I loved jacks also and we used a golf ball. Roller skating, climbing trees, hula hoop and I was a champion on the pogo stick. I could go up and down stairs,,anywhere. The bicycle was always ready to go. Sometimes we'd just lie in the grass and watch the clouds as, like magic, images would appear. In summer evenings there was always the stars to enjoy.
It seems like we went through phases. We played jacks, marbles, played with our pogo sticks, climbed trees, and swam all of the time in the summer. We loved the water. After dinner in the winter when it was too cold to play outside, our neighbor would climb the fence between our yards and play Monopoly with us. I’m glad I grew up when I did.
Pogo sticks! I hadn't thought of them in years. And one of my fav things to do, when my mom was teaching piano lessons, was to climb in the avocado tree next door.
I just remembered another one. One time I went to the school playground on the weekend. My friend and I took kitchen strainers. We sifted the sand under the giant swing sets. We made quite a haul of the coins that had fallen out of peoples’ pockets! Such fun!
Feb 9, 2023·edited Feb 9, 2023Liked by Kate McDermott
I will garden in my imagination with you. I dearly loved my gardens but time and genetics have taken my back down another path. I wish I could just do tomatoes again. I've tried with containers, but my husband has to help me water them and he just isn't into it. Black Krims are beautiful and delicious!
I'm not sure how to do a video from substack. I just got a new tablet today and need to see if I can figure it out. I'm a techie person, but just not familiar with substack.
Feb 9, 2023·edited Feb 9, 2023Liked by Kate McDermott
I remember playing jacks, but my favorite things were painting by number, hula hooping, hopscotch, skating (with the old fashioned key to tighten them on my shoes), riding my bike. I would read Nancy Drew books, play with my Barbie and Ken dolls. I was quite a tom boy as a kid and would play baseball and football with the boys in the neighborhood. I won a pitching contest! Great memories!
I’ve never had green tomato pie but I have made green tomato crostata using my homemade green tomato jam (which has lemon zest and lots of vanilla). So good with the buttery crust. I imagine green tomato pie is equally delicious. I loved playing jacks and pickup sticks.
Kate, love hearing your thoughts and am excited for the good things happening in your life! As I live in the same beautiful little town that you do, I have to ask....what kind of tomatoes do you plant that would yield that many? My tomato plants are in the greenhouse and some outside on the patio. I could use your expertise...
A few of the ones I have grown here are Stupice, San Marzano, Green Zebra, Black Krim, and a yellow or red cherry tomato. Look for varieties that have 65-85 harvest...although sometimes it can be longer, or not at all depending on the weather. I grow from seed by check at our farmers market and the nursery out near the airport for starts.
My aunt introduced me to jacks when I was in middle/high school, telling stories of playing them with her friends at recess. I loved the game and eagerly introduced it to friends and to the kids I babysat, almost anyone who would play and learn with me :)
I used to flip baseball cards. Girls were better at it because we didn't try to "muscle" the card to lay over another card. I wish I had kept the Maris and Mantle cards I got this way.
Chinese jump rope was the game of choice at recess. Hopscotch was always a good choice.
I loved playing jacks. Second was Chinese jump rope. I just looked it up to see if it is still around and, of corse, there are some YouTube videos. I hadn’t thought of that in years.
Feb 8, 2023·edited Feb 8, 2023Liked by Kate McDermott
Earliest memory on the playground, must have been kindergarten - having a magnet in the sandbox and combing for the hairy black iron filings that would jump on the magnet. At home playing with a Slinky sending it down a very long flight of stairs. Our favorite Aunt who would come and stay with us, always wore her "pop bead" necklace. Played with it and loved it! Probably my favorite all time Xmas present was a large watercolor set, in a tin container approx 11" x 14" with all the beautiful colored paint pots and a couple of brushes, ready to go! Hadn't thought of these treasures in years, thanks for the trigger :).......Didn't really like dolls, but had a special affection for Poor Pitiful Pearl.
I loved playing with a Slinky! Do you remember the magnet with the man on the cardboard under plastic with iron fillings and you could design his hair, beard, mustache, etc? I didn't have a Poor Pitiful Pearl but I did have a Tiny Tears doll for decades.
I actually still have my Pitiful Pearl doll. She is very pitiful now with her hair mostly gone. My granddaughters play with her, although my Barbie (from 1962 I think) usually is their favorite.
I loved playing jacks too. I think we played with a golf ball. ( lived in golf country). I have so many happy memories of elementary school. It gives me pause to realize that all those beloved teachers that I had all along are dead now. The reality of being 71! Thanks for your posts. I always enjoy them.
I loved jacks also and we used a golf ball. Roller skating, climbing trees, hula hoop and I was a champion on the pogo stick. I could go up and down stairs,,anywhere. The bicycle was always ready to go. Sometimes we'd just lie in the grass and watch the clouds as, like magic, images would appear. In summer evenings there was always the stars to enjoy.
I loved looking at clouds! Still do.
It seems like we went through phases. We played jacks, marbles, played with our pogo sticks, climbed trees, and swam all of the time in the summer. We loved the water. After dinner in the winter when it was too cold to play outside, our neighbor would climb the fence between our yards and play Monopoly with us. I’m glad I grew up when I did.
