I am pleased so many of you enjoyed my last two posts.Congratulations to the ones who knew that P.F. meant Posture Foundation.As for the Hoosier cabinet,it was a kitchen table with upright storage.Typically, there were drawers in the base of the cabinet plus drawers up top.The main feature was in the top section. There would be tall door to the left.Upon opening the door,you would be presented with a metal pull out flour bin with attached sifter.Some models even offered a sugar bin. I was asked for a few more,so here goes: *home made slingshots(the type Opie used plus the Biblical David's sling) *mud pies *Frog houses from mud(you covered your foot with mud then gently slid your foot out,thusly leaving a house with open front door *learning new manuvers with your yo-yo(kinda like Barney using his revolver and mirror to do trick shots) *tire swings hanging from a trusty tree limb *home made adjustable stilts *streamers protruding from bicycle handle bar grips *Chinese finger cuffs(woven fiber contraption) *smoking Indian cigars(pods from a tree) *waiting for the "drink man".In our neck of the woods,an elderly gentleman came through once a week driving an old truck with a wooden bed enclosure.He sold kitchen items,drinks,candy,a few food staples, but most importantly,he would accept empty drink bottles in lieu of money.For 6 or 7 bottles,I could get a drink and enough candy to guarantee a cavity within three weeks *moulding yourself inside a huge tire and having someone roll the tire down a hill...loads of fun unless tire hits immovable object..tree. *skimming stones on water...Kelsey's pond,Myer's Lake,Kelsey's ocean *making a potato gun(very dangerous),yup,got my tee hiney tore up for that too *making spears.The end of a lightening rod affixed to a tobacco stick worked wonderfully.Never could understand why my Pa got so upset. *smoking rabbit tobacco *riding on the running board of family car(again,fun but dangerous) *sending off for a Charles Atlas course...forget 98 pound weakling,I'm still a 98#+++++++weakling. *making a toothbrush from small limb of a sugargum tree *helping your parents make a potato mound(for storing potatos outside)You always left a small opening at the base,for extracting potatoes whenever needed. *playing kid friendly card games:smut,go fish,old maid *roof antennas...how did we survive without cable vision? *potato sack races *Chinese checkers *making a flute and whistle from tree branch limbs *pushing a bicycle rim around your yard using a stick *rolling a car tire around same yard *learning to ride a bicycle...backwards.Come on guys,admit it...we were trying to impress the girls and the know-it-all boys *receiving that "you're 'gonna get it when you get home" look from a parent if you cut up at a someone else's house or while in church *playing "spin the bottle".Got my first kiss playing this..wasn't from the girl I wanted,but heck,when you're ten years old,a kiss is a kiss,right guys? *my first BB gun...unfortunately,I had a similiar experience much like Opie and his slingshot.My father did not punish me.He admonished me by telling me to NEVER kill something unless I intended to clean,cook,and eat it. Those sage words remain with me today. *learning the fine art of making a yard broom from straw *learning from my parents about homemade remedies...spider web or sugar to stop bleeding,potato poultice to draw out infection,sweet oil for earache...and a bunch more *learning how to "hand" and "string" tobacco...a lost art. *watching my father weigh sheets of cotton using a "weigh horse","scales" and a "pea" *learning from my father the correct way to tie a knot in the fishing line so as to not lose the hook. *learning to use a tobacco transplanter *****MOST IMPORTANT*****Sitting at the kitchen table as a family.As we ate,there would be discussions about a myriad of topics.As kids,my sisters and I were asked to contribute to the conversation.No subject was too mundane.My parents taught us table manners.Does this remind you of the Taylor household? Well,I hope these bring back fond memories to you and yours. Dewey in NC _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
