The Definition Of Spells

I know everyone has heard the word Spell before, but it can have several different definitions. Example, she sure can spell them words good, or she came and sit with us for a spell today and the one I like the most, she’s having one of her spells..
I’m gonna use the last one to describe three special ladies that were very dear to me. My mama was sweet as they come and had a mild disposition and easy going. I was blessed to know both my grandmas and we called one big ma and the other little ma. Big ma had a little more skin on her bones than little ma, so that’s how we came up with big ma and little ma.

Now the only kind of spells I ever remember my mama having was when us kids or daddy got her dander up. She’d tell daddy what she thought about the situation and walk off.  And with us kids it was a different story. She always kept plenty of hedge limbs hidden so she could grab one when she needed it. When my brothers would find one and they’d slip it outside and break it into. I’d tell on em every time I saw em do it. She’d walk back outside and break another and shake it at em. She stripped our legs every time we needed it and we probably needed a whole lot more than we got if the truth be told.

Big Ma was good as gold and never said a harsh word about anybody or said much of anything till it came down to the wire, kinda like mama.  She’d tell ya about it and walk away. But that usually came from grandpa. He always wanted three meals a day cooked and he wouldn’t eat enough to fill the palm of his hand. He called her “Chief” cause he always said she had a little Indian in her. It’d come his dinner time (lunch) and he’d say, don’t ya think it’s time to stir up a bite of dinner Chief. She’d stop her quilting or whatever else she was doing and go build a fire in the wood cook stove and cook up a fine meal. I know cause I eat there enough times.  But what made her have one of her spells the most was when pa got up from the table and she’d look over at his plate and say, lookie there at your plate. Ya didn’t eat enough to stick in a cat’s mouth and ya want a hot meal three times a day. He’d say, I eat all I wanted Chief, you and this gal can finish it off. Big ma’s face would turn blood red at his remarks but that’s about as far as she’d go. The next day it was the same. That’s the only kind of spells I remember her having except when one of her boys got her riled up when she was cooking or canning and standing over the wood cook stove and the sweat was drippin off of her brow in the middle of the summer. One of her grown and married sons walked in the kitchen one day and started telling her she was doing it all wrong and she slapped his jaws till they rung. He moved on in a hurry.

Now my little ma was a very different story indeed. She could take some of the most strange spells I've ever seen or heard of before in my life.
Many a time I heard her upon the mountain praying so earnestly and it brought tears to my eyes.  I could never understand how come she had such strange spells occasionally. I asked mama one time since she took the brunt of em, why little ma had spells like she did and mama said it was in her blood and she was just contrary. Now I didn’t know much at the time about such things till my daddy had a few of his own. Mama said they were both alike when it came to having their spells.

One day my mama wanted to go visit her own daddy and mama and all of us kids were going with her. We had to walk back then everywhere we went and they just lived upon the hill as we called it. Little ma didn’t want her to go, she was afraid she’d get back late and she wanted her supper cooked on time.
While we were all gone she took mama’s snuff that she dipped and emptied the whole glass in the little branch that ran down the side of the yard. When we came back she was acting like nothing ever happened. She said, it’s about time ya got back. Don’t ya think it’s time to fix a little supper. Mama never said a word, she just turned and walked into the kitchen and started cooking supper. After we all eat and got up from the table mama went to get her a big dip of snuff and it was gone. Mama looked everywhere and settled on the fact that she wasn’t gonna find it. Little ma spoke up and said, here ya can have some of mine till ya get ya some. Little ma always kept a small box of snuff in her apron pocket. Mama took her up on it probably knowing fully well what happened to her own. The next morning little ma grabbed that  little pocketbook that she always carried on her arm and took off out the road just a hoofin it.  She hollered, “I’ll Be Back After While, I’m Going To The Store“. When she came back she handed mama a box of snuff and said, now here’s ya some snuff, I hate to see ya go without. Mama said it was the funniest thing in the world but she didn’t dare laugh.

