| COMPARISONS 5/23/2007 IT SEEMS THAT THROUGHOUT OUR LIVES WE ARE ALWAYS COMPARING OURSELVES TO OTHERS OR COMPARING OTHERS TO OURSELVES: BEAUTY, POSSESSIONS, NEWEST OR FINEST HOUSES, BANK ACCOUNTS, FAMILY, SOCIAL STANDING, PRETTIEST AND SEXIEST SPOUSE OR CHILDREN, AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER SUCH NOTIONS. IT SEEMS TO BEGIN IN CHILDHOOD WHEN WE COMPARE OUR TOYS TO THOSE OF OTHERS. IT IS IN ONE SENSE A HUMAN BUT ALSO A LEARNED BEHAVIOR. THE TEENAGE YEARS BRINGS COMPARISONS WITH OTHERS, MOSTLY OVER LOOKS. ONE HAS A NOSE DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER OR PRETTIER HAIR OR FIGURE AND THE COMPARISONS ACCELERATE THROUGH THE YEARS UNTIL WHEN WE GET SO OLD THAT WE FORGET THINGS BUT WE REALIZE THE FOOLISHNESS OF SUCH COMPARISONS. BY THE TIME WE REACH SENIOR CITIZEN STATUS, WE REALIZE THAT WE'VE ALLOWED COMPARISONS TO CONTROL OUR LIVES AND IT HAS LEFT US TIRED AND IN POOR HEALTH. CAN'T WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY WOMAN, MAN, AND CHILD HAS THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL BEAUTY ATTRIBUTES? I REMEMBER IN THE MOVIES OF THE 1950'S THROUGH THE 1970'S WHEN A ACTRESS WORE A BEAUTY MARK LIKE ANTEBELLUM WOMEN WORE. THEN MOST YOUNG GIRLS AND SOME LADIES THOUGHT IT MADE THEM LOOK MORE BEAUTIFUL BUT TO MANY OTHERS, IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG OLD TICK HAD ATTACHED ITSELF TO THEIR FACES. EVEN IN MODERN TIMES, YOUNG IMPRESSIONED PEOPLE WANT THE SAME NOSE SHAPE, HAIR STYLE, ETC., ETC., AD NAUSEUM. HOWEVER, IF THEY HAD PLASTIC SURGERY ON THEIR NOSE TO LOOK LIKE SOMEONE ELSE'S NOSE, IT WOULDN'T BE LONG UNTIL THEY WANTED TO HAVE ONE LIKE ANOTHER ACTRESS OR ACTOR. IF THEY JUST HAD ONE LIKE SO AND SO, THEY'D BE CONTENT, BUT CONTENTMENT BECAME ALLUSIVE. AS THE APORSTLE PAUL WROTE IN THE BIBLE TO THE GALATIONS, "O FOOLISH GALATIANS, WHO HAS BEWITCHED YOU?" WE ALL HAVE FELL INTO THAT CATEGORY FROM TIME TO TIME. WE MUST REALIZE THAT GOD MADE US IN "HIS IMAGE" AND NOT man's image. HE MADE EACH PERSON UNIQUE AND SPECIAL WITH QUALITIES OF BEAUTY, ETC.. WHAT WE BECOME OR DO AFTER OUR CHILDHOOD DAYS IS OUR OWN FAULT. THERE ARE MANY WHO BLAME THEIR PARENTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR GOD FOR WHAT AND WHO WE'VE BECOME BUT IT WAS "OUR CHOICES" THAT MADE US AS WE ARE AND PUT ALL THE WRINKLES ON OUR FACES AND MAKES US LOOK MUCH OLDER THAN OUR ACTUAL YEARS. WE MUST DECIDE TO MAKE BETTER CHOICES THROUGHOUT THE REST OF OUR LIVES AND WE WILL HAVE A HEALTHIER LIFE. WE MUST NEVER BECOME CONFORMED TO OTHER PEOPLE'S PEER PRESSURE, BUT AS ROMANS 8:29 TELLS US "BE CONFORMED TO JESUS CHRIST" FOR HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WE NEED TO PLEASE. ------------ HAVING COMPANY IN RURAL AMERICA 5/23/2007 IF YOU GREW UP IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE EVERYONE HAD MORE THAN ONE TRUCK OR AUTOMOBILE, YOU DID NOT TRAVEL VERY FAR FROM HOME UNLESS ON SHOPPING DAY WHICH CAME ON SATURDAYS. THE REST OF THE TIME, YOU DEPENDED ON YOUR FEET OR HORSE OR WAGON TO VISIT NEIGHBORS, AND THAT CAME ABOUT "AFTER" THE FARM WORK OR CHORES WAS FINISHED. EVERYONE HAD CHORES AND OTHER WORK THAT ALWAYS CAME FIRST. IT WASN'T ALWAYS A BORING LIFE THOUGH SOMETIMES YOU HAD TOO MUCH IDLENESS. THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUN