Winter was the one season I loved and my memories of those good times are nice to remember. There were a number of children in our neighborhood and we played on a little hill with our sleds until Mother’s call took us in. I hated to go in and stayed until the last minute. Most all the others had brothers and sisters and played together inside. I was very envious, as I had no one, that is until I was eleven. I would get my crayons and lay on the floor coloring pictures with my cat, Tabby, purring close by. The only trouble with Tabby was that he liked being close but not touched. He was not a kitty to play with or pet.

The lake was only 1-½ blocks away so I spent many times ice-skating. Our skates were the kind you had to clamp onto your shoes. Also we did not have the apparel that the youngsters wear today. We girls wore wool skirts and sweaters, knitted sox over our long stockings and wool sock caps and mittens. I remember asking for knickers one Christmas and how thrilled I was to get them! Also a pair of beautiful wool socks and how I argued with my Mother that I should wear them without long underwear for school. Two or three children came to school all winter with bare knees and I thought that was the ultimate! I even stood out on the porch with my longish rolled up so my knees were bare trying to convince my Mother that I really didn’t get cold! No go though, so I had to continue with long underwear.

When I was about 6 or 7 years old, my Father and Uncle bought a grocery uptown. It was called the Home Grocery and was considered quite deluxe. The only place that offered fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter. Also many other fancy canned foods were carried. All the children at school got the idea that I was so lucky, because I could get all the candies and cookies I wanted for free. Of course I didn’t as Papa explained to me that he had to pay for all those things.

One winter evening my Mother said I could go up to the store and tell Papa what she wanted him to bring home. It was just dusk and visibility poor. I took my sled and loved running and flopping on it and watching the snow under me as I glided along. Just as I got to Dr. Wisemans house he came down his long front walk to turn south. He always walked bent over a little with his hands behind his back. He didn’t see me and I did not see him so consequently I, on my sled, hit him right on the ankles. He fell on top of me, scaring me and making him very irate. He got up swearing and shaking his fist. I wasted no time grabbing my sled and hurrying on to town. When I got back home I said nothing about my experience, thinking no one would know and I would not get scolded. But Dr. Wiseman realized who ran into him and stopped by and told Mother. He said he was sorry when he knew who hit him because I was one of his favorites. Also, that he should have been looking so it wasn’t my fault. That was a big load off my mind!

When the country roads were snow packed the farm people would come to town in their bobsleds. The sleigh bells on the horses could be heard ringing in the clear cold air. I would run, pulling my sled about 3 blocks or so, to where the bobsleds started up Main Street. It was a great thrill to hitch on behind and be pulled clear uptown.

Grandma and Grandpa McLane lived south of town and the west side of the road to their house always had huge drifts of snow. My little cousin Billy and I would go to Grandma’s and delighted in wading those drifts. By the time we got to Grandma’s we were covered head to foot with snow. Grandma hung our wet caps and mittens behind the stove and we would sit close by to dry out and warm up. We listened to Grandma’s stories of her children’s antics and enjoyed thick slices of bread with sugar sprinkled on top. After awhile we were able to go across the road to a field and have fun sliding down the hill.

Many evenings our family would go to Grandma’s and we would all gather in the dining room. Grandpa would build up the fire in the stove and we would start moving chairs from close by to the outer edge of the room. As it grew chilly we would edge them closer toward the stove until Grandpa noticed and fired up again. Then followed the same procedure. Grandma would always tell him, Ira, can’t you keep it more even!

Grandpa used to hold me and peel an apple for me. It was a game to get all the peel off in one piece. Other times he would scrape the pulp on his knife and feed it to me. Grandpa liked to dance when he was young and once in a blue moon he would do a little of the jig for us. Grandpa had been kicked by a horse and was lame in one leg. He used a cane and when we kids got on his nerves, he would stomp his cane and shake it at us with a stern look. He wouldn’t have hurt us for anything, but he sure had us fooled!