Pogo sticks! I hadn't thought of them in years. And one of my fav things to do, when my mom was teaching piano lessons, was to climb in the avocado tree next door.
Thank you so much, Kate!
Oh you are making me so hungry!!!
😉
I just remembered another one. One time I went to the school playground on the weekend. My friend and I took kitchen strainers. We sifted the sand under the giant swing sets. We made quite a haul of the coins that had fallen out of peoples’ pockets! Such fun!
You two were very clever!
I will garden in my imagination with you. I dearly loved my gardens but time and genetics have taken my back down another path. I wish I could just do tomatoes again. I've tried with containers, but my husband has to help me water them and he just isn't into it. Black Krims are beautiful and delicious!
I'm not sure how to do a video from substack. I just got a new tablet today and need to see if I can figure it out. I'm a techie person, but just not familiar with substack.
Download the app and then you will get a notification when our chat goes live. This may help. https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/8479685616532-How-can-I-participate-in-a-Chat-
I remember playing jacks, but my favorite things were painting by number, hula hooping, hopscotch, skating (with the old fashioned key to tighten them on my shoes), riding my bike. I would read Nancy Drew books, play with my Barbie and Ken dolls. I was quite a tom boy as a kid and would play baseball and football with the boys in the neighborhood. I won a pitching contest! Great memories!
That’s how I grew up too!
I did all those, too, Mel and loved doing them! Although I never won a pitching contest. I was the catcher.
Love playing jacks! Also: glad you are busy with good (secret 🤫) things!
I think I might have to get myself a new set of jacks. Probably good to keep eye hand coordination up, too!
I read your post 5 minutes ago and just ordered a set! 🤣
I’ve never had green tomato pie but I have made green tomato crostata using my homemade green tomato jam (which has lemon zest and lots of vanilla). So good with the buttery crust. I imagine green tomato pie is equally delicious. I loved playing jacks and pickup sticks.
We should trade recipes during harvest time!
Kate, love hearing your thoughts and am excited for the good things happening in your life! As I live in the same beautiful little town that you do, I have to ask....what kind of tomatoes do you plant that would yield that many? My tomato plants are in the greenhouse and some outside on the patio. I could use your expertise...
A few of the ones I have grown here are Stupice, San Marzano, Green Zebra, Black Krim, and a yellow or red cherry tomato. Look for varieties that have 65-85 harvest...although sometimes it can be longer, or not at all depending on the weather. I grow from seed by check at our farmers market and the nursery out near the airport for starts.
I loved playing jacks, too! I still have a set! Want to have a throw down?!!♥️
Oh heck yah!
My aunt introduced me to jacks when I was in middle/high school, telling stories of playing them with her friends at recess. I loved the game and eagerly introduced it to friends and to the kids I babysat, almost anyone who would play and learn with me :)
And maybe they are passing it on as well!
I used to flip baseball cards. Girls were better at it because we didn't try to "muscle" the card to lay over another card. I wish I had kept the Maris and Mantle cards I got this way.
Chinese jump rope was the game of choice at recess. Hopscotch was always a good choice.
Definitely hopscotch. I bet those cards would be worth a lot now.
I loved playing jacks. Second was Chinese jump rope. I just looked it up to see if it is still around and, of corse, there are some YouTube videos. I hadn’t thought of that in years.
Oh yes. I remember Chinese jump rope. And double Dutch jump rope!
Earliest memory on the playground, must have been kindergarten - having a magnet in the sandbox and combing for the hairy black iron filings that would jump on the magnet. At home playing with a Slinky sending it down a very long flight of stairs. Our favorite Aunt who would come and stay with us, always wore her "pop bead" necklace. Played with it and loved it! Probably my favorite all time Xmas present was a large watercolor set, in a tin container approx 11" x 14" with all the beautiful colored paint pots and a couple of brushes, ready to go! Hadn't thought of these treasures in years, thanks for the trigger :).......Didn't really like dolls, but had a special affection for Poor Pitiful Pearl.
Remember her? https://www.mindyourweather.com/blog/2017/8/30/befriending-poor-pitiful-pearl
I would have been Pitiful Pearl's friend, too. Thanks for sending the link.
I loved playing with a Slinky! Do you remember the magnet with the man on the cardboard under plastic with iron fillings and you could design his hair, beard, mustache, etc? I didn't have a Poor Pitiful Pearl but I did have a Tiny Tears doll for decades.
Oh of course! And not to be outdone by Mr. Potato Head! LOL.......
Mr Potato Head was my fav...and he was still around when my son was little!
I actually still have my Pitiful Pearl doll. She is very pitiful now with her hair mostly gone. My granddaughters play with her, although my Barbie (from 1962 I think) usually is their favorite.
I wonder what happened to my Barbie, Midge, Ken, and Poindexter dolls?
I loved playing jacks too. I think we played with a golf ball. ( lived in golf country). I have so many happy memories of elementary school. It gives me pause to realize that all those beloved teachers that I had all along are dead now. The reality of being 71! Thanks for your posts. I always enjoy them.
Time goes so fast! Wow, a golf ball must have been quite something to bounce and catch.