TO HAVE IF YOU KNEW HOW TO FIND IT. THERE WAS ALWAYS A HOLE OF WATER IN THE SMALL BRANCHES OR STREAMS OR POND TO PLAY AROUND IN OR WOODS TO PRETEND YOU WERE AND INDIAN ON AN ADVENTURE OR YOU COULD PRACTICE YOUR ROPING ON NUMEROUS CALVES OR YEARLINGS, PRETENDING YOU WERE IN A RODEO. HOWEVER, THE BEST AND "WORST" EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE WAS WHEN NEIGHBORS, RELATIVES, OR SIBLING FAMILIES CAME TO VISIT. THE BEST PART OF THAT WAS THAT YOU GOT TO SEE AND HUG THEM, BUT YOU ALSO HAD SOMEONE TO PLAY WITH OR SHOW THEM THE HOLES OF WATER TO PLAY IN. THEY ALWAYS BROUGHT EXTRA CLOTHES FOR PARENTS KNEW THAT KIDS WILL BE KIDS. THE WORST PART OF THE VISIT WAS WHEN THEY LEFT, FOR IT WOULD SEEM SO QUIET LIKE THE CALM AFTER THE STORM. YOU WOULD FEEL SO LONELY UNTIL THE ELDERS WOULD FIND YOU SOMETHING TO DO. THERE WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT NEEDED DOING ON A FARM. THE ROUTINE LIFE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. THAT SEEMS TO FIT IN THIS MODERN DAY TOO WHEN PEOPLE COME TO VISIT YOU AND AFTERWARDS, LIFE PICKS UP AND GOES BACK TO THE ROUTINE. PARENTS HAVE JOBS TO GO BACK TO IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY, AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOME CHORES TO DO WHETHER YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OR ON A FARM. YOUNG ONES HAVE TO CLEAN UP THEIR ROOMS OR MOW GRASS, OR MANY OTHER ACTIVITIES. CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN TO DO THEIR PART TO MAKE THE HOUSEHOLD RUN MORE SMOOTHLY. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU ARE FORCING THEM INTO CHILD SLAVERY, EVEN IF THEY OFTEN TIMES MAKE THE PARENTS FEEL LIKE IT. THE PARENTS ARE JUST TRYING TO TEACH THEM RESPONSIBILITIES, FOR IT WILL PREPARE THEM FOR THEIR FUTURE JOBS TO BE GOOD EMPLOYEES. ------------------ MILK COWS AND BITTER WEEDS 5/2007 IF YOU HAD THE PLEASURE OF GROWING UP ON OR VISITING A FARM IN THE MONTHS OF ESPECIALLY JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER, YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE A STRANGE PHENOMENOM--ESPECIALLY IF YOU DRANK RAW MILK. THERE WAS USUALLY AN ABUNDANCE OF GRASS IN THE PASTURE FOR THE COWS UNTIL JULY WHEN THE PASTURES DIDN'T GET AS MUCH RAIN AS THE EARLY MONTHS OF THE YEAR - ESPECIALLY THE SPRING MONTHS. DURING JULY, AUGUST, AND SEPTEMBER, THERE WAS AN ABUNDANCE OF BITTER WEEDS UNLESS YOU SPRAYED AND KILLED THEM, WHICH WASN'T THE NORM. THEY REPRODUCED BETTER THAN THE GRASS DID AND THE COWS LOVED EATING THEM. IF YOU COULD AFFORD A HORSE DRAWN CUTTER OR TRACTOR AND BUSHHOG, YOU COULD MOW THEM DOWN BEFORE THEY TURNED TO SEED AND HAVE LESS WEEDS THE NEXT YEAR. HOWEVER, MOST PEOPLE COULDN'T AFFORD MORE THAN A HORSE AND/OR A MULE FOR THE SMALL FARMERS MUCH LESS A TRACTOR. ON THE PLUS SIDE OF THE BITTER WEEDS WAS THAT THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL ORANGE-YELLOWISH BLOOMING FLOWERHEADS. THERE IS A LESSON IN THAT: WHATEVER IS PRETTY IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD FOR YOU - CONSIDER CORAL SNAKES. WE ALWAYS HAD SEVERAL NEW MOTHER COWS THAT WE MILKED, AND SEVERAL OF THESE WERE KEPT IN THE PASTURE, WHILE THE "DRY" COWS - THOSE WHO'D WEANED THEIR CALVES, WERE LET OUT TO FORAGE IN THE MANY ACRES OF FOREST