This old red tractor sits in the front yard of my granny’s house in Kingston Springs, TN. It belonged to my grandpa, who passed away in 1987. He was in his 50′s, which was much to young to die. This old red tractor still looks good to have been sitting there, unused for almost 25 years.
I think my uncle Neal likes having it around because it was a big part of my Grandpa’s life and reminds him of his Daddy. You see they had 2 gardens, one big one about an acre or more on the left side of the house and one across the street in front of the house. My Grandpa worked hard taking care of those gardens and tilling the soil.
We used to go help my Granny dig up the taters, pick squash & tomatoes. I loved getting my hands dirty. We would pull a tomato off the vine, wipe the dirt off on our shirts and eat them right there standing in the garden! You can’t buy tomatoes that taste that good in a grocery store.
I can remember one time we were all standing out in the garden watching my Grandpa on his tractor, tilling up the dirt. All of the sudden he stopped and we didn’t know why. So he turned off the tractor and hopped down to see what it was. He picked up something and brought it over to us. It was a tiny baby rabbit!
So being the person that my mother was (a lover of all animals), we took it home with us! My mama fed it with an eye dropper, and eventually he grew into an adult rabbit. We named him ‘Peter Rabbit’. Original right, but we loved the story of Peter Rabbit!
Keep in mind that Peter was a wild rabbit and we were keeping him in a cage that he hated. I know this because he kept trying to get out and was hurting his nose very badly. He would butt his head up against the cage over and over. So my mother decided we should let him go, because of course wild rabbits belong in the wild. Sure we were sad, but it was the right thing to do.
If my Grandpa’s old red tractor could talk, there is no telling the stories it would tell. I am sure it would tell stories of sweat, hard work and repairs. It would tell stories of children riding in Grandpa’s lap around the garden. Stories of wild animals found and cared for, and the many vegetables that grew there and the bellies that they filled.
If my grandpa was still here with us, him and my Granny would’ve been married for 64 years. My Grandpa was my her one true love and only husband. She has never remarried. Love like that is very rare these days! We all should be so lucky to find that someone that fills your heart until there is no room for anyone else and makes you happy with their memories even when their gone!
Is there a special memory you have of your grandpa? If your Grandpa is still alive and well, what memories do have of him as a child. Consider yourself very lucky to have a grandpa to love and to be loved in return.
To Grandpa!
I lost my Grandpa when I was in 6th grade (ages ago) and my Grandmother when I was about 20 (also what seems like ages ago). I remember them both quite fondly, my Grandpa for the ways that he was a tough old man, but a total softy at times. I remember he had race horses and would take me out to see them. My Grandmother was a tough old lady, but the one thing about her that I’ll always remember and love was that no matter what she thought about the choices I made in life, I always knew that she still loved me and always would. It was totally unconditional. I felt that from her more than anyone else, ever. Well, at least until I had my son. They had a garden too, and although they didn’t really let up help them tend to it, I have wonderful memories of sneaking out to the garden and munching on blackberries with my cousins.
My grandmother is still alive and like you, my grandmother has never judged me for my choices either and has always been there for me. My grandfather was a strong man, but kind of silent. He would talk to us and play, but he was still silent, if that makes any sense.
I loved this post and I loved the picture of the tractor. My uncle has a dairy farm and when my grandparents were alive they lived next door to him.
My grandpa raised chickens and I can remember walking with him out to the hen house each morning to get the eggs or walking over to the dairy farm to get the fresh, raw milk that we would have on our cereal whenever we visited. He also had a big bell on his porch and whenever it was time to go in or to eat he would ring it. He also rang it each time we came and when we left. I remember how sad it was when we visited the farm the year after my grandfather died, I was 18. When we were leaving, my grandmother rang the bell, keeping up with the tradition.
Thanks for reminding me of some sweet memories! Great post!
