Another Winter Story

11 years ago

As I sit here at my computer, listening to music and warmed by radiated heat. I am thinking of days past.

We had a radio-a crystal set which had two sets of earphones. This meant that two people could listen at the same time. I don't really remember it well as I never listened for any length of time. I do recall that my mother didn't care to listen because my dad kept changing the frequencies, trying to get more stations. Getting KDKA, Pittsburgh, on a cold winter night was a small triumph. For any of you who recall the early days of TV you may have experienced that same constant changing of stations.

Most folks that I knew didn't have radios. Most of us had Victrolas, though, and an assortment of records we could play. They were more reliable than the radio. That was about the extent of our passive entertainment.

Card playing was popular among adults as well as children. We played family card games and sometimes went to card parties in other homes or in the nearby town. Bridge was considered a "city" game and I knew no one on our area who played it. There was lots of Euchre and Five Hundred among the adults. The children had Old Maid and many other children's games.

In our family, at least, much of our evening time was spent in reading. From the time we were small my parents read to us, starting with nursery rhymes and progressing to full-length books as we grew older.

During the winter we looked forward to some evening sleigh rides. This meant that my father or another parent in the neighborhood would hitch the horses to the sled ( a wagon with sides and with runners replacing the wheels) and my mother would get us ready for a winter ride. The sled was filled with warm blankets and comforters, sometimes heated bricks, sad irons, or maybe stove lids--anything to provide warmth.

We were dressed in many layers, with scarves tied around our heads and chins and warm mittens on our hands. When we were snuggled deep into our "nest" in the sled my father would get up on the seat, shout "Giddap" to the horses, and away we would go, down the country roads. The world looked very different in the moonlight-all white and shining. If there was a full moon it looked so big and close to us.

The roads we took were familiar ones, but there was a certain magic being out riding in the cold winter night. Sometimes we stopped for other neighbor children but often it was just our family taking that ride. We probably went only two or three miles before turning back toward home.

When we arrived home we would unload the paraphernalia from the sled and rush to the warm house. There we found hot cocoa and doughnuts or cookies waiting for us. It was a simple outing, but I still remember it as something special on a cold, moonlight night.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

pam_25f
11 years ago
It sounds very special. You are a lovely writer.
wifetojoeiii
11 years ago
Your memories are lovely! Thank you for sharing.

I grew up in a very rural area and we played cards often, mostly pinocle. My parents would have other couples over for cards and the drink the women drank was a "sloe gin fizz". About 7 years ago we re-created a pinocle party and had sloe gin fizz drinks - all for my Mother! She passed 5 years ago & I miss her very much.
Related Discussions
Another big box story that makes you scratch your head
Q
Comments (18)
Paul, I do agree that price is not a minor issue, especially in this economy. I think it could put smaller nurseries in a bind though, isn't that right? Someone posted that nurseries need the support of their customers to stay in business. I can see that point too. I am willing to give support to nurseries and I can adjust my gardening to try to do that. I don't want to give support to a nursery that is not meeting me half way though, and not keeping in mind that all their customers are effected by the economy too and trying to save them money as much as possible. Trying to manipulate me into buying a hanging plant that costs $50. by using a very popular plant only in that hanging basket and eliminating the less expensive six packs of annuals, doesn't make me feel so supportive. I was told that the nursery that went out of business last year was spending what sounded like a small fortune for oil. The owner had been having health issues too, so that made it difficult to just keep up let alone be innovative and in the end, he needed to let it go. Yes, you are correct, changing an existing greenhouse to solar may be very expensive. Constructing one from scratch to begin with might be cost effective in the long run. Ken, I think you may have missed the point I was trying to make about plants not being watered at a box store etc. I wasn't complaining about the lack of expertise at caring for plants there, or expecting any, but a business that allows such losses of their inventory and then passes it along to us. mxk3....yes, I could express some of my dissatisfaction to management at more of these nurseries, but I have already done that at the large nursery that I don't like to shop at, with no effect. Sometimes I think that most people, companies included, don't really want to hear complaints or suggestions and are not very open to doing anything differently then they are doing them. I do respond though to a company that expresses an interest in what their customers have to say.
...See More
Another Tomato story
Q
Comments (11)
Hi all, thanks for all your comments and Yes the Boys are from Publix. I bought them last year during their "Italian Fest" before they discontinued all the Shakers, including the Thanksgiving Pilgrims. the maters that look like sungolds are from a MIXED-FRUIT plant. Sungold x Juliette Grape x Black Cherry. Here's some more shots... The TomPot Jungle From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Green Zebra From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Tom's Red Lightening From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Jaune Flamme From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Wil & Sil's Hawaiian Currant From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Husky Cherry From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Galina's Yellow Cherry From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Sungold X Juliette Grape X Black Cherry From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Fruit is yellow gold to Pink to Dark red From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Red Pear & Lady Margaret Passie From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Sprite Grape From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Chives From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Health Kick From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Tom's Icicles From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Super Sioux From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Bucket O' Parsley From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Flat Leaf Parsley Flower From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise I don't think they're Ping Pong From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Look More Like A Roma.....From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Solar Set From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Anti-Oxidant tree From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise Pretty Pomegranates From Winter Tomatoes in Paradise
...See More
yet another sad lily beetle story
Q
Comments (9)
So sorry to hear about your plight Cnid. I have 'almost' been there. This pest has been imported to Canada and has no natural predators, so it is having a field-day. There have been efforts to import a predator, and that is probably what has happened in Susan's area. But I did get some very helpful dirctions while attending a flower show at a local college. The eggs/larvae whatever live in the earth over winter. That's why you had less where you had mulched. I was told ,and it works, that in spring, just when the buds of your lilies and starting to come up, spray the buds and the earth all around with a 10% solution of household ammonia. The ammonia will not hurt your plants, but it kills of the young 'uns and you have only the odd one to deal with as the summer goes on. I usually stir up the earth so the ammonia can do its thing. I did not get around to doing it this year, and it was worse than usual in my main lily area, but I did not lose anything. I usually do the squish. Those who are squeamish may try flicking them off into a bowl of soapy water. I guess we just have to wait until the predator finds its way to Canada. Northerner.
...See More
Another two story plan
Q
Comments (42)
My wife has a hard time visualizing things on the screen and picturing them in 3D. After a life time of making 3D objects from 2D drawings, I'm pretty good at. Her needs are very modest- roomy kitchen with the sink facing the view, attached garage, and most important- something we can afford to build and live in. The back porch and sun deck have been left off due to laziness on the part of the draftsman. They are important elements, and will be on the actual house! Yes- That roof will collect a lot of sun and rain water! My plan is to have a pond on the property as a reservoir to hold irrigation water, and of course to enjoy looking at. We currently have a small 15' pond that is the focal point of our back yard. That's another thing my wife has requested- a garden pond. I figure dig it big enough to hold say 20,000 gallons, and feed it with the water coming off of either the house or barn roof- or both, if necessary. That way, I have a pond to enjoy, and a supply of irrigation water for the dry spells. Every inch of rain that falls on the barn, for example, is about 1400 gallons At an average of 4" a month, that's 5600 gallons in an average month! A 25' X 35' X 4' deep pond will hold well over 20,000 gallons. 99% of the time, the closet, utility room, and bathroom doors will be open. I only want to make them closeable should we need to tidy up for guests coming up to enjoy the deck. Termites in SC are rated 'extremely heavy', the worst rating. Being colder and higher than much of the state, I'm sure the termites are much lighter than, say, Charleston. Here in FL, we don't say 'if', but 'when' when it comes to termites, and the house will be designed, built, and maintained with this same mindset.
...See More
susanjf_gw
11 years ago
our winter evenings so different in los angeles...the only time we had one of the lovely old standing radios, was on sunday when we drive down to long beach for sunday dinner...my dad and I would walk down to play on the beach or to the local amusement park for a few rides...

