Visiting Grandpa



It's May 14th and the local greenhouses are
full of blooming annuals and perennials....
 customers are flocking in...
gardening season is here and it's time to get growing!!

I have not bought any plants yet!
This week promises to be warm,
so by the end of the week my petunias
will be planted!!

Oh how I would love to get in a time machine
and venture back to about 1950...

I would definitely buy my plants 
from Pete Javers
(my grandpa)

My mother always tells 
me about her mother's cold frame...
Grandma would just scoop a handful of pansies
out and put them in the customer's box!

Pete and Eileen had the Lennox Greenhouse
and the best plants in Minnehaha County!




Grandpa Pete was a carpenter by trade
and made his own wooden crates
for flower trays

The flower shop smelled of chrysanthemums,
lily of the valley, gladiolus, roses, and orchids....

Grandma and the girls were always busy
arranging flowers for funerals and weddings!

My mom can still make the most beautiful bows,
she had a lot of practice!!  




My brothers and sisters all remember riding their
bikes to Grandpas (just down the street)
about every day.





After Grandma died I think the 4 kids were
great company for Grandpa





He had an apartment built on to the house we lived in,
he must've been very lonely to put up with 4 lively ones!!



Our house on Main and Elm 1950

This Saturday I strolled down our street
(and Memory Lane)
and took some pictures...


Our old house 2012



Barb & Rhonda in front of Grandpa's Apartment 1968



The apartment now (2012)
Someone's added on a garage
(which means Grandpa's fishpond is long gone)
but,the gas lamp is still there
AND
the J on the storm door!!





38 years ago I had to show Grandpa Pete how I could
ride a bike, I rode up and down the sidewalk on visits!

Saturday I walked up this sidewalk and 
wondered,
"Where does the time go?"



Thanks for strolling down Memory Lane with me.
A visit to my birthplace always brings 
out my sentimental side and the old photo albums!

I hope this stirs up a good memory or two for you...


"So long as the memory of certain beloved friends
lives in my heart,
I shall say that life is good."
                                  Helen Keller










Comments

barb said…
i think lively is putting it nicely? Naughty would be more accurate, ha. We had a great childhood living down the street from our grandparents. I'm sure grandpa never thought he would ever miss the four hooligans.
TexWisGirl said…
the flowers and plants sound like a wonderful business! :) sweet.
MarmePurl said…
Fun to travel this road with you!
Must have been so fun to put this post together.
Candy C. said…
What a great post! I love that the lamp is still at the apartment and the same storm door!
I agree, where does the time go. (sigh)
Brian King said…
Love the photos and the story, Lisa! Really nice. I miss my grandfather.
Michelle said…
A great post of memories!
Sherri B. said…
I love that you shared this with us. How very special to have a lovely place like that to get all of your planting needs, you don't find that very often anymore. xo
Melinda said…
Great memories---sounds like you had some adventures in your childhood.

The garden is growing here and the flowers are doing good too.

Melinda
msbrownschmitt said…
Love you for posting! We are fixing up a house just around the corner from my grandparents. I took my kids there to take pictures. I just want to hold onto those memories forever!! I had my father push my three year old son on his tricycle on the same road that I have pictures of him pushing me on. -- tearing up---
Great memories of you grandpa. Thanks for sharing.
Oh I think children who are lucky enough to grow up with and truly get to know their Grandparent's are the luckiest people in the world.
Great memories. I love the photos. Memories are always special. B
Debbie said…
oh what special photo's and family memories. sadly i did not know my grandparents, i always feel that void!!

what a beautiful story to share with us!!

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