Tags
apple orchard, Canada, childhood, Diana Schwenk, family, Franklin Centre, friends, growing up, horses, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, laughter, love, memories, Quebec
I got a phone call a couple of days ago from Margaret. Her and her husband James were visiting my parents. Our two families have a long history. My parents’ first job in Canada was picking apples on Margaret’s parent’s farm. Then years later my parents would visit with their young children in tow. I loved those trips to the farm.
As long as I can remember I have loved horses, so whenever we were heading out to the farm in Franklin, Quebec, I was beside myself with joy.
I can still remember those country roads from the backseat of Dad’s Mercury. The way the sun blinded me like an intense strobe light caused by the forward motion of the car and the canopy of trees.
You knew you were in farm country when the smell of horse manure began to waft through the windows. I didn’t care. While my family gagged at the smell, I breathed it in – it brought with it the promise of horses.
Uncle Andre, Tante Martha and their kids Christian, Margaret and Karen lived on a hundred acres that included an apple orchard and grazing land for cattle, a little Shetland pony and Poopsie, a Pinto mare.
It was in those years that Margaret taught me a German poem that I practiced over and over until it stuck, and to this day I still remember it. Let’s see if any of you can translate it!
Denke nie gedachts zu haben. Denn das denken der gedanken ist einen gedankenlosses denken. Wenn Du denkst, Du denkst denkst Du nicht Du denkst, Denn Du denkst gendankenloss zu sein.
On each trip to the farm, the moment we arrived, I wanted to head out on the land, but Mom insisted on good manners and so hurriedly I shouted hello to our hosts before running down that familiar path past the barn, into the orchard and beyond.
I can still remember the sweet taste of Macintosh apples plucked right from the tree. No apple since has ever tasted like that. There was the day my brother Mike and I pretended to be wolves and chased the cows up until we came upon the bull – then it was us who turned on our heels and ran for our lives toward the fence. And those glorious times I rode the pony, or Poopsie – I even rode a cow once!
Ahh the years visiting that farm are some of my happiest childhood memories.
And when it was time to leave and Dad’s Mercury headed down the long driveway to head back home, Margaret sat sans saddle on Poopsie and waited down below.
As our car turned right onto the country road, the pair galloped alongside us until they could keep up no more.
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
What is your favourite childhood memory?
artsifrtsy said:
Sweet story – I love it. For me it has to be something tied to my grandparents. We had so many adventures together/ My Nana could make the laundromat seem like an adventure.
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dianasschwenk said:
haha the laundromat IS an adventure!
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artsifrtsy said:
LOL – I haven’t been in one in many years. My grandma’s sister worked in one and we always ended up there with her and she was quite the character.
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Karena said:
To solve the mystery, your Mom sent it to Margaret and she was touched by your writing and sent it to me! So you see, good and warm hearted news travels. All the best to you – keep writing and blogging, I’m sure you touch many people each day. Have a great day and wishing you all good things for 2014! xo, Karen
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dianasschwenk said:
Mystery solved – thank you! I should have known. Mom is my biggest fan! Thank you for your good wishes. I wish you well as well!
Diana xo
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Karena said:
Such a lovely recounting, Diana! – as partner in crime, I can vouch for Poopsie and Tiny (the Shetland pony); both willing yet feisty country gals of the equestrian kind. ;-)) Those were exciting times, for us country bumpkins as well, having Mike and yourself over, and your parents, and of course the Dunkin Donuts which were novel for us. Most exciting: sending Mikie into outer space with our ‘rocket’, AND, the spooky ghost stories which our brother Christian brought to life with sound effects and all. Whoa-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!! Seemed pretty plausible at the time. Love and hugs to you!
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dianasschwenk said:
Oh my gosh, Karen! How on earth did you find this post. (I secretly hoped one of you would) I remember the ghost stories. I don’t remember Mike being sent to space but I’m sure he does, I will have to ask him.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You made my day!
Diana xo
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Jean said:
Lovely memory. My favourite is the big maple tree in front of my house which turned golden in autumn, so that my bedroom was suffused with warm yellow.
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dianasschwenk said:
Wow. That sounds so wonderful Jean!
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Forest So Green said:
When I was in school we took a class trip to the apple orchard and your post brought back those great memories, thanks, Annie
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dianasschwenk said:
I am happy to know that my post stirred up happy memories for you! Thanks Annie!
Diana xo
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Professions for PEACE said:
What a wonderful memory Diana! Thanks for bringing us along 🙂 . I love that you memorized that German poem. As for me, I have fond memories of a particular home we lived in that had a creek running through the front yard and I’d often wake early, look out my bedroom window, and see a Great Blue Heron delicately walking over our driveway from to rejoin where the creek flowed underneath. Gorgeous birds! I began drawing them and got quite good at it. They were my favourite thing to draw, well up there with horses! Cheers, Gina
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dianasschwenk said:
Gina, that sounds like a beautiful property and memory!
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sedge808 said:
wonderful memories.
mine are a
having BBQs with my mother & sisters.
We would drive somewhere and have a bbq.
baked potatoes & damper for desert.
G.
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dianasschwenk said:
sounds lovely… what is damper though?
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When in New Places said:
I love this post, Diana! You did an awesome job describing this memory, I could see it, what a lovely place! I love the name Poopsie!!
My fav childhood memory is climbing up the grain bins with my brother and looking out over the beautiful flat prairies in silence. I loved the giant squares of color that looked like a huge quilt – a peaceful and vivid memory for me. 🙂
~Andrea<3
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dianasschwenk said:
Sounds beautiful and peaceful Andrea. So much land and scarce a human being, not like where you’re at now, right? 😉
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When in New Places said:
Very, very right. Our dream is to settle in a place like that in the next 10-15 years.
