MY FAMILY

Nana was raised in a big white farmhouse with 3 older brothers and 2 sisters - one sister is my twin. Your great grandma, "Gussie", was a great cook, gardener, read many books and loved by all. Your great grandpa, Sam, was a farmer, carpenter and a traveling musician who played the violin. He lost his hand in a farm accident when I was 12 years old. Times became difficult then. Our farm had fields, a river and cabins which Nana loved to explore.

MY DAILY CHORES

Everyone pitched in to help our parents who worked very hard. At 6am in the morning we all woke up to milk the cows. Then we got busy feeding all the hungry farm animals - cats, dogs, turkeys, horses, goats, chicken and pigs. We had a big garden filled with vegetables and potatoes.  Nana had more outside work since she had little allergies and was good at fixing things with her dad. Sometimes Nana would go fishing with her dad to help catch fish for meals.  It was fun but LOTS of work.

MY FAMILY RULES

We had to finish all weekly chores: clean our room, take care of the animals, help in the garden and milk the cows.  During the summer we read many books. During school, homework always came first. Everyone had to play a musical instrument - piano, violin, guitar, or trumpet.  Nana wanted to play our guitar but my brother was playing it so Nana played the trumpet instead. There was NO TV EXCEPT on Friday nights  ONLY if homework and chores were done!

MY FAVORITE PETS

Nana's favorite pets were her two beagles, Frisco and Sysco.  When Nana sang "On Top of Old Smokey" they would howl which dad did NOT like to hear. Nana would ride our 2 horses, Nellie and Shellie, a Shetland pony who opened gates letting our cattle out. Dad did not like that either! There were many cats and kittens. Nana would dress them and play house in the treehouse which my dad built.  Nana thought her mom couldn't find her in the treehouse but she always did!