Vintage Memories...

This is my beloved Maw Smith....all I have to do is just glance at this picture and beautiful memories from my childhood flood my soul....small little rural community...with dirt roads and simple little houses made of cresote lumber....a place where everybody knew everybody and a child could be safe to walk alone visiting family up and down those dirt roads...I had aunts & uncles on every corner and even had my other grandmother..Mama Bush....living just over the little hill from Aunt Annie Bell....no matter what direction I turned....I was loved and always welcomed.....

Maw was the kindest soul I had ever known....I can't ever recall a time that she raise her voice to me (unlike Paw Smith who would raise a switch to you if you even thought about sassing him! lol) I remember she'd listen to Joe Rumore on the radio while she would be in the kitchen...and always saving those Golden Eagle syrup labels to send in to him for little prizes.....I remember the old wringer washing machine on the back porch and how I loved to see her hang clothes on the old clothes line beside the house next to the little garden where she planted 'Old Maids' (Zinnas) in every color....I thought they were the most beautiful flowers in the whole world....I can see every room in the house ....the old bench at the table where I would sit to eat and talk to her as I watched her cook...I remember weekends being surrounded by dozens of aunts and uncles and cousins while we all gather around to eat some of the biggest and best spreads of Sunday Dinner this country girl has ever known.....I remember playing in the big front yard and just before dark the the sky turned into a magical sight as 100's of lightning bugs (fire flies) came out to do their night dance.....to this day if I am blessed to even see a lightning bug in my back yard...I squeal and stand there holding my breath afraid if I move it will have been a dream.

These little treasures belonged to Maw Smith....they were given to her by her sister when she was young....they are little poodle salt and pepper shakers....after Maw died her baby girl..my Aunt Kat (you can go here to visit her at her beautiful blog) had these...well a few years ago...My Aunt Annie Bell called and said she had something for me.....I went to her house and she handed me a package and said 'Kat said she wanted you to have these.' I cannot even begin to put in the words the emotions I felt as I sat there with tears streaming down my face while I touched something that the very hands of my beloved Maw Smith had once touched...

My precious grandmother....left me more than just things...she instilled in me the very core of love and devotion I have for family....she was just a simple country woman but to me she was the example of everything good and pure..she left a mark on my heart that I will carry to my grave...and it would take a book to tell of all the memories I have....she died when I was just a young teenager....and I remember even years later I would cry thinking of her just before closing my eyes to go to sleep and I would dream...and in my dreams she would come to me and I could see her sweet face and hear her soft voice as if for a moment in time she was my Maw Smith again and I was that little girl picking Old Maids from her garden.....

For more Vintage Thingie Thursdays please go by and visit Suzanne over at Colorado Lady..take care you guys...and remember if maybe things in your past and people in your past have hurt you....let it go....forgive them...what ever it was....you survived it...don't let it control the rest of your life...hurt and anger will eat at you worse than cancer in your spirit...other people have to answer for themselves....but release yourself from that hurt and bitterness....ask God to give you a healing of memories....then live my friend...live this life with love and treasure those you have been blessed with in this life....it will be over way too soon....have a great day you guys!♥