I really debated about whether to embed this on my blog because it’s truly personal. On my mom’s birthday last weekend, she showed up with a DVD of some footage recorded when I was four years old. It’s the only Super 8 film they had although my dad won a camera.
I asked Bear, my director and ultimate video technician, if we could import it into my Mac. She said to search Google. So, we did. We found a nifty open-source program called Handbrake which made it possible to rip the information off of the DVD and onto our computer. Bear did some editing–she wants to be a director one day–and suddenly, the 8 mm film was sharper and in better condition than before. I downloaded a clip of projector sound just like you would have heard back then from Freesound.org, and with a bit of tinkering, we have a short movie. By today’s standards, the quality is terrible, but it was 1966.
Why am I showing it to you? Because of the subject matter. I’m four. My mom is pregnant with my sister. We are at Grandma Nita and Grandpa Art’s.
I think it shows if you do raise up a child in the way she should go, she will come back to it one day. So don’t worry when your kids don’t seem to love gardening, chickens or anything other than the screens in front of them. Just keep trying to get them outside.
Many thanks to my mom, my dad, my grandparents and Bear.
I loved this! Came home this fall with a box of 8mm film and haven’t had time to figure out what to do with it. You’ve motivated me.
I just love your movie…it’s a classic for sure…reminds me of my childhood even though I am about 10 yrs older….and you are so right about raising up a child in the way they should go……wish more of us parents did this…
Mona
Love this, Dee!
Can you believe it?
What a wonderful find.
That is a poignant piece of your personal history and it’s beautiful! It has an almost dreamlike quality to it. I like that you can hear the super 8 sound. It blows me away because I just created an About Me page for my new blog and I touched on exactly this topic – the things that you carry into adulthood from your childhood. It’s nice to see what other children have brought forth on their journey into adulthood. Happy gardening!
This is priceless, Dee! Somewhere we have some old 8mm movies, but I’m afraid they might be lost. Kudos to Bear for doing such a great job in editing and helping you transfer this. Looks like you were a very busy little girl!
Wonderful. Almost all there. Was waiting for the spade and fork to come out too. Wish I had comparable footage!
That was absolutely incredible! I loved it! Did you notice the water dipper hanging by the back door? My great grandmother “Granny” had one hanging by her back door. Thanks for sharing.
How precious you are and what a treasure to have that footage. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Awesome! What a find. Thank you for sharing.
Dee-
This is priceless! A camera and chickens! How wonderful. What a treasure to find it. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Dana N.
Such a special film to share with us…I had those same glasses..I think they only made one kind back then for kids…love the skipping dance!!
Dear Dee, This is a very special posting! I am so glad you decided to share the video. You made my day. P. x
Dee, what a wonderful, sweet video. Too cute all the way around. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I love this! I love that you seem to try to make sure that EVERY chicken is getting some seed, you shoo away some of them to make sure! I love the big girl way that you use that camera and then carry it around your neck! I love that you have that book (or coloring book?) and go to one part of the yard, and then change your mind and go closer to the adults. But most of all, I love seeing you as a four year old! What a thing to treasure and I thank you for sharing it! (Notice the lady’s foot with the flip-flop behind you, who was that? Perfectly in style even today!)
That is so cute! What a treasure.
You are such a Sweetie. I don’t think you have changed much Dee. How wonderful to have that bit of film of your life. I love Grandmaw’s dress.
Thanks Lisa. I don’t think I’ve changed much either, which is a bit scary actually. I bet Grandma Nita dressed up because my dad said he was going to film her.
Incredible… absolutely incredible. Your little four year old self was a mini version of who you are and what you love today. I was particularly moved by the scene when you’ve got the camera. I was about four years old when my mom let me start taking pictures with an old Kodak brownie she didn’t care about anymore. Amazing how those things plant seeds, isn’t it?
Thanks Cindy. I loved the part with the camera too. I bet it was just empty, but I always did love to take photos.
Oh Dee, this is so precious. So it’s true, you are a natural red head! I know you feel very fortunate to have this. Thanks for sharing. H.
Well, reddish anyway. 🙂
That is the sweetest thing. And so you! Chickens, outdoors, camera. Can you still hop and helicopter your arms like that? Love it. Thank you for sharing, cause I have a big smile on my face now.
Robin, I had to think about it a minute. I’m certainly not as bouncy as I was at four, but yes, I can still play “horsey” with the best of them. Just don’t ask me to turn a cartwheel.
What a priceless treasure, dear Dee! I too noticed the similar hairdo, and how dadburned cute you were, same as now. That is a darling gallop you were doing at the beginning.
Hey Frances, it kind of startled me that my hair is nearly the same. Thanks so much.
What a wonderful share Dee <|;-)
Thank you Annie.
It occurs to me you have a very similar hairdo in that movie to the one you have today, too. What great memories to have preserved!
Yes, I guess it is similar. I haven’t changed much. 🙂
That bit of film is a treasure. I remember helping my grandmother and cousins feed the chickens on the family farm – but I was a little older. No photographic record remains.
Thank you Pat. I think that was all part of a child’s life with their grandparents because so many people tell me they have similar memories. You can’t tell from the video, but those are backyard chickens something most people had back then.
Oh, honey-bunny, I feel teary. How loving and magnificent all around. Bear…aren’t young people today Amazing?! And so were you. All the things you love…chickens (and it occurs to me that your grandparent’s chickens were ‘backyard’), cameras, outdoors, books, color. You were well cared for, too. Thank you for sharing little Dee. Love you.
Hey Rosebud, you know me better and longer than anyone. Yes, Bear was great help making the video, and yes, those are backyard chickens. People had those all the time back then. Thanks for watching it.
Dee, what a treasure that is! It’s so special to see the little girl who became the woman I know!
Thanks Cindy. I was awfully busy in that video. My poor mom. :))