As the family sat down at the table, Earl stood and took off his hat saying, “Let’s say grace. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food. Please bless the hands that prepared the food and the ones that took part in growing and reaping it. Thank you for always providing for us. We pray for our neighbors who lost loved ones or who are hurt that you would heal them all, body and soul. Thank you for supplying our every need. Please continue to do so and help us always have thankful hearts. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
The family started passing the food around the table and talking. “Daddy, old Susan got startled today while we was plowing. There was an old rattlesnake, must’ve been five feet long over to the side. He took off when he saw us and by the time I got old Susan calmed down and got to the house to get my gun and came back out, I saw him way off headed into the rock outcrop. I follered him, but lost track of him. We’d best take the shotgun out with us until we get him,” Carl Ray said.
Earl said, “I reckon, son. I’m right glad you told us all so we can be on the lookout. You girls be real careful, since we don’t have enough guns for all and ifn you see him, run the other way and call fer yore brothers.”
Timmy John said, “That old black snake was in the chicken coop again. I grabbed his neck and walked him out to the cornfield. He can do some good there and not eat our baby chicks. We need to make sure the chickens are all locked up at night so we don’t lose any.”
John Joseph said, “I worked in the root cellar, cleaning it out to get it ready for this year’s harvest. I also got the mason jars all ready and in the kitchen. We are going to need about 65 lids to go with them. We also need 4 more flats of complete mason jars. Mama, if you can make a list of the other things we will need for canning, I would be happy to drive into town tomorrow to get those things oh, and if you can spare me.”
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Lucy answered, “That would be fine John, and I would appreciate it!”
“I got everybody’s laundry all washed, dried and folded and each person’s stack is on the couch. Everybody please grab yore laundry and put it away after dinner,” their mother said.
John Joseph and Hattie May cleared off the table and Cora Sue set out potholders and then brought out the blackberry pies! Those steaming delights caught everybody’s attention. “That smells like we done died and gone to heaven!” their daddy said. “I swear you womenfolk have some sort of magic up yore sleeve!”
Lucy said, “That was all Cora Sue’s doing! I was busy with laundry!”
Cora Sue blushed, “Shucks, it was fun! I’m glad you all like it!”
Every last bite of pie disappeared and as the dishwashing team got started, their daddy said, “Well I think I’m going to sit out on the porch and smoke a spell. Do you want to join me, Lucy?”
Their porch was the place to go get cooled off on these hot days. It reached around ¾ of the house and was screened in! It was 5 feet wide and had a nice porch swing attached to the porch roof. The tin roof covered the entire porch and was like a musical instrument when it rained, with the sounds it made.
Earl and Lucy both stood up and Lucy, instead of answering, screamed out, “Earl you are bleeding clear through yore overhauls! I’ll get my bag. Take off those pants.