Old House And Pickup

I drive by old farm places when I have the opportunity, I stop and nose around. Many of them are too far-gone for me to dare stepping inside alone. I could envision myself falling through the floor, into the cellar, never to be heard from again! When I wander, I think of the farm families who raised most of their own food – eggs and chickens, milk and beef from their own cows, and vegetables from the gardens. In my time, I've had brief exposure to ranch and farm life, though the city-to-farm ratio widens with each and every year, I maintain a deep reverence for those who make their living from the land.

People I met, who lived on the farm during the Depression said, "No one had any money. We were all in the same boat. Neighbors helped each other through hard times, sickness, and accidents. There were chores to do. You came home from school, did your chores, helped with supper, get your lessons, and by that time, it's bedtime. Many chores had to be done daily: hauling water, gathering eggs, tending the garden, and filling the wood box." Even today, some chores like milking cows and feeding livestock have to be done more than once a day. And there is the constant house cleaning, a battle against the dust that seeps into the house.

I often stop at these abandoned places, with a particular project in mind, yet arrive far from where I thought the quest would take me. In my mind and on paper. Often times, I am more pleased with the surprise ending at both places….