Sunday, November 17, 2019

Burr!!!

I know this probably sound kind of crazy to family and friends who are in the midwest or west BUT as I walked outside in my leisure wear to pick up the morning paper I said to myself, "It is kind of cold!"  After looking at my phone and seeing it was 57 I kind of thought I must have become a wimp "for sure".  It looks like it may reach 70 today which, for Naples, is very cool for this time of the year.

I stayed up until 11:00 last night engaged in my book.  I woke up at 5:45, had a quick breakfast and again sat down to finish it.  I have not been reading as much as I could or maybe should.  In the 6 weeks we have been here 6 books are on the "read" list.  I will start #7 today.

If my eyes are correct there is 1 candle on the cake.  The cake is on the piano stool that I am sure Mom carried in from the living room.  I am standing by the pantry door.  Through that door was the cellar door that opened to the dirt walled basement where Mom's canned goods were and the water pump for our well was.  I am not sure what was behind this door in 1948 but I know later it housed the hot water heater and a sink where I had my first shave as a seventh grader!  I would say my hair was a bit (a lot) fuller at one than it is at 72!  It looks like I have on warm PJs.  I do not know where the crib was but IF it were upstairs I certainly would have needed them!  There was NO room in Mom and Dad's bedroom for a crib so I have no idea where it was when it was needed for us kids.  It must have been in the living room but I do not know.  Mom always had a birthday cake made and often Aunt Bertie and even cousin Arleen would make one too!

July 4, 1957
It is Wednesday and a very hot one at that.  Dave and I had the window open all night in our bedroom but it seemed like there was almost more hot air coming in than going out.  When I woke up I thought maybe Dad had installed a shower as the sheets were wet.  Oh, only sweat from the night.  I am happy today.  Dad has kept us busy over the last few day picking those darn rocks that, I am sure, grow in our fields.  Even though Dave and I have come to make picking those darn things a game I am a bit tired as it seems the more we pick the more there are.  BUT today Dad said we did not have to go out in the field as it is July 4th!  Dad drove to town yesterday (he often did that) and actually came home with two small packs of Black Cat firecrackers, one for Dave and one for me.  It only took us about 15 minutes to use them all but it was fun while it lasted.  
Dave said he was going to jump on the big bike and go up to the lake.  I did not feel like following him so I went to the shop, found an old Folgers coffee can and headed towards the bend in the creek on the NW corner of the barn yard.  It was now mid summer so the creek was not running but there were still several spots that had pools of water.  As I ducked under Mom's clothes line and headed west I suddenly had a great idea.  I backtracked to the shop and found a big hammer.  Once again I ducked under Mom's clothes line and headed west towards the creek.  I wondered why Mom's clothes lines were so close to the ground but then I thought maybe I was just getting tall!  Just beyond the NW corner of the barn yard the pasture sloped down towards the creek and there was a wide pool of water.  I walked around till I found  a fresh gopher hole on the side of the bank and fairly close to the water.  I felt my plan would be great.  I placed the hammer near the gopher hole and then sprang into action.  Trip after trip I made to the water, filled the Folger coffee can with water and then carried it up the slope and dumped it in the hole.  I don't know how many times I did this but I was about ready to admit defeat and quit when the last few drops of water hit the hole up straggled a half drown gopher.  With the reflexes of a cat (well maybe more like an excited 10 year old) I grabbed the hammer and the gopher was history.  With a broad smile of satisfaction on my face I marched back under the clothes line, walked up to the west window of the kitchen and held up my prize for Mom to see.  Her face kind of said, "Why did you do that"?  I turned away and headed to the barn with my cat food thinking that moms simply do not understand what real fun is.  


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