There was another time that she took one of her spells cause mama didn’t have dinner (lunch) on the table when she came in from working in the garden. She went outside and filled a little pie pan full of sand and walked in the living room and poured it out all over the living room floor. Then she carried the little pie pan outside in the yard and jumped up and down on it till it was flat as a flitter.
 Mama never said a word and let the sand lay there. Our neighbor who happened to be little ma’s nephew and daddy’s first cousin came by and stopped in fer a spell. He stopped when he looked in the front door and saw all the sand laying there. He sit down in a chair on the front porch and ma sit down beside him and said, just look at that floor in there, now ain’t she some housekeeper. Mama never said a word, she looked at him and grinned. When he got ready to leave, ma went back inside and before mama could say a word he spoke up and said, she had another one of her spells. I know all about em and you don’t need to say a word. She can be a little wildcat when she wants to be. I don’t see how ya stand it sometimes and mama replied, I just go on about my business and pay her no mind. She thinks she’s spitin me but she ain’t.
I think that hurt little ma worse than anything when she seen she couldn’t get anywhere with mama. Mama never did sweep or pick up that sand, little ma did it after she got over her spell.

Before mama married daddy my little ma and daddy lived by themselves. Little ma did her own cooking back then but when mama moved in she turned it all over to her. Little ma drawed a small pension each month and she’d give mama most of it to help feed us. She’d keep a little for herself to buy her snuff and the few things she bought at the Dime Store when we got a chance to go to town. Even though daddy worked all the time, he only brought home so much. He had to pay fer his room and board, as he called it. He was just happy to have a job. Since he was gone a lot he didn’t know the half of it, as mama used to say.
 I’m sure mama told him a lot that went on and he’d have one of his talks with little ma but she paid him no mind and did what she chose.

Now don’t get me wrong, little ma was a kind hearted and sweet person. Everyone that knew her loved her and she’d give anyone her last old sittin hen knowing she’d be tough as a pine knot after she was cooked. She’d even wring it’s neck and take it to em if need be. She always said she couldn’t stand to see anyone go hungry. But everyone knew she could have her spells when she didn’t get her way.

Then one cold February morning my little ma passed away. Mama was by her bedside holding her hand and watched her draw her last breath. Mama, daddy and his brother had been by her bedside all night and was expecting it. Mama had broke away long enough that morning to cook em some breakfast and they were sitting at the eatin table when mama walked in the kitchen and told them she was gone. Us kids had slept like a log and didn’t know anything till morning. We sure did cry when that black hearse backed up to the steps. That was the first time I ever saw my daddy cry. The doctor had told them some months earlier that he thought she had cancer.

My mama always said she had no regrets and would do it all over again if she had to. She said she could never be mean to her. Her conscious would never have let her.

 Now don’t get me wrong , my little ma may have had her spells but she loved my mama and would do anything in the world fer her, even though she had a funny way of showing it. And she could pray the sweetest prayers I’ve ever heard and shout the loudest to be nothing but a fence rail.
 My mama never said a harsh word to her and I admired her so much, especially after I grew up and came to understand it more.

God Bless my sweet mama, my big ma and my little ma. I love them all so dearly and miss them so much in spite of their spells.
I guess we’ve all had our spells at sometime or another. But I wouldn't  know anything about that, you’ll have to ask my husband about it.

© Susie Swanson, 2014

Forever Near

It should not be so difficult to find

The long way back if we but turn

Down the little road we once trod

Across the fields where memories burn

We may find again that little home

Where a lonely cricket sings a song

The place we grew and loved so well

Our yearning hearts have missed so long

To watch the sun set over the horizon

While sitting in an old porch swing

Playing after dark on a summer’s night

The moon is more bright than anything

Running across those hills and hollows

The joy of swinging on an old grapevine

Landing in the middle of the cold creek

How can one really ever leave it behind

Playing outside on hot, summer days

Running barefoot till the first frost

These are the things on which to dwell

If once we stray or ever become lost

 Even those cold, winters we loved so

We found things to keep us occupied

To wake up in the morning to a big snow

Climbing those hills where we loved to slide

Feeling the warmth of that big fireplace

Was such a welcome time each night

Playing games on a homemade board

Enjoyment was never far from sight

That old homeplace we love so well

Where we learned and lived so carefree

Coming home to supper, can’t you just smell

The best food anywhere, you’ll have to agree

Around every corner, nook and bend

There is an echo left to be found

Of childhood days that were well spent

Every time our feet hit the ground

Yesterday’s light shines bright with pride

On timeless memories we hold so dear

If we would only hold them close beside

The past will forever be near 

© Susie Swanson, 2014

Daddy's Driving

My daddy was the smartest man I ever knew and he was my hero. There wasn’t anything that he fell short of when it came to common sense and knowing how to get by. He always said, if ya got common sense ya can go far in life.  He’d be the first to admit he didn’t get much schooling as he put it , in one door and out the other. But times were different back then, kids had to help with the work, planting, harvesting, etc.

