by Lena Yoder
Year 5
Spring
Hallelujah! It’s a beautiful 70-degree spring day! The birds are singing; a gentle breeze is blowing. The children are outside playing. That’s reason enough to celebrate. Even though we had a mild winter, spring was joyfully anticipated.
This afternoon Wayne, Colleen, and I butchered a small pig. Our shop stays nice and cool—cool enough to cool down the meat yet it was pleasantly warm to work outside. The meat is ready for the freezer. That’s a good feeling. Another thing to rejoice about is the fact that the meat grinder and all the tubs and big bowls used to butcher are washed sparkling clean, and put away.
One really sore spot in my day is the fact that I cut my middle finger on my left hand pretty badly. I absolutely despise wearing Band-Aids. They gross me out. There was no way I could avoid using one with this cut though because I bled severely. Now I’ve got this chunky finger that somewhat handicaps me. I know it’s minor, like a hobble or call it a speed bump, which is definitely true. One good thing though is I can’t wash dishes. Oh groan, now I thought of the laundry in the morning. How am I going to do that? Colleen has to work at the bakery, and the three little girls are in school. Brian informs me he is busy all day. I think Karah will have to get up early so she can help me before she goes to school.
This afternoon after school, two neighbor children, Jeremy and Kayla, came to play. Jeremy brought his pony, Princess, and the children all took turns riding her. Once Jeremy was back on her, she decided that was enough and bucked Jeremy to a crash landing on the driveway. Away ran Princess! She ran to momentary freedom in our pasture. Our big mare Jenny was surprised at such a visitor and did not welcome Princess at all.
Brian finally caught her after Wayne and Karah got their exercise. Brian decided to ride her too. His long legs touched the ground on either side. After riding about 50 feet at a cute little gait, Brian’s legs tangled with Princess’s front legs. Immediately Brian was on the ground and Princess was running to freedom again. You had to be there! It was hilarious. I got my daily dose of a belly laugh right there, with chuckles following every once in a while.
After our supper of fresh barbeque ribs, a vegetable medley, noodles, and plenty of conversation, the dishes were quickly washed by Emily and dried and put away by Karah. Colleen, Jolisa, and I did other odd jobs of clearing the table, sweeping the floor, and cleaning the stove top.
Brian went to a neighbor boy’s birthday party. Colleen went for a walk. Jolisa and Karah helped me take the fresh meat to the freezer. Then I went on my walk. It was a beautiful, calm evening. As I walked along, I heard the birds singing their praises to our Lord. I saw many well-kept homesteads full of fresh vigor for the coming summer.
My favorite stretch of walking is past a lush, dark-green pasture dotted with a beautiful, well-kept herd of Jersey cows. They were leaving the feed bunk and heading for the pasture. Oftentimes some of the cows come to the fence to check me out, their curiosity getting the best of them. They contentedly chew their cuds.
On one farm, the chickens were scratching the ground one last time before heading to their nests to roost for the night. All was quiet, peaceful. My gaze swept across the countryside as I continued north and crested a knob. I saw a lot more homesteads. I didn’t see pride in these homes, just good stewardship honoring our heavenly Father. I turned around and head back home.
Except for my throbbing finger, it has been a very good day. Coming home, I see the girls riding their bikes, flying around the circle drive. Jesse is pulling a wagon with Jacob getting a ride! Jacob loves to get a ride. He’s big enough; he should be the one pulling the wagon.
At bedtime Brian is not at home yet, so Jesse is dizzying around here, not wanting to go to bed without his big brother. He is playing with three bean bag chairs. Sometimes all I see are his feet flying through the air, flipping under the bags. Then he stacks them on top of each other and tries to climb to the top. Doesn’t work. Most of the time he is talking nonstop. Mom is mentioned many times. He’s got his nightshirt and trunks on, plus a bandana tied around his neck because he’s got a cold. It smells like he’s got half a bottle of Vick’s VapoRub ointment smeared on him. He’s got socks on his feet that he also slathered with Vick’s in hopes he can sleep without coughing all night.
