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@Zeldacroft
@freewritehouse

[Day 810: 5 Minute Freewrite: Wednesday - Prompt: backwoods](https://steempeak.com/hive-161155/@mariannewest/day-810-5-minute-freewrite-wednesday-prompt-backwoods)

Backwoods. By any other name, the images of the word evoke something backwards. Not quite right. 

But growing up in my family's part of the country, backwoods was an everyday reality. You worked with what you had. You adapted. Nothing evokes an image of backwoods as much as country living, in my opinion. The quiet pace of life was evident everywhere. Not busy at all, but slow. Everyone took their time. 

At least that's how it felt to me when returning to visit relatives each month in  Louisiana. Once we moved to Texas, we all looked forward to the trips to the country. Looking back, country life there seemed like another century gone by. I loved everything about it, except some of the insects, animals, and spiders.

My most vivid memories were of summer. All you saw were the most beautiful, tall trees for miles around. We enjoyed runing barefoot. As girls, we weren't allowed to wander too far from the house into the woods. But we still managed to sneak off occasionally to explore. We didn't visit our family, however, during the winter months.

You haven't really lived until you've experienced the country outhouse. It was where you did the "necessary". I always had to have someone accompany me, especially at night. Might get eaten by an animal or something. 
<center>![photo15025922388094cba3c1b80bc.jpeg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/justclickindiva/MVbGRCC2-photo-1502592238809-4cba3c1b80bc.jpeg)
<sup>Image by [Amy Reed](https://unsplash.com/photos/y14YOjamViI) of [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com)</sup></center>
In 1972 while visiting a small community in Texas, I was shocked to discover they didn't have indoor facilities. I forced myself to hold on until we could find the nearest local store.

And seeing your clothes soaked with lye soap in a No. 10 Galvanized Tub with a washboard was nothing unusual. Next, us girls hung the clothes on the clothesline rope with clothespins. Piece of cake. You'll never get a fresher smell than from your clothes blown dry by the outdoor breeze. 
<center>![photo1462092074885d8cc665d9db4.jpeg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/justclickindiva/hh8KL4nl-photo-1462092074885-d8cc665d9db4.jpeg)
<sup>Image by [Dmitry Arslanov](https://unsplash.com/photos/UW5YUJ1OpYE) from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com)</sup></center>

The most exciting item I always wanted to learn about was the wood stove. Only the older kids and grownups were allowed to touch it or put wood inside. The most amazing food came from the oven and on top. You could see the smoke flowing from the stove out through a hole in the roof. And the aromas that eminated from it were incredible. 
<center>![photo15674513095747fe0ed1d4695.jpeg](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/justclickindiva/Y2aTfnVP-photo-1567451309574-7fe0ed1d4695.jpeg)
<sup>Image by [Kevin Butz](https://unsplash.com/photos/sH311bBOrMw) from  [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com)</sup></center>

We didn't realize it then that the surroundings and scenery we were experiencing were gifts to cherish. We knew the difference between country living and city dwelling because we lived in and experienced both worlds.

All that changed the day the highway came to the country, cutting a path through our family's property. Modernization had arrived. 

But with it was gone of what I remembered of the backwoods.

![beltline.png](https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/justclickindiva/XxhdspRd-beltline.png)

Thanks,
@justclickindiva

[//]:#sbi-skip

Happy rest of the week everyone with whatever your endeavors. 
***
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