What time daddy wasn’t in the fields helping his daddy plow he was at the gristmill helping to grind the corn people would bring for their bread. That’d be an all day job. They’d come in home and eat supper and head towards the corn patches and plow till pitch dark.  They’d get up before the crack of dawn and head back out to the fields. Then his dad would tell him, you get on up that hill to school son. Daddy said, he’d stay for a little while and get something on his mind to do and slip out the back door. That teacher would keen his legs good the next day with that hickory limb but it didn’t do any good. He’d do the same the next chance he got. His daddy would jump on him when he got home and sometimes do the same as the teacher but it didn’t stop him none.

It wasn’t easy to get a book education back then but daddy learned early on how to get through life. He never let it stop him with anything except one thing and that was getting his driver’s license. He never would try. He said since he couldn’t read and write what was the use in trying. He always said, what are they gonna do with an old man like me if they catch me, put me in the jailhouse and throw away the key. If they did I’d have it made with three square meals a day and there’d be less expense and worry for your mammy to have on her shoulders. Of course mama didn’t see it that way and always said if they catch ya you’ll have to lay in the jailhouse cause I can’t get ya out.

From the time daddy was old enough to hold the reins he drove an old wagon helping his dad and I guess he figured why worry about a license now. There was so many old gutted out roads he traveled down in an old wagon and later on in life he helped build them and Dams too. He worked for the WPA (Worker’s Progress Administration) when President Roosevelt signed it into law. He always said it was the best thing to come along. That’s why he knew every road around.
I can honestly say he never did get caught and was blessed to never be in an accident. We told him he had angels riding with him and God for sure.
But there was this one time he came mighty close. He always took the backroads when he got the chance but sometimes he had no choice but to hit the main roads.

He was taking my sister to the doctor one day for a recheck on her knee that she’d fell and twisted a few weeks before, when they came upon a road check. She was around twelve or so and it scared her. She yelled, oh no we’re in for it now daddy. He said calm down and stop worrying so much. She said, they’ll put you in the jailhouse daddy, you ain’t got no license. He told her again to calm down and stop fretting. Daddy slowed the old truck down and stopped, waiting for them to get through with the car in front . The officer waved daddy on through when it came time for him to pull up and be checked. Daddy slowly pulled on out and they stopped the vehicle behind them. My sister said, I wonder why they didn’t wanna check us daddy, and daddy said, I told ya they ain’t got time to fool with an old man like me.

They got to the doctor’s office and when they walked inside, daddy walked up to the window and said, we’re here to get this gal’s knee checked, you know the one that tore her knee up while scuffling at school. One of the ladies asked my sister what her name was and she told her. Daddy found him a seat in amongst a bunch of old fellers and started running his mouth as if he knew everyone of them and they did the same. Who knows, he probably did. He knew everybody and if they didn’t know him they’d get to know him really fast

Daddy couldn’t write her name down on the clipboard or his own name either for that matter but it never stopped him from facing what life threw at him and he would walk into the biggest crowd to come along and made himself at home. He never saw a stranger.

I remember when he finally gave up his driving. His reflexes wasn’t as good as they once were and it was for the best. The old truck just sit there for the longest time and everyday he’d crank it up just to hear it run. We felt sorry for him but it was for the best. He finally gave in and sold it. And he never mentioned driving anymore.

 He taught me a lot about common sense and how to get through life. I’m so glad I got the privilege to attend school and learn what I did. My daddy and mama encouraged us kids to get as much education as possible. They always said, ya never know what you might face in life and how much ya may need it. They were pretty stern on an education and today I know why and appreciate them even more so. But common sense goes along ways and my daddy was living proof of that . He lived life to the fullest everyday and walked up and down the same roads that he help build. After we lost daddy the doctor told us that’s what kept him going was his walking. The only times I can ever remember him being in the hospital was when he had to have a couple of minor surgeries and being put in for his blood pressure being to high, as he called it the swimmy heads.
That’s sayin a lot for an old man that lived to the ripe old age of ninety four. I bet he’s talking to everyone he comes in contact with up in heaven and if there’s a chance he can drive, he’s doing that too.

I still hear him sometimes as he walks through my yard and those famous words, I’m going out to the old homeplace to check on the garden and see if that groundhog has eat it up.. Of course, that was just an excuse to go back to the old place where he was born and raised and where he raised his own family. He loved that old place and he followed his memories, just like I’m doing today. Thanks daddy for showing me how to follow my heart and giving me so many great memories. You sure did leave a lot behind for us all to enjoy.

