“A Cottage Garden,” by Henry Sutton
Grandpa and Grandma lived at the bottom of a hill where three dirt roads converged. Their home had been Grandpa’s parents and cobbled together from a number of summer cottages that had been along Mxxx Lake and moved a mile or so around the 1940’s to its acre of land. It was an improvement on the little shack with an outhouse that they had been living in on East Bxxxxxxx when they moved in to take care of Great Grandma.
The house was situated on the edge of a marsh, with only three neighbors: Old Tom & Katie Nxxxx; Grandpa’s brother, Uncle Bxx and his Australian shepherd mix dog, Gussy; and Mr. & Mrs. Pxxxx and their three sons, Dxxx, Kxxx, and Bxxx. Mr. Pxxxx was a biology instructor at the community college, and Mrs. Pxxxx did seasonal plant sales in their greenhouse.
Across the marsh rose Mxxxxxxxx, a terraced and lushly landscaped cemetery. My cousins and I, who spent a lot of time at our grandparents’ place, would walk a trail between edge of the tall cattails and muskrats marsh and the chain link fence of the water filtration plant. We’d come out on the other side to the road winding up to the cemetery.
Grandparents and home
long gone; marsh reclaims its turf —
headstones remember.
Frank Tassone is today’s host for dVerse’ Haibun Monday. Frank says:
Write a haibun that alludes to memory.
I’ve xxxxed out names and places. Couldn’t find a good pic of their place and so used an internet pic that kinda sorta resembles where they lived.
Tao Talk 
Snap! We both wrote about grandparents! I love the descriptions of the house, the neighbours and the surroundings, Lisa, especially the thought of walking a ‘trail between edge of the tall cattails and muskrats marsh and the chain link fence of the water filtration plant’, and ‘headstones remember’ in the haiku.
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I know you were close to your grandparents and that gives us something in common ❤ Thank you, Kim.
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My pleasure, Lisa!
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I find the descriptions of the marsh very nice, there is something special about a marsh and its scents. I felt it with yours a lot, and I like the description of the houses and inhabitants a lot.
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I know what you mean about that mucky scent. Can’t find it anywhere else. I drive by there and over to the cemetery every couple of years. It’s not the same now, but it still is in my mind. Thank you.
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“Shack with an outhouse “ – my forebears built the sauna first and lived in it while they built the house. Babies were birthed in the sauna, as it was the cleanest room, and next to the lake so water was available. Being Finnish, they could live without an outhouse longer than they could live without a sauna.
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Very cool. I know that people in nordic places take their saunas very seriously. I’m sure you know about the Finnish community up around Hancock in the UP of MI?
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Oh, yeah. My mom was born in Copper Harbor. When we bought our house I tried to convince my wife that I had to build a sauna in the back yard. She wanted a hot tub. We settled for running in the sprinkler.
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Oh wow, Copper Harbor is such a pretty place and the ride out there from either way is also. lol on the sprinkler 🙂
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p.s. did you see the pic of my bike frame in one of the more recent doodad posts? I posted that for you to see (made in Wisconsin)
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I had not seen that…Trek frames used to all be made in Waterloo, WI. One of their framebuilders (Mike Appel) went on to start his own company. Now most of them are “designed in” Waterloo, but made in China (as are most bike frames).
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I knew you would have info on it. I can’t expect you to know when they stopped making them in Waterloo, but if you know… My kids were kindergarten age or so when I got my bike and older son is now almost 40.
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Production shifted to Asia gradually. I would have thought that 35 years ago was long enough that they were still made here, but the “Designed in” sticker leads me to doubt that. Sometimes there is another sticker (which may be hidden on the bottom of the bottom bracket) that says “Made in…” and that would be the definitive one.
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Ah! Will look for it.
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Wandering along paths with cousins. Such a happy time! I try not to visit those old places now because I want to keep them as they were. ❤
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I hear you, Susan ❤
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This is so lovely! I love to write about my grandparents, but it is sad because those days are gone.
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Luanne thank you very much, and yes 😦
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It appears that your grandparents’ home evoked a sense of nostalgia and held a significant role in shaping your childhood experiences. Situated in a tranquil setting with a close community and a scenic vista of the marsh and cemetery, the place held a unique charm. I particularly admire the beautifully crafted haiku, which captures the delicate balance of emotions as time moves on while the memories of that cherished home and the profound impact of loved ones remain eternally imprinted in your heart. 👍👏👌😊
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Are you an AI bot?
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You have the autonomy to make your own judgment and provide me with the reasoning behind your conclusion. 😊
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Sadly, I have no recollection of any grandparents (only one lived long enough to see my 3rd birthday), so I’m very happy that you shared this. Merci beaucoup!
