Describe a Day When You Were 10, 11, or 12?

[Beth Gallagher]

That would depend on what time of the year it was. In spring, I would be in the field chopping tobacco or cotton after school got out. Later, I would be in the tobacco field breaking off suckers, picking off tobacco worms, pinching off their heads and throwing them on the ground. Later in summer, I would get up around six and eat breakfast that Mama had ready. Then go to the barn to hand tobacco to the loopers. Daddy would go to the store about 10:00 and bring back drinks and snacks for all of us workers. When the dinner bell rung at 12:00, we would go to the house, eat dinner and rest until 1:00. Sometimes, my brothers, others, and I would go to a swimming hole and "swim" instead of resting. Then back to work until we had a barn full. If we got a barn full before dark, we would do whatever we wanted to for the rest of the day.

I remember workin' in tobacco, Shirley. Nothing like the smell inside a barn full of tobacco.

I also remember sitting on the porch swing with my grandma, shelling peas and butter beans until my thumbnails were so sore I thought they'd fall off.

 

[April Vee]

Not much different than now really...

 

[Yvonne Smith]

I was 10 when my folks got me my first horse, a Welsh Pony named Dandy. After I had Dandy, pretty much everything I did revolved around horses. I joined the 4-H group, spent time with our leader, learning how to be a better rider, went on a few short trail rides, rode my pony at the horse show that was part of our annual county fair.

Before I got my horse, my mother made me agree to keep his pen cleaned , and she wanted the manure hauled to her garden ; so every so often, that was part of my horse chores, and the garden thrived because of all that manure I hauled out in my mom’s garden cart and put wherever she wanted it in the garden areas of our yard.

My dogs always went along when I went riding with my friends, and as I got older, we rode all over the hills around our little Idaho town, and that was what we spent most of our summer school break doing. We always rode in the parades, and that was a lot of fun, too. This picture is me with Dandy, getting ready to ride in the Fourth of July Parade.

 

[Madge Bumstead]

It's 1973, I'm age 10, and doing laundry has never been easier!

Mom just got her first automatic washing machine! No more dangerous wringer washing machine rollers! Mom is already touting how I will be able to do laundry now, thanks to her new washing machine!

 

[Madge Bumstead]

1975, I'm age 12, and changing my baby brothers crib for my mom this morning. Off with the old sheets and on with the new! A quick wipe of the rubber crib mattress sheet with a little Pine-Sol and hot water, then back on with a fresh clean flannelette fitted crib sheet!

The fitted elastic corner sheets sure make changing the crib easier than using the old-style flat sheets!

 

[Madge Bumstead]

It's 1975, Thursday evening, the telephone just rang, it's Mrs. McWhirter, a neighbour of ours asking if I can serve tea at the church Saturday afternoon. I'm thrilled and accept!

Aside from serving tea at church functions, I've put my name in as a helper at our church to help out in the nursery on Sunday mornings.