A windmill in Texas…I need one of these!
Howdy Sugar Pies! First off, I just want to thank you so much for coming over here to The Farmhouse. I know there are thousands of wonderful blogs to read out there and yet you take the time to come visit me… and so many of you leave such sweet comments too…oh what an encouragement ya’ll are! Thank you so much!!
Well, I’m so excited about this post! My hubby, daughter Summer and I took a road trip down to Texas a few weeks back and on the way we decided to stop off at my hubby’s mama’s old home-place in Oklahoma! We’ve heard the charming stories of her growing-up days for years and now we were going to see and stand right where she experienced the first several years of her life on the farm.
When we crossed from Missouri into Oklahoma, we were greeted by this giant handsome Indian statue. (I took this with my iphone.) We were entering Cherokee Nation…part of my husbands roots. Although he has a very small percentage of Indian heritage in him—from his Grandma Cox’s side—he’s proud of it just the same…actually he starts singing the “Cherokee People! Cherokee Tribe! So Proud to Live…” song. Oh boy.
We drove miles and miles, passing farm after farm, all the while I kept thinking about the movie The Trip to Bountiful!
The bittersweet story of a dear, sweet lady’s quest to return to her home-place one more time (one of my favorite movies!). Hubby and I both agreed that perhaps this summer, we need to take his mama Ruth back to see her old home-place…one more time.
In the late afternoon we finally drove into the town of Bennington, Oklahoma. Relics and buildings of the past seemed to welcome us with a nostalgic “howdy-do”. My mama-in-law Ruth said this little service station had the first Coca Cola cooler in town (which sat outdoors) where you lift the lid and reached in to pull out your soda. She confessed, as a youngin’, lifting out a Root Beer, prying off the cap with the bottle opener attached to the front of the cooler and then taking a big gulp. She didn’t like the taste so she mashed the cap back on and put it back…then decided on an orange soda instead! Uh. Oh. That happened right here.
The old post office, now a gun repair shop…
Here is a view of this same gas station and post office 40 years ago. Harvey Snodgrass was the mailman back in the day (just thought I’d throw that in! Lol!)
We found the road to the home-place and realized we passed the property when we spotted this cute cow in the road which stood there as if to say “Yer goin’ the wrong way…mooove yer car in the other direction”. Okay, cute brown cow!
So turn around we did…Ahhh…here we are! The old Cox Home-place!
The property had a rusty barbwire fence and a gate that was locked…so we had to climb over it to get in…it wasn’t as easy as it looks…at least for me…my cowboy boots were slippery on the metal rails…Lord have mercy! He did (have mercy)…I got over!
Jennie Mae’s garden was in the clearing on the right.
In my recent blog post, Hoedowns and Sweet Berry Hand-pies, I talked about the Saturday night hoedowns at the Cox homestead…the towns-folk came with their banjos, guitars, mandolins and fiddles. Voices in sweet harmony filled the summer air…farmers in their overalls and gals in country dresses twirled to the lively bluegrass music under the sparkling stars and glowing moonlight. That happened right here darlin’s!
You know, standing right there on the dirt of the old home-place all of Mama Ruth’s stories came alive! I could imagine all the happy memories that were made here. She was with me a few years back when I purchased this print (it’s hanging in my Hillbilly bathroom) and said their Saturday night gatherings looked exactly like this! How fun is that?! It’s so down-home and filled with the joyful goodness of having old fashioned fun with family and friends! I want to marry this picture! Yee Haw!
Well, it was getting late and we still had quite a drive yet ahead of us to get to Texas so we had to say goodbye to this special place…
My hubby was the first to hike it over the fence…I’m just glad no one took a picture of me! Hee Hee!
After we got back I shared all of the home-place photos with my mama-in-law Ruth. Of course she was so thrilled and thankful to have a glimpse of how things look now. She took out her photo album of a trip she took back home to Bennington about 40 years ago. Here she is (on the left) with her cousin-in-law Ollie Mae. Ollie Mae was like a sister to Ruth’s mama, Jennie Mae. She helped with the birth of Ruth and Ruth’s siblings. She was always ready and willing to sit with any family member that took ill from time to time so Jennie Mae could get some rest. Folks just pitched in to help back then…whatever was needed when a family hit hard times, from birthin’ babies…to washing dishes, cooking meals, feeding the chickens or watering the horses. Doesn’t Miss Ollie Mae have such a sweet and gentle face!
