Up until the age of five our family lived in Smethwick, Staffordshire, England. Shortly after my fifth birthday, my father was sent with his job to a different town, not too far away. (We remained there until he retired and we moved to Devonshire in 1965.) I don't remember the swing but Dad was good with putting things together. He was a great carpenter hobbyist, and he probably made this for us. 
My one memory of time in Smethwick was at two years of age, and when I mentioned this to my Mother years later as a teenager, she was very surprised that I could remember those details. I told her that she was carrying me, that we were in the garden and Dad joined us with a puppy in his arms. That was Skipper and this is a photo of Mum and Skipper in 1952. He was our first family pet, though Dad had grown up with dogs his whole life.
We had Skipper II several years later. He was a cross between a collie and something else that I am not sure of.
Oh my, you looked like Shirley Temple! And what an amazing swing! You have such a long memory...
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Shirley Temple fan Ginny, so thank you for that lovely compliment :) I love the look of that old swing, actually made up of unsanded tree trunks looks like.
DeleteMy earliest memory is hammering our German Shepherd on the head - because he had stolen and drained my bottle. He was totally unaffected.
ReplyDeleteUps, I hope he didn't swipe any more of your bottles Sue :) I loved the German Shepherds we had in our house, along with their handlers who were always very kind. Those dogs put up with a lot from us kids no doubt, but they were always gentle with us, and so forgiving.
DeleteMuito interessante estas fotos antigas.
ReplyDeleteGostei de ver.
Um abraço e continuação de uma boa semana.
Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Estou feliz que você os achou interessantes. Muito obrigado :) Um abraço e continuação de boa semana.
DeleteSweet memories!! I love looking thru older photos of times passed. From the short glimpses of you in photos today, you resemble your mom. (That frame is pretty too).
ReplyDeleteThe first pet I remember is George...he was a long haired orange tabby.
Me too Anni, always fun. I have been going through boxes and finding all of hubby's old family photos too. We have had a very enjoyable time talking about what we remembered in each one. Yes, I look a bit like my Mum in these photos, but there's a bit of both when I look in the mirror. As I get older I seem to be channeling my Dad in his personality. I used to call him my lovable grump but with no malice at all. He was an absolute dear truth be told.
DeleteLook how cute you were on that swing. That's a very cool swing too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann :) The more I look at that old swing, the more I like it.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteLove the cute photo of you on the swing and Skipper II is cute.
Take care, enjoy your day!
Thanks Eileen, I have been blessed with super dogs in my life, and a Ginger Tom as :) You take care and enjoy your day also.
DeleteHave a nice day;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne, you too :)
DeleteWonderful memories and photos Denise. I remember my first bee sting at age 3!
ReplyDeleteThanks Christine :) and yikes on the bee sting!
Deletefirst let me say you were adorable, the one thing I liked to do on gym equipement was swing. my earliest memory is my first dog also, but i remember nothing before that except what i see in photos. i was 7 when we got the first dog.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra :) I remember loving swings and going as high as I could. Our son was 8 when he got his first dog.
DeleteChild hood memories for you must be difficult as you moved. I lived at the same place until I finished high school and went back many times. I still go back even though no one lives in the place anymore.
ReplyDeleteYes Red, when we moved down to Devon I was 15 and remember being very sad leaving my friends behind. After marriage (in our navy days) we moved every two years up until 30 years ago, which has been as long as we have lived in our present home. Hard leaving everything behind but the positive is that we have friends all over, either side of the pond. We have kept in touch with many and those we have met since, it is like no time has passed, as you probably know yourself. I know you led a very adventurous life, which I have enjoyed reading about on my visits to your blog :)
DeleteSadly, I seem to have few memories of my early childhood. That said, my brother who is 3 years younger seems o have a good recall. Enjoyed seeing the photos of you in the swing and you mom and Skipper. There's nothing like looking at these old family photos to make us smile and remember (when we can).
ReplyDeleteThat's nice your younger brother can remember, he can tell you. I agree, the old family photos are real treasures :)
Deletea sweet memory and such treasured images!! my first vivid memory was from when i was 5, not a happy one!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie :) Oh dear, sorry your 5-year-old memory is not a happy one.
DeleteGraet happy photo of you. Great swing that your Dad built. Happy memories are the best!!
ReplyDeleteI remember bits and pieces from when I was little. Nothing that makes a coherent story though.
Thanks Yogi, and yes they are :)
DeleteLook at you on that swing...the cutest. What wonderful family photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen :) so glad you enjoyed them.
DeleteSuch lovely memories and photographs.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to sit a while and look back at old family photographs, they help jog the memory.
All the best Jan
Hi Jan and thank you :) It certainly is, all the best to you too.
DeleteMy earliest memory is a dream- because I was in a crib. The wall opened up, the crib was pulled in, and everything was a reverse of itself.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, that was quite a dream. I remember a scary one from my childhood, involving being chased through a maze :0
DeleteThis was fun Denise. Unlike one of the comments above, I think that memories from places that you actually weren't in for a long time can be clearer than the ones from where you lived for years and years (you still have those memories but they blend together over all the years). I remember some neighbors and our house from before I was seven (when we moved) and boy, that was a seriously looong time ago!
ReplyDeleteI can see that Sallie :) I do remember friends of my parents who were older than them and had lived quite a life. We were entertained by the stories they told, and their experiences of their lives were fascinating. I used to sit on the floor by their feet, and was absolutely riveted. I was around seven by that time.
DeleteIsn't this the cutest photo of you as a child? I just love the old photos from long ago. They are treasures for sure. I used to look at my Mom's old black and whites, and wonder what the story was behind the picture. Skipper is a cute dog. Our first dogs are always our most memorable it seems. It sounds like you have good memories of your childhood. Me too!
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you Sheri :) Thank goodness for the old photos. Yes, good memories.
DeleteThese are such wonderful photos! I don't think I can remember back that far. My earliest was a fire at Christmas in our home. (Fortunately, caught relatively early but I remember my dad using my yellow chenille bedspread to put out flames and standing outside in the cold and snow! I must have been about three or so. And I have clear memories from being around four or so and beyond. I'm glad I still have them!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeanie and thank you :) That sounds a very scary memory. I'm glad it was caught before any of you were hurt. Yes, it's nice to have those memories, even those kind. All part of our rich family history.
DeleteYou were such a cute child! And you looked so happy. It would take too long to tell my memories. But I love hearing others, too.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you Rose :) Yes, I love hearing about other people's memories.
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