I was the first grand child and the first girl in the Delk family in 35 years! Grandma had 4 boys and had all ways wanted a girl…
I was destined to love the farm… but no way did I know that…at first.
My Grandpa wore overalls and carried a handkerchief in his pocket along with a pocket watch, during the week. He was a farmer and a fine carpenter! Latter in life he pumped septic tanks for a living. But he was a farmer all ways. A stock man …He raised cows, pigs, sheep, had fine work horses in the day, latter raised Registered Quarter Horses, fox hounds Trigs and Walkers. He raised English Shepherds and latter Australian Shepherds. He would travel to Texas and all over to breed to or purchase the best animals.
On Sunday he wore pants and a cowboy belt buckle on a western belt and a cow boy felt hat.
Grandma would lay his clothes out everyday. He never knew where they were kept. (Though they hung in the same closet forever and occupied the same drawers) He all ways depended on her to lay them out and or tell him where they were. (I smile at this as a tear falls) she combed his hair everyday as well.
He loved to sit under the shade trees in the front yard and visit with anyone that came by. I think he would have talked to a possum if it could talk and wanted to talk to him! 🙂
He loved an auction sale of any kind…But horse auctions were his favorite. (After his passing in 1994 I could not attend a horse auction for 4 years) I tried but my heart was too broke. Law the good times and memories we shared going to horse sales! Grandpa would travel for a good horse sale and knew the stock like the back of his hand! He read and researched and remembered. He knew his horses and their pedigrees! He taught me well, and we shared that love of animals.
I remember a pony that was suppose to be a good cart pony but she was a barn balker. She did not want to leave the barn. Grandpa showed me how to get her over her problem:-) She did fine for me. (He did have a red faced bug eyed fit teaching her and me) he was not mad at me…But boy he had a temper if it was riled but I have to say I never saw him mad but 2 times in my life. Both evolved a pony.
He gave me one whipping that I remember …There was a Fox hound his best male…I was 4 years old… I think…. and I took a ball bat and hit the dog in the head (it would not leave me alone) I knocked the dog out! Grandpa never had to whip me again. (He never hurt me …but he instilled the fear I needed to listen to him)
When I was about eleven years old I remember looking around and thinking “I wonder who I can sass and get by with it?” Well Grandma seemed safe! So I started sassing her. Grandpa took me aside one day and said ” Girl, you can sass anybody you want to but it will not be your Grandma!” He said it and I knew he meant it…I quit it and never sassed Grandma again!
He liked to trade horses anything really. “To make a dollar” as he used to say. He all ways kept his word if he gave it. No contract was ever needed to make him keep his word.
He and Grandma helped me through the years in many ways.
He and I shared our love of dogs and horses and being on the farm. I loved to follow him where ever he went. I remember going to Lentz Saddle Shop below in Richland. I thought we had gone a long way in the pickup truck…The smell of the oiled floors over 100 years old and the oiled harness and leather goods they made was heavenly! They had an old pot belly wood stove and the building had high ceilings. It was an amazing place with big oak trees out front. I can see it all in my minds eye still.
I will save the tales for another day! 🙂
The trips we took, the places, auctions, visits and time we spent together, are all so very, very precious to me. What a blessed time I shared with my Grandpa.
How thankful I am to God for giving me such loving wonderful grandparents.
Vivian Kay Delk
(Astor J Delk and Lyde Nance Delk’s first Grandchild)