LAND. MANY OF THEM WOULD STAY OUT IN THE WOODS THROUGH THE WINTER, BECAUSE THEY COULD FIND A LOT OF BROWSING ON GRASSES, WEEDS, AND CERTAIN TREES AND BUSHES THAT HAD LEAVES ON THEM IN THE WINTER TIME, ESPECIALLY HOLLY TREES. THE COWS LOVED THEM. THERE WAS ALWAYS AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD FOR THEM ALONG WITH A FEW BULLS BELONGING TO OTHER NEIGHBORS WHO HAD MANY COWS ROAMING THE WOODS. THAT'S WHY WE NEVER HAD TO BUY A BULL OF OUR OWN, AND THE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF BULLS GAVE US MIXED BREED COWS AND CALVES. IN THE COLDEST PART OF THE WINTER, THE FARMERS WOULD CALL THE COWS TOGETHER AND CUT DOWN HOLLY TREES AND THE COWS WOULD SWARM IN AND EAT ALL THE LEAVES AND THEN MOVE ON TO ANOTHER TREE. WHEN IT WAS ABOUT TIME FOR THE COWS TO HAVE THEIR CALVES, WE'D SADDLE UP AND GO HUNTING FOR THEM WITH A COW DOG. WE'D EVENTUALLY FIND THEM AND START PUSHING THEM BACK TO HOME WHERE WE WOULD (DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THE CALF HAD BEEN BORN) CASTRATE THE MALES. WE WOULD SEPARATE THE COWS FROM THE CALVES AT NIGHT AFTER GETTING WHAT MILK WE NEEDED. IF THE CALVES WERE LESS THAN A WEEK OLD, WE'D LEAVE THEM TOGETHER FOR THE COLOSTROM, FOR IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR A NEWBORN TO GET ALL OF IT THEY COULD GET, AS IT WOULD GIVE THEM BETTER RESISTANCE TO OVERCOME INFECTION. WE'D NEVER MILK A NEW MOTHER COW TO SAVE THE MILK FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. BY THAT TIME, THE MILK WOULD BE GOOD TO DRINK. WE NEVER HOMOGENIZED OR PASTURIZED OUR MILK AND MANY, MANY FAMILIES GREW UP HEALTHY, AND WITHOUT SICKNESS THAT COMES FROM RAW MILK (AS THE MILK COMPANIES AND OTHERS IN THE KNOW WARN YOU ABOUT). SINCE WE GREW CROPS, MAINLY SEVERAL ACRES OF CORN IN THE CLEARED AREAS, WE WOULD HAVE A SMALL PASTURE OR A COW LOT (CORRAL) THAT WE'D KEEP THE CALVES TOGETHER. WHEN THE MOTHER COWS CAME UP IN THE EVENING JUST BEFORE DARK, THEY WOULD START MOOING FOR THEIR CALVES. WE WOULD LET THEM IN AND LET THE CALVES IN TO THE LOT, BUT THE CALVES WOULD BE TIED OFF TO THE FENCE OR POST AFTER SUCKING FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND WE'D MILK THE COWS ALWAYS LEAVING ENOUGH FOR THE CALF TO FINISH OFF. AFTER THAT, WE'D SEPARATE THEM UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE PROCEDURE WOULD BEGIN AGAIN. WE WOULD STRAIN THE MILK THROUGH A CLEAN CLOTH INTO A GALLON JUG AND THEN PUT IT INTO A COOLER OR DOWN IN THE COOL WELLWATER AND TIE IT OFF TO KEEP IT FROM SINKING. AFTER SKIMMING THE CREAM OFF THE TOP THE NEXT MORNING, WE WOULD HAVE CREAM FOR BISCUITS OR DESSERTS. AFTER A FEW DAYS, WHEN THE MILK WOULD BE CLOSE TO SOURING, WE WOULD PLACE THE MILK (WITH A LITTLE CREAM) INTO THE CHURN TO MAKE BUTTER. IT WAS A RITUAL WE HAD TO DO ABOUT 2-3 TIMES A WEEK. THE KIDS MOST ALWAYS GOT VOLUNTEERED FOR THE JOB. AFTER MOST OF THE KIDS GREW UP AND MOVED OFF, MOTHER (AND SOMETIMES DAD TOO) WOULD DO THE CHURNING. SEVERAL BYPRODUCTS OF THE CHURNED MILK WERE BUTTER, BUTTERMILK, AND CLABBERED MILK. DAD LOVED CLABBERED MILK WITH A LITTLE SYRUP IN IT. ALONG WITH SOME HOT HOMEMADE BISCUITS, SYRUP, CREAM, AND FRESH MILK, WE'D HAVE A FANTASTIC BREAKFAST MEAL, ALONG WITH SOME PORK MEAT THAT WE PUT DOWN IN SYRUP CANS AND SEALED. IT WAS FINE DINING FIT FOR