We're two sisters who are craft book publishers and found ourselves in the midst of an avocado grove. We bought this house where we planned to conduct our publishing business and in the deal got 4 acres of avocado trees thrown in. Now we're not only publishers but ranchers as well! This blog is all about avocados and anything else that strikes my fancy.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Sepia Saturday #165 The More the Merrier
This is our latest prompt photo for Sepia Saturday. Wow, what a tiny little family this is. Mother, Father and only one child. It made me think of some photos in our archives, of families with a few more members.
Now this is what I'd call a normal size family. Mother, Father and 5 children. How perfect.
This family was probably trying for a dozen, but only got 10. What a tired mother and father. And the children don't look too happy either. Except for the boy second row, left. I'll bet he went on to lots of success. Although, it's been scientifically proven that the oldest child in a family usually has the highest IQ. The oldest boy has a suit on and looks like he could have a high IQ, but his happy brother looks a lot more self assured.
This family believes in "cheaper by the dozen". And I think having this many children killed off the mother. She's not anywhere in sight. And the father looks as if he's reaching for his gun and saying, "I'm coming Elizabeth!"
Polls have been done asking people how many children they'd like to have. The average seems to be 2.5. Don't ask me how you get 1/2 of a child. And an article I read said that the trend currently is for larger families - of say 3 children. Huh? You call that large?
When I see families of the size of the one above, I always wonder how they possibly could feed that many kids. Especially if you don't have much money. It seems as if KFC and Kraft Foods have the answer:
And if they can't afford these super sized items, they might try this, the perfect solution for large families.
No problem. Whether 2.5 or 11 kids, they're not going to go hungry.
Check out other family photos whether big or small here: Sepia Saturday
This was an interesting read. I liked looking at the old pictures of large families. I don't think I'll ever have that many children! Its hard to even think about.
I think you'll find that third group is a dozen children, not shy of a dozen, but no matter. Herer you'll find a whole set of "Tallest to shortest" family photos - great fun.
Hi Brett, Wow, can I not count. Not only did I not count all 12 in the last family photo but I counted only 4 in the first photo when there were 5. Sheesh! I think I need new glasses! I've changed the copy. Thanks for pointing this out.
I'll have to check out the tallest to shortest photos. I didn't realize there were lots more. Nancy
As a childless person, the idea of simple interaction with this many people in a family is overwhelming. I wonder who washed all those clothes and ironed them? Just getting ready for the photo would have killed me. As far as IQ goes, I think you had to be smart to survive in a big family - they probably all did well! I think the boy in this theme picture looks older than his years and has the composure/posture of an older boy..something about his body language. Great take on the theme!
I think the older boy went on to become a serial killer. He might have had a high IQ, but he sure has a sinister look. Not sweet like his smiling brother. Nancy
Ummmm...."it's been scientifically proven that the oldest child in a family usually has the highest IQ......".I would tell my older brother about this fact,but I suspect he knows already!
They probably weren't keen on family planning that time. Big families need big domestic organization ideas. I come from a tiny family, just like this week's prompt, just the three of us (I'm an only child).
You are so funny! I was thinking that Mama Elizabeth was taking the picture, not dead, lol. Love how they have them all lined up like stair steps. We had 4 kids in our family, and both my parents came from families of three.
Now, that dumpster diving clip was very interesting. I notice that they do their shopping at night.
Did you notice in the dumpster diving video that they actually found a filet mignon. And all that perfectly good broccoli? I think I might try it sometime. Nancy
A fascinating collection of photographs. These days with small families, it is hard to comprehend how mothers coped with the constant pregnancies and the arduous nature of houswork at the time. How on earth could you feed, wash, clothe and bed such a large family. My own great grandmother had 9 surviving children - one girl amongst all the boys, and they lived in what seemed to be a two up two down terraced hosue.
I can only match such large groups with photos of sports teams. 11 children are much in the news in the UK as their mother living in benefits is have a house built for her to accommodate them all.
What a fun take on this week's theme! It got me to thinking about my mother's family tree where only one or two children were the norm. Thanks for sharing!
My great-grandfather had 11 children, in two marriages, and not all of them lived to adulthood. 36 years between the oldest and the youngest of the half-siblings... Lots of history to sort out!
