My dad is from Lincoln County, WV and before that the Longs lived in Johnson County, KY. We left Virginia for KY during the Civil War. I do genealogy and I love to read your stories and imagine my ancestors using the same plants and having wonderful adventures like you describe. What a treasure it is that you have these experiences and memories and we are truly blessed that you share them with us.

You do remember, don't you, that Johnson County is very near Letcher County where I grew up. Paintsville is the main little town there and it is very similar to my home area. Most of our ancestors had to have the same knowledge of plants in order to survive and I suppose the little ones enjoyed learning just as I did. I was lucky in that my older relatives usually made the learning fun.

Thank you, Mellie. It's always good to hear from you.

I have been in the great town of Paintsville. In fact, they're hosting the Eastern KY Genealogy Conference this year. It rotates; last year it was in Louisa. My 3rd great-grandpa, Joel Long, fell ill one winter during the Civil War and went to the home of his father-in-law, Cornelius Vanover, who was an herb doctor. I imagine he used a lot of the same plants you talk about. I only wish I knew the kind of stories you do. Those are the kinds of memories and experiences that are truly priceless.

I guess you have to have lived the stories as I did before you can remember them. My real problem is that I don't remember if it was Aunt Bett or my Granny Ninna who was the major character sometimes. They were a lot alike in how they taught me, so I guess it really doesn't matter. Plus they both used plants for medicines and both were good friends and lived close together. Ninna was a softer version of Aunt Bett. Aunt Bett lived on the main road (tiny road) and Ninna lived up in the holler, so more people came to Aunt Bett because her house came first. I mostly got in trouble with Aunt Bett, Ninna put up with a lot more of my antics.

Too it helps that in about the 4th grade, somebody gave me a little diary for my birthday. I started writing everything in it then, including my trips up the mountain with my ladies. I have dozens of those little diaries stored in my attic. I drag one out from time to time when I want to remember them again. Or, when I want to write about something. They are well worn and ragged by now.

I hope you are going to that conference in Paintsville.

I don't know if we're going to make it this year. Mom just had her knee replaced and Dad's been getting tested from head to toe because he's been sick for a while. I was glad we went last year because they did a talk about Jenny Wiley, my 5th great-grandmother, and Kentucky folk hero. This year none of the topics are really tempting me, but I'd like to go anyway.

I do hope you get to go.

As always dear lady you have given us an entertaining as well as educational read. Thank you.

Thank you, Anni, my friend. As I told somebody else earlier, it's so good to write again!

Have missed your stories. 'Always with a lesson! Hope you're compiling them into a book for your grands.

Thanks Sandi!! . . . Working on it.

laughing at the shotgun turning into a cane - Nice save What a great and wonderful story Sharon. Thank you so much!

We are ALL happy to see you writing again

Sharon, there aren't enough words to describe how much I love your stories! If they were compiled into a series of books, I'd certainly buy them! Your stories always make me smile.

That's what I told her, Lin!

And your comments always make me smile, too.
Thank you. It's such a treat when I read encouraging words.

What a great story!!

Thanks, Rita!

It certainly would seem that there was some shenanigans going on with those two aunts. What an ingenious way to get you to remember the cure for fever

Really enjoyed reading this and I too am glad you are writing again, Sharon!

Thanks Vickie!! Yep, the fingers are fairly flying again over the keyboard. It's a good feeling.

As for the teaching they did, well, it worked better than any classroom lessons. And Aunt Cory wasn't really a relative, but calling an older acquaintance 'Aunt' or 'Uncle' was allowed because it was a term of affection. Good people, they all were, and always there when they were needed. It's a little different now, but I love going back home.