Mother and Dad bought their first home in 1912 for $500.
It was a typical story and a half with a sun porch.
It was heated by a wood stove in the kitchen and a base burner coal stove in the next room.
There were windows in the door of the coal stove and you could see the coal burning. It was beautiful.
There was a floor model radio in the same room.
It was my favorite room until 1947 when Dad built a new house next to Donald and Muriel.
- Dad
The highlight of my day was getting home from school.
I would lean my bike against the sun porch and smell bread or cookies.
If the boats were in, I'd go to the shore first.
I'd check Dad's lunch pail. There was usually a piece of war cake.
Then I'd throw my bicycle in the back of the truck and go home with him.
- Dad
White Crib - Mom says Grammie Lutes had this little crib for dolls. I took the half moon shaped boards that made it rock off the bottom. It held books for Annie and now it sits on the porch as well. It holds pretty weeds I pick and put in jars of water, because I can’t seem to keep flowers in pots alive. Saves money! Wink!
Rocking Chair - It was in our grandparents’ log camp in Nova Scotia. It was built over 100 years ago by a family member who passed away as a young man. It was grey and sat by the stove.
As I drove to the cottage with my parents, I played music from old tapes on my phone.
When the duet came on of Mom and Dad singing, "Heaven", they shared a story about the song.
In 1982, Grammie Landers had a stroke at home and passed away a time later in the hospital.
On her piano, Mom noticed a page turned down in a music book.
At the top of the page, in Grammie's handwriting, it said,
"Sing this one."
Kay Morehouse, Leota Stairs, and Helene Gorman sang it at her funeral.
If you ever wonder if you should take a picture, take it.
My parents saved a lot of memories by taking many pictures.
