My mom grew up on a farm in New City, NY, where my uncle Richie still lives to this day at the age of 101. Dad, he was an Oklahoma country boy, wild as a weed! So, this conversation may sound ok, coming from their perspective. But only in the country is this considered a “normal” conversation:
“What's for dinner?”
“Go kill a chicken.”
For cryin' out loud, Dad! I was a bona fide, Catholic-School-Girl-City-Slicker for the first twelve years of my life. We had a carpool, and bought food in stores and everything! I do believe I still suffer PTSD from “Chicken Killing Day”, and yes, we did have to do it. The implications for self-analyzing are endless! Trust me! Food issues....
At the time, that was what it was. And I opted to head to my mom's beautiful vegetable garden. Protected with a nine foot chicken wire fence, clustered with wild roses and sweet peas, to keep the deer out. Well...that does not work, because with a running start, nine feet of chicken wire is not a challenge for hungry deer, who happen to consider roses & sweet peas appetizers. So, I would plant myself in there and eat tomatoes off the vine, as if they were apples. My brother, he had chicken...
And, only in the country can you trade a baby goat and an old truck wind shield for a running '63 Falcon station wagon. Back in the 1970's part of getting ready for school was, for Kathy and Julie (my little sisters), to feed the chickens and collect the eggs. We lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains, on a little over an acre. And we had lovable African Geese, who were more like pets. Each morning they would waddle up to the back door on the porch, tap on the glass with their beaks and “honk” for crusts of bread. They were named Mama & Papa Gooser.
My brother & I had a much more trying job each morning- milking the goat. Her name was Baby. Sounds sweet, huh? Baby was anything but sweet, and fought us every morning. We'd get the pail about full, and that dang goat stuck her foot in it every time, just as it was filling to the brim- kicking over the pail and spilling out all of our hard work, leaving no milk for breakfast the next day. Mike and I devised a plan to outfox that goat. We'd get her head in the stock, give her fresh hay, (because she could not resist fresh hay!) and my brother would pick up her hind legs like they were wheel barrow handles. And I would milk like crazy. It wasn't easy milking, laughing, and holding onto a goat like a wheel barrow! Baby wasn't so keen on this method, and she hollered and kicked with her mouth full of hay the entire time! But...we had milk.
The Twisted Sister challenge this week is to make a card based on a childhood memory and write a story. If you'd like to play along, please add TSC0817 to your keywords, and tell us about yourself!
Thanks for looking!
Date: Friday, August 17, 2012 GMT Views: 5784
Favorited:28
Pat this is just another masterpiece in your line of many. This is a simply beautiful scene. I love old barns anyway. I have many many pictures I have taken of old barns over the years. The story is priceless. Now I am a city girl through and through. Yes I live in the country but if I had to kill meat to eat I would be a vegan! I could never eat chicken if I were you. Now I have embraced many things about country life. I can garden and preserve my bounty for the cold winter months. I can shoot a gun, even chased away a coyote or two, ride a four wheeler, ride horses. I've had many a morning feeding horses in below zero weather at four in the morning so I could come in and get ready for work to be there at 7. I've even spent the night in my barn waiting on a mare to foal but NO stinkin shickens!! Your story is priceless as is the beautiful card.
Registered: January 21, 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Posts: 5463
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 @ 7:49 PM
Oh what a funny story about milking the goat. It was fun to have a look into your past through the childhood memories you've shared. Your card is wonderful...........love the country scene. The fence is perfect. The DPs are too. I love the "frames". Gorgeous card.
Registered: July 20, 2009 Location: California Posts: 33483
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 @ 7:54 PM
I love this fabulous country scene and card design, but your story is priceless! lol. My parents also moved my sister and I from Santa Barbara, Cali to Grants Pass, Ore. We lived on a farm on Sleepy Hollow Loop and I was 5. I had no problems watching my dad cut that chickens head off and took great delight in the bleeding flying chickens, lol. Some nights, just before dinner, I would ask, "is this Bacon or Putunia" the pigs we raised, just to send my older sister bawling into her room....and then I could eat her dinner too, lol.
Registered: May 15, 2012 Location: Fresno, Ca Posts: 269
Fri, Aug 17, 2012 @ 9:17 PM
I don't know what I love more, the card or your story. Both are cute and clever. My mom was raised on a farm and always had "fresh" chicken dinners. She said the chicken from the farm tasted soooo much better than what we get in the stores. Keep your cards coming, they are always so beautiful.
Registered: September 17, 2006 Location: San Marcos, Tx Posts: 3011
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 @ 7:41 AM
Sistah!!! I was all into your story I almost forgot to look at the card you made. LOVE IT!!! I just can't get over all the various components you used to make it!!! I think most of all, your Mom would be so very touched to read your story of your childhood memories; she crafted them for you. Your story and card left such a warm glowing feeling in my heart, thank you.
------------------------------ Ich bin Klein. Mach mein Herze rein Soll niemand anderen drin wohnen Als Jesus allein. (I am little. Make my heart clean. Don't let anyone else live in it but Jesus alone.)
Registered: October 21, 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6707
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 @ 1:33 PM
Your farm scene is so beautiful and I just love that border! The added green flower soft looks amazing! You have written such a wonderful story and I do love how you have shared your memories with us. You are a true crafter and story teller so keep them coming.
------------------------------ Lynn
SCS Fan Club Member "Everyday is a gift, that's why they call it the present." author unknown http://jellybeandancer.blogspot.com/
Registered: February 1, 2005 Location: Temple, Tx Posts: 37720
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 @ 7:59 PM
Sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, gf....there is nothing better than growing up in the country!!!!! I can just picture you milking that goat....you crack me up, Sistah!!!!! Your card is gorgeous and looks kinda like our Texas countryside!! The fence with the ribbon is such a wonderful detail....perfect for the card and the story!!!!
My uncle lived on a farm and when I was young we would love to go play with the kittens in the barn loft and pump the hand pump to get the water...they didn't have indoor plumbing so we had to use the outhouse....the only bad thing about that was all the spiders...yikes!!!!
Registered: February 9, 2010 Location: Mentone, California Posts: 7361
Sat, Aug 18, 2012 @ 10:53 PM
Such a wonderful childhood memory so delightfully told and bringing back memories to the rest of us farm kids. We had chickens too, but the rooster was my nemisis. Our chickens roamed pretty free and so did my bitter enemy. Every time he saw me, he chased me (he must have smelled the fear) and if he caught up with me he jumped up and spirred me. He was a mean devil and when they finally had him for dinner, I refused to indulge in one bite of him! Also I remember the horrible smell associated with plucking the feathers! How ever, I guess, I am not to badly scarred as chicken is my preferred meat. NOW onto this amazing card! When I first opened it I thought you had embroidered the roof of the barn... and what incredible dimension the flower soft gives to your trees and hedges! LOVE the fence with wire wrapped in ribbon...your attention to detail on this card is mind blowing! AND that perfect gingham bow is the cherry on top! I love everything about this card. A blue ribbon winner for sure..
(By the way our goats ate every thing in sight and I had to be very careful what I left out!)