After living in this hectic and crowded environment, we’ll be ready to live in the woods somewhere in BC, that’s for sure.
I can’t get Matt to fall in love with the prairies. I love the open spaces, it makes me feel freedom, he feels claustrophobic!! hahaha!!
The woods of BC may be our best compromise – we’ll see!!
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dianasschwenk said:
BC is God’s country – my favourite province!
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When in New Places said:
Agreed – I was just telling a friend that it has the best of everything: mountains, ocean, beautiful forest and comparatively moderate weather. Heaven indeed! 😀
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dianasschwenk said:
and Granola, don’t forget granola! 😉
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joannerambling said:
Packing up the car on Boxing Day and going to my aunty Nita’s house for a holiday we did this every year for many years and I have great memories of those holidays.
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dianasschwenk said:
I keep forgetting that you’re having summer – yes that would be wonderful! Was it a long drive?
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elizabeth2560 said:
Great post on happy childhood memories. Have you ever wondered how as children we simply had to soak in the memories, whereas adults we need to create them?
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dianasschwenk said:
unless…you know…something unexpected happens that causes you to bask in the moment and hold it forever in your heart… Maybe it’s rare, but it still happens, right?
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elizabeth2560 said:
Ah yes! You are right.
(When I wrote that comment I was thinking of all the cooking and organising and work that mothers and aunts do to “create” the magic of Christmas for children).
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dianasschwenk said:
Further to that, I wonder if that’s the part kids remember. I wonder if the memories that stand the test of time are usually unexpected surprises…
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elizabeth2560 said:
In the end, I think that it probably is…. 🙂
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utesmile said:
German, Dutch and Africaans are very similar. I obviously understand it easily. Childhood memories are the best and more valuable than any present you got through your childhood.
I will never forget a trip to Italy, I was rather small then and my mum took a picture of my dad and me snuggled up next to him on a beautiful well. I was afraid to fall in really and I can still feel how close I was to my dad who was holding me tight. It was a great feeling to be protected by him!
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes daughter and dads have a special relationship. I, too, felt protected by my dad and I think that’s what we look for in a relationship when we’re adults!
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cyclingrandma said:
Lovely memory– nothing like a family farm visit. Not sure I have a favorite one — but for sure family time with lots of cousins would be there. Thanks.
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dianasschwenk said:
I once knew a man who told me that he didn’t feel it necessary to afford a lot of things for his kids. His goal was to create memories. When I think about it, it’s so true; my heart doesn’t smile because I remember getting the LiteBrite I wanted or the porcelain horse I coveted. In the end it’s the memories that were created and the feelings that linger because of them..
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Gorgeous imagery in your writing, Diana. I totally enjoyed it, as if I was there. I always loved horses too. You were a lucky girl to have spent summers like that. Sounds heavenly!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Jennier! I hadn’t thought of it until Margaret called and then suddenly I remembered details. I could see the driveway and the path, made by tractor, that lead to the barn and then the orchard. It is kind of amazing to remember something with such detail – what a trip down memory lane!
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Jennifer's Journal said:
The mention of the smells put me in the scene. As for the pigs, we used to have a summer house in Grates Cove very close to a pig sty. So I know all about THAT smell.
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dianasschwenk said:
They say the sense of smell triggers our earliest memories….
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Jennifer's Journal said:
So true.
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dianasschwenk said:
Of course I meant Jennifer but Jennier has kind of a elite frenchness about it…. 🙂
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Jennifer's Journal said:
Ha ha, I didn’t even notice til you pointed it out! I like it…There is no one Jennier than me. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
haha be sure to say it with an exaggerated french accent!
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Jennifer's Journal said:
🙂 Oui, oui!
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bulldog said:
“Never think to have thoughts. Because to think the thought is a thought that is lost. If you think you think you do not think you think, because you think to be quietly at a loss.” my attempt at a translation, this is how it sounds to me using Afrikaans…
Yes the childhood memories that remain with us so vividly are the ones that we loved dearly, and this one seems a good one to remember… the smell of horse manure is quite pleasant, it is the pigs that I gag at…
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dianasschwenk said:
ha! It’s funny how knowing one language can help you understand another! I’ve understood the gist of Dutch and even some Yiddish because I know German. Your translation is almost perfect!
I hear you on the pig poop. Driving past a pig farm on a hot summer’s day is horrendous!
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elizabeth2560 said:
Good translation (and very wise quote), however, I do not understand the “to be quietly at a loss” part. Can either of you explain?
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dianasschwenk said:
it doesn’t really say that…I told bulldog the translation was almost perfect. 😉
It ends something like this: When you think you think, you’re not thinking you think then you think you have no thoughts at all. I’m not sure it’s wise but it sure is muscial and playful!
At the time I made Margaret write it out on the corner of a brown paper bag which we then tore off, a piece of paper I had for many years…maybe I still do somewhere.. 🙂
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elizabeth2560 said:
Do you know this one?
YYUR
YYUB
ICUR
YY4Me
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bulldog said:
Sorry I don’t get the total meaning behind the quote, except that when I tried to read out the words they had a very similar sound to Afrikaans and from that I put down the translation, unknowing that I would get so close… Afrikaans comes from the Dutch language that has similarities to German I thing…
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elizabeth2560 said:
It was very close to Diana’s exact translation so you did well. I learned German at school and I was lost on the first word 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
You gave an amazing translation!
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