Father's Day Memories

I have posted many tributes to my dad on this day in the past years, but still want to show you a bit of why I am and who I am today as the last of his surviving children.

Memories are still so very clear for me and IF I had the energy I would dig out some more old pictures from family albums to scan more. Nevertheless, words will have to do with the current ones I have.

One of the memories is of him sitting in the overstuffed chair, and me around age 6-8, sitting up on the back, around his shoulders with my legs over his chest and combing his hair. Yes! It seemed to give him pleasure. Why? Well I don't really know why but I do remember using an old ace comb and going over and over his head with this fine tooth tool. No, he didn't have bugs, but perhaps dandruff was the reason. Yucky? Not for me. I loved to please him. 

He once brought home (in his farmer's coat pocket) a tiny yellow tiger kitten that he had found pinned by a tractor wheel from a farm many miles away. When he revealed  his pocket surprise for me, the tail was very short. He said he had to cut her free and the best way was to sacrifice her tail! He told me he dipped the bleeding stump in some salt and that I was not to worry because it would be OK. Well "Goldie" lasted 13 years. There is more to the Goldie story but I'll keep that for another time! 

He also brought home for me a horse in the back of a borrowed pick-up truck soon after my first horse had to be put down due to an accident in her pasture. This was his way of giving comfort through having understanding farm friends willing to help out.

He really enjoyed getting dressed up for church, Masonic and other events. His carriage turned proud when his best clothes were worn, and the cow-tester that was his occupation and livelihood turned into a very handsome fellow. Oh, did I tell you that he was also a superb tenor singer? Every time I hear "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" I tear up as he sang it to me often.

His name for me was "Chick."  He would often call me to observe and also to learn how to use "cellar tools" when he was working on a project or when repairing a broken appliance. Yes, there were cellar tools, garage tools and garden tools. Some are still with me here. He taught me frugality is smart.

This friendly-to-all man was the neighborhood 'go-to' person for whatever was happening in the lives of others. Sharing was very important and so was caring - really truly caring. He was a good man and a father who always held my respect.

please tap to view larger

Father's Day

Daddy was a “Doer.” He did many things but most of all I remember his ability to refurbish, fix, repair, chop, mop, hang, stretch, cut … well you get the idea. He was always working at or on something and no moss ever grew under his feet. As we kids watched him when he was home, we learned how to use screwdrivers, hammers, awls, wrenches, pliers, soldering irons, saws, drills, levels, hand planers, Allen keys, grinders, sanders, snips, vises, chisels, wire cutters, files, measuring tapes, putty knives and I absolutely could go on and on! We still have several of his ancient tools here in the cabin, including three old ladders, short, medium and long. His gardening tools included lopers, clippers, and a bug pump style sprayer not counting a large assortment of rakes, spades, edgers, picks and shovels. He never had a power mower when we were younger and kept the push mower’s blades very sharp! He fixed our bikes constantly. He made us stilts and fenced in my horses. His cabin flyswatter has been retired to the front porch wall.

If it broke, he would fix it - somehow - right or wrong it would be fixed, even if he had to “jury rig” it. “Putter Pop” was  trial and error and succeeder when it came to plumbing, carpentry, electrical, and I think his best friend was black sticky electrical tape!

I miss him.
I treasure my memories of him. 

He was a gentle man and a gentleman.

Father's Day

Loved him with all my heart throughout his entire life since I was born. I was his "Chick" and he was my "Putter Pop."

Happy Father's Day "Pop!"

I haven't posted in a while due to having WiFi connection drops! It was very sporadic and not dependable at all for over a week. Here goes...This is IMPORTANT! I will do this even if I have to go online again and again and again.

Father's Day!

We called him "Pop" and the most important thing I remember is that he was ALWAYS there for us, and especially for our mother.  As he aged he depended on others a bit but had a sweet way of asking for help. He would say, "When you get a minute - - - "

I really have much more to say about this devoted family man and husband and father. He is always thought of with great love and I miss him. He taught us to be resourceful, industrious, to complete what we start and to do our best in whatever we try.  He was a gentle man and a gentleman.

Rubbish Tuesday #1

Thinking back to August 2011 when Hurricane Irene's effects struck our area, and remembering the loss of the old willows that my dad planted so many years ago. The first tree was broken in 2009. Then it was shattered again, taking the second one down as well. 

click on image to view larger

2009

2011

2011

2011

196?