Colleen is not working at the bakery today, so I will greedily take advantage of having her at home. We need to do the laundry and the weekly ironing, amongst other things. I should spray some unsightly weeds. Colleen needs to thoroughly clean the upstairs, as it is our turn to host my family’s monthly family night this coming Monday.
Wayne hopes to be home from work by 10:00 or soon after, and then we want to go to Shipshewana to get some groceries, go to the bank, and stop at the hardware store. Jesse gets to go along, so he is out of the house so Colleen can clean faster.
Brian is working for a local jack-of-all-trades kind of guy. They clean up ditch banks, old train beds, split wood—whatever anyone wants done. Brian hasn’t enjoyed all the stone picking he’s had to do in long, dusty fields. Colleen shows him no mercy, telling him to be quiet and that the work will help make him a man. This job is good for him, plus if we have field work or something, he can stay home to do that.
The schoolgirls learned new songs for their “last day of school” program. I love to hear the three of them singing together. Their voices are so different and blend beautifully. I have always loved to sing, and as a girl growing up often longed for siblings my age to sing with. Now I feel fortunate to sing with the girls. Wayne and the boys can sing too if I can persuade them to join us. The shower is Wayne’s singing stage, but we don’t all fit in the bathroom to join in the melody. It’s humbling to me that we are commanded to sing unto the Lord.
This spring the weather has been unlike any I remember ever having experienced in my life. It was wonderful except for the hard frosts we had in mid-April when the hayfields were lush and green. Even with the strawberries covered with old sheets and plastic, I still picked off some blackened flowers. We had strawberries blooming in April and asparagus to eat in March. That’s a month earlier than normal.
Brian and I biked to Shipshewana on a beautiful day in April. We were embarrassingly warm when we got there. Unreal for April.
We had a taste of hospital life with Wayne’s mom being in the LaGrange hospital for nine days. While preparing to do laundry one Monday morning, she suddenly experienced excruciating pain and vomiting. It was discovered her hernia had ruptured. Surgery was done around 4:00 in the afternoon, and by that time gangrene had already started. She was a very sick lady. She has a long recovery ahead but is doing well considering the circumstances.
While she was at the hospital, Wayne and I biked the 12.5 miles to see her on a Saturday night. On the way we stopped at Emma Café, an old-fashioned, small-town soda shop. We ate butter pecan ice-cream cones and sipped some Pepsi before heading on east. We needed some calories to burn. It was fun. It took us an hour biking time. We stayed the night with Wayne’s mom, and then we biked home in the morning. It took us an hour and a half going home because we faced a strong wind.
We had company for Sunday dinner, but the other ladies brought most of the meal. The girls had the house ready and the table set.
By evening we were tired! On Monday, Wayne said he thought he slept on the basement floor last night because he slept so deeply. It was all worthwhile though, and I would do it again.
While at the hospital we met other hurting families, plus experienced some rejoicing from new additions to their families. I thought, Once we get home we want to continue praying for people in the hospital, known and unknown. So soon I am caught up in my daily grind and forget about the hospital life. Shame.
“If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it.” When our children were small, plus with three or four hours in the barn each day, women would often tell me, “This too shall pass.” Sometimes those words angered me, and I would retort, “If I shall last!” I understood, knowing t
heir words were meant to bring comfort and encouragement, but the failing human I am, I didn’t always accept them for what they were intended.
One of the nicest things anyone ever did for me during those times was a neighbor lady who left her work lying and came to help me several days doing whatever needed doing. Her companionship and love were sweeter than honey to my soul. Doing good deeds like that for other people does not come naturally for me. I am ashamed to admit it. As the Lord continues to shape and mold me, I pray to do better. To let the Lord work through me. I absolutely love my neighbors and church people. Why then do I not let them know? What is love if it doesn’t have action?