Ollie Mae and Aunt Altha (pronounced Ain’t Althie with a southern twang!) enjoying conversation about old times out on the front porch.
More of the Cox family’s dear friends from the town of Bennington, Oklahoma. The Horner Family. From left to right, Jack, Frankie Gene, Esta Mae, Frank, Curtis and Kenneth. Aren’t they the cutest! Love the overalls and cowboy hats…true Oklahoma style!
Aunt Dellie and Uncle Lester Cox, Ruth’s dads brother. Adorable!!
Just about a week ago I received a memoir about the Cox Family farm history from Ruth’s sister Frances. What a treasure to read in detail how life was back in the day on the very land we stood on.
To quote Frances, she wrote “Life as a farmers wife was back breaking labor. Her day started before sun-up with breakfast (prepared on a wood burning stove) hot biscuits topped with sweet butter (Jennie Mae home-churned her own), country gravy, homemade Blackberry, wild plum & pear jams and jellies, sorghum molasses made at the community mill, home cured ham, side pork and fresh eggs still warm from the hens nest. As a special treat some mornings we would get chocolate gravy to go with those fluffy biscuits….” (Did she say “Chocolate Gravy? I need me some-o-that!)
(Folk Art by Walt Curlee, find his prints here)
Frances writes, “Mom always had a big garden…”
“…she raised chickens and turkeys. What a fun and exciting day it was when the big boxes with ventilated holes arrived by mail order from Sears Roebuck & Company. These boxes were full of little yellow fuzz balls all cheeping loudly. Yes, this was the annual start of young fryers that provided those delicious chicken & dumplings meals or Sunday dinner of fried chicken all crispy and enough drum sticks to please the soul. The fruits of her labor provided wonderful ‘comfort food’.
“Customarily we had three hot meals a day. We called lunch Dinner and what we now call Dinner was Supper. For dinner and or supper there was fresh baked corn bread with a lathering of home churned sweet butter, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, tomato-onion & green pepper relish with fried potatoes or when in season, new potatoes creamed with garden fresh green peas, all served with milk or fruit jars filled with iced tea made from sparkling water drawn from the deep well in the yard. A coal lamp provided soft light for our table during evening meals. I can still remember the excitement and smell of a new brightly colored oil cloth for the kitchen table. The lamp cast shadows on the walls in the room and we would linger after eating or even during meals and entertain ourselves making shadow animal figures on the wall…”
Well, after hearing stories about all the scrumptious country food I decided to whip up a batch of Big O’ Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits.
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What a fun trip…talkin’ ’bout the good ole days. I can’t wait to get the biscuit recipe.
blessings to you.
Such a sweet and heart-warming post…thanks for taking us down memory lane!!
Aunt Ruthie,
What a wonderful trip for you and your family. This brought back so many memories of growing up and hearing all my Mom’s stories of her growing up days
. I have a wonderful photo similar to the one you posted of your Aunt Dellie and Uncle Lester.
It is of my great grandparents.
Thanks for bringing to mind those memories and for sharing yours with us!
God bless.
Awww… such sweet memories! Last year my family was able to visit the old family farm in Virginia. Although the homes are no longer standing we were able to find many “treasures” that were left on the property. Junk to many people but a connection to the past for me.
I’m going to adopt your family heritage ..it’s full of wonderful stories and good times..
Makes me miss my Great Uncle and Aunt who lived in Medicine Lodge Kansas their whole lives .. I only got to visit with them a few times with so many miles between us but the times I did are etched on my heart forever as I feel in love with them and the simple one town life they lived ..
Sending you lots of love and hugs ..
Sara
Great post! I immediately went to my library website to put “The trip to bountiful” on hold :) I am excited to see it.
Aunt Ruthie,
Love the music! Wish I could have “jammed” on the porch with your family way back then. You and Summer could play the fiddle! And oh yea, we like our “dinner” and “supper”. I just can’t seem to get in the habit of saying “lunch”!LOL Your relatives would be so proud of you that you took the time to go back and take in the past. We need to do more of that! Thanks for taking us with you.