My great grandparents had 10 children between 1878 and 1900 and they lived to be 60 to 91. Out of these 10 just 8 grandchildren were produced. Only 3 sons married. the other son and the six daughters remained single. It looks as if the family name will die out for this branch of the family
The mother in the family of 10 looks very like my grandmother. She only had six children, however, but my grandfather died when the youngest (my dad) was 12. Their oldest daughter had 12 children. Her husband died in a car crash when the oldest was 17 and the youngest was 20 months old. My aunt had to learn a skill and go to work to feed her children. Tough times. Nice collection of photos.
That second photo raises questions for me; Why is only one of the whole family happy? Who took the photo? Did all but one of the kids dislike the photographer as there are alot of sneers.
my mum was one of 13 children born between 1913 and 1930. Only 10 survived to adulthood though but all of them were very happy. My mum had only me and i had only 1 son too. Strange isnt it
I remember when I first started looking at the family history on my father's side, how suprised I was to see so many families of 10+ children. As I know they were all poor and lived in no more than two rooms then I can only imagine the overcrowding and difficulties they must have experienced. Most of the families lost at least one or two kids before adulthood.
I just learned last night that Stephen Colbert is the youngest of 11 and I immediately thought he got lots of attention in his large family by being the baby and a cut-up. Great photos!
My father's mother came from a family of 10 children, my father and mother had 6, and I had 3. Three was a nice size, although, I remember fun times growing up with my 5 other siblings!!
I have one photo of a family with 17 children. I look at it and wonder how many others didn't survive? How many years did the poor woman spend pregnant? At least close to 13, not including the ones where the children died. I have to admit I find it dreadful and thankful that most women have a choice these days.
My wifes' mother came from a family of 12 but in her case it was six boys and six girls. The picture in your post of the 12 children seems to be all girls. The need to have so many children so that you could guarantee a few would survive seems to have passed now in the Western World, thank goodness for that.
I always smile at photos in size order and that one of yours is a peach, looks as though they accentuated it by standing on a slope. My grandmother was one of 12 and she went on to have 6 of her own.
Being an only child, I always wondered what it would have been like to have siblings. I wonder what impact this could have had on my life in general... That video about dumpster diving? So not something I would likely do, but I do understand the principles behind it. Kudos to those who dare do this, but lucky as I am, it'd be likely I'd still be in the container when the truck comes to pick it up... :D~ HUGZ
Wonderful family pictures and so well commented. Imagine the school bills, college and university, big house, food, cloth, holidays, a car to stuff in 10 kids; perhaps 2 1/2 is more affordable, the half is probably the new age kid, needs half only of everything. I enjoyed your post.
This was an interesting read. I liked looking at the old pictures of large families. I don't think I'll ever have that many children! Its hard to even think about.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. Way too many kids. I only had one and I can't imagine having more than that.
DeleteNancy
I think you'll find that third group is a dozen children, not shy of a dozen, but no matter. Herer you'll find a whole set of "Tallest to shortest" family photos - great fun.
ReplyDeleteHi Brett,
DeleteWow, can I not count. Not only did I not count all 12 in the last family photo but I counted only 4 in the first photo when there were 5. Sheesh! I think I need new glasses! I've changed the copy. Thanks for pointing this out.
I'll have to check out the tallest to shortest photos. I didn't realize there were lots more.
Nancy
As a childless person, the idea of simple interaction with this many people in a family is overwhelming. I wonder who washed all those clothes and ironed them? Just getting ready for the photo would have killed me. As far as IQ goes, I think you had to be smart to survive in a big family - they probably all did well! I think the boy in this theme picture looks older than his years and has the composure/posture of an older boy..something about his body language. Great take on the theme!
ReplyDeleteI think the older boy went on to become a serial killer. He might have had a high IQ, but he sure has a sinister look. Not sweet like his smiling brother.
DeleteNancy
Maybe the missing mum's the one taking the photo of her large family.
ReplyDeleteLike how you went from large families to feeding large families.
Ummmm...."it's been scientifically proven that the oldest child in a family usually has the highest IQ......".I would tell my older brother about this fact,but I suspect he knows already!
ReplyDeleteThey probably weren't keen on family planning that time. Big families need big domestic organization ideas. I come from a tiny family, just like this week's prompt, just the three of us (I'm an only child).
ReplyDeleteFive children seems like a lot to me, but it is more "normal" compared to the bigger families.
ReplyDeleteold and new - cool mix :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! I was thinking that Mama Elizabeth was taking the picture, not dead, lol. Love how they have them all lined up like stair steps. We had 4 kids in our family, and both my parents came from families of three.
ReplyDeleteNow, that dumpster diving clip was very interesting. I notice that they do their shopping at night.
