The Red Bellied snake attack

Tales from the Backyard…  We had family friends we used to visit while on the farm and they had a son my age (Dennis) and we were good friends and even when we moved to Forest Lake, I used to hike back out to where he lived and play for the day.  I was ten and full of adventure.  Their neighbors had a barn full of stuff, one of which was an old rail road hand truck, the kind used for moving workmen along the tracks by pumping up and down on the handles.  We got excited and thought we would put it on the tracks again and take off for parts unknown, but it was so heavy we couldn’t even lift one corner.  On the way home along the tracks I surprised a Red Bellied snake basking in the sun.  Rather than slink away, he started to attack.  Luckily the railroad bed is made of rocks and at ten nothing got away alive, but by the time I finally hit it with one, I think I had made a hole about a foot deep; such was my accuracy with throwing objects.  Later

Very first job

Tales from the back yard…   When I turned 10, I was able to work and I got a job at Houles Berry farm in Forest lake picking strawberries.  After toiling away in the hot June sun that first day, I realized that this was not going to be my career and after making 70 cents for the day, I quit.  That was the first of many jobs I would have in my life that I would just walk off.  No 2 week notice, just see ya.  Hey, it worked fine for me.

Spring Rain

Tales from the Backyard…  Sitting on the back porch looking out at the various flower beds, sipping an iced tea having just come in from weeding, nothing spectacular at this time of season, our tween time.  The spring showy flowers have come and gone, then the Irises with their spectacular blooms (thank you the Presby Memorial Historic Iris Gardens for your contributions) and only a few left amongst the slender stalks of flowers past.  The peonies have come and gone in days, it’s so dry.  A fluffy cloud passes and drops a few sprinkles, not enough to moisten the dry soil.  Looking out I see the Hollyhocks have come in bloom, how did they take over my yard.  The Salvia is in full bloom in the bee garden and is being used.  The apple trees have for the first time in 20 years, little bunches of apples.  The plumb had a full complement of fruit but they all fell off,   its coming down this week, as well as the ornamental pear.   Janice said she is going shopping, “what kind of beer do I want, Sam I said”.  She leaves as another cloud passes from west to east as usual and she said “looks like more sprinkles”.  The cloud does a 90 degree turn to the house and by the time she gets to the end of the driveway its pouring.  That was 40 min. ago and it hasn’t stopped. The lightning is so intense Chip is barking to chase it away, and Cady is shivering, something she has never done.  She crawls in my lap and immediately stops, then hops down and goes inside.   Janice just got home, the backyard is awash, from the sprinkles I guess.  Did I mention I love my back yard.