Memories of my Nana -

One of the biggest differences between grandmothers today and baby boomer’s grandmothers is that today’s nana most likely works outside the home. My own grandmother, Grandma Layne, was one of the hardest working women I’ve ever known but it was all done at home or on the farm.

Nettie Lee Shirley DeMumbrum (Grandma Layne)

Another difference was that Grandma Layne lived right down the road from us and I could visit daily. Today’s grandmothers may live on the east coast with grandchildren on the west coast, or they may be like my friend Connie who has grandchildren overseas.

Because Grandma Layne lived so close and was home all the time I spent a lot of time with her. I have so many memories of the white farm house where they lived.

This is the front of the house. It has porches on all sides.

When mom went back to college after my brother and I started school, we visited Grandma Layne daily. There was a hen house where we collected eggs and a brooder house for the baby chicks. Several more outbuildings included a wood shed, a two seater outhouse (I guess if you gotta go, you gotta go) a wash room and a room where they hung the hams to cure. All those buildings are gone now.

The last two barns left standing on my grandparent's farm

My grandfather and his siblings grew up on this farm and they used to have corn cob fights around these barns. For city folk who don’t know what a corn cob fight is, you find the wettest, muddiest cob you can find and when your sibling isn’t looking you throw it at them. That’s all it takes for a corn cob war and yes, getting hit with one hurts!

Do you have memories of grandparents you’d like to share with us at NanaHood? If so, send them in. We’d love to hear them.