Great post,
Kathy M.
Did you notice in the dumpster diving video that they actually found a filet mignon. And all that perfectly good broccoli? I think I might try it sometime.
DeleteNancy
A fascinating collection of photographs. These days with small families, it is hard to comprehend how mothers coped with the constant pregnancies and the arduous nature of houswork at the time. How on earth could you feed, wash, clothe and bed such a large family. My own great grandmother had 9 surviving children - one girl amongst all the boys, and they lived in what seemed to be a two up two down terraced hosue.
ReplyDeleteI can only match such large groups with photos of sports teams. 11 children are much in the news in the UK as their mother living in benefits is have a house built for her to accommodate them all.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun take on this week's theme! It got me to thinking about my mother's family tree where only one or two children were the norm. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteA college friend came from a HUGE Catholic family. When her mother was pregnant yet again, they discussed naming the baby "Etcetera."
ReplyDeleteMy great-grandfather had 11 children, in two marriages, and not all of them lived to adulthood. 36 years between the oldest and the youngest of the half-siblings... Lots of history to sort out!
ReplyDeleteMy great grandparents had 10 children between 1878 and 1900 and they lived to be 60 to 91. Out of these 10 just 8 grandchildren were produced. Only 3 sons married. the other son and the six daughters remained single. It looks as if the family name will die out for this branch of the family
ReplyDeleteThe mother in the family of 10 looks very like my grandmother. She only had six children, however, but my grandfather died when the youngest (my dad) was 12. Their oldest daughter had 12 children. Her husband died in a car crash when the oldest was 17 and the youngest was 20 months old. My aunt had to learn a skill and go to work to feed her children. Tough times. Nice collection of photos.
ReplyDeleteA very easy to read and humorous post. Well Done.
ReplyDeleteThat second photo raises questions for me; Why is only one of the whole family happy? Who took the photo? Did all but one of the kids dislike the photographer as there are alot of sneers.
I liked the family of 12, but pitied the poor parents - 3 boys and 9 girls. Fancy paying for that many weddings!!
ReplyDeletemy mum was one of 13 children born between 1913 and 1930. Only 10 survived to adulthood though but all of them were very happy. My mum had only me and i had only 1 son too.
ReplyDeleteStrange isnt it
Gill x
I remember when I first started looking at the family history on my father's side, how suprised I was to see so many families of 10+ children. As I know they were all poor and lived in no more than two rooms then I can only imagine the overcrowding and difficulties they must have experienced. Most of the families lost at least one or two kids before adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI just learned last night that Stephen Colbert is the youngest of 11 and I immediately thought he got lots of attention in his large family by being the baby and a cut-up. Great photos!
ReplyDeleteA very enjoyable take on the unknowns theme. The size of some of those families though, my goodness! The video clip was fascinating too.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother came from a large (12) family, and my mom is one of five. But generally in the USA families are getting smaller.
ReplyDeleteMy father's mother came from a family of 10 children, my father and mother had 6, and I had 3. Three was a nice size, although, I remember fun times growing up with my 5 other siblings!!
ReplyDeleteGreat Sepia post, nice photos, but that chicken is totally amazing!
ReplyDeleteI have one photo of a family with 17 children. I look at it and wonder how many others didn't survive? How many years did the poor woman spend pregnant? At least close to 13, not including the ones where the children died. I have to admit I find it dreadful and thankful that most women have a choice these days.
ReplyDeleteMy wifes' mother came from a family of 12 but in her case it was six boys and six girls. The picture in your post of the 12 children seems to be all girls. The need to have so many children so that you could guarantee a few would survive seems to have passed now in the Western World, thank goodness for that.
ReplyDeleteI always smile at photos in size order and that one of yours is a peach, looks as though they accentuated it by standing on a slope. My grandmother was one of 12 and she went on to have 6 of her own.
ReplyDeleteBeing an only child, I always wondered what it would have been like to have siblings. I wonder what impact this could have had on my life in general... That video about dumpster diving? So not something I would likely do, but I do understand the principles behind it. Kudos to those who dare do this, but lucky as I am, it'd be likely I'd still be in the container when the truck comes to pick it up...
ReplyDelete:D~
HUGZ
Wonderful family pictures and so well commented. Imagine the school bills, college and university, big house, food, cloth, holidays, a car to stuff in 10 kids; perhaps 2 1/2 is more affordable, the half is probably the new age kid, needs half only of everything. I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDelete