My Journey Begins...Part One

My life started out normal and good.

I had two wonderful parents, and I was a "daddy's girl"!

My first memories are of living on a big Chicken Ranch in Redmond Washington.

My mom tended and sold eggs for the owner of the property.

I would gather eggs along side my mom, 

and at the age of 6-7 could pack them just as fast as she.

My dad would go on Sundays to the dump.

Back then when you needed something you visited the dump.

Dad was a fixer and never bought anything.

He always fixed what ever broke.

We would stop at a local neighborhood grocery

and get an ice cream.

We had stray cats all over the place and in my little mind

I had counted 35 of them.

I was probably way off because those were the ones I could SEE!

My days were spent looking for the baby kittens.

I remember finding a litter of kitten's and was so excited.

By the time I ran into the house and told mom about them, 

then headed back out to admire my find,

They were GONE!

I was crushed.

We rented our large pasture to people for their horses and cows.

I asked my mom one day how you get milk from a cow.

She was busy and offhandedly said: "you pump their tail".

Next thing she new, I was at the tail end of a little black cow,

Pumping its tail.

It was a boy!

I remember the deer coming into the pasture and eating the apples from the trees.

When we ate our breakfast we would gaze upon the beauty of the magnificent animals.

The kitchen window was our TV in those days.

One winter I remember wanting to taste the ice on a post.

Yep! My tongue got so stuck to that metal post!

Thank goodness my sister was with me, 

because I told her to go get mom 

the best I could while that metal post held tight to my tongue.

A little warm water gave me back my tongue.

Yes life on that chicken ranch was the best.

But then when I was 9 years old

My world turned upside down...........

Stay tuned for part two....