ROYALTY. WHEN THE GRASS GOT SHORT AND SKIMPY, THE BITTER WEEDS WERE A SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THE COWS, AND THINGS GOT BAD FOR ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS. IF YOU EVER PULL UP A BITTERWEED, PLEASE DO NOT SMELL YOUR HANDS. THEY WILL STINK. WHEN THE COWS ATE THE BITTERWEEDS, THEIR MILK BECAME BITTER, AND IT WAS HARD TO DRINK IT AT TIMES. HOWEVER, IT IS BETTER TO HAVE BITTERWEED MILK THAN NO MILK AT ALL, FOR THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN WE WERE IN THAT SITUATION. ---------------- |
| COMMUNICATION (LINES) 5/20/2007 WE SEE SO MUCH CONFUSION IN OUR PRECIOUS FREE NATION TODAY WITH MOST PEOPLE DOING THEIR OWN THING AND GOING THEIR OWN WAY, BUT WE MUST TAKE TIME TO CONSIDER THE RESULTS WE FIND OURSELVES IN FROM SEEKING OUR OWN RESOLVES AND NEGLECTING THE WAGES OF SIN. WHEN FAMILIES FIND THEMSELVES IN A TIFF ABOUT SO MANY ISSUES WE MUST OPEN THE COMMUNICATION LINES AND LEAN NOT ON TEARS AND TISSUES. WHEN MANY LIVE ON EMOTIONAL AND ANGRY OUTBURSTS-WE MUST DEAL WITH FACT AND WE CAN THEN DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES AND GET OUR LIVES BACK ON TRACK. WHEN MANY POLITICIANS SEEM TO WANT TO RULE OUR NATION BY THEIR WISE WE MUST LET THEM KNOW WHO ELECTED THEM AND STOP THEIR WANDERING LIES. THEY MUST HEAR FROM THEIR POPULACE AND KEEP THEM FROM STEALING OUR LIGHT OR THEY WILL SET THEMSELVES UP AS RULERS EVADING OUR ETERNAL RIGHT. THERE MUST BE A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES TO KEEP THEM ACCOUNTABLE OR WE'LL HAVE A LOST GENERATION WHO WON'T ACHIEVE THE INSURMOUNTABLE. WE MUST KEEP THEM DEALING WITH THE FACTS AND NOT THEIR OWN SPECIALITIES FOR WE FIND IN GOD'S WORD THAT IT IS THE TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE. WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES SO SET ON GOING ON IN OUR SINFUL WAY WE MUST REARRANGE OUR LIVES TO GOD OR RUE THAT JUDGMENT DAY. WE MUST BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE FOR WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH JUST A LITTLE WHILE HERE BUT ETERNITY. THE LORD WILL BE WITH US THROUGH HIS SPIRIT TO URGE US ON SO THAT WE CAN LIVE WORTHILY AND SEE THAT OUR RACE IS WON. WE MUST DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT MOVES OUR LIVES DOWN HERE FOR THERE'S COMING A DAY WHEN WE'LL FACE OUR CREATOR GOD SO NEAR. -------------------- STARLIGHT by Carl Evans 5/28/2007 STARLIGHT, STARLIGHT, EVER SO BRIGHT UNLESS THE CLOUDS COVER THE LIGHT SKY SO FULL OF STARLIGHT TONIGHT FAR ABOVE THIS EARTHLY HEIGHT. GOD SO MADE THE STARS TO SHINE SHOWING HIS LOVE TO THIS HEART OF MINE FOR WHEN THE NIGHT SEEMS DARKEST TO ME HE IS STILL LOOKING DOWN FROM ETERNITY. WHEN WE PERMIT HIM TO ENTER WITHIN HE SHINES HIS LIGHT THROUGH US FORGIVEN MEN HE GIVES US HOPE WITH FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND WORKS HIS WILL IN US TIME AND AGAIN. HAS YOUR LIFE BECOME BITTER AND LONELY? HAVE YOU LOST THAT FEELING OF LIBERTY? COME TO HIM WHO LIVES FROM AGE TO AGE AND LET HIM WRITE IN YOUR HEART A NEW PAGE. YOU WILL RECEIVE A BLESSED LIFE TO LIVE IN HIS FULNESS AND A FULL HEART TO GIVE. SO OTHERS CAN RECEIVE THAT GLORY LIGHT AND RECEIVE A FULFILMENT TO LIVE RIGHT. --------- I CANNOT by Carl Evans 6/2/2007 I CANNOT BE WHAT JESUS WANTS ME