Pages 307-309

 

Across the Years  307-309

     Our garden from the window where we sat eating, was an added pleasure that we enjoyed, not only the sight, but the good we would derive from it.  My young chickens also were beginning to look more like something for the table than the once fluffy balls of feathery fur.  I would let them out in the afternoons when I could watch them, and more than once they have gone down in the canyon along Shirley Creek to  hunt for bus and worms, and in the nick of time had been recued from the jaws of a coyote, stealthily awaiting to make off with one or more.  For we wanted to be the first to eat them.

                That morning, Jim was harrowing, and Jacki8e was left, saddled at the rack, he wasn’t needed on the two section harrow.  I made a batch of fudge, and with it in a sack I went out to where Jackie was, patting his neck and forehead, slipped the riding bridle bit in his mouth, but my worst troubles were getting the top of the bridle over his long ears, one ear at a time had to be bent way down to get it through the top of the bridle.  It was lucky for me he was short, and stubby, this gave me little effort to get in the saddle, so we took off for the bench with the sack of candy in one hand and the bridle rein in the other.  I did not go up the steep road between the two hills as I sometimes did, because I could reach the bench and Jim quicker, instead I went along Shirley Creek on the north side of it to our wet line, here the road was longer with a gradual climb,  Jackie missed the horses and as we approached the top, here he stopped giving one of his brays, shaking the saddle and me and was about to let out with another, when I jerked on the reins, pulling the bit hard up on his tongue tight behind his chin, a pretty severe bit, Jackie didn’t like it very well, but I patted what the saddle didn’t cover of his small shoulders, telling him that wasn’t necessary.  He walked on obediently until we neared the horses, I pulled up on the reins again just to remind him.  Soon , the horses came to a standstill and Jim helped me off.

                 Tying up the reins, Jim said,  “they need to blow a bit.”  Finding a grassy spot, we sat down to enjoy the candy, while the birds whistled and sailed overhead.  A chipmunk came out in an inquisitive manner to see what it was all about, finally a couple of jackrabbits sailed across the newly plowed ground, heading for our neighbor’s green wheat field, across the fence east.  These jackrabbits would sometimes start on one side or corner of a field, devouring an acre or more before the time of harvest.  There was just enough south breeze to make the day pleasant.  I had left some beans baking in the oven so I knew I would soon have to go back, if we were to have dinner by noon.  Then Jim too said, “ If I am to finish what I have planned for the a.m. and since the horses have had their rest I must be going.”  So we then got up, taking a drink of cool water from the jug.  Jim kissed me and helped me into the saddle , calling back, “Follow me around a time or two and see what a good job I am doing.”   This I did.  It was all fine with Jackie, for he thought he was working too, keeping right in step with the others.  Every once in awhile though, Jim would bring the horses to a halt to pull out a sage brush or two buried by the plow and uncovered by the harrow.  Over the field were little piles here and there waiting to be burned at a more convenient time.  After the  second round, I pulled Jackie into the road by the west fence and made our way back.

                Shirley Creek seemed to murmur welcome May as it rhythmically followed along between its grassy banks, with the meadow larks whistling and swaying from the wild roses that rew along it, like some well worn path, the road up the hill to the house had become, and with the soft warm south wind in my face, I tired Jackie to the rack, and removed the bridle , so he could eat, then hurried to the house for I had been gone a considerable amount of time to find only live coals in the stove.

                Replenishing the fire, I looked at the beans to find them no quite done, shoved more wood into the already burning fire, as my thoughts turned to a pie; with such a good fire I knew I could get it baked before dinner, but what kind should I make?  The dried apples Jim’s mother had sent from Iowa. And here was a jar of raisins.  Now let’s see—butter, sugar, spices, a bit of vinegar, a little soda and crackers—crackers, I thought, I haven’t any—oh well, I’ll substitute with dry bread crumbs.  After it was all put together and slid carefully into the hot oven, again I began to think—Jim doesn’t like raisins, whiy didn’t I leave them out, but it was done and baked to a golden brown when I lifted it out and onto the cupboard.  It made a very tasty looking pie.  My next step was to set the table, soon all was ready.  When I heard Jackie bray and knew Jim was coming, and there they went past the door, with Him riding the lead horse.  He had stopped to let them quench their thirst as they crossed Shirley Creek.  Knowing Jackie needed to drink, Jim took him there also, then removed the saddle and harnessed him, he would do his bit along with the rest in the p. m When I saw him coming toward the house I resolved not to tell him the kind of pie until he tasted it.  We soon sat down, after he had washed up.  The baked beans were delicious looking and tasted the same, with good fresh bread and butter.  When time came to cut the pie.  I made it into small pieces, He said, “that smells good, why such small pieces?” 

“It's rich.” I said, “this is enough.”

Evidently not noticing the raisin he said, “this is good.”

“Oh, yes,“ he said, “I’ll have to have another piece, it takes me back to my boyhood.”  Well for once I have found something he likes with raisins, I thought.

                After the dinner we rested for a while, and when Jim went back to his work I got out the sewing, I had planned on finishing for some time and was still working at it when I heard Jim returning, for the day was most spent and the sun beginning to fade into the west.  The horses were quite sweaty from the results of their work, each being glad to be free of the heavy harness and to roll at will, then Jim would curry away the dusty sweaty hair, for each one was shedding his long hair, getting ready for summer, except Jackie, he seemed to cling to his thick, soft long coat of hair, making it hard to curry.  I went to care for my chickens while Jim finished his chores.  Then, picked up an arm full of wood, and fixed the fire to prepare our evening meal.  With this over, we settled ourselves for the evening, but did not remain long before retiring, looking out of the door just before retiring we could see a few clouds had gathered, a rain would be a blessing, the soil badly need a shower, as well as all plant life, so we retired hoping, and along about midnight, rumblings of thunder awakened us, with lightning flashing in our bedroom windows,  It was somewhat alarming at times, then a wind filled with dust and trash scattering all about, and another peal of thunder, with more flashes of lightening then the rain came pelting on the window panes, just a sudden spring shower to refresh nature’s flowers, trees and grasses and most of all the soil.  It only lasted through the night, but we awaken at dawn to a reinvigorated world, everything seemed so clean, so fresh smelling and cool, and when the sun came up shedding its light over valleys and mountainsides, flowers seemed to burst forth in multi-colors and glorious hues, causing plant life to take on a greener tinge.