by Virginia Rose

Snow has been falling on this January day but my thoughts are of spring time.

As I walk down memory lane I can still see the many fruit trees in my grandpa’s orchard, which has long since been cut down as they rotted away.

My brother and sisters and I, at the time, would walk across the road and pick up a few apples from that big orchard. There were June apples, red and golden delicious apples and the Bartley and many more. There were also pear and peach trees and a favorite of mine, an apricot tree. But grandpa was very, very particular about the fruit and would not let us pick one from the trees but take what was on the ground.

Oh! The sweet fragrance of the trees in bloom in the spring time. And such a beautiful sight around the tall white house as the trees showed off the pink and white blossoms.

I can hear the buzz of the many bees as they enjoyed the nectar from that orchard.

I remember as a child in the forties, the red, pink and yellow rose bushes that lined the fence rows. Their beauty still lingers in my memory.

Grandpa would pick those roses on Memorial Day and take them and scatter them on grandma and my aunts’ graves. That’s the way he showed his love for his wife and child that had gone on before.

Then there was the huge vegetable garden with everything from strawberries to rhubarb and sweet potatoes to peanuts and everything in between. Even though it was hard times, no one went hungry. And it was raised with their own two hands. In the back yard next to the house were herbs and mint.

Farther back was the smoke house. I can remember passing by it and smelling the hams and bacon curing in the salt and pepper mixture.

The tall white house still stands and sometimes as I pass by, which is not very often, I long to spend some time there, but it would be so different now. There are no fruit trees and no rose bushes and I, a child of long ago.

It’s been good to walk down memory lane. I hope you too have a favorite childhood memory.

Virginia Rose

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The Clinton County News is seeking short, personal stories from you, our readers, for our new feature area, “Let the readers write”

Tell us about an experience that resulted in a life-long memory, something that happened during your childhood or even yesterday. No hidden agendas. No politics. No religion. Don’t try to sneak in coverage for your 3rd grader’s basketball team. No poems.

In your own words, hopefully between 300 and 600 words, submit your article, along with a photo of yourself, via email to: gpcompany@kih.net, or bring a typewritten copy in to our office at 116 N. Washington Street in Albany. If you don’t have a recent photo of yourself, we’ll make it for you.

You can also mail your submission to P.O. Box 360, Albany, KY 42602. Include an address and phone number that we can use for verification purposes only.