OVER MY SHOULDER

As I look out the window this morning at the beautiful sight of the sun rise through the ice covered tree, I marvel at----first a shimmering reflection--then a light pink---then a red cast--then back to sparkling clear with the sun reflecting through the ice on the tree limbs across the landscape making a beautiful picture that only God can make. The only thing that keeps this from becoming a perfect picture is that there is not 6 or 8 inches of undisturbed snow waiting for that first creature to cross it and make tracks. (of course I do not have cattle to feed or chores to do---in fact if it were not for feeding the birds, I would not be out until much later in the day)

I recall that in the mid to late 30’s, we had a severe ice and snow storm---I do not recall how much of each that we received, but we ended up with about 5 or 6 inches of ‘stuff’ on the ground, with the top layer being a heavy layer of ice. Everything was covered----the trees, the ground, fence posts, buildings, and anything that was outside. Many tree limbs had fallen or were broken and hanging from the weight of the ice. It was difficult for live stock to get around, not to mention people.

Fortunately, (I guess) we did not have to worry about electrical outages--as we did not have electricity at that time, nor did we worry about the water lines freezing, as we did not have water piped into the house---only the pump in the back yard. However the water in the water bucket in the kitchen did often have a layer of ice on it when we would get up each morning. Neither did we have to worry about the gas going off---as we heated with wood. The icy roads did not bother us, as we did not have any where to go----the work was on the farm--we had our own eggs, milked our own cows--thus had butter, milk and cream---had our own canned vegetables, canned or cured meat, and usually had a good supply of flour, sugar, and salt on hand.

We did not have insulated coveralls, thermal socks, four wheel drives, nor tractor cabs--in fact, we did not have a tractor nor a pickup at that time. We did have long handled (long John’s) underwear with ‘the flap in the back’, woolen socks, and at one time I recall Dad having near knee length lace up leather boots (I don’t recall if he had them at this time)----of course we all had four buckle overshoes. On days like this, before we would go outside, we would put on practically all of the clothes that we had---including the ‘winter cap’ with the ear flaps that came down over your ears, cheeks, and neck then tied under your chin.

Before we went to bed, Dad would ‘bank’ the fire with several large pieces of wood, close the draft, and shut down the damper slightly, so as to hold the fire until morning, or until he would get up sometime in the night---stir the fire, and add more wood. Of course the bed rooms were all cold, as the stove was in the living room.

We would sleep in flannel night clothes---between flannel ‘sheets’---under comforts that Mom or Grandma had made---and at that time on a feather tick or a straw tick. (a feather tick or straw tick was a large piece of ‘usually’ blue and white ticking material sewn into a large bag about the size of a bed, and stuffed--if you were fortunate and had them---with feathers of chickens, ducks or geese----if you did not have the feathers, you would stuff it with straw. This would be placed on top of the bed springs which were certainly not inner springs. It did not provide a lot of support, but one would sink into the feather ticks and with the comforters on top of you it would usually be warm---even on the coldest night.

I recall that during this ice storm, Dad put his ice skates on to get out and do the chores. Dad had an old pair of ice skates that he had used for many years, and was an accomplished ice skater. I remember the many different stories that he told over the years of the groups that would gather at the creek on Sunday afternoons or during the evening for an ice skating party. They would build a big bonfire on the bank at which they could gather and warm themselves.

I remember seeing Dad skate from building to building with a bucket in his hand as he feed the cows, horses, pigs and chickens. He would have to break the ice in the water trough or pan and empty it before he filled it with fresh water---it seems to me that I remember that he would put warm or hot water in the chicken water pan----often during this kind of weather, he would water two or three time each day, so as to be sure that the livestock had fresh water and that it had not all turned to ice. (we had to gather the eggs several times each day to keep them from freezing)

Dad would pump water from the well (often after he poured hot water down the pump to thaw it out and to prime it---it seems to me that we would raise the handle to drain the cylinder, so that it would not freeze during the night) into the horse trough so that the cows and horses would have fresh, clean, and somewhat warmer water than the surface water. He would also skate to the little pond north of the barn and cut the ice so that the livestock that went to the pond could get water. The ponds then were in many cases so shallow that often they would be frozen to the bottom of the water.

In addition to the broken limbs and lots of ice, there are a couple of other things that assist me in remembering this ice storm, First I recall that part of the time when he fed, Dad would put me on his shoulders---straddling his neck and skate around the yard and lot as he did the chores----thinking back on it, he must have really enjoyed having me around, as I am not sure that I would do that---even if I could skate that well.

The second thing that I distinctly remember is watching Corky chase a rabbit around the yard---both were slipping and sliding as they would turn a corner. Some one had left a bucket in the back yard, and it had frozen into the ice and snow with about one half of it sticking out of the mixture------I recall the rabbit with Corky only a few feet behind him coming around the chicken house and running directly into that bucket. The blow stunned the rabbit, Corky grabbed him as he rolled over him, got up with the rabbit in his mouth and proudly strutted off with his prize.

Dad’s ice skates were the kind that clamped on the soles of your shoes, and had a strap over your foot. I remember the few times that I tried to put these skates on and learn to skate---to no avail---the skates kept coming off, and I kept falling on the ice. I never did learn to skate, but I do wish that I had of done so. I do not remember what happened to these old ice skates, but sure wish that I still had them around---not that I would learn to skate---only as a reminder of those days with Dad.