I was born and raised in a tiny village, consisting of about 15 houses situated on a ridge above the school house. Here I spent every day of my first 12 years, climbing and running, strolling and roaming the farm land, meadows and forests. I had a happy childhood.
This is the gate I climbed every day – or, this might be a newer one, but it still looks the same to me… There are huge stones in the meadow above, and we used to bring buns and milk to feast on when we had finished climbing and settled on top of the highest one. To us they were mountains – but in reality, boulders from the ice age, left here when the ice moved away.
In this house lived the grandmother of my best friend at school, and her grandson (my friend’s elder brother). A small farm I loved to walk up to every day. My own grandmother’s house was just 5 minutes down the road.Maybe you remember I posted before on this barn, the cats and a duck behind the yellow door. My childhood friend’s brother still lives here, but the farm animals are not that many anymore. He always keeps his ”Grålle” tractor (Ferguson) in excellent shape.They used to have sheep, pigs, geese, hens, rabbits, cats and dogs. There’s only two sheep left, a duck and … loads of cats. Being a farmer is a tough life, so it has got to be a ”living your dream” scenario. It takes All of you to manage and make it thrive.But the two sheep seemed happy in their golden meadow, and the farmer – well, he was just like I remembered him from younger days. I will return a sunny day in spring so we can climb some stones again. That would be just great.
Mine was a very happy one too … I have such wonderful memories ❤️
I am delighted to hear that! ♥
Thank you for sharing these thoughts on younger days, Ann-Christine. I was born in the city but some of my happiest memories are of visits to places like this, in the country, when I was a child.
This post makes me want to go back to visit the places I lived as a child. The closest I’ve gotten is to look on Google’s satellite view. The two houses that I lived in while going to school are still there.
Such a lovely post A-C of your childhood memories. I currently live in a similarly sized hamlet and can imagine how wonderful this is for a young child, though I suspect quite boring for those teenage years.
I understand you have a wonderful home, Jude. A hamlet – that is such a lovely name for it. And as a teenager I often went dancing – but always returned to my grandmother to take it easy and poke around the garden…
Thank you, Tina. It was a lovely end of that day, and a familiar chat from long ago. These pandemic days we also felt an extra heart ache for our youth and what we had experienced together. Our sunny days.
That’s the thing about life I suppose Ann-Christine; always a mix of + and -, right? Always hoping the happy outweighs the sad.
I think it mostly does, but maybe not for everyone.
What a wonderful place to grow up, A-C! Farming is far from the life so idealized by many, but we need farmers badly and many farmers wouldn’t do anything else. But if you’re a small farmer, it’s so poorly compensated that it’s amazing as many people do it as do. My grandparents were farmers and I had wonderful times there, but I had none of the hard work.
Yes, they have to work hard – but I guess it is their lifestyle. We had to help picking all the berries every year. And that meant many, many hours of work. The worst berries were currant, because you had to be very careful and not crushing them. Had to have good nails!
A wonderful post Ann-Christine 🙂 Such memories. I would love for my old Grey Ferguson tractor to look like that now. It is in a sad state unfortunately but maybe next year I’ll have the energy to get it going again 🙂
Leya 
Great images….its like a storybook with pictures…you should write more
Thank you
Such a beautiful place to grow up! Wonderful memories .. thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Julie. I am grateful for many things, and my childhood was a happy one. I often think about it, even more these days.
Mine was a very happy one too … I have such wonderful memories ❤️
I am delighted to hear that! ♥
Thank you for sharing these thoughts on younger days, Ann-Christine. I was born in the city but some of my happiest memories are of visits to places like this, in the country, when I was a child.
Glad to share! Yes, many young children never get the chance to go to the country – so happy you did!
What a wonderful place to grow up, AC. Lovely images and memories!
Thank you, Patti! Yes, I am grateful for my childhood’s happy memories. I was lucky.
This house and surrounding land is beautiful, looks like a great place for one to experience a nature connected childhood.
It was, thank you for commanting.
A lovely post. Thank you so much for sharing.
Glad you came along, Paulie!
Looks so idyllic there. Thanks for sharing your childhood memories.
Thank you for coming along, Sylvia!
This post makes me want to go back to visit the places I lived as a child. The closest I’ve gotten is to look on Google’s satellite view. The two houses that I lived in while going to school are still there.
Oh John, you really should go! It is a very special feeling and experience !
Such a lovely post A-C of your childhood memories. I currently live in a similarly sized hamlet and can imagine how wonderful this is for a young child, though I suspect quite boring for those teenage years.
I understand you have a wonderful home, Jude. A hamlet – that is such a lovely name for it. And as a teenager I often went dancing – but always returned to my grandmother to take it easy and poke around the garden…
A gentle wander down memory lane, Ann Christine….and some great images
Yes, Sue. Memory lane is what we have now…heard you are going to vaccinate already now in England.
Well, the healthcare workers and the very old to start with
Yes, it will be the same here, but we are waiting for the EU consent.
OK
It must have set you up well for the lovely lady you are now. A childhood to cherish 🙂 🙂
You are always sweet, Jo – thank you! Yes, my childhood is greatly cherished. I am glad I often told my mother about just how much.
A wonderful post, and such lovely memories – and photos.
Thank you, Margaret – I am so grateful for them.
What wonderful memories
I am very grateful for them.
It does your All to be a farmer. It was such a pleasure to see your childhood village.
Thank you for coming along, Tracy.
My pleasure.
I loved this look into your past A-C. Such a sentimental and lovely walk down memory lane
Thank you, Tina. It was a lovely end of that day, and a familiar chat from long ago. These pandemic days we also felt an extra heart ache for our youth and what we had experienced together. Our sunny days.
That’s the thing about life I suppose Ann-Christine; always a mix of + and -, right? Always hoping the happy outweighs the sad.
I think it mostly does, but maybe not for everyone.
What a wonderful place to grow up, A-C! Farming is far from the life so idealized by many, but we need farmers badly and many farmers wouldn’t do anything else. But if you’re a small farmer, it’s so poorly compensated that it’s amazing as many people do it as do. My grandparents were farmers and I had wonderful times there, but I had none of the hard work.
janet
Yes, they have to work hard – but I guess it is their lifestyle. We had to help picking all the berries every year. And that meant many, many hours of work. The worst berries were currant, because you had to be very careful and not crushing them. Had to have good nails!
Thanks for sharing a bit of your post with the images and background.
Thank you, Frank!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing, so nice. 🙂
♥
Thank you for sharing these happy memories!
Thank you for coming with me!
Wow … an idyllic life
For me it was. He is hard working still.
Beautiful images and memories!
Anne, so glad I went up there to see him. Thank you.
A wonderful post Ann-Christine 🙂 Such memories. I would love for my old Grey Ferguson tractor to look like that now. It is in a sad state unfortunately but maybe next year I’ll have the energy to get it going again 🙂
Well, we could all need some more energy…we’ll just have to wait and hope. At least you are a handy man and can fix a lot yourself!
Oh yes an infusion of energy is much needed some days