SNOWBOUND... I wrote this story a few years ago, how different Christmas was in the 50's...
A winter wonderland, that’s how I felt about it. A move to McCall Idaho in December of 1950, when I was eight years old landed me right in the middle of this snowy paradise. Snow falling daily, wind-blowing, roads drifted closed so that a team and bob sleigh was, at times, our only transportation. It was like a dream, and made me think of all the songs about winter and sleigh rides.
Our team of horses Bert and Dick were gentle and hard working. With just a flick of the reins they turned left or right, walked slow or changed to a trot, they did exactly what my Daddy wanted, without him ever saying a word. Morning and night the sleigh was loaded with hay to feed the cattle, with me holding the reins, while hay was thrown onto fresh, sparkling snow. The cattle, steam rising from their warm bodies came running and bawling after us to get the first bite of hay. Back at the barn the horses had to be unharnessed, brushed and fed. I soon learned that I could help by walking under the horse's belly unsnapping and loosening the harness so we could get our chores finished and into our warm house for the breakfast or supper that Mom always had ready.
More beautiful than ever was our Christmas tree that year. Could it have been, because Daddy hitched up the team and with everyone bundled up against the cold wind, our breath visible in the air we found, cut and hauled the tree home? Then Mom used her special magic, with a few treasured ornaments, strings of lights and icicles carefully placed to make it the tree, that every year we tried to duplicate.
Christmas Eve a few packages were under the tree and our stockings were hung. We didn’t have fancy matching stockings for everyone; instead Mom would get stockings from Dad’s dresser, one for each of us. We used his because they were the largest, and would hold more candy and nuts, with a banana or orange sticking out the top...continued...Hugs To All...OWAV:)
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