On Grandmas Porch

Stories and "True Facts" about growing up Southern in the good old days. More than a dozen southern authors contribute warm, nostalgic stories and fun trivia about "the era before shopping malls, Disney, and Wal-Mart." Includes the authors' favorite nostalgic recipes.

THIS IS A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG BOY NAME RANDY,WHO GOES TO LIVE WITH HIS GRANDMA ROSE IN THE COUNTRY. RANDY CAME FROM N.Y. CITY. WHERE YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR BACK AT ALL TIMES, AND NOBODY CARES ABOUT EACH OTHER.HIS GRANDMA BECOMES HIS ROLE MODEL AS SHE INTRODUCES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD. IF YOU LIKED THE WARMTH OF SOUL FOOD AND THE WALTONS, YOU’LL LIKE THE WARMTH THAT THIS STORY HAS TO OFFER. It is perfect for all ages. And good for traveling,airplanes, trains bus trips even car trips. you;ll never tire of revisiting this book, over and over again.

In the small southern town of Riversedge are people from different walks of life. None are rich or famous, perhaps rather ordinary, with the exception of Grandma who lives on Turner Street. The old woman is referred to as Grandma only because no one knows her name, not even the postman. She seemingly receives no mail, visitors or even the requirements to live, and it appears she needs nothing. She has no desire to talk to anyone and most people don't bother to talk to her. So why did she choose to live the life of a recluse? What is her secret? When Sally and Tom Lester move to Riversedge the mystery of Turner Street becomes more apparent. Sally struggles to befriend Grandma. This involves Grandma's front porch and her neighbors which causes suspense to increase. Slowly, as the mystery unravels we learn the unthinkable not only about Grandma but also her neighborhood and some of the residents.

Award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction Jewell Parker Rhodes is a master of her craft, under-standing how both real and imagined stories can serve as a pathway to enlightenment. Porch Stories is Rhodes's tribute to her beloved grandmother, a real account of the love she received and the lessons she learned. Jewell Parker Rhodes was left in the care of her father and his mother when her own mother abandoned the family. Grandmother Ernestine's house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was home to four other grandchildren as well. And while its crumbling bricks, lack of air-conditioning, and neighborhood rodents meant that life was anything but easy, the family house was filled with love. Everyone on their street knew and loved Grandmother Ernestine; men would tip their hats and children would rush up for a hug any time she was outside. No one loved Grandmother Ernestine more than Jewell, who would pass up a movie with her cousins to sit outside on Ernestine's front stoop and listen to her stories and her words of comfort. Jewell would later move out West to live with her mother and father as they reattempted marriage. But that was a short-lived experience. Before long, she was back in the loving arms of her grandmother, whose wisdom and warmth gave all of her children the tools to overcome the ordinary and extraordinary challenges life brings. Porch Stories, described by Rhodes as "an intergenerational love song," is a loving tribute that is at once candid, courageous, and reverent -- a literary portrait of family love that readers from all walks of life can see in themselves.

"These stories of long ago, written by a grandma who loved children, will delight and teach. Joy, sorrow, selfishness and rewards for obedience are the same now as then, yet the old-time setting makes these stories impressive" -- Publisher's description.

Tilly and her grandma enjoy sitting on the porch, having a few snacks, and reading some great library books. A lot of simple things happen to Tilly and her grandma in the course of an ordinary day. The book allows readers to draw their own pictures for each page of the book. Tilly is book one in this series. Imagination, crayons, markers, a few nice snacks, and a grandma or two will be welcome additions to the simple joys of a nice summer day. And of course, it's always great to have someone to draw, color, and read with.

Grandma invited me to spend two weeks with her each summer. They were special times in the late 1940's and early 1950's before life got too complicated. This memoir was inspired by a writing contest sponsored by Reminsce magazine. It's the second time I revisited the Grandma theme, perhaps instigated by the births of my own grandbabies during the last three years. Originally, I wrote a piece called Coxsackie Oak, found as part of my full-length memoir named Bless You Bouquets, published in 2013. Enjoy the read, and reflect on times spent with your loved ones. Hopefully, it will remind you of times you'd like to write about as well.