Blessings,Becky
Hi Aunt Ruthie! Thanks for such a lovely post. How wonderful that your family has such a rich heritage. Sitting here in my air conditioned home, with my dryer going and the bluegrass music a’playin’ sure makes me feel like a bum for complaining about my housework! I’m gonna git an apron on right now and start a’scrubbin’. That’s what I call inspiration! Bless your heart! And love to your daughter on Friday!
really love your blog and all those wonderful pictures and stories
I enjoyed reading about your trip! Such great photos!! =)
and what sweet memories of your Husbands family!
You reminded me of my Grandparents. =)
and you also reminded me of the “Andy Griffith Show”, ( which I love! )
Love your site and the music on your site is so cute!!
Have a wonderful week!
Always fun to sit back a reminisce about old times. I love the pics you shared and the story with them. Thanks for taking time to share with us.
Is there a way to disable the sound portion when you website loads? It is too much for slow connections.
I think this was your best post ever, Aunt Ruthie. The pictures of the old home place are in my heart… they were so nice. I’ll say a prayer for your daughter and new grand!
This brings back such nice memories, except mine were in Tennessee. It’s amazing what we remember and cherish when we look back. It took so much less to make us happy. Why were we so anxious to get away from it when we were growing up?
Now I am searching for my gg grandparents. When I stand on
the ground where the use to live, I feel such a connection. I wonder what life was like for them. I bet they never imagined that one day we would search for them and miss never knowing them.
Oh, this post brought back so many memories for me! My dad and his siblings spent most of their youth summers back in Kentucky at my Grannie Barnes’ home. Dad always spoke of the marvelous breakfasts she cooked every morning (eggs, ham, red-eye gravy, biscuits) and while everyone was having seconds, she would be out back, grabbing a chicken to kill and prepare for fried chicken for dinner! My other great-grandmother lived right in our hometown here in Missouri, and I have many memories of visiting with her. She didn’t have running water, and my sister and I thought it was the neatest thing in the world to help Granny pump water from out back! She kept a bucket of water with a dipper in it on the counter for anyone who needed a drink. Of course, my sister and I thought that was the best thing ever – much more interesting than plain ol’ tap water out of a faucet at home! Drinking lots of water at Granny’s meant eventually we had to use her outhouse, and we didn’t care for that nearly as much! LOL! Granny was an excellent cook as well, she baked the best bread in the world. My aunt tried to get the recipe, but Granny didn’t use measurements, she spoke of “2 handfuls” of this, or ” a piece of lard big as a walnut”.
When my grandparents’ house was being emptied a few years ago, I noticed Granny’s dishpan, bucket and ladles sitting on the junk pile to be thrown away. You’d better believe I grabbed them, and any other “junk” of hers they were pitching. They are all proudly displayed in my kitchen and used as well! My dry goods are stored in old blue mason jars that belonged to my grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and in my room I have Granny’s rocking chair. My grandfather, father and I were all rocked in it. My husband lovingly repaired and refinished it, and our three babies have all been rocked in it!
So many good memories of Family and Love are associated with Granny’s stuff. My great-grandparents and grandparents are gone, their old houses no longer stand, but I still have wonderful memories and stories to pass on to my children!
I will be praying on Friday that everything goes well for Ashley’s c-section!
My grandfather was Robert Allen Cox, but I think all of his family was in Monroe, Louisiana (not sure about Ok).. we had an Ola Mae in our family, funny how the names are so similiar. I’m *cough* 50 now, but I remember stopping at an old store like that coming from Shreveport over to see great grand parents here in East Texas on weekends and getting a Chocolate Soldier.. I believe they were mostly water with a little chocolate, but Orange Crush, Cokes, and DP’s were also in those Coke coolers! but even then, that old store was a treat, because it was the only one left of it’s kind that we knew of. Thanks for the memories!!! =)
Love reading your post. What an inspiration you are! Thank you for all your work you put into these blogs. (My mom’s maiden name was Snodgrass, apparently it is more of a popular name than what I thought) Thanks again!!
What a wonderful trip. Would of loved to of been with you. Enjoy all the family trips you can, cause one day one of you will be sick and the fun will end. Not to bring you down or anything, just the way it goes. I do enjoy reading your coloum, you are such an insperation.
Yummmm-yum! What a wonderful post! All of these photos look like they could have come from my own family albums. My Dad’s side is all from Ponka City, Oklahoma! Smack dab in the middle of the dust bowl and tornado ally.
