Strong Women by Linda K. Hubalek

Author:Linda K. Hubalek
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: trail of thread, stitch of courage, thimble of soil, wagon trail letters, pioneer letters
Publisher: Butterfield Books Inc.
Published: 2016-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

Making Progress

Sunday, April 26, 1857

Douglas County, Kansas Territory

Dear Phoebe,

The cold, cheerless grip of an early spring continues to hold our countryside hostage. Even though I’m wearing my heavy shawl, I don’t feel warm today. We’ve hardly had a hint of sunshine and warmth yet this year. Riding home from church today, I noticed the trees down by the river lacked the tiny new leaves that we saw by the end of last April.

Grass is still dormant in most areas. The little bit of sod wheat I got planted last fall is thick because of good moisture, but it hasn’t started its burst of growth.

You can probably tell I’m feeling a little melancholy today because I can’t seem to shake the chill of this last winter out of my old bones. I’m needing a good warm soak in bright sunlight to break my mood-as do my chickens.

The four hens that survived the winter, war, and stewpot are late setting eggs. But eventually I’ll have a clutch of new chicks to restart my flock. (And all of our mouths are watering for some young fried chicken, before an egg has even hatched!)

I’m anxiously awaiting the burst of spring because it finally holds promise of a good year. One fine week of sunshine will change the whole landscape.

Supplies have been slow coming up the Missouri River because high water has made navigating difficult. A steamboat did get up the Kansas River in early April. It wasn’t stopped by weather or border ruffians, so it was a major event, celebrated by the firing of the Old Sacramento.

I made a batch of sugar cookies from the provisions I bought from that boat. They were a belated Christmas treat to my grandchildren. To think I used to make dozens of Christmas cookies in Ohio and never worried about running out of flour and sugar. It had been months since I had either in my cupboard, and I decided to celebrate by baking.

We’re finally making progress on our claims. Although it has been too wet to work and plant fields, we’ve been able to work on other projects. Earlier this year the boys cleared timber down on Bridge’s claim to harvest logs for outbuildings. Late winter was the perfect time to do this, while the trees are dormant and free of their leaves. With the ground frozen, the teams could pull across the fields without getting the heavy load stuck in the mud. Working as a team, the boys have been putting up a building on each place.

Yesterday a pile of logs was delivered in my yard. I went out to watch the unloading and Leander jokingly told me that I could take over and erect the shed. I told him it won’t be the first building I’ve constructed in my lifetime!

I hope they cut enough logs for a chicken house also. The thought just crossed my mind to give the chickens my drafty place and start over on the house. Something solid with a raised plank

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.