As I mentioned before, I knew Grandma McClain only late in her life. and by that time she was in physically poor condition. I don’t know why, but I guess I never would have pictured her as an “animal person.” Perhaps my siblings and cousins who knew her as a somewhat younger woman will have a different perspective. In any case, these photos from Mom’s album seem to show a woman who enjoyed animals. Both of these photos were taken on the Tallman farm, of course, but I can’t even guess at a year. Likely in the mid-1920s.

Mom’s caption for the above photo, written years and probably decades after, is “Mom and her Chickens.” I thought it was revealing that Mom wrote “her chickens,” not just “the chickens.” It suggests that the chickens were not just part of the farm, but were specifically Grandma’s. She seems to be watching them with interest in this photo.

Mom’s caption on the above photo is “Mom & Penny.” To me, at least, this looks like a pretty affectionate relationship between Grandma and the dog.

So there you go. A couple of photos and a new perspective on Grandma!