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Thank you! My grand parents didn’t raise cows, but I have milked a cow! Yep, gathered eggs also and thought it was the neatest thing. I love that your grandpa rang a bell whenever you came and then left. That is sweet. I know you cherish those memories.
Growing up in the south that photo made me stop & recall great memories of my own. My “tomatos” were strawberries. We’d pick them right of the vines and eat them dirt and all. You’ve never tasted strawberries so sweet! Thanks for sharing
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My granny and grandpa didn’t grow strawberry, but they did grow some grapes. We loved to eat them off the vine but they were so sour!
My grandfather has a tractor a lot like that one. He is still with us. He’ll be 89 this June. Up until two years ago, when he had to have heart surgery, he worked Monday through Saturday from dawn till dusk. On the farm of course, and usually atop a tractor. I know I’ll be devastated when the Lord finally takes him home, but am so thankful for the time we have with him now and have had my whole life.
This is a beautiful post and thanks for making me weepy with memories.
Blessings,
Marcia
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I am so glad you have your grand father still. Me and my sister used to go outside and just watch my grandpa on his tractor and when he wasn’t on top of the tractor he was working on his car or slaughtering pigs (terrible I know, but he did it). He always had to be busy! Thanks for stopping by!
What a sweet story! Love that you have such a visual reminder of your grandpa. I think of my Grandma when I see thyme. She loved plays on words and spelled time thyme whenever possible.
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My grandparents have both past some time ago, but like you every summer as a child we would shuck peas, limas and corn. Pick tomatoes and strawberries what ever crops were on at the time we would pick and freeze or can. As children we would visit and work in the gardens they weren’t on a farm but next to one in the country and we always had to worry the cows next door would get loose, lol. They are fond memories I will always cheerish, I loved your post and we love tractors, my brother collects Farmalls and we like wheelhorses. What a beautiful article. Thank you for sharing
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We used to help shuck peas and corn… we also helped with the green beans. I don’t do any canning myself, but my granny and mother did like crazy. Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Awe… I wish I had such sweet memories of mine… both sides of our family were in Peru and Argentina, while we were in Los Angeles… we missed out big time on going to grandma’s on the weekends. How blessed you are to have had such wonderful childhood memories!
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I imagine it is hard when your family is far away and you can’t visit them. I would’ve been very sad if I couldn’t have spent every weekend with my Granny & Grandpa. I do have a lot of good memories and my Granny is still with us, and hopefully I will get many more. Thanks for stopping by.
Both my granddads are not alive, and I didn’t know either of them very well. Both my parents had them missing in their lives. That’s probably one of the things that drew them together. I love old tractors like that, and the stories behind them:)
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Grand parents are a blessing and I am sorry that you didn’t have them in your life. I love old tractors too! Thank you so very much for stopping by.
My grandpa passed away when my mom was only 13 years old. I do have a lot of memories of spending time with my grandma especially during the summer time. She watched me while my mom worked. I helped her in her huge garden and she had a big red tractor just like that one! She would gather up all of her trash and then hook up the little trailer to the back of the tractor and take the trash back into her woods and burn it. I would ride on the back of the trailer and help with it all.. One of my favorite things as a kid was riding on the back of that trailer into the woods with my grandma driving the tractor! She passed away a year and a half ago and I miss her dearly.
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Visiting from VB and sorry for being tardy in getting this done! We’re in the process of moving, and life is crazy!
Love this post! Both of my grandfathers died when I was young, so I don’t have great stories to tell like you. By the way, I think you have the working title for a great children’s book…”If Grandpa’s Old Red Tractor Could Talk!”
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Thanks for stopping by… better late that never! I know how moving is, no worries! That’s sad about your grand fathers. I know I was lucky I had the time with mine that I did, and I that god for that. A great title for a children’s book… we will see! Thanks!
It’s great to read about others who have experienced this generation of “real farmers”. Thank you for this story. I loved the part about the rabbits. Brings back memories.
Thank you for visiting… it was great growing up in the country and getting to see it all.