Ollie Mae sure is cute! She looks like she has some stories to tell. And I’m just lovin’ those cherry red lawn chairs lined up on that old porch!! I wouldn’t mind sitting there after Sunday dinner with some cold sweet tea, hearing about life in the day with your lovely family.
Your sweet daughter is growing like a weed!! Such a pretty smile. You look gorgeous too Ruthie Lou!!!
Sugar☼
Linsey
Everything you talked about sounded so much like what my grandmother talked about. I love going back and thinking about all of that. Also, just have to say I am related to some Cox people but here in Arkansas. I also love that you say “ain’t” for aunt. I always have and never knew it was not right until after I was grown.
How nice. Pictures and stories of the past makes us appreciate today and strengthens the bonds of the family for the future. Thanks for sharing. Hugs Paulette
Really enjoyed this post. I am originally from Bonne Terre, Missouri which is about 18 miles from Bismarck, Missouri (on the milk bottle in one of your photo’s). My husband and I have retired in a small town in Oklahoma so it was fun to read your descriptions of a small Oklahoma town and your husbands family. I will add the town of Bennington to our places to meander to. Your listing of a typical supper reminded me of many meals I had growing up. I love your posts, they take me home every time! God bless your family and your new granddaughter.
How special! This Okie girl loved every word and picture. Your biscuits look heavenly:)
Love the pictures, details, and sweet old stories of days gone by.
It’s a wonderful reminder of how beautiful simplicity can be and the love that infuses our families.
I *must* get your recipe for those biscuits! I love the “layers”. They would be just lovely with my homemade milk gravy. Thanks so much for sharing somes sweet memories with us! Hope your Tuesday is terrific~
Your blog is such a happy place to come to. I really look forward to your blog posts and I just adore your stories. You are such an inspiration! Congratulations on these grand babies. We can’t wait to hear the news!
I’m cracking up because as I started this comment, the song “Oklahoma” came on your music player! As a lifelong Okie, I loved this post and I’m so glad you had such a nice time here. What a treasure you have in the pictures and stories of the past that have been handed down to you first-hand. I love small towns (I grew up in one!) even though I live in OKC now. There is such a history of the everyday lives of hardworking people that fascinates me. I also wanted to verify that “chocolate gravy” is quite a treat and a wonderful memory from my childhood. It was a rare occurrence (as it should be!) but a glorious treat I have never forgotten. In fact, you have reminded me that I’ve never made it for my children. I’ll have to find the recipe and pass on a great memory to them! Thanks again for such a lovely post and I will be praying for your daughter and grandbaby.
Hi Aunt Ruthie, Your post has brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood. The way we lived back then on the farm. I can remember the baby chicks, cooking on the wood stove, the outdoors out house. The family get together, brothers and sisters being born at home, the family fun we had with the cousins. We have 6 boys and 4 girls in our family. I wish we got together more then we do. I will say a prayer for your daughter and I know you will be thrilled with that baby girl to spoil that is what all grandparents are to do. Have a great day and thanks for sharing the memories. Hugs and Prayers from a NW Missouri Friend.
What A great trip! Thank you for sharing with us. I will not lie that I am jealous of your family’s history. I don’t have a lot of knowledge about my family’s history, so I hope you don’t mind, I will just enjoy yours :) Looking forward to getting the biscut recipe, my husband will love it.
I loved this post. Made me remember my sweet family who have about the same past. Love family roots, love the simple hard working people of our past.
My husband is having neck surgery today, and this brought back the feeling that those sweet ole timers of our past will be with my husband this day from the other side. (Heaven)
Your post came at a perfect time for me and my heart this day. Bless you.
Thank you for sharing , what a trip, you have a walk with God in such magic places.
Where do I get that buttermilk biscuit recipe?!?
Hello Aunt Ruthie, I enjoyed this post so much! The biscuit recipe was such a special treat. I will be making them soon and will think of your family and the love you share. my sister and brother in-law retired to an 1860 farm house in Virginia . My brother in-law was a New York City police officer. I have had the pleasure of visiting twice since they moved a year ago. Cows, chickens, turkeys,roosters Oh my!
I loved reading about your trip and seeing those wonderful pictures. My grandfather was born in Oklahoma territory in 1880 on an Indian reservation. He was Chaktaw. His mother died at his birth leaving a 2 pound baby that lived to be an 87 yr old man!