TO BE I CANNOT BE GOOD ENOUGH TO EARN ETERNITY I CANNOT KEEP FROM DOING MY HIDDEN SIN I CAN ONLY ASK JESUS TO LIVE WITHIN. I CANNOT LOVE THE PEOPLE I MEET TODAY I CANNOT FORGIVE THOSE WHO'VE MESSED UP MY DAY I CANNOT BECAUSE - OF THE FLESH -DO WHAT I SHOULD DO BUT JESUS WITHIN MAKES ME LIKE HE WANTS ME TO. I CANNOT PRAY FOR OTHERS WHO'VE DONE ME WRONG I CANNOT WORSHIP HIM IN HIS WORD AND SONG. I CANNOT SHINE HIS LIGHT THROUGH THIS TARNISHED LAMP BUT HE CLEANS ME UP SO I CAN REVAMP. ONLY HE CAN MAKE ME CLEAN THROUGH HIS SHED BLOOD ONLY HE CAN MAKE ME INTO SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD ONLY HE CAN GET ME TO THAT PROMISED LAND WHILE HE USES ME AND HOLDS ONTO MY HAND. -------------- TO BE A STAR by Carl Evans 6/4/2007 MANY PEOPLE LOVE HOLLYWOOD AND WANTS TO BE A STAR BUT THAT KIND OF FAME WILL NOT GET YOU VERY FAR. I'D RATHER BE A STAR FOR JESUS AND REFLECT HIS LIGHT FOR THE STARS OF THE UNIVERSE ONLY REFLECT AND THAT'S RIGHT. IF WE WERE THE LIGHT IT WOULD ONLY INCREASE OUR FAME INSTEAD OF GIVING TRUE CREDIT TO OUR SAVIOR'S PRECIOUS NAME. WE HAVE NO LIGHT OF OUR OWN AND MUST DEPEND ON THE ONE WHO CAME FROM HEAVEN ABOVE AS GOD'S ANNOINTED SON. MAY WE BE WHAT GOD DESIGNED US TO BE FOR HIS GLORY AND FULFIL HIS WILL FINISHING THE END OF HIS STORY. ---------- FAITH by Carl Evans 6/4/2007 WHEN WE FEEL SO SAD THAT THINGS ARE NOT WORKING LIKE THEY SHOULD WE FEEL IN OUR SOUL THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT WORKING OUR SO GOOD. THAT'S THE TIME WHEN WE NEED FAITH IN JESUS OUR LORD SO TO SEE THAT HE IS TRUE TO HIS WORDS AND THEY ARE SURE ETERNALLY. THE BIBLE SAYS IN HEBREWS 11 THAT FAITH IS NOR ALWAYS SEEN BUT WE MUST BELIEVE THAT GOD IS IN CONTOL OF EVERYTHING. WHEN WE NEED A MIRACLE TO KEEP US GOING - WE MUST BELIEVE SO WE CAN SEE GOD WORKING IN OUR SITUATIONS TO RELIEVE. WE READ OF THE HEROES OF FAITH WHO KEPT GOING THROUGH IT ALL TRUSTING IN THE ONLY REAL STRENGTH THAT GOD GIVES WHEN WE CALL. WHEN OUR LOVED ONES HEALTH IS FAILING WE NEVER SHOULD WORRY FOR GOD'S PLAN IS WORKING TO FULFIL HIS ETERNAL STORY. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE ONES WHO'VE GONE THIS WAY BEFORE WHO TRUSTED THEIR FAITH TO GOD AND LIVED THEIR LIVES TO SEE MORE. WHEN WE READ STORIES OF HOW THEY COUNTED WHEN LIFE WAS LOW OUR OWN FAITH STRENGTHENS US TO GO ON WHEN THINGS ARE SLOW. FAITH IS SOMETHING THAT IS REAL AND HELPS ALL TO WORK OUR FINE AND KEEPS US GOING ON UNTIL WE CROSS THAT RIVER'S LINE. SO IF OUR FAITH SEEMS TO BE GETTING US NOWHERE AT ALL WE NEED TO REFOCUS ON HIM AND LISTEN TO HIS CALL. HE WILL COME TO US IN ALL OF HIS POWER FROM ON HIGH CONFUSING THE ENEMY TO BRING US HIS FAITH SO NIGH. -------------- GETTING IT RIGHT by Carl Evans 6/7/2007 I WENT TO THE GRAVEYARD TODAY BOWING ON MY KNEES TO PRAY RECALLING THE LESSONS I'D LEARNED AND AUTHORITY I'D SPURNED. IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I LEFT HOME TO SEE THE WORLD AND TO ROAM. IT ONLY GAVE ME TROUBLE AND REDUCED MY LIFE TO RUBBLE. MISSING MY DAD'S FUNERAL COMPARING THE FAKE AND REAL, SHEDDING MANY OF MY TEARS I SAW MY FAITH IN ARREARS. WITHOUT DAD AROUND TO GUIDE AND NO PLACE FOR ME TO HIDE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO LEAVING ME FEELING SO BLUE. THUS I CAME TO THIS GRAVESITE IN HOPES OF MAKING THINGS RIGHT HUMBLING MYSELF ON THIS SOD TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT WITH MY GOD. SEEKING CLEANSING FROM MY SIN ASKING THE LORD TO LIVE WITHIN STANDING UP ON LIGHTENED FEET I FELT MY SOUL TO BE COMPLETE. ----------- |