Linking up to Rubbish Tuesday here: Rubbish Tuesday

Memories of My Old Pop

My grandfather on my father's side of the tree remains very strong in my memory. I wonder why it is, that I haven't thought about him for quite a long time. It seems that vivid memories come back to me now that I'm much older and want to leave some of them for my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Perhaps this is why I'm now putting these recollections on paper. I have only one nephew at the end of my direct family line to carry on old pop's last name and he might be interested as well.

Pop & me 1939

The first memory that comes to mind is Pop's arrival at our home. We would go down the street to meet him as he exited the #72 bus carrying his valise.He always was dressed in his pin striped suit, with a vest, shirt and necktie. I'm not sure about the hat. He had beautiful white hair and maybe it was uncovered, but I don't really think it was. ~memory loss here~ And - of course - his pipe hung in his mouth, not even lit!

~Memory returned~ a Homburg type hat! Yes, that's it. It was probably given to him by a wealthy neighbor for whom he worked.

His pipe was his "trademark." He always smelled of tobacco, plus some other musty odor. His bottom lip would become chapped, forming a scab in the middle where the pipe stem would rest. Eventually a deep and permanent cleft developed and remained there. I found it interesting.I also remember long hairs protruding from his ears and nose!

Pop had been a farmer most of his life, and had an affinity for horses. When I was about 12 years old, I had an old horse that was kept in a nearby barn. When he would come to visit (via train and then bus) he had old clothes to wear and accompanied me on the mile trek to the barn. He taught me the "farmer's blow." During the winter our noses would dribble and he showed me how to hold one nostril shut and blowout the other, making sure the mucus would be spewed downwind. His skills, separating the manure from the straw, using only a three tine fork, was amazing to me. Apparently I was doing a poor job of stall cleaning because I wasted too much straw. I never was able to master his method.

When he visited, my dad would corner him and make him take a bath and after clean underwear, long john type, was on, sit on the edge of the bathtub with his feet, one at a time, over the toilet bowl. A toenail cutting was then done with cutting pliers by dad and he let me watch the procedure.

As he aged, my family, all six of us, would travel about 50 miles to the place where he stayed. His inclination was mostly hermit-like in those days and my dad visited while we remained on the lawn of the home during the visit. Eventually he was moved by my uncles to a care facility for his last days. He had not been eating properly and hoarded the tobacco, and saltine crackers that we always sent to him at Christmastime. I know no more about his hoarding and not taking care of himself, but believe he had dementia. He died at age 87. I had four children at the time and have no recollection of his funeral or burial.

Pop's Comb

I dreamed last night about the days when I was a little girl, sitting on top of his shoulders, straddling his neck, combing his curly black hair as he sat in "his" easy chair.

I remember it so vividly that it's scary! I felt his hair, smelled his essence, and was warmed by the heat of the bridge lamp bulb at my back.

I don't think I was after nits or lice. I just felt that he was soothed by the feelings of the fine-tooth comb scratching his scalp, bringing up dander. I had a hanky to wipe the comb when the teeth were filled with the stuff.

These things one remembers! This was something I did often when he was home from working throughout the state testing cows' milk. He was glad to be home - I was glad he was home.

This morning I looked on the internet for a photo of that old comb and found the exact tool that I used. Memories are strange sometimes, aren't they?

This is all probably more than your need to know, but I had a great time researching pop's comb! (note: Made in AMERICA!)

OLD, like Pop Had!

3-¾" Comb

Extra Fine Tooth Comb

Great for removal of Lice and nits

Ace no longer makes this comb!

Ace now makes this one:

3-1/2" Extra Fine Tooth Lice Comb

* Extra Fine Tooth Comb

* Removes Foreign Material From Hair

* 3.5" Long

* Color: Black

* Strong and durable precision cut teeth.

* Ideal for all hair types.

* For removal of lice, eggs and nits.

* Laboratory tested and approved.

To Remove Head Lice:

Apply lice killing product (please refer to the product's label for full instructions).

To Remove Head Lice Eggs:

1. Comb out any knots that might have formed with any wide-tooth comb.

2. Divide the hair into 1" wide sections and comb through from root to tip using the Medi-Sweep Deluxe Head Lice Comb and wipe away any lice or eggs from the comb onto a tissue.

3. Rinse hair thoroughly with warm water.

4. To clean the Medi-Sweep Deluxe Head Lice Comb, place it in warm, soapy water; rinse thoroughly and dry.

5. The regular use of the Medi-Sweep Deluxe Head Lice Comb can assist with early detection of lice.

3-1/2" Extra Fine Tooth Lice Comb $ 1.99