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Ron, am so sorry you missed out on the grandparent experience. I am not sure I would have survived without my grandparents. You are welcome.
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Three lanes may be symbolic of yesterday today and tomorrow.
Lovely how you shared your memories and the exclusions gives it a sense of laying claim.
Much💖love
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Gillena, didn’t look at the 3 lanes that way. Thank you for sharing your view of it, as it does present exactly that. Thank you very much ❤
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perfect!
so touching and vivid, Lisa….
❤
David
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Thanks, David!
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I can imagine if my grandparents lived in cottages by a marsh. A lovely commemoration of your time with them, Lisa!
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Frank, thank you 🙂
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Lovely memories. Grandparents have a special place in our hearts. (K)
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Kerfe, the experiencing of them and then looking back in appreciation for them is a poignant dichotomy for me. I don’t think I ever appreciated them at the time. It was just life.
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I feel the same way. After my grandmother died, I really felt her presence inside the absence in a way I never noticed as a child.
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The headstones on the end. It’s heart-wrenching that it is what remains, but of course, there are all of your beautiful memories as well. I enjoyed this post very much, Lisa. Thanks for sharing these memories.
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K, thank you very much. So many of my relatives are buried in that cemetery and they also have bundles of memories about that little acre of land ❤
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Reminds me of an English garden Lisa. So pretty. It is probably where you got your love of flowers and gardens from ☺️💕
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Christine I think you’re right. My grandparents had this big front lawn and flower beds along the wall and the side of the house. This big lawn with towering oaks set down in a little spot of wildness was like a piece of heaven.
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Oh I can visualize it Lisa. My grandma’s house was the same and my mother would tend it for her and that was where she grew her beautiful roses. ☺️💕
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Great memories, Lisa. Nature always reclaims itself. Love the song as well.
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Thank you very much. I love the homey atmosphere of John Denver music, so it felt right to use it with this poem.
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That is one of my favorites although I love most of his songs.
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Wonderful memories Lisa. Sounds like it was an adventure. 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼
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Rob, it truly was!
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beautiful memories Li!
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❤
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Memories stick on more when those who matter are now long gone. It is such a beautiful scenario when the closeness of cousins is included in the equation. Wonderful narrative Lisa!
Hank
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Hank, I’m sure you’re right. Thank you very much.
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Nice memories, Lisa. Grandparents can be so special!
I was fortunate three of my grandparents lived long lives and that I could spend a lot of time with them. They all lived in Heidelberg. For many years while growing up I spent every school vacation in Heidelberg with my grandma from my mom’s side. I guess my parents wanted to get a break from me! 🙂
The above grandma always pampered me, even when she was really old and you’d tell her ‘don’t cook anything or bake a cake’ – she never listened! 🙂
Her husband who I understand was pretty authoritarian is the only grandparent I never met. He passed away from a stroke while I was still a baby. I know it sounds harsh I probably didn’t miss too much!
When I stood with my grandma, my other grandpa (from my dad’s side) frequently visited to take me for hikes (he loved going on long hikes!) or to the public swimming pool. He taught me how to swim.
Or to his apartment where among others he had a grand piano. He never minded when I was fooling around with it. In fact, he used to be a music teacher and actually loved my curiosity.
And guess who was excited when he heard I was interested in learning classical guitar? He financed my first guitar and various other guitars. Finally, he had found somebody in the family who was interested in learning an instrument – unlike his own son who tried flute, the violin and piano, but nothing came out of it.
My dad just wasn’t interested in learning an instrument and finally his parents accepted it and gave up. His mom was a piano teacher, so there was lots music in that family.
Sorry for the rambling comment!
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Christian, no wonder you grew up to be such a decent person having grandparents who made you feel loved and nurtured you. It makes a big difference. You were blessed. I appreciate getting to know more about you. Never apologize for sharing who you are ❤
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Lovely childhood memories.
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Sadje, thank you very much.
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You’re most welcome Li
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Headstones Remember….great closing….I liked the atmosphere of it.
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Thank you, Max. Just like I revere trees, I revere stones. Both are keepers of memories.
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It sounds almost magical!
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It was!
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I love the haiku Lisa! How inclusive it is of the story’s details and blends the past, present and future.
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Happy you like it, Chris. Gillena mentioned the possible symbolism of the three roads and I’m sure she and you are right.
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Precious memories of grandparents Lisa, ❤️ (my grandad featured in mine)
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Thank you, AJ 🙂
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This is a story, a snap shot that I wanted to keep reading. It has elements that resonate with my own childhood, and on top of that the graphic was evocative too.
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Paul, thank you for your wonderful comment. I’m glad parts of it resonated with your own childhood.
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Most welcome Lisa, enjoyed it.
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