Supper

L. Lange Wood Stoves

There is nothing quite like the smell of food cooking in an old fashioned wood stove oven.  It just brings back memories  of those times when Tussy would be hoping by some chance a crumb would come his way.

I can still see the wood stove piping hot,  the side table full of plates waiting to be piled high with good food,  the  fridge, the cabinet filled with dishes, and the table that held the water buckets.  I can even see cows soaking up the last of the setting sun over the pasture.  Oh, and I can see Daddy coming up that dusty pathway tired but managing a smile.  I can hear him asking, “What’s for supper Joe?”  And Momma standing at that stove putting the final touches on supper.  The smell of sweet potatoes baking Navy bean soup boiling, biscuits baking and pork chops frying made the perfect supper at the end of the day on the farm.

Pound Cake Baking

 

There is something about a pound cake baking that just soothes my senses.  It brings back memories of days gone by.  I remember making my entrance into the chicken house and informing the hens that I did not want to hear a lot of clucking—just rise up and let go of the eggs.  In the refrigerator waiting on me was the chilled cows milk from the night before—bless those cows.  In the pantry was the best vanilla beans that could have been grown in that rich Virginia soil.  And, was I ever so grateful and amazed at how skillful the local mill had ground our wheat into this wonderful powdery substance known as flour.  I hummed as I rolled and vigorously shook a jar of milk on my knees in anticipation of the appearance of a smooth yellow substance called butter.  All I needed to do was to squeeze the lemons from the lemon tree and mix all of the ingredients together.  Let the baking begin!

 

 

 

Ironing Day

 

One of the most important days on the farm was ironing day.   Sunbeam and the wooden ironing board were taken out of the closet and placed in the center of the long hallway.  The clothes were separated by colors and texture.  Cottons were carefully dipped in a home made starch recipe that had been passed down from generation to generation.  After this delicate procedure they were then hung outside to air dry.  The next step was to ever so carefully sprinkle the dry starched clothes with freshly pumped well water, put them in a pillow case and place them in the refrigerator.  The coolness of the refrigerator and the water assured a steam pressed appearance and bragging rights that you were the best at ironing clothes in the entire village.

 

Winter

The beautiful blanket of snow that covered the farm was often knee deep and the frozen ponds glistened in the sunlight and caused awe in the moonlight.    As  beautiful as this  white blanket made the meadows and hills on the farm appear, winter on the farm was very harsh.

The animals could not forge for themselves during this blustery time so they required us to provide precious survival care for them.  Extra corn, hay , soybean and wheat had been stored up for such times.  Covered shelter for the hogs, the cows and other farm animals  had been constructed right after harvest.  They had even been stuffed with old blankets.  Early in the morning and late in the evening it was a ritual to feed and water the farm animals who seemed to so much appreciate the extra care.  Even an occasional barn fire was necessary to keep the animals warm.  Their appreciation was shown by a nudge here and a head bump there  or even a friendly moo.  Sookie, Mookie, Bubba and Guernsey were some blessed animals and always knew to stay in their shelters.  Even bow legs seemed to appreciate  his extra shelter on the front porch during these times.

 

Fifth Sunday

Fifth Sunday had come around again.  Fifth Sunday was so special because it was a time to see friends that I had not seen in three months.  It was not only a time to catch up and I always had a special little gift for my best friends.  It was not much, a button from my button collection, a dried flower, a bright colored ribbon, or a beautiful golden delicious apple.  I could not wait until breakfast was over so that I could get dressed and be on my way.

My friends would be waiting  outside the church and we would squeal with joy of seeing each other again.  After our gifts were exchanged we quietly entered the church for a long day of learning activities.  We got to go from class to class and then there was the excitement of being assigned to committees.  Mr. John’s always nominated me to the finance committee as the secretary.  We worked well together and my finance report was always outstanding.  I really loved these times. 

At  the end of the day I would return home happy for the fellowship with friends, full of knowledge, homemade cakes, pies, pepper chicken and good ole Virginia ham.

 

Have You Ever?

Stood under a huge apple tree loaded with golden delicious apples

Chased a butterfly through the grass with no shoes on

Watched tadpoles swim by while sitting by a brook

Been nudged by a deer in the forest

Eaten grapes straight from the vine

Held a newborn puppy

Tumbled down a grassy hill

Experienced the smell of fresh sheets hanging on a line in the summer sun

Watched a falling star land in a meadow

Shared a rocking chair on the porch with a bow legged rooster

Sat by a fire in the fireplace on a snowy day

Made snow cream when snow was safe to eat

And

Have You Ever

Been to a super bowl victory parade

The Tough Rows I Have Hoed

When I think about those hot July days on the farm, my mind goes immediately to those row after row of peanuts.  There was no such thing as weed killer.  My hands and the hoe I used to chop up the weeds were the weed killer.  One particular weed known as nut grass would just entwine itself against the peanut plant seedlings.  It was so difficult to remove this weed without distributing the delicate peanuts seedlings hanging on the bottom of the plant.  Nut grass also had little seedlings that resembled peanuts. With this in mind I quickly developed the hand and eye coordination of a skilled surgeon.  And, at harvest time I had bragging rights.

 

 

Hold Your Head Still

No matter what else was going on the farm, Friday was the official day for royal crown, blue magic and hold  your head still.  I can still hear my mother saying, “Girl hold your ear and do not move, hold your head still, this straightening comb is hot”.

All I needed to get me through this day was a nickels worth of ginger snaps and a Pepsi.   I would count them out and put them on the table where I could reach them when needed.  It was all mapped out in my head how Momma was going to straighten my long wild hair.  First,  she was going to undue the braid on the left backside of my head.  She was going to grease the scalp with some royal crown, then she was going to apply some blue magic onto my hair.  Mother would then proceed to meticulously use the extremely hot comb to first straighten upward, then downward, then whirl the hair around once, repeat the same process on that side.  When she flipped that piece of hair twice and nodded her head I knew she was finished with that particular piece of hair.  And I would be one ginger snap short.

 

 

 

Third Sunday

On the third Sunday I would get up very early.   My Mother even made me a special breakfast.   The smell of home made sausages, farm fresh eggs, homemade biscuits and those delicious potato home fries with sweet caramelized onions tickled my taste buds.  To top it all off there would be freshly made orange juice.

Of course my clothes had been laid out the night before.  Dressing was a ritual that involved checking and double checking to make sure everything was perfect.   I was even allowed  to wear my Mother’s pearls and even put some of her special perfume behind my ears.  Yes, the third Sunday was indeed a special day for it was on this day that I served as the Sunday School Junior Secretary.

 

Follow Your Dreams

“No matter what you choose to do in life along the  road there be many obstacles”,  my parents always said.   These words of wisdom have been my constant as I travel the road of life.  And to my dismay there have been many valleys and mountains to cross.   I have even encountered  storms and even a few earthquakes.   Along the  road called life there have often been many valley’s,  floods,  famines,  tornoado’s,  eagle experiences,  storms and even a few earthquakes.   So what do you do when these things happen in your life?  Do you give up?  No!  Listen to Your Heart and follow your dreams.