This post is so charming! I ADORE the photo of the daffies by the barbed wire fence!!! I loved the little story about Dad and Preacher getting doused with the dishwater! What a funny accident! My hubby’s mom, Udeena Faye was a part Choctaw from Oklahoma. Her mother and Grandmother made the bisquits and gravy and black eyed peas and greens and grits and fried potatoes and ham. I’ve heard some stories about the poor life and the rich cousins. The cousins were “rich” because their dad owned the little store and lived in a better house. My poor mother-in-law grew up and on into her entire life in fear but not in discomfort. My father-in-law made sure she was living in comfort, although mom-in-law pretty much wore the pants. Hubby and I dream of going to OK and Indiana to see where his parents came from. He did go to OK as a kid several times I’d love to go and take pictures of the old crusty, dusty buildings. I’ll see you on Instagram, Ruthie! Hugs from me in AZ!
Loved the post! I love to “go back in time” and visit places of the past too. Such fun!
I am 62 years old, born in Miami, Oklahoma and I remember all of this, because I lived it too. What a great life it was..thanks for bringing it all back to me! :)
Thanks for those wonderful family memories…what treasures they are! Be praying for your daughter and new grandbaby~ looking forward to seeing pictures of your beautiful new blessing from heaven!
What a wonderful post! I loved the stories and photos! My dad (soon to be 90 years old) is from the back hills of North Carolina. We go to visit where he grew up as often as we can. He told me that when he was a boy he used to “rob the chickens of their eggs” to take to the country store and trade for candy, bologna, crackers, cheese,soda what ever he wanted. We found the old store and it is now a car repair garage. My grandfather had a mill and we have even seen his old mill stone. It’s so exciting to visit and see the area and imagine what it must have been like back then.
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com
Reading this reminded me of Gramma. She passed away just over 2 years ago. She was pretty much the opposite of everything you wrote about here :0). She was a spunky City Chick who lived her entire life in NYC! HOW could this remind me of her you ask???
It’s in the “memories”. The keeping of ones family history alive and close to your heart so that our kids (like your adorable daughter!) will some day have them to go back to for their kids.
Thanks for reminding me of the importance of family!
Such wonderful memories and trip you had! My aunt had a “mom&pop” grocery story (her husband had died in an accident and she needed to support herself and her son)…..and she had one of those big, chest-type drink boxes. I can still feel how absolutely freezing cold that water was when I stuck my hand in and grabbed bottle after bottle looking for the right one. The ice man came by in the morning and put a big chunk of ice in every day. Thanks for bring back good memories!
Oh, I forgot! My dad was from Shawnee, Oklahoma so I grew up taking trips to Indian territory……remember seeing men in full headdress downtown and of course trying to pronounce all the Indian names on the road signs. ;-)
Really nice post, thank you. That’s the kind of life I long to live.
I love biscuits, look yummy.. especially, homemade jams or jellies..
I so enjoy your blog! I lived on my folk’s ranch in Oregon from my tween years until my mid 20’s. So many memories you have reminded me of! We churned our own butter and raised chickens (that is until my brother and his friend burnt down the hen house!). We always had plenty of blackberry everything. In the evenings we often played music and sang old songs around the piano. We had TV but very little reception… so making our own entertainment was much more fun! Thanks Sugar for the trip down memory lane!
Thank you, Aunt Ruthie, for sharing your talents for making home home-y :) Love your posts (so much, I want to marry ’em). Those biscuits make me want to dive through my computer screen to snatch one up. May everything go perfectly this week for your dear sweet Ashley. May Mama and baby come through the birth this Friday in perfect, awe-inspiring condition. May the Lord grant you His peace through it all.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!! Especially the part about Aint Althie! My mom, also from Oklahoma, had an Aunt Anna they called Aint Annie! Don’t ya just love the history and the stories?
Kenneth Horner looks the same but just grey headed now. Lol same style hat and overalls. My mother grew up in Bennington and moved back to the “home place” when she retired. When we visit, we have to go eat a hamburger at the Country Curve. Every time I run into Kenneth down there he tells me the same story, your grandpa sold the first Magtag washing machine in this part of the country and I was the one who bought it, you know they called him Maytag Jones.