| DOODLEBUGS and Other Things by Carl Evans 2007 When I was a wee child, I made a discovery that brought much enjoyment to me and to my nephews, nieces, great nieces, great nephews and other children. Under our house, which sits 2 feet off the ground, were a number of doodlebug homes. Their homes were like a volcano about 2-3 inches deep and about 1-2 inches wide. The sides of their homes were made of small grains of dirt and dust combined that allowed the tiniest insect, especially ants, to make a vibration that would cause the doodlebug to start moving at the very bottom. In no time at all the insect would wind up at the bottom for it was impossible for them to climb out the sides and thus became another meal for the doodlebug. Another name for the doodlebug was ant lion. The doodlebug was usually about 1 inch long and 1/4 inch in width and had pinchers on the front that would kill the ant and eat it. Many times, we would take a tiny straw of grass or pine needle or twig and That may have seemed cruel for us to do that but it was "innocent" children having clean fun. A country child found many ways to enjoy life and get dirty. Among other entertainments was mostly crawfishing in a branch or some wet ground. We'd take a piece or bacon rind or a small piece of smoked meat from the smokehouse and tie a string on it and drop it down the crawfish hole or in a small hole of water in the usually dry branch. When the crawfish clamped on the meat with it's pinchers, we'd pull the meat and crawfish up and put it in a bucket or can with water in it and play with it the rest of the slow day. The crawfish hardly ever let go of the meat. Another thing that we would do to have some fun was to catch a lizard and pry
it's mouth open and stick it on one or both ears and it would clamp down and we'd wear them like earrings. It didn't hurt but just a tiny bit. Other times we'd find an old tire and roll it around and pretend we were driving a truck. One of the most fun things we would do was to have a "mud hole" that had a little water in it until it dried up. We'd wade and play in the water and mud until we were called in to clean up. Many times we built "log trucks" etc out of sawed off One very invigorating enjoyment was to get 2 boards and make stilts out of them and walk around the yard and see who could stay on them the longest. Also, we'd take food cans and step out feet in the middle of them and they would conform to our shoes and we'd walk around for a while. There were always many, many things to entertain us around the farm or Mules are a stubborn animal and to be useful, they would have to be tamed and trained rightly. In training an animal, you could not let them get the upper hand or to intimidate you. Many loggers had geldings and mules that were trained to pull a log or logs from where it was harvested all the was to the log truck--sometimes only by voice control. There were many small time sawmills scattered around the country and communities. As soon as they logged out an area, they'd move into a new area. It