Don't know why or how,but he had a little baby that got loose in the neighbor hood,and someone called animal control about a huge rat loose!!
Then there was a capture by animal control,and said there was the exotic animal control law in town,about having them, only a zoo has a permit,then his lawyer brought up about the exotic birds in town,and the battle was on !!!
BH,if you got both coconuts on your ears what is covering your two ears,so to speak!!!!
It's a jungle out there!
Seriously, when I was nine yrs old, in northern Fla, deep in the country, my step grandparents had an outhouse (two hole) that we shared while my Mom and stepfather were finnishing the inside of one of those "Shell" homes. There was no insulation, no plasterboard, no inside plumbing....none..... a pump that had to be primed or it would not work. We slept on army cots and put our clothes in a cardboard box.
During the summer Mom was away for awhile, probably grocery shopping, and I needed to take my little sister to the potty. I opened the back door and there was a very large black snake starting to come in, so I slammed the door shut....on it. It was half in and half out!!!! It was not happy! I was terrified! I ran out the front door and hollered "Grandma, Grandma, there's a snake in the house! So she came down there, just a huffing and a puffing. I'm sure she thought it was a rattler. She was not happy to find out it was JUST a plain ole black snake, and that "He was just as scared as I was, and if I had just opened the door, he would have gone back outside willingly!" Somehow I didn't believe her! But as soon as she reached over there and opened that door, I'll be, he sure did exit that door as fast as he could! Oh, I can still remember how afraid I was and probably why I hate snakes....any.....to this very day!!!!!!!!! Of course then we still had to go to the potty, down the back trail, into that hot stinky little shack!!!! But we were very glad that we did not see any more of Mr. Snake. We were definately uptown, tho, in some ways, we had TT!!!!!!!!
Many stories to tell of those days.....Mother NEVER complained!!!!! She made do with what we had, Praised the Lord, and did her best to provide for us under the conditions. We hung nails in the two by fours to hang coffee cups in the kitchen and put up an extra board crossways to sit plates on. We had to boil water for dishes...wash and rinse, a couple of times each meal.
That first year at Christmas we went out into the yard and cut down a little pine and put it in a coke bottle and made decorations for it. Presents were few. Grandma made clothes out of the material that the flour came in. There was lots of good food, lots of family, and it was green and bright!!!!! No Snow!!!!
I have a fond dislike for snow. It really looks great in pictures, and postcards, and overnight in Texas as long as you don't have to walk a mile in it to school, back home for lunch, a warm bowl of soup, put all of your layered clothing on, boots, mittens scarves, and walk back to school. Take all of the wet stuff off, and at three pm redress, and walk back home again. We had done that three winters before this one in Northern Indiana, right out of Gary. It was very nice not to have snow that year in 1959, and we got to ride the school bus!!!!!!!!!! No walking to school here!!!!!!!!
There were many things to be thankfull for that Christmas! It did get a little chilli so I helped Mom put up some insulation and plasterboard to help keep us warm. A big rat got in where the toilet was to go, but with Mom hooping and hollering and chasing him with a broom he decided to leave. I don't remember if it was back down the hole or out one of the doors!!!! No matter what happened, Mom took it in stride. Again, she never complained. She was raised in the depression. Her daddy died when she was under 12 from working in the steel mills. I think it was black lung, or something like that. They didn't have much growing up, but her Mother always taught her to "Be Thankfull", no matter what!
There were many good times then, but some, not so good, so in the spring we moved out of that Shell home, into Town. It was a very little house, but it was all finnished on the inside. It wasn't far from Mom's new work, so we were back to walking to school, Mom to work, to get groceries.....but no Snow, and of course no complaining. Look at all of the wonderfull things we had to be "Thankfull For".
It was just Mom and us girls for the next three years. It was quiet. Grandma came to live with us. Then one day Mom met this very nice man. He wore a uniform. He was in the Marine Corps. He was very nice! We all fell in love with him! He asked my Momma to marry him. She said, "Yes!" He had to go to his next duty station far far away in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii! We got to join him four months later.
