During all the years that my "Gran" was a part of my life, her mode of dress never changed, regardless of the prevailing fashion or the season of the year. In the winter she would put on a sweater and a woolen shawl when she went outdoors and during the summer months, she carried a parasol for added protection form the sun.
Her unique appearance and her loving disposition made her special and memorable. She loved having people around her and enjoyed visiting with relatives and friends. People who knew her enjoyed being in her presence and she would often insist that they spend the night. Many of her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and cousins made regular visits to her home to spend a few days.
"Gran" was a name chosen by my great grandmother that she preferred and all of her grandchildren referred to her as "Gran". Also, neighborhood children called her "Gran", whereas their elders called her Aunt "Leath".
"Gran" lived on a large farm on Ball Branch that I thought was the greatest place in the world and this belief was shared by my siblings and my cousins.
To us, it was a magical wonderland and we could hardly wait to go up Ball Branch to visit with "Gran". There were more exciting adventures and things to do at "Gran's" place than we could ever find to do elsewhere. Our special time at "Gran's" farm was for riding horses, milking cows, wading the creek with the ducks, gathering hen eggs from the hen house, playing with the new calf, fuzzy ducks and biddies running from squawking geese, getting the tom turkey to spread his tail feathers, helping "Gran" feed the animals, especially "slopping" the hogs, holding squirming piglets, going green pickin', swinging from grapevines on the hillside, catching lightening bugs and June bugs, mocking the hoot owl and the whipporwill, climbing apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, gathering plums, walnuts, harvesting popcorn for the winter, harvesting field corn to parch, pulling up peanuts to dry and many, many other fascinating activites that only "Gran" could show and teach you.
Winter months were just as great as the warm months at "Gran's" farm. Her big log house was a place with large open fireplaces, oil lamps and large feather beds. There was also special winter fun for grandchildren, e.g., popping corn over the fireplace, roasting potatos, making gingerbread, making snowcream, parching corn, working puzzles, playing checkers, making Jacob's ladders with string and at the end of a day - sinking down in one of the featherbeds to watch the light from the fireplace flames flicker in the shadows on the wall.
Grandchildren were never bored at "Gran's" place or in her presence. "Gran" always provided wonderful discoveries, adventures and experiences to entertain the "younguns". She enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed her.
Our very favorite time with "Gran" was a quiet time each evening when she held us spellbound with fairy tales, legends, riddles and family history that left you with the feeling of having experienced the events your ancestors had encountered.
"Gran" was born when Abraham Lincoln was in the White House and died during Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidency. She lived during a period when rapid changes were taking place in the world. She enjoyed life by creating her own pleasures and to her grandchildren and great grandchildren who knew her, she left a legacy of memories of time and events that can never be experienced again.