It is still early morning, but I now hear Brian’s alarm going off. Soon the house will be buzzing with activity. They will all want breakfast. It takes lots of pancakes or French toast for Brian. Colleen, Karah, and I want a breakfast sandwich consisting of one-half whole wheat English muffin and egg. Emily can hardly swallow breakfast. Jolisa loves toast with homemade strawberry jam. Jesse is unpredictable, wanting oatmeal, toast and egg, or cereal. Hard telling which one. Such is life on our farm.
A brand-new week! I work at rousing Karah and Emily on this beautiful Monday morning. I tell them the washing machine is loaded already, although I don’t know if telling them is a good idea. It might slow their steps further. I’ve let them sleep until eight o’clock, but now it is time to shift gears and move forward. I’ve filled the washing machine, started the generator, and put in the Sunday whites to soak a while. Jesse’s white shirt was terribly dirty.
Summer vacation started with a few bumps and bruises, but we are pretty well adjusted and enjoying the girls at home. It goes best when everybody is busy and knows which direction they’re headed. One particular Monday all four girls were in the kitchen trying to help each other make lunch. What a ruckus! I reminded Colleen why it’s a good idea that she has a job this summer. She was glad she could go to work the rest of the week. She was used to having the kitchen to herself this winter and almost felt violated.
Karah is learning to cook in mini strides. I think I will have her bake something today after they are done with the laundry. She is still unsure of herself when cooking or baking, so I will stay close by. Karah and Emily have been on laundry duty since school was out. I’m quickly getting used to that. Jolisa does the dishes and sweeps the floors while the others do the laundry. They then all have to help each other bring in, fold, and put away the laundry. They, of course, get tired of it, but I think it is a wonderful opportunity to teach them to be faithful in many ways. Faithful in well doing, faithful in obeying their parents, faithful in participating in keeping the household running smoothly, along with being faithful in unity and putting joy into a repetitious job.
With the stress of corn planting now on the side, Wayne is slightly undecided what he wants to do this afternoon when he comes home from work. He wants to either cut some hay or go help one of the neighbors with their hay. By the end of the week I’m sure he’ll have done both.
We’ve enjoyed watching our two draft horse colts playing in the small field west of the house. The babies seem healthy and were able to nurse on their own from the start. That was a huge relief for me.
Emily, now 10 years old, planted the sweet corn in the garden. Her older siblings teased her about her crooked rows, but they actually weren’t. The girls like to help with the garden planting, except for the potato planting, which can be backbreaking. They do make a lot of steps for me; it takes a strong mind to stay calm and organized.
Wayne bought us a new buggy horse at the sale this spring. Getting used to a new horse can be a challenge. We need to learn to know each other. This steed looked a tad ugly, but Wayne thought with some wormer and lots of good feed he’d perk right up. He’s only a four-year-old, so hopefully we can keep him a while—if he turns out okay.
Brian brushed him up, Wayne gave him the wormer, and I gave him his name: Max. We had him for a week-and-a-half when I drove him to my friend’s house for the day. It was the farthest we had driven him and the first time to take him on US 20. It was just me and Jesse, and Jesse refused to ride with me in the front.
Max shied about some Haflingers* in a pasture and some signs at the bridge, but he never once flinched about the trucks that roared past us on the highway. He got us safely there and home again.
Year 5
Summer
We love this summer weather, but we’re praying for rain. Our crops are suffering because of the lack of moisture. Wayne tells me not to make a fuss; God is in control.
Cleaning out the cupboards, sewing on a dress, and working on a paint order are on the agenda for today. On my morning walk, I noticed several things that need to be watered, so the girls can do that and harvest some things from the garden. They also need to clean the north end of the buggy shed. They have their stamping supplies set up out there, and it’s in dire need of organizing. They’ve spent many happy hours there. Sometimes a neighbor girl named Sharon joins them, much to their delight.
