Summer Was Always Simpler: Memories from the Creek, the Porch, and a Country Store

A heartfelt look back at the summers that shaped us—days at the creek, BLTs from the garden, lawnmower rites of passage, and porch stories with family. In this story, Leigh Walkup takes us back to the summers of her childhood, reminding us that the best things in life really are the simplest.

Here we are…in the thick of summer. I don’t know how your summer has been, but here in Kentucky, it’s been HOT and WET. The summer months bring an ambiance that is unique to them, unlike any other season. It adds a splash of casualness to the days. Maybe it’s that the days are longer and we have more daylight after the workday is over, or perhaps it’s the heat that forces us to slow down. Whatever the reason, it’s the simple pleasures that really stick with us as we grow older.

Some of my favorite summer memories are growing up in a country store. Mom owned the store when we were kids and worked very long hours, but she still found the time to go on walks and runs with Anne and me after she closed up at night. The store provided us endless ice cream sandwiches, MoonPies, Mellow Yellos, and Big Reds. We spent every single day riding our bikes and fishing. It was so carefree. Mom didn’t know where we were, but then again, she did. She knew we were “around” and that we were fine. On the chance that she actually took a day off, we would all pile into the station wagon, grab a box of fried chicken, crank up the 80s country music (Ricky Van Shelton!), and go down the creek. The creek was the social plaza of a country summer. It was the playground of my childhood. I’m sure kids today wouldn’t know what to do at the creek, but we had a blast. It had rocks to jump off of, a big, deep swimming hole, and perfect places to unfold your plastic webbed lawn chair. Remember those? Mom was always slathered in oil working on her tan, and Anne and I were busy catching tadpoles. The entire time, listening to the soundtrack of beer cans opening, kids screaming and playing, and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on the boombox. It really was the BEST!

Summers of the past were full of bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches Mom would make fresh from the garden. It’s always better when Mom makes it, right? It was full of days spent driving to the local Amish store and buying fresh churned butter and laughing and reminiscing all the way there and back. I remember that one summer when a snake got into the house, and Mom said, “Honey, get your Big Wheel or whatever you want because we’re never coming back,” as she ran out of the house pulling me and Anne with her. We did come back, but I remember Mom being reluctant. She walked around the house with a brick in her hand for days.

Now, a lot of my summer is spent mowing. With the new farm….it’s a lot. Every time I get on the mower, I think of the summer Dad finally let me mow. I couldn’t wait to be big enough to mow the grass. I would run beside my dad on the riding lawnmower, begging him to let me do it. The joy of that quickly ended when it became my chore, but still…I can feel what it was like to finally be big enough to do it. It still stands out as a special moment in my life.

Those memorable summers when my great Aunts would come to visit. My grandmother’s sisters would come up and spend two weeks at my grandparents’ farm. My grandmother loved having her sisters visit, and we enjoyed the energy that came with all of them being in the house. My aunt Jewel lived in Georgia, and Aunt Bessie still lived on the family farm in Mississippi. They couldn’t have been more different. Bessie was full of spunk and laughter with a rapid wit. She was up at the crack of dawn, out walking the land, feeding the animals, and in the garden. She wore pants (which were unheard of; I only saw my Grandmother in pants twice in my life), and she loved to get her hands dirty. Jewel was the complete opposite. She was always dressed to the nines, as proper as possible, and never wanted her hands dirty. My sweet Grandmother was a little of both. Getting those three ladies together was such a treat. It was hours of laughter, cooking, gardening, and lounging on the porch. Of course, garden club meetings, luncheons at the tea room, and shopping were also included. I can still feel the energy that came with all of them being in the kitchen, preparing a summer meal. Then, later, everyone retired to the porch, telling stories over cocktails and pipe tobacco.

Mom still talks about when she was a little girl, her family would make homemade ice cream on hot summer evenings. Getting to turn the crank was such a big deal to her and still stands out as a special memory. Her family always held huge family reunions, and Nannie would make her famous meatloaf and old-fashioned banana pudding that everyone loved.

None of these memories includes fancy five-star restaurants or week-long, expensive summer vacations. In fact, none of these experiences cost anything. It was the little things back then, and today… It still is. The memories we created around our family, our food, our land, our animals…those are the ones that will be with me forever. These precious times can’t be bought. Here’s hoping you’re indulging in a few this summer, because remember… only you can create them. 💗