my "aunt" rose and mother would have the table set in shining sterling, classic china, and later found out the crystal was Waterford...and yes. I was expected to use (smaller versions) of everything...we did it for several years till they moved....we watched or listen to the radio or tiny tv of the early 50's....

so different from tonight's meatball sandwiches on paper plates and bottles of water on tv trays...
gadgets
11 years ago
I really enjoy reading your stories. Please keep it up. It's almost like when I was a child and my mother would tell us stories.

Shirley
blondiesc
11 years ago
I love your stories! You have such a gift of writing!
ont_gal
11 years ago
I hope someone in the know catches one of your life stories and makes a movie-I so enjoy all of your life tales,Seniorgal....thank you
jemdandy
11 years ago
I remember those times as well. My parents were reluctant to permit regular playing cards in the home, the ones with kings, queens and jacks. The were religious and thought that a regulation deck of cards might promote gambling. Instead, a Rook deck was available. The rook deck has 4 suits, each a different color and 15 cards per suit. The cards are numbered from 1 to 15. Various games were played, some similar to the games played with a regulation deck. LOL.

The standard treat was popcorn prepared in a skillet on a wood fired kitchen range. The favorite popping oil was bacon fat. There was a ready supply of bacon fat saved from breakfasts that often included home cured bacon or ham. Often, the popping oil was 50% bacon fat and 50% cooking oil.

On cold winter nights, popcorn balls might be made. After the balls were formed, the warm messy balls could be taken out on the porch to cool in the frigid winter air.

We grew most of our popcorn. We had a large vegetable garden and a section of it was allocated to popcorn. About 1/3 of the garden was planted in potatoes. These were harvested in the fall. A bushel of potatoes were kept out for immediate use and the rest stored in a "potato hill". I still remember how to construct a potato hill and it can keep potatoes from late September to late March before it begins to fail. The dirt walls of the hill must be thick enough to protect the potatoes from freezing and the potatoes must be able to receive heat from ground under the hill.
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Re jemdandy's post--
Did you have to shell a pile of popcorn before you could pop it?? I remember that.
We had to work for our treats which made them all the more appreciated, I think.
That popcorn made with bacon fat tasted so much better than the microwaved stuff. We couldn't possibly have conceived of a microwave oven!!!
morz8 - Washington Coast
11 years ago
DH had an early morning meeting and my house is quiet, I took a few minutes to read this. It's always fun to find your posts, and I must say, that's the first time I've heard someone mention sad iron in a very long time.
juellie1962
11 years ago
sounds like such a simpler time, yet it must've been a lot of work to live in those days. I can't imagine not having some of the comforts and conveniences that we have today! I would love to see families (mine included) sitting around a pile of playing cards instead of electronics!!

Thanks for sharing Seniorgal! It sounds like the Waltons to me!! :)
User
Original Author
11 years ago
I wondered if anyone would know what a sad iron was (is)!

I found one at an antique store and bought it to use as a bookend.

I thought it would remind me "from whence I came" in case "I got too big for my britches!"

I ironed many a basket of clothes, including my brothers' starched shirts, with those things.
alisande
11 years ago
That sounds special indeed, Sue!

Another Winter Story

Comments (12)

pam_25f

wifetojoeiii

Related Discussions

susanjf_gw

gadgets

blondiesc

ont_gal

jemdandy

User
Original Author

morz8 - Washington Coast

juellie1962

User
Original Author

alisande

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Another Winter Story

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

UserOriginal Author

UserOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

User
Original Author

User
Original Author