They had a "Honeymoon" in Hawaii for two years and eight mos! It truly was a paradise! We had a nice little yellow House on Kihapai Street in Kailua. It had Bamboo, two huge plumeria trees outfront, and 9 coconut trees that towered over the back yard. The whole yard was surrounded by huge hedges over six ft high. It was very private. We had a Lanai with a huge fireplace and grill. We cooked outside alot. We even had indoor plumbing....but that was on Oahu, not Maui where this story started.......Sorry for the long journey back deep into my childhood. It was actually peacefull remembering. There were many good times, and like Momma says, we do have much to be "Thankfull" for!!!!!!
Be Thankfull this season......for even the smallest things we take for granted, indoor plumbing, TT, conveniences like grocery stores! They are good!
I am thankfull my Jungle is my over indulgence and love for plants!
But RJ can tell you some really good stories about real jungles, and real tribes during his childhood!
Jen, now it is after 1.....Got to get some sleep! See ya!
Don, more coconut shells, they are very plentifull!!! hahahaha
Texasgal77, great memories!
One of my fathers favorite stories is the big move his family made when he was a little boy. The had been living on a dry patch of land in Arizona. No plumbing there but a good well and that old pump, just outside the back door. No electricity but the place was cozy and clean.
When they left there they moved to the San Joaquin valley here in California. They built a house out of field stones that had 3 rooms. Kitchen with a brand new wood cookstove, a real bedroom for his folks and a parlor. The also built a small barn. Dad's sisters slept on mats on the parlor floor and he and his brother slept in the barn.
After several years of working the place my Grandfather added a couple more bedrooms and what grandma thought was a closet until he came rolling up in the old truck with a commode in the back. Grandma saw that and realized he intended to put in that closet! Wow did she get mad! Story goes that she refused to allow it in the house. For over a month while Grandpa cajoled her, trying to get her to accept it.
She stood her ground and it never was put into that closet space. She would not have a disgusting thing like that in her house! Grandpa finally had to build a little rock building separate from the house for it. They finally had a real bathroom, with a flushing toilet but it was still an "outhouse" and not one of those disgusting inhouses. But she did let him put plumbing in for a bathtub in the closet and running water in the kitchen.
They didn't get an indoor toilet until after Dad went into the Marine Corp. When he came home they Built a new house and it had all the normal indoor plumbing that Grandma had finally accepted as a part of modern living.
This message was edited Dec 4, 2007 12:55 AM
Oh yes!!!!!!!!!!!! Love your story as well!
Grandma's! Aren't they special? And now I am one!!!!
The running water at Grandma's was on the backporch. She also had a washroom, the size of a garage with a tub (not a bathtub) in it. The men would heat water in a big black pot and it would take two to carry it over and keep filling up the tub so we could take a bath on Sat. Finally she got a real bathtub. Don't think they had hot water out there. She filled her wringer washing machine with the hose.
Why they were so against running water!?????? Totally amazing!!!!! LOL
I enjoyed your story as well Zany! Thanks!
Oh, running water was fine so long as people weren't using her house for a toilet! That was something for them dangerous fools in the big cities, not a respectable farm woman!
Jenny, desiring Desiree here. Have never seen a brug that lovely! The scent must be matching it's name too.
Zany, there's a neighbour here that has built his bathroom away from his house. Preserving "outhouse" culture perhaps?
Well, civilised countries can boast of outhouses!!!
In some countries, it's much more primitive! I recalled when I was a wee young'un when my parents hauled us to visit some relatives in Johore, Malaysia. Not only Dad had to park his old Fiat in town, but we had to trekked at least 5 miles into the jungle. I don't mind bathing in the river (river water used for cooking too) but when I was told that to relieve ourselves, we had to dig a hole....well you got the idea.
That was the only time I held out for the whole 3 day stay! Following year, I opted to stay behind with grandma!
heavenscape, better a hole in the ground than on top of the ground :~) We only had to do that when camping when I was a kid. But isn't it amazing how something like indoor plumbing we all take for granted now was such a big deal not so long ago in history!
