Tuesday, February 14, 2017

OMG! I've Been Hacked!

Hacked by my very own daughter!  (Please see blog post below this one.)

The little darling has always been good about making her own unique, creative greeting cards for special occasions for her ol' mom and pop, but this one will stand out as a real winner for some time to come.

The pictures, all but the one in the bottom middle row of her and her sweetie, were taken long ago and where she dredged them up is a wonder.  I feel compelled to write a bit explaining each one.  (Click to biggify the pictures, if you wish.)

Going across the top row from left to right, the first one is of Papa Pea plowing up the very first garden we had back in Illinois.  He was still going to school and working part time while I was working full time off the homestead.  We'd already starting keeping chickens, ducks, geese and dairy goats.  And a tiny fawn who's mother had been hit by a car.

Next is an even earlier picture taken of me pretending to smoke a pipe figuring if Papa Pea could do it, so could I.  We were living in my grandma's house at the time.  Grandpa had died and Grandma didn't want to live alone so she packed her suitcase and took to living with one or the other of her seven kids, all of whom welcomed her.  We rented her house until we moved to the thirty acres Papa Pea's folks owned out in the country.

Fast forward 10-12 years, we had made the move to our first piece of land here in Minnesota, little Chicken Mama was three years old and we were working off our tushes clearing about 20 acres of the long since abandoned  eighty acre homestead so we could grow hay to feed our horses and goats.  And Coco, our donkey.  Oh my, the days Chicken Mama and I spent on that tractor while Papa Pea was teaching.

Next row first picture, I'm getting in wood in an effort to heat (futility personified) the tin can of a trailer we first lived in on the eighty acres.

Middle is a present day picture of Chicken Mama and her partner still smiling (silly kids) after a day's work of hard labor.

Last but not least, Papa Pea and a pre-teen Chicken Mama ready to go off on an afternoon ride on one of his (many over the years) motorcycles.  I suspect it was a reward for her after a day of (enforced child labor) helping us cut wood for one of the side businesses we had which helped us stave off starvation when we were getting established up here.

There's nothing like pictures to bring back memories, is there?  Thanks for the Valentine memories, dear daughter of ours!

19 comments:

Susan said...

That was the best Valentine EVER. That little chick of yours is sure talented! The apple didn't fall too far from the tree, did it? xoxo

Sue said...

She did a really terrific job, and I just love the look back at you two.
That pic of you in the boots looking all sultry made me smile---you're the epitome of a REAL woman---sexy and tough as nails all rolled in one. I think you've had a pretty good life---it's reflected in the love your daughter has for you to go to all this trouble.
Happy Valentine's Day , dear lady

Saundra said...

Chicken Mama "did good." Love her valentine for the two of you. You & Papa Pea's love for each other sure shows in the pix. It carried over to you daughter (talent too). Hug, Sandy

Nancy In Boise said...

How wonderful! Nancy

Rain said...

What a lovely surprise for you, and for us to see a little glimpse of your past! I love it! You look great with a pipe ;)

Laurie said...

Well, I said it once....I think chicken mama is a keeper. She sounds like so much fun. And the way she writes reminds me so much of you. Love your family, Mama Pea!

Mama Pea said...

Susan - And sometimes I think the little twit landed on her head! ;o}

Mama Pea said...

Sue - A real woman . . . smoking a pipe? Reminds me of Granny in the Beverly Hillbillies TV series!

Happy Valentine's Day back at ya, my friend!!

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - She has a creative streak in her that can't be stopped. Plus, she's not afraid to do hard, manual labor either. I think we'll keep her. Thank you for your very sweet words!

Mama Pea said...

Nancy - It was such a surprise to open up my blog and find it!

Mama Pea said...

Rain - Hmmm, maybe I should really take up smoking one?? ;o}

Mama Pea said...

Laurie - Awww, you are such a sweeie! She finds (or makes!) the very best gifts for EVERYONE . . . I don't know how she does it!

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,

A great HACK!!!! We all enjoyed viewing these pictures and reading your Daughter's Valentine's wish :-)
Hugs,
Sandy

Goatldi said...

Too much fun! Wow Mama Pea you have worn many hats over the years. And now that you have placed yourself in the same generation as myself I understand why you were in the food co-op to begin with. What a fine woman Chicken Mama is no surprise's there 😊

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Some of those pics I hadn't seen in a long time either! Thanks and hope you had a nice Valentine's Day, too.

Mama Pea said...

Goatldi - Yes, many hats including restaurant owner and operator . . . but that's another story. (Totally incongruous with homesteading, eh?) And, yeah, Chicken Mama's a pretty darn good kid. ;o}

Anonymous said...

Love those pix! BTW, you don't change!Did you find the fountain of youth nearby and where is it? Or might it be just good ole healthy living with lots of love to give and receive.-M

Mama Pea said...

M- Oh, m'dear, you are SO good for my ego. (Hoping to have my extensive plastic surgery done before you see me again!) Thank you, thank you.

Pioneer Woman at Heart said...

That was a nice gift. So sweet, funny, and full of love.