The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
The youngest family member – my niece Morgan – taking a walk around the Anderson family farm.

A week or so, I had the most vivid dream about my Grandma Anderson – or Grandma Inez (pronounced “Eye-niss”), as all of us grandkids called her. She passed away when I was 19, but I had many years of memory-making with her. Although my grandparents lived on their farm over two hours from me, Grandma Inez and I would write letters back and forth often and, of course, my parents, siblings and I visited quite a bit.

In my dream, I saw Grandma Inez plain as day – and not the older Grandma who had health problems later in her life, but the younger Grandma I would stay with for days at a time. The Grandma who always had homemade treats – like apricot bars or gingersnap cookies – at the ready. The Grandma who loved teaching me how to embroider a kitchen dish towel. (Such an old-fashioned art – she was very good at it and she helped me make several towels!) The Grandma who took me into the local cafe in the small-town near the farm so that my cousin and I could have chocolate donuts and Strawberry Crush for “coffee” – that is, at 10:00 in the morning!

In my dream, she gave me a hug and asked how I was doing and I could literally “feel” that hug in my dream and see her smiling face. I woke up with the distinct feeling that she had been close by and just wanted to check in on me.

Yesterday, we visited Grandma and Grandpa’s farm near Bricelyn, Minnesota – a tiny little town just north of the Iowa border – for a mini family reunion of sorts. My uncle and aunt from Arizona brought all their kids, spouses/significant others and grandkids back to Minnesota to, in part, see their family roots, which began in southern Minnesota farm country.

My grandparents’ farm is still in the family – one of my cousins owns it now – but it doesn’t quite resemble the farmhouse from my childhood. My cousin has taken the original home and rearranged and expanded it several times.

The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
A panoramic look at the house.

He also updated the barn and grounds, and built a two-acre pond, which can be used for swimming and fishing (he stocked it with several varieties of fish).

The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
Teacher Man and Joe on the big deck my cousin built to overlook the pond.
The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
Miss Morgan checking out a fish caught by my cousin’s husband – from afar!

It is a stunning farmstead now. I have visited several times since my cousins began updating it, but it still takes my breath away a bit when we drive up to it.

The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
This is a drawing of my grandparents’ original farmhouse.
The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
This is what the farmhouse looks like now from the road.

But even though it looks different, it is still Grandma and Grandpa’s farm. The old mailbox with my Grandpa’s name – Harvey Anderson – still stands, and visiting brings back so many memories. Grandma calling to the outdoor kitties when she had scraps to feed them from dinner. My cousin and I being scared of the cold, dark, damp basement that was known to have a salamader or two down there. (Ewww!) Cousins visiting from Texas who would tear around the property in Grandpa’s golf cart. Big corn roasts in late July or early August, with piles of food and a tub full of sweetcorn, just ready to be doused in melted butter. Crowded family Christmas celebrations with lutefisk and lefse, and the grandkids acting out the story of Baby Jesus being born. Grandpa Harvey napping in his chair after supper. And so much more.

The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
The barn.

We’re very lucky we can go back to that farm like we did on Saturday. We can gather as family and reminisce to our heart’s content. Most of us don’t live on farms now – and in fact, we’re spread all over the U.S., from Minnesota to Iowa, Arizona, Texas and New York – but we all leave a piece of our hearts at Grandma and Grandpa’s farm.

And for that, I know Grandma Inez and Grandpa Harvey – who taught us the value of a close knit family – are smiling down upon all of us right now.

The heart of the family farm | via printmyemotions.wordpress.com
A photo from our mini family reunion.

14 Comments on The Heart of the Family Farm.

  1. I really enjoyed this blog as Inez and Harvey were my neighbors! Next time I go to Bricelyn I will have to drive by the Anderson farm! I looks like it has really changed! Thanks for bringing back some memories for me…..I knew your grandparents very well!

    • Thanks, Mary! You should drive by – it looks so different and it really is a gorgeous home. Grandma and Grandpa probably could’ve never imagined it would morph into what it is today! 🙂

      Lara

  2. I really enjoyed this blog. Such a good thing that the farm is still in your family and that your family cares enough to keep it going. I live on a farm and can smile at some of your descriptions, relating to them well. We used to have salamanders living in our dark and damp basement. Haven’t seen any for a while. And I’ve heard stories of our grandkids tearing around the farm on the 3 wheeler, while they were farm sitting when we were out of town. Of course that would not have happened with Grandpa home – the 3 wheeler was used as a working farm machine, not for fun! Beautiful home and barn. Wonderful to have it all preserved in the family!

    • Thanks, Bill! And funny – my cousin and just commented over the weekend that those salamanders aren’t around on my grandparents’ farm anymore either! Lol

      Thanks for reading!
      Lara

  3. Duane just came across your blog and it was so fun to read of your thoughts and memories! Your grandparents place is certainly a show place! So glad your family could be together…………..

    • Carol,

      So fun that you found my blog and enjoyed the post! I remember you both well – many fond memories of all the Bricelyn folks I met over the years! Say hi to Duane for me as well!

      Lara

  4. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures! I had to share it on FB …treasure family! Gj

  5. Yup wonderful memories from Inez and Harvey as we lived across the gravel road from them. She babysat me often. What a great cook she was! I still use many of her recipes. We are lucky too as the Brandsoy family reunion will be there in a few weeks. It’s like going home! Very thankful that Darren owns it now and hope he doesn’t get tired of having these reunions at his home!

    • Grandma was a good cook – I have some of her recipes and her pie cookbook!

      We are very lucky that Darren – at least so far – enjoys hosting these reunions! I hope you enjoy yours!

      Lara

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