What a fun trip! I love trips like this…exploring family history. It is so fun to imagine what life might have been like during those days long ago. I have a suggestion for your next trip…when you take your MIL back for a visit take your shovel along. :) Dig up some of those daffodils and Iris bulbs (it looks like the picture you posted of the tulips also has Iris’s there too.) Those bulbs will transplant easily. Then you can have something from their homestead right there to look at every spring at YOUR farmhouse!! Thanks for posting such great stories and encouraging words. I look forward to every post!
Reading your blog always leaves me with a happy sigh, remembering times past and what’s really important in life. Thank you for this gift you share with all of us through your postings!
It touches me the way you share the love of family Ruthie; I recognize my priorities do not rest on anything less than faith in Our Lord and love of our family…….your writings mirror my heart. Of course I love your weave of words and photos too Ruthie……..there is just a whole lotta love that oozes from this sweet little corner of blogland……. Prayers for your Darlings and the miracle that awaits you all come Friday Ruthie.
God Bless you and your wee Nest,
Barbra
I love all of your posts, Aunt Ruthie! I can’t wait for the biscuit recipe!
Loved the story of your trip to Texas. I totally relate to so much that you shared.
oh my gosh, i love this post, i want to marry it, haha…after reading what it was like being a farmer’s wife back then, i feel guilty for getting all pissy when my husband wakes up a half hour early and throws off my routine of getting my little ones breakfast and lunches packed and getting them on the bus!
oh, bt-dubs, i love the bountiful movie too. caught it once while flipping through the channels and it pulled me right in!
Oh what a wonderful post! Thanks for including us in your trip down memory lane. I just love hearing about the old-fashioned way of life and I try to live it as much as possible too. I really think families need that these days. Can’t wait for your biscuit recipe :)
Oh, yes! I forgot to tell you that I will be praying for your sweet daughter and granddaughter-to-be. What an exciting time for you all!
What fun! The photo of the house that resembled her home looks just like I remember my Grandma’s house looking like when we visited her in OK when I was a child. Plans must of come from the Sears catalog!
Ah! Life was slower then.
I enjoyed this SO much!! The stories and the photos…Thank you so much for sharing, Ruthie. Prayers for a safe delivery for Polly June. :)
Love,
Julie
Oh yes, we pitched the water out the back window also. Everyone knew to stay away. I loved the smell of the new oil table cloth. Even now it stirs up good memories.
When a sister asks another sister to pray, then she prays. I said a prayer for your daughter Ashley and her new baby girl, that God would give her comfort and peace and that she and the new baby would be well and healthy. Oh what a blessing you and your posts are to my heart! I just wanted to send you a huge thank-you!!:)
God bless you,
Nikki
Oh auntie Ruthie! You took me straight back home with this post! I’m reading along, enjoying the fiddlin’ music, and then all of the sudden, my favorite song comes on: Oklahoma!!! You see, I too am from Oklahoma…born & bred! And, I just might be related to your husband from way back when cause I am also a tiny bit Cherokee! Whadaya know?!? :)
Thank you, as always, for your wholesome, cheery, & Godly post!
Loved your post. I was born in Tulsa, OK; had parents born in Oklahoma, and many aunts, uncles and cousins there, too. My Dad’s childhood was in St. Louis, Oklahoma. It was an Oil Boom town. My grandfather worked oil field and my grandmother was the head cook at the town & area school (all grades) and she served 1,500 students every day of the week. As a child, my Dad threw a paper route from horseback. After he grew up and married my mom (from Asher, OK), he worked at Hilton’s Grocery Store in St. Louis, OK, and made $10 a week. That was in the 1930s. (St. Louis is a virtual ghost town now.)
In 1942 my Dad took a job in Tulsa with Douglas Aircraft and lived in Tulsa until his death in 1991. I loved Tulsa, but moved away in 1971 for my husband to finish college in Texas. Your memories brought back a lot of memories to me. I now life in Tennessee near the majority of our 15 grandkids. BG
I so enjoy your writings and photos. Always glad to ‘hear’ from you. Blessings and smiles, and prayers for your daughter and new little one. Emilou :-)
Wonderful stories to treasure; thank you for sharing this window into farm life back ‘in the day’!
