Evening: at Home

Stormy evenings were busy and enjoyable times in the home; all the family would be home and frequently some neighbours would come in. In winter we would have a blazing fire in the big fireplace that would light up the room. Mother would spin, or knit, or sew. She made most of the clothing for the family. Father made our moc- casins; they were warm and easy on our feet. We tanned the leather at home with tan-bark we got off trees. During these evenings he and my big brothers would make axe handles, Hails, harness and a variety of things used about the place. We made baskets out of spruce roots. The smaller boys would make bows and arrows, guns, rabbit and bird snares, kites, windmills and various kinds of traps and playthings. It was an interesting and lively centre of home manufacture. We learned many useful things that were not taught in the schools.

Sheep Shearing

Sheep shearing was a lively time. It was done just after the seed- was sown. The weather would be warm then. If this were done too early the sheep would suffer from cold, when their great thick winter coats were taken off. We usually had a large flock of sheep. It was great fun for us to help catch them and tie their feet together; if not. tied they might get away when only part of the fleece was off. When tied they were lifted up on a table. Sometimes we had a great tussle with the big ones. The shears had long thin blades and it did not take long to clip the fleece off. The sheep enjoyed having their big coats off in the warm weather, just as people do. The new spring suit was light and cool. They also got rid of the ticks that annoyed them. Sometimes we got their ticks on us; they are about the same as bed bugs, nasty smelling, crawling, biting insects. Anyone who has had to sleep for a night with bed bugs, or ticks, will remember it for a long time. We had a hard time getting rid of the ticks. We could not get rid of them the way we were told the fox gets rid of the flees that get into its fur; it gathers a bunch of wool and holds it in its mouth; then it backs slowly into water; as the water approaches the fleas they move toward the fox’s head and finally take refuge in the bunch of wool; then the fox lets go the wool with the fleas in it. He

is then free to enjoy life.

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