Poppy's Front Porch - in the Missouri Ozarks

Poppy's Front Porch - in the Missouri Ozarks
This photo was taken in 1949. My cousins and I remember the porch after our grandfather walled it in, added a door and big screen windows.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Micro story 3: An untitled book

The two children spent many hours that year, amusing themselves by listening to the stories they recorded in their book.  Until, as you might expect, they outgrew the need to hear them.

They kept the book though.

The terrier and his faithful companion returned to their home world by another way, and were never again seen by the children.  Before they left, they recorded their own story in the book, though the children were unaware of this at the time.  Their account of the incident with the chickens is unique, to say the least.


Mike's grandparents Scowden

Cousin Mike was kind enough to reply to my take on "Lassie".  I'll just repeat a few excerpts...

"Granddad Scowden. For those who don't know our clan, he was not the fellow pictured at the top of the page on his porch. No, this was my paternal grandfather whom Bob and I do not share."

While it's true I didn't share that grandparent relationship, I had to mention here that I was invited along for a visit a few times, when I would be at Poppy's farm.  The Scowdens were always hospitable, and I was always treated as if I were one of their own.

"After some time on the farm, we headed across the bridge to Granddad and Grandma Scowden's...Grandma would be in the kitchen where, later, we would probably be given some vanilla ice cream."

I do remember being treated to ice cream.

"Meanwhile, Granddad had the Sunday shows on. 'Lassie' was one. He loved 'Lassie'."

Mike, on those occasions when I've come across a Lassie re-run, I've always thought of your Granddad.  Even as a kid, I could tell he loved that show.

"Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdom' would also be on. As was mentioned, it was a little more intense. Especially for Jim. It was Jim, while Marlin narrated, who wrestled anacondas and crocodiles."

Yeah, and Marlin would say something like, "Be careful, Jim!  They bite"!

Oh, and as for the Disney Humphrey the Bear cartoon, I thought it kind of looked familiar, but I wasn't sure.  Until I clicked on the link and the cartoon unrolled before me.  Oh yeah, I remember that one.

Old Fateful, indeed.

So Mike, did you see this cartoon before or after the "Smokey the Bear incident"?

 

 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Lassie, Marlin, and Humphrey

Our host's last post about Lassie brought to mind my Granddad Scowden. For those who don't know our clan, he was not the fellow pictured at the top of the page on his porch. No, this was my paternal grandfather whom Bob and I do not share.

It was our family's custom for many years to travel from Branson to Forsyth on Sunday afternoon to visit our grandparents. Our first stop was almost always the farm to see Poppy (the fellow on the porch) and grandma, though the times I saw her before she got ill I can scarcely remember.

After some time on the farm, we headed across the bridge to Granddad and Grandma Scowden's. There, Granddad would be sitting in his chair and probably have the TV on. Grandma would be in the kitchen where, later, we would probably be given some vanilla ice cream.

Meanwhile, Granddad had the Sunday shows on. 'Lassie' was one. He loved 'Lassie'. Mutual of Omaha's 'Wild Kingdom' would also be on. As was mentioned, it was a little more intense. Especially for Jim. It was Jim, while Marlin narrated, who wrestled anacondas and crocodiles.

Speaking of Marlin Perkins, he was a Missouri boy, born in Carthage, attending Mizzou, and serving two stints at the St. Louis Zoo, the second one as Director.

I saw 'The Wonderful World of Disney' at Granddad's quite often. I am sure I saw this there.