Loved your walk down a memory lane. Many times these days, with so many new horrors being played out human-to-human, I can’t help but wish we lived back in simpler times. They may have been hard, tiring days, but the world seemed a gentler place back in the day. I wish I’d listened to more stories from my grandparents when they were still living, and I try to remind myself to be patient when my momma re-tells stories of her girlhood, when she was happier and her world was so much safer than it is now. I so wish my daughter (almost 22yo) and I (52yo) could have seen a kinder world growing up. So, again, thank you for sharing and for giving us a brief respite from today’s world.
I loved this post! My family is from Okla. and I have an Aunt Ollie, and an Aunt Ruth! I loved the pics of the overalls and cowboy hats?baseball hats! That really is true Oklahoma style, that’s how my Grandpa looked most days!!!! I love Cal. where I live, but Oklahoma is really special!!!!
I think you know this. I enjoyed seeing your tour. We have been to Bennington and have seen the property. As you know my brother, Blaine, was married to Marie. I enjoyed the comments Francis and Ruth.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My Mom was raised in Fargo, Oklahoma so this hit a resonant chord with my own family history. I can still find my Grandparents home in Wichita on Google Earth. And on my Dad’s side of the family I can trace back to the homestead my Swedish Great Grandparents settled in in Northern Idaho. I have also been to their birthplaces in Sweden (the homes are still standing!) and seen the rock foundation walls of the home of my Great Great Grandfather.
Love the history post and all your other posts. They are so refreshing and nostalgic.
Congrats to Ashley and her hubby!… Love the family memoirs, too. Love ya lots aunt Rutie! <3
I love your writings. I would buy anything you wrote.
It is inspiring.
thank you for sharing your beautiful story.
You should make a heritage scrapbook of the Cox family for your daughters and grandkids. I love to scrapbook memories and hope to leave these for my daughter and someday grandkids.
i absolutely enjoyed reading about your trip to the farm and the story about how things used to be. I love the character of the homestead in the photo. such a shame the homes today can not be as cozy. I am looking forward to your recipe getting put up.
OH MRS. RUTHIE I COULD READ YOUR ADVENTURES ALL DAY LONG. I WAS SO RAISED (NOT BROUGHT UP). LOL. I REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT. LIFE BACK THEN WAS SO SIMPLE. I WILL ALWAYS CHERISH MY MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN THE SOUTH..
I so enjoy your blog. Thanks for taking the time to inspire all of us. Yum chocolate gravy – not many people know how good chocolate gravy is. My mom always made choc gravy for us. Have a blessed day. Im sure you are busy with your grandbabies.
This is my first visit to your blog, and I’m so glad I stopped by. I love the pictures of your aunts on the porch. I want to jiggle their arms-reminds me of my sweet grandma!
Dearest Aunt Ruthie..! Much Congrats to you and your whole family over the birth of your precious grandgirl (granddaughter)..! :-) Thank you for your lovely sweet honey-filled words that nourish and sweeten the hearts and souls of everyone who read your writings and pictures and ideas and inspiration. Let us all always keep praying for all of us. I am beginning my 30s, please pray for me to be with the 1 right true person God has decided for me since I was borned, I look forward to form my own family!.. We would all definitely agree and support you on the grand goodness of continuing, preserving the goodness, NATURAL, healthy, truly happy and fulfilling ways of living in the simple and grand days which can be now too, in the families of the godly people who chooses to live this way. It is a choice and an easy choice. Amen. ;-) I have not read your posts for a few months, sorry!, today, I will read and it excites my heart to read words from a good mother as you. May you and your closed dear ones be totally blessed here on earth and in that greatest thereafter eternal place which will be quite some long time from now. I am a good woman myself and God has given me a gift to encourage. I love good, virtuous, nature and natural-loving and behaving women as you (we) are. Indeed, it is the subtle touches that makes living beautiful. *good hug to you!* :D Thanks gal..
ADORABLE and Congratulations… A Bella Bambina. Oh, so sweet all the Ribbons, Frills and Curls that little girls bring to our lives. I pray that God’s Blessings envelop and protect little Polly as if they were fragrant pale pink and white rose petals falling all around her covering her in a rich blanket of His Love. Hugs and many Italian Kisses on the Cheeks. Much Love my to my dolce Cugina!
