When my sisters and I were young, our mother used to read us a Wonder Book called "The Make Believe Parade," written by Jan Margo and illustrated by Eloise Wilkin.
It was a very simple story about children dressed up as a policeman, a fireman, a teacher, a nurse and so on, all marching off to school in the rain. They said "hay foot, straw foot" — meaning left, right — to keep in step. To this day, when it rains I always think "hay foot, straw foot" and picture those kids in their costumes and rubber boots. It amazes me to think that I still remember that phrase and story so many years later.
It rained 1.36" last night giving us a total of 2.07 inches of rain so far this week. Last week's total was 5.03 inches. Very "hay foot, straw foot weather." Mark said he would rather be having a little too much rain than drought. He's right but I haven't been able to do much in the garden but weed and deadhead as the ground keeps being so wet. On the other hand it is certainly looking lush!
Alas, I don't still have a copy of the book. I found these images on the Web.
What a nice memory from your childhood and you still have the book! Mark is right, rain is preferable to drought and things do look lush but it's frustrating not to be able to play in the garden as much as one would like. Time for a make-believe parade!
Posted by: Peter/Outlaw | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 10:08 AM
Alas, I don't still have the book. I found these copies on the Web. Should have indicated that in my post which I will now do.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 10:18 AM
I don't remember seeing this book. I don't remember any book from my childhood. I do remember people reading to me but it was usually the funnies in the newspaper. At least that is what I remember.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 12:18 PM
P.S. It has been raining for quite a while today. We have an inch. Thankfully. I could almost hear my garden gasp.
Posted by: Lisa at Greenbow | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 12:19 PM
Oh my goodness, this took me right back to childhood - not because I remember this story. It's a new one to me. But there was a story about mittens that could be eaten. I found it - Granny Glittens and Her Amazing Mittens from "The Tall Book of Christmas". That whole book was a favorite. Here's a link to the story
http://suzannemcdermott.blogspot.com/p/granny-glittens-and-her-amazing-mittens.html I'm glad I live on a slope because we've had 6" of rain since yesterday morning. It's very lush out there!
Posted by: Barbara H. | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 07:16 PM
Amazon has your book with a used copy starting at $4.90 plus $3.99 shipping. https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B009ZMK3GA/ref=tmm_pap_used_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=used&qid=&sr=
Posted by: Barbara H. | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 07:18 PM
Six inches, yikes! That is scary. These books sure bring back long ago memories. Thanks for the links.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 08:01 PM
I cannot imagine that much rain in a summer month. And I don't think I would be so happy (unless of course I was traveling)... summer is our payback for a miserable winter.
Posted by: Loree / danger garden | Friday, June 23, 2017 at 09:39 PM
Sorry about the rain. I have no recollection of this little book but the illustrations are very familiar. I know this sounds weird but even as a child I was very interested in books and illustration. I believe that some of these figures are reproduced on the inside covers of Golden Books. Perhaps I'm mistaken but that is where I recall seeing them! My recollection is that the interiors were a beige and brown. I don't know -- maybe I'm delusional. I am going to see if I can google this.
Posted by: Susan Adler Sobol | Saturday, June 24, 2017 at 08:15 AM
I remember reading a Little Golden Book to the kids called The Two Little Gardeners. Though a few of these books I was not so fond of, probably because I had to read them so many times.
Posted by: Jason | Sunday, June 25, 2017 at 09:29 PM
What a nice memory!
We've been getting Goldilocks rain this summer, not too much, not too little, just right :)
Posted by: Frank | Sunday, June 25, 2017 at 11:52 PM
We can have some pretty miserable winters too, but no rain in summer here would mean drought as that's when we get rain. Though we are definitely above normal.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 26, 2017 at 07:55 AM
I don't remember all that many books from childhood but two favorites were actually reprinted for Boomers, either to buy for the memories or get for the grandkids, I guess. I remember reading a book about a fashion doll on the frontier that I've never been able to find the name of again. I think I got seriously interested in kid lit when I taught elementary art and was friends with the school librarian.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Monday, June 26, 2017 at 07:58 AM