Trudging to the barn on cold winter mornings to feed the cattle and hogs, rain, snow and wind chilling to the bone.
Lugging water from the spring to the field for the men, a never ending job.
Learning how to work the garden. The smell of fresh tomatoes, peppers and how they tasted fresh from the garden.
When I said the word “allowance” my parents gave me a calf and bought the milk replacer.
Bottle feeding my calf and selling it.
Paying my dad for the calf and reimbursing him for the milk replacer and using what was left to buy two more calves.
Using our ageing team of horses to harrow the plowed and disced fields.
Minding not to let the horses get too hot.
Walking up and down a snow covered hill to pack the snow for a faster sleigh ride.
Building a fire at the top of the hill to warm ourselves during our nighttime sleigh rides.
Halloween hay rides.
Curled up in the hay with the prettiest girl there to “ward off the cold”. Not fooling anyone.
Being held accountable by any and every adult in sight.
Being given the key to the Deputy Sheriff’s pasture to have a place to gather and drink beer. He knew we would be safe there and not getting in trouble. Cleaning up before we left.
Hand cranking the ice cream maker to make homemade banana ice cream.
Damn, now I’m homesick for the good old days.
That’s almost a poem.