Zany....lolol. I had to do that once, but thank heavens for a cinder block found nearby!
Well, it's 1:30 a.m. and time to hit the shower and get some shut eye. I hope Braveheartsmom doesn't mind us taking her thread down the path to the outhouse!
Blissful sleep, Zany!
Thanks! Sweet dreams.
What a great thread, you guys crack me up!
TM, you definitely missed your calling as a comedian.
Texasgal and Zany, I loved the grandma stoies, what great memories!
BHM, Desiree is just gorgeous! I was very lucky to win some Brugs over in the Butterfly & Hummingbid forum, can't wait til next year when they are blooming (I hope!).
Cathy
Cathy, those roses are beautiful! Just gorgeous!
Thanks! They were on the bargain rack for $5 at Lowe's, had to rescue two of them. Also got a couple of those Knock Out roses at full price to see how they will do here. Another experiment!
Cathy
Are the Knock out Rose the single rose, the really old fashion ones? If so, I bought a bare rooted plant at the dollar store a couple of years ago, and it has just flourished. I actually cut it back recently and it's already growing like mad!
Which rose are the red ones? I should get some of those!
Yes, the Knock Outs are a single deep pink rose. I think they might be available in red too, but all I've seen around here are the deep pink ones. A local retirement center had their landscape redone early last summer, they put Knock Outs and other durable plants in, and everything held up really well through the heat and lack of rain this summer.
I can't remember the name of the red one, I'll check when I go home. The other one I got is pretty too, I'll have to take a pic and look at its tag too.
My goodness, you folks stayed up all night. I may have to start taking a long afternoon nap so I can be up for the fun. This was a great way to start another beautiful day..most definitely better than reading the paper. Guess I was just spoiled city girl. The only time I had to deal with no plumbing was when I was forced to visit Great-grandpa in the country. I, too, had a tummy ache for a week. Two older cousins would tease me unmercyfully and I was scared of my shadow. Sorry that this last two generations don't have an opportunity to know what "the good ole days were like". I am thankful for the luxurious way I live (in comparison). Not financially well-off but then I guess that depends on where you start. Most definitely have great wealth of friends. Ya'll are the greatest.
LouC
Wow,I love reading real short stories,and yes they bring back such memories don't they.
Tgal,we weren't living to far apart in 1959,I was living in south Dakota,Rapid City,and that was a bad year for snow,remember,walking to school in it,snow clean up and past my knees!!!Cold Brrr!
My moms folks lived in Greenville Alabama,one hole outhouse,and the bad thing there was the wasps,nest under the seat hole!!!Llo! Many time someone came a running out with there pants down!!!!LOL
Gotta go to the eye dr,this morning to see if I'm still blind!!!!
Had cataracts removed about 6 yrs ago,both eyes,and they keep looking for fluid to build up behind the lenses,when it gets to bad they wiull take a laser shoot a hole in them to drain,now why didn't they just put a hole in there when they installed them!!!!
Someone a sleep at the puter this morning!!!LOL
Loved reading your outhouse stories! Just saw a program on TV about how treasure hunters are now digging up old outhouses to look for things that were disposed of in the old days, especially bottles. Some of their finds were quite rare and very valuable!
Aren't peoples life stories a wonderful read, so many different paths that have been trodden, yet how similar in many ways - different place, different time!
Don, hope all goes well at the doctors this morning, you must be bleary eyed after that late night!
Aloha
Yep,read story on the play hookey forum!
Also they dilated my eyes can't see a thing,,everything is so BRIGHT!!!
Hey sending a nice size check to Jerry Andersen,in Pahoa HI,that far from YOU!
Getting some palm seeds,hopefully,I will leave a palm to 23 grandkids and one great grand
child,in my memory some day,way way in the future!!!LOL
FAR future.
Pahoa is on the Big Island, I think. Quite close to where Carol lives...I wonder if she knows him? What a nice thing to do for all those grandkids and great grandchild. Did you chose seed of any particular type of palm?
