Maybe you were one of those kids who got shipped off to summer camp for a couple of weeks each year. Lucky you!
Or maybe you were one of those kids who got shipped off to Grandma and Grandpa’s house instead. Well, this one’s for you.
Grandma & Grandpa Lived “Off the Grid” Before That Was a Thing
Clothes Drier Outside
Spending time at your grandparents’ place was always a bit of an adventure. In some ways, there were more rules. In others, there were fewer — or at least different — rules. Either way, their backyard was your version of summer camp.
READ MORE: Things You’d Find in Your Grandpa’s Garage
Grandma and Grandpa were built differently, and so was their backyard. Whether it was sprawling or just a little back deck, every inch had a purpose. From drying clothes to getting rid of garbage, they were living off the grid before it was a trend — because back in their day, they had to.
Your Grandparents’ Backyard Was Built for Adventure — and Chores
When this bowl came out, you had a job to do. (Getty Images)
There’s a good chance your grandparents had a vegetable garden, and they didn’t need YouTube to grow a solid crop of peas and beans. That knowledge was passed down from the old country, baked right into their bones. And you better believe you were put to work — well, at least picking peas and shelling them (and subsequently eating an unhealthy amount of Grandma’s strawberries).
READ MORE: 15 Things That Scream ‘Grandma’s House’
The décor? Always simple — and rusty. So much rust. There just wasn’t as much plastic back then. From tables to lawn chairs, slides to clawfoot bathtubs-turned-planters, it wasn’t summer unless you risked a mild case of tetanus.
Things You’d See in Your Grandma and Grandpa’s Backyard
From woven lawn chairs to squeaky clotheslines, this photo gallery will take you back to a time of simple adventures, small chores, and sweet summer memories of Grandma and Grandpa’s backyard.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Summer Vacation in the ’70s and ’80s: These Nostalgic Photos Say It All
Take a trip back to summer in the ’70s and ’80s — when Ring Pops ruled, bikes meant freedom, and Press Your Luck kicked off the day. These photos hit all the nostalgic notes.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
