Doctor's Pocket

I do not remember going to the Doctors at all when I was a child.... well not because of sickness anyway. Yes, I had my turn with childhood illnesses.... but for the most part I was incredibly healthy. I believe that we all were.... but I am the youngest so my memory of the other's childhood is practically none.
This was because Dad and Mom believed that putting healthy food on the table was the best way to keep their children healthy. When I was young I do not remember eating anything that we had not grown... except for grains. All of the fruits, vegetables came from the garden, the milk and butter from the cows, the eggs from the hens, and the meat came from cows, pigs, and chickens.
Although I do not remember weeding the garden, I do remember canning all of the harvest. Mom would can for hours and hours all through August, September and into October. I remember sitting outside under the tree shucking corn, and snapping beans. I remember pushing tomatoes through the collanders to seperate the juice out till my arms hurt. Corn, Beans, Beets, Bread & Butter Pickles, Pears, Peaches, Apricots, Apricot Jam, Tomato Juice and Chilli Sauce were some of the things I remember her canning.
I remember going to the barn in the evening and sitting by Dad while he was milking the cow. I remember having to take the slop to feed the pigs and getting up very early in the morning to gather the eggs laid by the hens.
I remember mom baking on Saturday. She would bake 12 dozen cookies and I don't know how may loaves of bread. With 7 children 12 dozen cookies did not last long at our house.
We also had a root cellar where, along with the bottles of fruits and vegetables, Dad kept Potatoes, carrots and onions buried in dirt.
I beleieve that their hard work has been my reward of a healthy body. I still do not get sick very often.