You are just the sweetest thing ever. Your beautiful family and website here are just a treasure. I was just looking for a homemade laundry soap recipe! I almost teared up when the music started to play. Thank you for sharing your precious life with all of us. :) Lovingly, Debra xo
Ruthie you absolutely must take a small shovel with you and bring back some of those daffodil bulbs for you walkway. I have daylilies from my mom a lilac from a special aunt and uncles homestead a rhododendron from my mother in law and some hollyhocks from an aunt in Iowa, they bring an added delight when they bloom. I have more than just a flower bed its a memory bed. I also have been known to bring home a jar of soil to sprinkle at the cemetery on memorial day I know it means nothing to anyone but me but I feel like if is one last special thing I can do for a loved one it gives me peace to know my dad is buried under some of his Iowa soil right here in Washington…LOL
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How did I miss this one? I can identify with this sweet posting as we always go out and visit the family farm. When my grandfather died, we moved their house to the little village/almost town where the house was placed next door to a dear friend. Those two little old ladies kept the road hot and had a ball shopping. I still have that sweet little ladies big milkglass platter and it is kept next to Granny’s Thanksgiving platter. Hats off to those road warriors that have gone on to the big outlet center in the sky!
I have been looking on your page all afternoon. I have enjoyed it so much ! My Dad’s family was from Oklahoma and they had music get to gathers to at My Uncle Cooksin house. They lived around Muscogee and in the back woods. I can remember out houses and falling on a pig out his back door :o) we would chase his chickens and ride an old horse and have some of the best food you could ever have, We would bring back wild blue berries that my mom would make the best cobbler with, Love the memories that you shared with us ! I live in Texas and don’t make it to Oklahoma very often so thanks again for the memories !
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Loved reading your blog on the country home place. It brought back special memories of my home place in Virginia. It really was like that back then, and it was such a better time then now. Everyone helped each other.
Now days we are so selfish only thinking of our self and we are so spoiled, we don’t know what it means to get things by hard work.
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Aunt Ruthie, thanks so much for this visit to the old home place. The faces are different but the place, the people, the kitchen – everything looks like it could be my family. It was great to walk down memory lane. So many of them are gone now, but I think of the good times I had growing up and appreciate the ones in my life. I love your emails, your FB posts. Thank you for including God and the many blessings we have with your fans.
Love your posts – you invite us right back into the simple time of life!!
This makes me so homesick for my family in Eminence Missouri.
I grew up on Chocolate Gravy (Chocolate ‘n Biscuits) and made them for my own children. It is certainly a family favorite! Donna from NC
It has been over 40 years since I lived in Bennington OK but it has been a piece of my life that I have never turned loose of. Being transplanted from the DFW area to such a small town in the early 70s was like traveling to a foreign country for such a young boy.
The Horner family left a lifetime impression on me that I have tried instill in my own family values. I remember Gayle and Jennie because they were close to my age. I remember when Kenneth and Frankie had the triplets. And I remember Curt and Kenneth trying to show these young city kids how things work in the country. These were giant men in my eyes, hard working, honest and God fearing in every way. I would tell my mother (Rosalee) that “Curt Horner reminded me of John Wayne”
Curt and Imogene Horner defined what a farmer is. Kurt didn’t use 4wheelers or dirt bikes to move his cattle, he had Rex and Rowdy, two of the best cow dogs I have ever seen. I remember Curt telling me and my brother David “Stand here so the cows don’t come this way” as the two dogs and Gayle on a horse would move them to the corral. The laugh of Curt (a rare event) when me and my brother took off running if still etched in my memory. As far as Franke and Imogene, Martha Stewart has nothing on their ability to cook. The picture of the dinners with the Horner family would resemble to picture of the Last Supper in my mind….. and I am good with that.
In retrospect, I can’t help but look back and imagine “What if” things had worked out, and we stayed on the 40 acres somewhere off Starnes Lane. At 56 years old, remembering things about my youth is a challenge. But for some reason, my time in Bennington and the Horner family is very crisp and vivid like it was yesterday.
These were good times my friends and I cannot thank all of the Horner family for how you have had such a positive impact on my life years later. The people of Bennington are some of the greatest people you will ever meet in life, especially the Horner family. And from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate what you taught me and the moral character I left with years ago.
James McConnell
(Son of Rosalee Dunegan-Renfroe)
PS- I still hold the scar on my left from Gayle Horner trying to teach me how to ride a horse. I consider it a badge of honor.
Thank you for the Bennington photos and story’s . My grandmother knew them all and I was so delighted to see those old photos .