Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Summer Days On A Farm

We are well into the summer days, and it's been really hot here, and I was reflecting on one summer when I worked on a farm.   My oldest brother and his best friend opened up a produce store in town, and all the produce was grown on a 40-acre piece of land that belonged to a family friend.  I was about 11 or 12, and at the crack of dawn, I would go out there with my family and start picking, watering, and collecting all the vegetables that were ripe that day.  About mid-day, I would come home hot, sweaty, and tired.  There was planted corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, watermelon, and cantaloupe.  I remember wearing over-alls on the days I worked, and one of the workers would constantly tease me throughout the day.  My brother and his best friend would take the produce and sell it at the local auction, and when they opened their own store, they sold it there.  They had some nice looking veggies.  The business didn't last that long, but it was an adventure for my brother, and one that I am pleased to have been a part of.


This painting reminds me
of my mom and her five kids.
 
 
~Sheri

26 comments:

Net - "It's a Wonderful Movie" said...

What a beautiful childhood memory, Sheri! Even though it was hard work - it sounds like you enjoyed every minute of working from sun up alongside your family and helping out your neighbors. Precious times, I'm sure.

Plus, the picture that reminds you of your Mother and siblings... is truly beautiful!

God's Blessings to you! Net :)

Susan said...

Oh Sheri. I didn't know you worked on a farm. I have always disliked pulling weeds but I love to eat the veggies! ha haha Thanks, dear Sheri, for all your visits to my posts. Love when you stop by. Susan

Blogoratti said...

What great memories indeed, and lovely photo. I really like that painting, thank for sharing your thoughts. Greetings!

Pam said...

Five kids....wow, I only had 2 and that was enough. But my mom came from a family of 7 kids, and dads mom had 3. My mom is 80 and her youngest sibling is 58! Big difference. I have a cousin that is exactly 40 yrs younger then me! HAHA....Love that painting and your childhood memory.

Carla from The River said...

Great memories! I grew up on a dairy farm, so I agree, working on a farm is full of special times.
How hot have you had it in California so far this summer?
Carla

Pilar said...

You share so many beautiful memories about your life Sheri! I love how added the picture at the end that reminded you of your mom and siblings!

Jeanie said...

I love that painting! And the story you share about the farm and your brother is just wonderful. I think when we grow up around fresh fruits and veggies, nothing from the store ever tastes quite as good.

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

You certainly brought back many memories of my childhood. We had a farm and I helped mow the wheat, put it up in the barn. Picked grapes and strawberries to earn money for special things that my parents would not pay for or felt that I didn't need. Helped my mother pick veggies and helped with canning tomato's, jams, green beans, anything that could be canned. We always had a pantry full of wonderful canned goods and potato's, apples in the basement in straw.

I can relate to the memories that you had helping your family. Kids now do not know what they are missing. It's all fast food and internet. What a shame they will not have the wonderful memories that we have.

Love the picture of the woman and her children.

It's really hot here and more HOT weather coming this weekend. Don't go out much with my COPD. Have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend.

Loved the post.

Hugs,
Mary

It's me said...

Nice to remember old times....enjoy summer darling love ria x ❤️

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Wonderful memories, Sheri! Having that experience makes one appreciate the hard work that farmer's have to do, I'm sure. I picked blueberries on a farm all one summer with my sister and best friend. We would go home with blue teeth! haha! Love the painting and the sweet memories it holds. It is truly these simple things, like working in the gardens alongside our loved ones, that are our fondest memories. Sending hugs xo karen

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed you sharing your memories. Gardening is hot, hard work but the end result is very rewarding. This is a sweet painting.

R's Rue said...

Love.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

I like the painting that reminds you of your Mother and her family. Your memories of growing up picking vegetables is a good one. You began working at a young age. I think it's wonderful for children to know how food grows! Have a wonderful evening. I've been thinking of you and hope you are not in the danger of fires in your area. ♥

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

My boys used to pick blackberries in the summer and sell them. They have all kinds of stories to tell about things I didn't know at the time! haha! They just love shocking me now. (like when one of them layed down and took a nap and a snake crawled over his legs...while his brother's picked berries!) Oh my! Hugs!

Marilyn Miller said...

Ahhh! This brings memories of working in the apples for my uncle and grandfather during the summers growing up. What special memories.

TARYTERRE said...

what a great business to be part of. homegrown is best. what wonderful memories.

Karen said...

That is such a nice memory, and the painting is perfect for your post.
I miss having fresh picked produce from grandpa's garden in the summer.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

I believe in living close to the earth. I'm not a farm girl, never have been. On the contrary, I've always needed to have a city near me, but not exactly live in the city. However, the feeling I get when I'm just in the garden or near a lake, the ocean or a meadow, is thrilling. To work the earth, to remember that our resources come from the earth, make engaging in it all the more important.

Jemma@athomewithjemma said...

Oh you know me and the farm girl that is and was still living inside of me. Being part of the process of growing and harvesting is so rewarding. I am so glad that you this opportunity Sheri and that you have such fond, although a little sweat memories! I bet you were cute in those overalls!
Love,
Jemma

Debby Ray said...

Aww...what a sweet memories that must be for you. I love it when we catch a glimpse of something that sparks a sweet memory like that...it happens to me quite often! I never worked on a farm but we always had a good sized garden when I was a kid. I remember helping my mom and sisters pick peas and beans, later sitting on the porch with big pans as we snapped them. I only wish I would have appreciated more back then! Thanks for sharing your sweet memory, Sheri!

Draffin Bears said...

Dear Sheri,

Happy days indeed, thinking of your life back when you were young. It was a necessity to have a big vegetables garden, fruit trees and there would always be an abundance of freshly picked produce.
I used to enjoy going out to help my family pick green peas, beans and asparagus to name a few.
Hope all is well with you dear friend and wishing you a happy weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Rose said...

Sheri, I really enjoyed reading this...and I like that painting. My mom wore a bonnet most of the time when in the garden!

NanaDiana said...

What a great memory,Sheri. Have a wonderful weekend- xo Diana

Jill said...

What a lovely photo.... and great memories to have! This summer heat is really something that's for sure. Farming is definitely hard work. Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings,
Jill

Tammie Lee said...

That is a wonderful memory, thank you for sharing it.
Overalls seem a good outfit for such work.

I love this painting. It really gives a feeling of what it might be like to be in a family of that size.

Lovely weekend to you Sheri.

Doreen@foxdenrd said...

These are memories you will always treasure, as you should. You are so lucky to have had this experience Sheri! A life devoid of GMO'S!
xxx

(I'm going to check a different box so you don't have to respond on my blog. Let's see if it works).

xxx