provided needed cash for farmers and homesteaders through many years. Before the sawmill machines came into existence, the people would dig a pit. With one person in the pit and another up above, they would use a crosscut If the head of the household went to work at a sawmill, the rest of the family took up the slack and raised the crops for the families and animals. Everyone had a part in the responsibilities on the farm. It was a needful arrangement for those times. Some sawmills had little shacks thrown together to house families that traveled with the sawmills. When the sawmill was moved, the shacks were dismantled into walls, floors, and the roof and hauled in wagons, etc. to the new area. It didn't take much time to put the few parts back together. Some larger sawmills built whole towns and had commissaries to provide food and clothing, etc. on credit for the employees and their families. They had to pay a little extra but it was close by for walking. Many times, a family would come up short on payday for they bought more than what they got paid. They eventually learned not to buy much unnecessary things. Many people of the modern world haven't learned that lesson yet for they still depend on credit cards and can't seem to get out of the hole. They need to learn to get by with less. The sawmill towns went out of style by the 1970's and they closed down but allowed their employees to buy the houses and lots for a fair or below market value. Before the 1940's, many pipelines and levees were built with mule power b fore dozers and other heavy equipment became common practice. My dad and oldest brother-who was about 12 at the time, worked 2 mule teams clearing right of ways and moving dirt. My dad knew how to tame and train horses and mules to get the most work out of them. When they didn't do what they should have, dad would cut a 10 foot sturdy sapling about as big as his lower arm and use it to "encourage" them to pull more. They would eventually learn to do more work to escape the sapling or a post. Dad would also use a single link chain about 5 feet long to motivate them. One time, the supervisor came along and noticed bumps on the mules behinds We had a big gelded horse that dad used to farm, ride, and log with. He was broke to neck rein (as a riding horse) or for farming with plowlines attached to the bits in the horse's mouth. One day a tourist got stuck in the ditch and was well bogged down. He walked to our house and dad got the horse and harnessed him up and along with a single tree and chain went back to the car and hooked the chain to the car. The tourist (city slicker) told dad that the horse wasn't big enough to get the job done. Dad didn't pay any attention to him and proceeded to get the horse working. When it looked like the horse wouldn't pull the car out, dad took the long leather plowlines and tapped the horse with the tip ends. The horse added a little more effort but still couldn't move the car. Then dad laid the plowlines heavily on the horse's rear and pulled the car out. That horse was spread out with his stomach about 2 feet off the ground getting his feet planted for the best effort. The man gave dad $20.00 for the job and the lesson. Dad had the idea that he could tame any animal along with his children by |