© Susie Swanson, 2014

I know I've wrote alot about my Daddy but there's so much to tell and remember. He's been gone since 1998 and he lived to be 94. The picture above was taken two weeks before he passed away. He was an open history book and lived and seen so much in his life. I'll keep writing my memories cause when I'm gone they'll be gone. I miss my hero today but he left me with so much love and such wonderful memories.. Blessings, Susie

Memories Never Age

                                                     From the time she was a little sprout

                                                     She walked with a happy song

                                                     Old dirt roads were the common route

                                                     Where so many feet traveled upon

                                                     Walking hand and hand together

                                                     Her little grandma by her side

                                                     Eight short years seemed forever

                                                     A happy little girl with joy and pride

                                                     She came to learn so much more

                                                     As she listened along the way

                                                     Visiting many, walking to the store

                                                     Was the usual routine each day

                                                     Or sitting on an old fence rail

                                                     Eating an apple under the tree

                                                     Grandma gathering apples in her apron tail

                                                     The taste of that apple, what a memory

                                                     Skipping along, looking for a pretty rock

                                                     Running through the creek, busting it wide

                                                     Hardly a shoe, never a sock

                                                     Stumping her toes, she never cried

                                                     Her mouth running ninety miles an hour

                                                     Asking questions, curious as could be

                                                     Grabbing a crabapple, oh how sour

                                                     Her grandma warned her aimlessly

                                                     Walking to church many a time

                                                     And Decoration Day an annual event

                                                     Dinner on the ground a sure fire sign

                                                     The whole day they rejoiced and spent

                                                     So proud of her pretty, little church dress

                                                     Her mama made, especially for the day

                                                     And those pretty roses were the best

                                                     Sitting on the graves in a big bouquet

                                                     Carrying that little doll her grandma gave

                                                     With piercing eyes blue as the sky

                                                     The smallest things are worth the save

                                                     Worth more than money can buy

                                                     So many memories for a small girl

                                                     Tucked away of a few short years

                                                     Her grandma wasn't long for this world

                                                     Golden memories wipe away the tears

                                                     In her mind she'll never lose sight

                                                     Of her grandma on that distant shore

                                                     Her voice she still hears each night

                                                    Go to sleep now, tomorrow we'll do even more

                                                     Today she smiles with a happy heart

                                                     Turning back time and each cherished page

                                                     She and her grandma will never part

                                                     Although she's grown, memories never age

                                                        © Susie Swanson, 2014

                         In memory of my sweet grandma. She's been gone 54 years today.

Old Lady

Back when we were growing up my daddy was gone a lot, off working. He helped to build roads, bridges, etc. He’d be gone for a week or two and sometimes three before he got to come home for the weekend. He’d come in on a Friday night and go back Sunday evening. We all hated to see him go but we knew he had to work to make a living but it didn’t stop us from missing him really bad.

I’ll never forget one Friday night when daddy came home he brought a pretty, reddish looking dog home. He said this older couple that he ate with a lot through the week gave her to him. He loved home cooked meals and he paid the older couple to be able to get a hot supper plus he said that old lady could cook the best ya ever seen. They gave him the dog cause she was a squirrel dog and she needed to be able to run and hunt and the man wasn’t able to take her plus they lived to close to the city.

We thought she was the best thing to come along since penny candy and it didn’t take us or her long to get attached.  Daddy said her name was Lady but it wasn’t long till that was changed to Old Lady. She was a very, gentle dog with a heart of gold. When it came time for my brothers to take her squirrel hunting, she’d run on ahead and have one up a tree before they could get there. We soon found out how good a squirrel dog she was. They’d bring back the squirrels and mama would cook em and make gravy or dumplins out of em. She’d wag that tail like she was so proud of herself when they’d come back from a hunt.
Then one day Old Lady went missing. We looked for days and days and the boys plowed through the woods calling out her name but she wasn't to be found and our hearts were broken. We walked around lost and couldn't get our minds off of her and where she might be, if she was hungry or thirsty, hurt or sick, and we didn't want to think the worse.

When  daddy came in from work the following weekend we saw him coming out the road and we run to meet him to tell him Old Lady was gone and it broke his heart too, we could see it in his eyes. Daddy helped us hunt for her all weekend and kept telling us she’d come home soon enough. I think he only told us that so we wouldn’t be so sad and heart broken, cause he had to go right back to work that Sunday evening.

