RicelandMeadows

I snapped this photo on the first day of November. I took it about 4:30 in the afternoon. We had over 6 inches of snowfall that morning. By the time I took this photo, much of the snow had melted or settled onto the pasture grasses. The horses, after rolling and playing in the fresh white stuff, began to graze the tender forbs beneath the snow.

We knew the snow was coming, but it still seemed early even for us here in northeast Ohio. This type of early snow was reminiscent of my childhood. I stood at the fence awhile staring off into space and remembering those old memories. I remembered “trick or treating” with wet snow covering the fall leaves. I remembered following my grandpa’s big steps out through the barnyard. He could traverse the mud and wet snow easily. I, however, had to pay close attention to where I stepped, otherwise I would squirt water up onto my face or worse, lose a boot in the sticky mud.

I chuckled a little as I turned from watching the horses and replayed the memory in my mind of my little stocking foot ankle deep in gooey mud. The tears starting to flow as grandpa rescued me. He would help me get my foot back into my boot. Then he would hold my hand for a bit as we walked the rest of the way to the barn. He would hunker down next to his Jersey cow and milk streams were soon hitting the milk bucket. I would watch by lantern light as he milked the cow, my little wet foot starting to chill.

He would finish feeding the cows and draft horses, give one final look over the sheep and the entire barnyard, and back to the house we would walk. He carried the pail of fresh milk. I walked stoic behind him and the steaming pail. He was taking care not to spill milk. I was taking care not to fall in the snow covered mud. I couldn’t wait to get to the warm house, wash my foot, put on clean socks and buddy up to the wood furnace. It sounds a bit miserable I know, but I wouldn’t have missed going to the barn for anything back then.

I took this picture six days after the early snowfall. I am scrambling to get the needed “sugarwood” into the woodshed. Sugarwood is wood used for boiling the maple sap that yields maple syrup. It takes 11 or 12 cords of wood each year to produce the syrup we make. I am usually done by now, but alas here we are and I am pushing hard. After a day of working up treetops, gleaning the firewood from a few trees that were threatening to smash my fence, I burnt the smaller branches in an effort to clean up the field.

The wood I need for the woodshed has been all cut to length. It is ready to be gathered, split and stacked. That work will rule this week as the weather allows. The recent snow built a fire under me to stay focused and get my work done!

No worries, I will take care not to lose a boot while traversing the mud. I will keep my eye on safety as we work. I have enlisted the help of my grandkids along with the horses of course. We will make short work of the job that is left. The regular chores of animal care come first, like my childhood days, I wouldn’t miss a chance to go to the barn for anything.

Saturday, we “fell back” as we changed the clocks from daylight savings time. I don’t know why we still do this, but it signifies the coming winter. The darkness is here like every year, no matter what the clock says. Navigating the first few weeks of it, is much like following grandpa to the barn. You take big steps in the dark, trying not to lose a boot, hurrying about wondering where the long days of summer went!

The best ways to combat the dreariness is to enjoy the sights around you, not in the dark of course, but look at the snow on the pines. Enjoy the sparkling snowflakes on a moonlit night. Listen to the animals chew or children laugh. Have a cup of your favorite warm beverage and ponder the future, remember the past and be thankful for the ability to do both.