With Wayne and Brian both working off the farm long hours this spring, it created a challenge to take care of the crops. Brian was at home two days in a row so he could spray the cornfields. One such morning he was spraying, I was picking strawberries, and Karah and Emily were doing laundry. All of a sudden our peace was shattered with the sound of a team of horses come galloping up the lane!
From the sound I knew they’d hit the cement between the barns at full blast! I couldn’t see them because of buildings, but I moved quickly, praying instantly and constantly. I was afraid! Where was Brian? Were the girls out of the way? How would I stop those huge horses? Then CRASH! And all was quiet. With the force of the crash I knew if Brian had still been on the cart, he would have flown off now. As I rounded the house, I saw Brian coming up the lane, and he appeared to be okay. The horses and the forecart* were in the barn, but the sprayer was stuck outside the barn.
Whew! Relief! Brian was okay, and with some minor repairs on the sprayer and the barn door, all would be well.
Brian and my dad got the horses unhitched, hitched to another cart, and then they went several miles to a shop with haybines.* Brian said the horses needed work! I went back to the strawberry patch still weak from the excitement and filled with thankfulness that no one had been hurt.
These horses are normally not spooky like that, but when Brian left the forecart to raise the booms of the sprayer, they took off. We think they could only see the booms from the corners of their eyes and were startled, plus being well fed and full of pep they decided to head home.
June 2 was picked out for the day a group of us friends wanted to go to Fort Wayne to garage sales. I was excited because it had been 12 years since I had last gone. Most of the other women said their men were going along too. I tried to convince mine to go along. I figured the chances were slim to none because he figures that’s not something he would enjoy. When I mentioned it to him, trying to convince him to go along, he threw me off, giving me no satisfaction. Going to garage sales? Whatever!
Well, that morning I got up at 4:45 and got ready. The driver was to start picking up at 5:00. At 5:00, Wayne rolls over in bed and says, “What shall I do?”
I said, “What do you mean, ‘What shall you do’?” He perfectly well knew what he wanted to work that day. We repeated that several times when I discovered he was actually thinking about going along! I was astonished to say the least.
He went and we had a blast! The fun time we spent with friends was just as fun, or more so, than the garage sales. Now I want to go again. The bug bit me. But, alas, now I need to clean for church, garden, sew, and paint. Yes, life goes on without me going garage-saling again this week.
I didn’t buy peaches to can this year because they were pretty well golden. Sixty dollars a bushel for Baby Gold peaches, which is what I normally can. Figuring I get 25 quarts per bushel, that’s $2.40 a quart. By the time I add the sugar and can lids, I’d be pushing $3 a quart. We like the Aldi brand pea
ches, so that is what we will be eating this year. I did freeze Red Haven and Carolina peaches in small containers for lunches. Those weren’t quite so expensive. We like to make slush with frozen peaches, strawberries, and 7UP, but that will need to be limited this year.
It’s also the season of hobo pies and s’mores by the fire. It takes a lot of s’more supplies with growing children. Mom and Dad like them too. Our favorite is still the Ritz cracker, Hershey bar ones with roasted marshmallows oozing out the sides.
I used Max to go to town, and he does okay… except he doesn’t back up. That is a must in town—to back away from the hitching rail. Wayne must put in another bit to see if that will help. He’s got one tough mouth. Max doesn’t look like the same horse we bought. Feed and exercise have done him a lot of good.
We bought another horse named Daisy. I haven’t driven her yet. They say she backs up fine, stands good to hitch and at corners, and goes a good clip. She’s a sharp-looking little mare. We got rid of our old horse, Girl. She gave us years of service, but the older she got the ornerier she got. The children cheered when the truck came to get her because they had hated when we’d use her.
Brian says he will be home the next few days, so I’m putting him to work. The old, glazed-tile building needs cleaning out, except the area of the woodshed where the girls have their playhouse. There is plenty of trash to be burned and just general cleanup. He is one handy guy to have around.