Then my uncle, came by one day just to stop in a while like he always did. He was the best feller in the world when he didn’t have a little nip in him but when he smelled of it mama would put him in the wind, if you know what I mean. On that particular day mama said something that made us all take notice. She said it loud enough for all to hear cause we’d been telling him how Old Lady was gone and we didn’t have a clue as to where she was at. Mama said, there’s one thing for certain and one thing for sure if somebody has stole that dog and carried her off she’d make sure they were thrown in the jailhouse and they threw away the key. We didn’t know what to make of it except to think that mama  missed her as bad as we did. After she said that my uncle just politely got up and left.

Then something strange happened the very next day. We were out in the yard playing late that next evening when one of the boys looked up and saw Old Lady coming out the road. He hollered, there’s Old Lady and we all looked out the road and run to meet her and grabbed her around the neck. She was so proud to see us too. She was standing there wagging her tail and she even laid down on the ground to let us pet her. Then about the time mama walked up one of the boys spoke up and said, I wonder where she’s been all this time. Mama said, she’s back and that’s all that matters.
We never did find out for sure what happened to her or where she’d been. I often wondered but it was never mentioned again.

Old Lady was still around when I grew up and got married. My husband went hunting with her and the boys too.  They’d even take her possum hunting with em. She’d tree a possum just as fast as she’d tree a squirrel. He fell out of a tree one night while trying to climb it and get the possum out and broke his little, pinky finger. He wouldn’t go to the doctor and it’s still crooked as Old Lady’s hind legs were.

When we got Old Lady she was about three years old and she lived to be seventeen years old.  Our hearts were really broken one morning when we found she’d gone to her reward. Things were never the same anymore and I still think of her yet. She sure did earn her crown, she was the best dog we ever had. We had many dogs to come and go while growing up but there has never been another dog like her and I can only imagine the many squirrels and possums she’s treeing in heaven. Old Lady will forever remain in our hearts and a big part of our family.

©  Susie Swanson, 2014

Look And You Will Find

                                             It blossoms in rare form
                                             so graceful and tenderly
                                             engulfs the strongest heart
                                             with flames of purity

                                             It strides through valleys
                                             across the ocean wide
                                             nothing can deter it
                                             on wings it can glide

                                             A beautiful flower in bloom
                                             always willing to share
                                             or creatures of nature
                                             spreading wonders everywhere

                                             With a song upon its lips
                                              beautiful lyrics so grand
                                              follow, it will lead you
                                              clear across the land

                                              Years can not stifle it
                                              nor chains can not bind
                                              love is there for the taking
                                              look and you will find

                                               © Susie Swanson, 2014

I want to wish all of you a Happy Valentine's Day. I'm sorry I haven't been around lately or visited all of your awesome posts. I've had some kind of nasty bug for weeks and it will not turn me lose. It's a viral bug and has to run it's course. I absolutely sweat and burn up one minute and freeze the next or both at the same time. So far it has stayed in my head and not moved to my chest but hopefully all the winter time weather will be gone soon and we'll shout it to the rooftops. This has been a bad winter for everyone in one way or another. For all of you that have been buried in cold and snow, I feel for you and sending prayers. We had a big snow this week.. 7 inches to be exact with more expected tonight. Soon it'll be spring and we'll all feel better and do the Happy Dance and I can hardly wait. Blessings to all, Susie

February

There’s something about the month of February

It warms my heart despite the ground hog day

He tries to ruin it thinking he’s a know it all

 He can’t predict the weather, there’s no way

Two presidents would roll over in their graves

It’s a very good thing they don’t have a clue

They’d pull out all the muzzle loaders and cannons

Knowing that groundhog was overshadowing them too

 If he thinks he’s going to take over Valentine’s Day

He’s got another thing coming that’s for sure

That’s the one day of the year set aside for love

And cupid’s arrow will not pierce him, I assure

I don’t even know why they want to give him a holiday

He thinks cause he saw his shadow it’ll be six weeks more

Spring will be here soon enough, we don’t need him around

He’s waiting for garden time so he can slip in the back door

I got news for that groundhog and he better listen close

February may be short and sweet but it can stand its ground

There’s no little bushy tail critter going to take it over

Get back in that hole before it becomes your burial mound

©  Susie Swanson, 2014