In the old days

A few mornings ago I looked out the window to see heavy frost on the ground and a light snow fall. Apparently according to the older locals it used to snow quite abit down here, but we don't get much these days. The kids have been pretty good being cooped up inside. It helps to have mom and dads place only a few metres away from ours...so when we really need a change of scenery I go over and let the troops loose on them. And we generally get out to feed the chickens and go for abit of a walk or outing somewhere. The other day we went up to visit Peter and Dawn Woolley, they grew up around here during the depression and the World Wars. We got to hear all about what life was like for him as a young boy....life was SO different. There were nine kids in the family, and he told us they had double beds and used to sleep about 3 boys to a bed. He added that if they had visitors, they'd top and tail with 5 in the bed. They had a tiny house situated between two rivers and said he distinctly remembers 3 places the roof leaked when it rained and how his mom would rush around with buckets collecting the drips. From the age of 5, it was his job to bring in all the chopped wood, but by 7 had to do all the chopping too. It was a really interesting visit.
He also showed us how they used to make torches with a tin can and candle, so today Angus and I made one while Erin was sleeping. Angus loved all the hammering and nailing going on...he's such a boy!!!