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From the minute I met Matt, I was constantly hearing about "Grandpa Gib". He was Matt's biggest fan and his best friend growing up. He never missed a game or show Matt happened to be in. And because he was retired by the time Matt came along, he was always there; right next door. In fact, we even named Isaac Andrew Baker after his great-grandpa Gilbert Andrew (though from most accounts Isaac is nothing like his namesake who was quiet and reserved).
So the other day I was walking around the property looking at all the old stuff and trying to envision what this place looked like "back in the day". No tall buildings blocking your view...no buildings at all. Just farmlands as far as the eye could see.
Gib owned the whole block once upon a time. Behind his house you can still find an old chicken coop and horse corrals, and next to that an old barn.
As I was walking around I started looking for hidden treasures. What was life like back then? I found a few interesting remnants of yesterday...
Look at all this chicken wire! Mending fences to keep all the livestock where they're supposed to be. Out in the hot sun or freezing snow...
Now this looks like fun! Can you even buy these anymore? At least you had some control over the snow with this sled.
I think I'll take my stove thank you very much.
Some type of old record player. I just imagine sitting as a family around the fireplace listening to some old jazz music or something. Warm and cozy, tired from a hard days work out on the farm.
Matt claims this one is an old butter churner. I have no idea how this bad boy would work, but I think I prefer Wal-Mart to deliver my butter to my cart.
There are 3 saddles in this part of the barn. Riding horses around sounds fun, using them to till my farm, not so much. After churning my butter and cooking in my way-too-hot oven and hoeing my huge garden, feeding and caring for the horses just sounds like one more chore. Did the list of things to do ever end for farmers?Anyway, it was pretty interesting for me to look at all this stuff, being the city girl that I am and try to envision what life was like back then. It made me so grateful to this man I never met. Grandpa Gib gave Matt's parents their lot to build a house on, who in turn gave us ours. And now Matt's sister Paula is living is Gib's old house. Did he have any idea all those years ago how many of his family would benefit from what he worked so hard for? What would he think if he could see his Matt now- proud dad of two awesome boys with two more on the way? Well, I think he knows. And I think he's proud his legacy is living on.
So look out Antiques Road Show, here come the Bakers. j/k What a fun adventure. I can't believe all the cool stuff! Grandpa Gib sounds like a wonderful Grandpa!
What a nice tribute :)
I'll take the stove, the butter churner and the sled. When can I come get them?
Seriously, though, amazing old things you found in there. I'm so flippin' jealous!
Great tribute!! I loved all the pictures!