The Long Way to the Store

Barbie says:

Linda and I had a "short cut" to the store. (There was nothing short about it.) When we took the short cut, it meant that we took the beach instead of the road. (up and over each dock and then around the hill where there were no cottages) Many times we would start out on the road and then say "Let's take the short cut" which meant that we left the road and just went around the hill, lakeside.

The hill on the point was a little difficult to navigate.  There was a narrow path already around the hill which some former kids had worn into the side of the hill, possibly a generation before us.  As time went on, much of the path fell away into the lake, making the trip really difficult, which we didn't seem to mind....we had to make our daily trip to the store to buy that penny candy.

If you are reading this and wondering about the location of this path.  We lived on Provan Beach, which was a half a mile west of the Pelican Beach Resort/Store.

More topics:

• Picture on the wall @ the Pelican Beach Store
• Penny Candy, pop bottles requiring a deposit
• Buying gas @ the store

Signs

Linda says:

The sign in Grover's outhouse and on their patio were already talked about, but there's more. My parents had humorous signs on the wall in the kitchen above the washer & dryer. The ones I remember most were:

1) "Next week we've GOT to get organized".
2) "Why is there so much of the month left at the end of the money?"
3) "It's a business to do pleasure with you". Another of those that us kids weren't
supposed to understand hee hee.
4) And my all time favorite that was in a spot away from the rest and totally visible by anyone
in the kitchen..."This is the kitchen of Susan Connor. If you don't believe it, start something."
I have that very sign in my home office. It's a keeper :o)

Outhouses

Barbie says:

My brother, Ron reminded me about the history of our outhouse.  First my dad made a "double seater" outhouse on the small hill behind our cottage.  I don't remember that...but I do remember the one seater plus storage shed that Dad converted it into.

When my grandparents sold their cottage, we inherited their old outhouse because it was in better condition than ours.  Our (former 2-seater/shed) was moved way up the hill and Grandpa's outhouse was put in it's place. Linda and I used the old shed as a playhouse for a while until my brothers took it over as a fort. Years later my dad tore it down because the state started taxing us for it.

A phrase that I had forgotten was "I need to go up the hill," which meant "I had to go to the bathroom." (As I mentioned, our outhouse was located on a small hill behind the cottage.) Everyone knew what you meant when you said that you were going "up-the-hill")

By the way, my Grandparents outhouse made the move with us when we moved to Little Pelican Lake.  It's on our property and only used in emergencies.  Yes, we currently have in-door plumbing.

Remember?

Barbie says:  Hey Linda, Do these words spark any memories?

• Fireflies
• Penny candy
• Milk weed plants
• Northern Lights
• Baby Bullheads

Pets at the lake

Barbie says;  I remember the pets at the lake.  Over the years, we had Pudgy (a fat cocker spaniel) and   Linda had three or four dogs: Fritzy, a dachshund, Scuffy & Colonel, both bull dogs.  Linda also had Huey, Duey and Louie (ducks of course).  She also had Alvin (a chipmunk) and Jose (a parrot). When I was 16, I had a couple hamsters named Ed & Barrie.  (ha ha, another story) Linda, you also had another dachshund, didn't you? When I was 17, Dave (my future husband) gave me Chief (a big black dog).  Did I leave any pets out? Oh yah,  Linda remember the pet mice that you had?

Barbie Dolls

Barbie says:  When Barbie dolls came out in about 1959, Linda had one.  She had the original Barbie with dark hair, striped swim suit and a ponytail. Wow!  We couldn't afford a "real" Barbie so I had a Babette doll. We played Barbies a lot. Each spring I couldn't wait for Linda to arrive so that I could show her my newest "Barbie" stuff. We kept adding to the collection.  There was Midge, Ken, a Barbie bed and even a Barbie house.... and yes, at one point I got a real Barbie.

When I was in 5th grade, for Christmas I got a new Barbie with a bu-font hair do and a red swim suit.  I couldn't wait to show Linda when she came up.  I must have asked her about her Barbies before she even got out of the car.  I remember the conversation taking place by the carport as they were getting out of the car, just having arrived.)To my disappointment Linda didn't even bring her Barbies with her.  She had outgrown dolls. (She was now in 6th grade.) I remember acting like "Ah, no big thing. I don't play Barbies anymore either.".... when inside I was so disappointed.