a map of my grandfather’s farm
“My grandfather’s farm was like a community itself, a miniature village of buildings. They included the main house, the big barn and various out-buildings. In my memory, there were about eight buildings in all, each with its own purpose, and its own sights, sounds, smells, tastes and stories.” (August 1, 2011, on my grandfather’s farm)
a farm near Moncton ... like a village of buildings
Below is a map of my grandfather’s farm, as I remember it.
The buildings were in a setting of the spaces around them – the orchard, the pastures, the barn yard and the garden.
Some of the buildings, the barn, the house, the mink pen, the garage and the bird loft, I remember very well. Other buildings, the wagon shed, the machine shed, and the shed beside the pasture, I remember only a little. Since my brothers and sister don’t remember these last three at all, or remember other configurations, perhaps these buildings are part of a manufactured memory.
a simple map of my grandfather's farm (not to scale)
an apple tree like the one I remember, with a branch made for sitting and reading
I can vaguely remember the farm I was sent to every summer as a child but somehow this description fits just nicely.
~Denis
LikeLike
JD
September 3, 2011 at 8:40 pm
I really enjoy the background you give for your writing. This one was especially poignant for me as I can still picture in my mind the figure of my grandmother in her daygown and apron waving goodbye from her driveway as I drove away from her home each summer (as a kid growing up or later as an adult). In my mind I can walk through her whole house and see the faded flowery carpet, smell the musty basement, see the tins of devilled chicken in the pantry, sit in the breezeway and pick a wormy apple from the tree in the backyard. It is comforting to visit her home in my mind and this post reminded me of her. Thanks for your writing.
LikeLike
cp
August 27, 2011 at 9:13 am
Hi. I’m glad you liked the post. I also remember the goodbye waves. Hard for us, but hard for them also. Jane
LikeLike
jane tims
August 27, 2011 at 7:23 pm