Glad to read on the other thread that your eyes are ok, new glasses - how spiffy!
Yes Dypsis sp,fine leaf,from Madagascar,and liculala oribculas,not sure about the spelling!!!
They all love to run thru the jungle,and play with those big plastic bugs,hoping by doing this they will grow up to appreciate plants and insects and animals of all kinds,and they do take somewhat of a interest,well the teenagers do!
Younger ones just having too much fun!!!LOL
They will....it can't help to rub off!!!!! Plus the fact that it is hidden in their DNA!!!!haha!
Well believe your right about the dna!!!!!
Hope it rubs off,hate to see all these huge beautiful plants waste away,when I'm gone!
My grandparents would tell me more than 45 years ago, that it's in my blood that I would be gardeners like them. I had sworn, "No way"..'cos I had observed their toils and frustrations.
Yes, they're laughing from up above now!
Gorgeous Brugs, my dear. Would love to get a wiff of them. Have you given predatory mites a go for treatment? I know tetranychids are very aggressive here, too, and I really must compliment your efforts!
Have briefly skimmed over some of the subject matter of the way the post turned.......I keep my son outside, away from TV, and out of the loop of pop culture. I know it will be a struggle to maintain that in the coming years, but I became my father's daughter.........even though it was not the easy most popular way to grow up! If I could be paid to garden and still afford a housekeeper......my life would be perfect!
Yes and saying I told you so!!!LOL
Well I don't know ...my goodness dunnys (aka the thunderbox) and the good old days ha ha ha ...me ? I don't miss the dunnys ...peeeeuuuuuw!
I don't mind going without a lot of things but please no dunnys!
redbacks under the seat waiting for the blowies ...nooooo sorry the good old days were not as good as they are cracked up to be.
Have you dear people been chewing on those Brug leaves?
I crept in here late and am scratching my head at the turn of conversation around here :) me thinks you are all having a good time discussing a very strange subject indeed.
Stunning pictures! beautiful Angels and everything else ....much relieved to find no pics of said subject! awful memories of clouds of flies at 110 F not to mention the unspeakable wafts!
I am going to bed now ...hopefully we will be talking about frangipanis and such when I wake up.My niece who is married to a darling jamaican fella has told me awful stories about holes in the ground for loos and even male and female holes in the ground in the same place! gosh the stuff of nightmares.
Well blowing some Summer Jasmine your way
I bid you sweet dreams or bright and happy morning!
First 4 o'clock :)
Yellow with a splash of red,very pretty,with the fragrance of jasmmine,these are a very fast grower here,and get very tall,around 3 1/2 to 4ft tall,and reseed everywhere!!
Love them tho,adds to the night time fragrance!
Love the four o'clocks, won't ever plant them again though, too prolific for us. We have had to take the pick ax to some of the tubers and still they come up.
Welcome Fauna4flora, thank you for your kind comments. Have looked into predatories (is that a word?) and was told by the Ag dept that we can't import even so much as a lady bug onto the Islands! "Got to live with what we got" - and I am not sure what it is that we have!
No Lady bugs!!!!!
Must be a ll male bug island!!!LOL
LOL! We do have our own type of Lady bugs, but I haven't lifted their wings to check their gender! Wouldn't suprise me if they were mostly males because we sure don't have enough to go round and get the job done!
Are they orange too with little black spots?
Hey Braveheartsmom. Sorry no ability to import, but I understand. Sometimes, if you have a pretty good eye for different mite species, natural predators often show up ( I used to find what they called the "whilygig" predatory mites in the vegetable garden.) There is a system known as a banker plant system- you take a grass species or such that gets a pest mite that doesn't bother ornamentals and you use it as food to build up the predator population when you are able to find one naturally. That's a very abbrviated explanation........at any rate whatever you did plants are gorgeous. Thanks also for hte compliment!
We currently are dealing with Asian beetles that look like ladybugs. The difference is the Asian ones bite. Nasty bugs!! I have alot of fun using the shop vac on them at work. Bye bye nasty bugs!! LOL