The Rocker on the Porch

The rocker on the north porch was one of my grandfather (Papa) Charlie Ramsey's favorite spots at his cabin home in Cookeville, Tennessee (White County).  When weather was permitting and the work of the day was over, he would sit and view his land, observing the setting of the sun to the west.  This porch was often the gathering spot for the family in the evenings and on Sunday, particularly when the weather was too hot to stay indoors where there was no air conditioning.  Granddaddy kept cards received from loved ones on the wall of the porch where he could see and enjoy them.  Grandmother enjoyed the porch, too, but was usually busy cleaning up after dinner, doing laundry or cleaning in the evenings.  Granddaddy's evening always included time to read the Bible.  As he got older he would occasionally moan a bit as he sat, the pain of arthritis and heart problems gradually wearing him down til his death from this life April 16, 1982.

Charlie made chairs and probably had made the rocking chair on the porch as he did so many other chairs for the family.  He made several small rocking chairs (doll size) for his grandchildren and his daughter, Betty, still has a full size rocker which he made.  The rockers are basic and a bit rough, reflecting little time for the niceties of life with other tasks always demanding attention.  But the rockers, like everything else he did, were made with love and care.

We recently found a video made in 1978 following the birth of their great granddaughter Tabatha (born to Alfred & Tammy Foxworth Fowler (Seibers)).  This video shows granddaddy sitting on his favorite porch - from there he could see the lovely field and pine thicket north of his house and the view over to South Lovelady road, past the Luke farm.  The video shows the brown mobile home owned by their daughter Ruby in that direction and a bit further to the right you can see the lighter mobile home of Rook and Ann Lafever (another daughter).  He could also see off to the east across his property toward the Falling Water River.  You can see the home of Ed & Betty Madden (another daughter) built about 1968 in that direction.

In this video you see the playful nature of Alta Ramsey as she enjoys her new great-grandbaby Tabatha.  Tabatha's young mom, Tammy, is briefly shown though she is camera shy in this video.  Also in the video is Maelena and her dad.  The dogs in the video include a big black Irish Wolfhound mix, Chalk, and a white and black spotted dog cleverly named... Spot.  I don't remember the name of the shepherd in the video.  Seeing this video brings back memories of simpler times with family on the porch.