in the day. Totally different.
ReplyDeletewow. love this. We live near Jamestown VA and there is an interactive "museum" kinda place where they can learn what it was like to live with Powhatan Indians-
ReplyDeleteby age three they had their own chores. The mothers and I laughed and said their ought to be "Powhatan Summer Camp" that the kids could go to for two weeks- maybe they'd put away their laundry when they got home!
I noticed Joe's comment - about all the kids playing. It is hard. The kids are spread out - we are told we can't let them out of our site because some nutcase will steal them. How to find the balance?
I'm really lucky - the neighborhood we live in is very safe and I can let my kids ride their bikes to their friends's houses but most people can't anymore.
Please excuse, but yes, you live in paradise. Thank you for this glimpse. Please have you all a good Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the amen truth? Even fun was different. Fun was climbing trees or fishing with a pole you cut from a bamboo patch. It was carving little roads from dirt and using rocks or sticks as cars to play with. Rope swings, tire swings, and telling stories on the porch.
ReplyDeleteMore is not more sometimes. I feel sorry for children who have never made a mud pie or climbed a tree.
Ahhh Foxfire words -- what a treasure they are. I know you are a big fan of the books and I surely can understand why -- barbara
ReplyDeleteI hear you. Kids now a days could never do what we did as kids. Great shots.
ReplyDeletei grew up playing outside so much more than my kids did. with video games, smart phones and computers to keep kids busy all day, it makes you wonder what kind of life the next generation will have?
ReplyDeleteGood photos and nice post today, Farmchick.
ReplyDeleteI liked your comment today about my Winged Victory. I don't think she chose that garb because she was in a hugging mood!!
Wise words, but I am not sure how many of us would be able to do this, young or adults. It is an interesting and fascinating thought anyway...
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a really wonderful place to grow up ...
ReplyDeleteI played outdoors all day- as did my children, but my grandkids don't. How can you climb a tree indoors? My mom never worried about me...but boy if she had only known how high up in that neighborhood tree I climbed....
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, beautiful photos and cutie pie dog, but you had me at the Allman Bros.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and thoughts. Brought back a lot of memories for this old man.
ReplyDeleteI don't think we could live like they used to. My aunt once told me she used to go down by the creek on the flat rocks and help her grandmother do the washing.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote! As obssessed as I am with the old days-I sure am thankful for my washer and dryer : )
ReplyDeleteLovely quote. :)
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say that I am happy that I have given my children the best childhood I could! They had chores and fun and games playing in the bush and knew discipline in sport from very early on.Lovely pics.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote...I love the old times too...but I love the modern conviences too!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos!!!
ReplyDelete