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Show Jlilfirtnitfr DECEMBER 22, 1995 PAGE 2 Christmas in the Valley, early 1920's jrrVotristm By Norman Baxter It wouldn't be possible to name the many jobs on the farm that were done by the men, from b piing to Christmas. But there were some days that the women of the family took over. That was u ien the Threshing Crew came. My mother would start preparing for that day long before. Roasts ' oi ham, mashed potatoes and other things baked and prepared early on that morning. To a little boy tr was one of the greatest days of the year, second only to Christmas and greater than Thanksgiving. was a puzzle to me why the women of the valley went to such extremes to feed a group of dusty, y veaty men. Simply that; What woman wanted the crew to go to the next farm and talk of the i mager fare that they had received the day before. Mama liked to make cheese. She would put a large vat of fresh milk on the stove, never boil i but only simmer it. She would add a little salt, food coloring and Rennet. (Rennet coagulates the nlk) Then came the tedious job of dipping off the whey. But finally there was a mound of beautiful v, Men curds. Mama would take a pinch of the curds, slip it between her thumb and forefinger, if it v ueaked it was ready for the press. Butter was no problem. If she didnt want to use the large churn full. I would rock it back and forth until I had a ve used a two quart fruit bottle, about butter. of V'ge gob Dad made lots of sauerkraut and it was .nothing like what we eat today. It was delicate, crisp d not bitter sour. He would get 3 fifty gallon, empty vinegar barrels from Jeffersons, clean them h: t.', d then shred about 12 inches of cabbage in the bottom. He would add a little salt then bruise the c bbage with a clean pick handle. Often he would take the handle from me and say "Son, I have told crush don't the cabbage, just bruise it!" After bruising it for a time the cabbage juice, came up .Li, lost to the top, then another layer of cabbage, salt and the bruising. On and on until the barrel was iU. It was then set aside to cure for two to three weeks. Jeffersons would take one barrel in the fall a J another about February. The butcher sold it over the counter by the pound. The other barrel was o rs and for friends and neighbors. Mom would hand me a clatter and tell me to cet some Kraut. ould remove the lid, break the ice and fork heaps on the platter. It never lasted for long. Dad loved to grow Honeydew melons but the season was too short, here. He would pick the ia gest and bury them in the wheat bin. We had ripe melons almost to Christmas. He also wanted to . ow turnips, but would never plant them in the Spring or early Summer. They were too strong and hy. He would broadcast the seed throughout the corn patch in late July. In the fall when the corn a as cut for fodder, the turnips began to grow, far into the cold weather. You can never enjoy a t nip unless you hold it by the leaves peel it as you do a banana and when you bite it, it squirts juice a crisp apple. We would have fresh cabbage most of the winter. Dad would dig a trench in the garden, just v de enough for the cabbage he had saved for this purpose. He pulled them up by the roots, never u move any leaves, place them in the trench with the roots standing up. Then he would cover them v h four or five inches of clean straw and cover that with soil.. Mom would tell me to get a cabbage f r supper, I would kick around in the snow until I found a root, tug and pull on it until out would me the head, fresher and crisper than when it was picked. At Christmas time all farm work ceased, except for the daily chores. The lanes were filled w th snow drifts and the only road that was open was the West Valley Road. It was kept clear for the Model "T" Ford School Bus, driven by Bub Cook. To get to the bus it wasnt necessary to crawl h ough fences, we walked over them on the drifts. The cows and horses were snug in their corrals and sheds. The pigs were warm and contented. The chickens laying more eggs than the family could use. Stacks of straw for bedding ?y d hay for feed. The grain bin filled with wheat and sacks of other grain. The pits were filled with ai' manner of vegetables and the cellar shelves loaded with bottled peaches, pears, cherries and vr Ues And the store room! Bags of flour, sugar, and 5 gallons of honey! Hams and bacon hanging f rom the ceiling and often some venison. The only things needed""from the store were coffee, tea Kerosene and firewood. And then came the time for the Christmas tree! Oh, what a wondrous, beautiful sight that was! Garlands of stringed popcorn and cranberries, and tinsel (tinsel was made of lead and very fragile). Then came the candles! Little tin holders with alligator clamps underneath to hold them on the b; The candles were only lit when all of the family was assembled, and then only for a minute or two, because there was too much danger of fire. The greatest moment of all was when the Star or Angel was p'aced on top. It was these that ( led used when he proclaimed the greatest event the world has ever known. The birth of Jesus the Christ! It was the Angel that led the shepherds to the baby in the manger, and it was the star that guided the Wise Men to the young child. This was Christmas in the Valley. from John & Betty Jimenez at John's Service 437 S. Main - Milford Phone: 387-929-8 ! two-thir- ds f a o - "y . Hailey Whitney and Shaelyn Boyter helped with the drawing. December 16 Winners Chamber Prizes Electric Staple Gun Nora Davis Bonnie's Gift Certificate - Beverly Stewart Craft Boutique Gift Certificate Belinda Anderson Tool Kit - Veda Cox 40-Pie- ce EnjoyWear Gift Certificate - Margaret Grimshaw Pedestal Fan Stacy Hardy Lowell Mellor Gift Certificate -- J. P. Smith Surprise Box Michael Florence Trailside Gift Certificate - Johnny Yee (Must Be Present To Win) Dremel Drill - Mel Prodzinski Shop Vac - Ladell Bealer Bread Maker Kathy Dotson Curio Cabinet - Jana Wadsworth ' (InStore Drawings) Veda's Geraldine Barnes Hong Kong - Vera Cooper Milford Chevron & Foodmart - Tan Rose Sam's Furniture - Norm Lamb John's Service - Deann Holm Holm , Crisp's Bestway-Ashle- y Southern UT Federal Credit Union - Rhet Carter Old Hickory Larson A&F Enterprises-Sharo- n First Security Bank - Bill Ashley Craft Boutique - Russell Rose Station Restaurant - Kathy Acklin Milford Drug - Hailey Carter Circle Four Farms - Sonia Munk EnjoyWear - Ruth SmithMelissa Wunderlich - Joan Holland; Chalys Lamb; Kara Smith; UPEC Sheldon Albrecht; Valerie Sherwood ' 1 Joyous Holidays! community Milford's Christmas services! Sunday.December 24, 6:00 p.m. Candlelight service with music & the story! al" Introducing: Milford Memorial Hand Bells and vocal groups under the direction of Mrs. Susan Jensen. Come share the joy of the season at efficiently minimum mess. and " DECEMBER 23 PRIZES $1 5 Gift Certificate Veda's Christmas Candle $20. Gift Certificate Solutions Battery Charger Milford Drug $25. Gift Certificate Christmas Candle (3) 6 Month Subscriptions to Milford Monitor MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN: $50 Gift Certificate Crisp's Bestway Chair Cordless Drill Fire Safe Nesco Roaster Vacuum Curio Cabinet - 3-Sp- eed First Security $20. Savings Acct. Julie Yardley - Set of Nails Craft Boutique Christmas Wreath Veda's $15. gift cert. Hong Kong Lovers Delight for 2Milford Chevron - Lube & Oil Change Sam's Furniture - Vacuum. Circle 4 Ham Station Restaurant Special for 2 John's Service Case of PopCrisp's Bestway - Black & White TV ; ' SUFCU $25. savings cert.Old Hickory $10. gift cert. A & F Enterprises - Rug Shampooer UPEC Milford Drug - Precious Moments Collectors Kit & Sweatshirt ML West Respiratory - Wreath EnjoyWear - ' rts T-Sh-irt Milford Community Church Lany reported thai help was at the scene immediately, and the was a chimney fire problem handled Witt 350 N. 100 W. Everyone is welcome. with Kids Dmwina fjirls: Mickey Mouse dock; Musicsal Tea Set, Doll House Polly Compacts; Snow-TubMouse Clock; Books; Boys: Mickey Radio Head Set; Horse Stables; Car Set e; '.. Pick up your tickets from these participating Merchants: Station Motel I Milford Drug Store Utah Federal Credit Union Southern Milford Valley Health Care Services Crisp's Bestway Kevin's Auto First Security Bank City of Milford Dance 9:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. John's Service p4 ANDY ROBINSON Saturday- - December 23 INFERNO ; New Year's Eve THE BARNBURNERS Friday - January 5th The Pub is a private club for members only 413 South Main Milford, Uth Solutions Family Chiropractic Circle Four Farms Bonnie's Beauty Salon Sam's Furniture Milford Chevron Cal Energy Old Hickory Inn A & F Enterprises Veda's Hong Kong Corner Drug Whitney Insurance Advanced Development Utah Power & Light Enjoy Wear- - Corner Drug Trailside r zj.. i'j i |