No doubt if you were born before the 50s and lived in the rural, South, you may not have had electricity. Many, but not all, houses had electric. When I was a kid, my parents nor my grandparents had electricity. later on, my grandparents moved into a house that had electricity. Unfortunately, no electricity equaled no refrigerator, and no refrigerator mean no ice and definitely no ice cream or cold water on hot summer days.

I understand that Iceboxes were introduced into homes in the 1930s - not ours though. Our poor, back-wood, rural, Arkansas family did not get electricity until in the early sixties, so we used an icebox to keep our food cold. This large contraption always amazed me. When I think about it, it was a fine piece of kitchen furnishing. From what I remember, our icebox was about the size of modern-day refrigerators. I have no earthly idea where my parents bought it, but it was pretty and white and appeared to be well insulated.

The upper part (which would be the equivalent of the modern-day freezer) held the large block of ice. I have no idea how long this huge block lasted, but eventually, it dissolved. However, we could preserve its life by keeping the box closed. The longer the icebox stayed closed, without constantly opening and closing it, the cooler the food stayed. And the less frequently we had to purchase ice.

Even though the ice lasted a long time, eventually, it would melt. My Mother would then pour the melted ice water into a bucket, take a piece of cloth, wrap it around a jug of milk and place it into the cold water to keep the milk fresh and cool. She probably did the same for butter and other foods that needed to stay cool in the summer. I don't remember our milk (or any other refrigerated foods) ever spoiling. If our milk spoiled (not from lack of refrigeration), we would simply make corn bread or biscuits with it. Interestingly, you could not taste the "bitter" from the rancid milk, but if you drank it, you got the horrid taste. Now, I know that sounds gross, but it's grossly true.

As a country kid, I always wondered where those big blocks of ice came from. I was not aware of industrial refrigeration or ice-making, but I was sure there was an ice plant up town somewhere where they made that stuff. Seems as though I remember passing by it one day. I saw the deck with all those blocks of ice that would eventually be loaded onto trucks for transportation to rural homes.

Even when Mother had extra money, she didn't have to re-order ice, because the "Ice Man" came around on a regular basis with a pick-up truck full of blocks of ice. His memory is very vague, and all I knew of him, at that time, is that he brought country people ice. As was still common at that time, if we didn't know a person's name, we simply called them by their occupation or whatever we could remember them by, so that's how he became known as the "iceman."

Later when we kids went to the city schools, my younger sister was in the class with one of this man's sons. So. there was the "iceman" all over again. At least I learned that his last name was "Bostic." I could finally match a name with the face, and the old "iceman" became Mr. Bostic.

I think this will wrap up my winter reflections about growing up in the 50s rural Arkansas. Regardless to what you may have perceived as my negative views about winter, I don't want to leave the impression that everything was on the down side. I certainly didn't stay cooped up in the house all winter. The truth is, I did enjoy some of winter...and some, I didn't enjoy, but overall, every season, including winter, is okay with me. For one, there's the beauty of change that each season brings and the "in-between times" can be gorgeous. I love to see Autumn turn into winter, and winter turn into a warm, beautiful, colorful spring, and then have springtime prepare us for the long, hot, hazy days of summer. Now, back to winter. The thrill of the first snow fall brought all of us out of the house. We'd trek through the woods, engage in snowball fights, play games such as making tracks (in the snow) where anyone following the leader was suppose to step only in his/her tracks, thus appearing that only one person had traveled that route. Then, if there was ice on the porch, we'd skate, which incidentally, resulted in my first serious fall (one that came back to haunt me in later years as the "ghost" of lower back pain), but still, at that time, it was a fun fall, and the memory of that long glide across that solid ice porch lingers lovingly in my memory. Thankfully, the back pain has been long gone. We didn't own a camera back then, so I've stored mental images in my mind of winter scenes such as icicles hanging from the tin-top roof. To my childhood mind, it was always a mystery how they formed so long and twisted and crystal clear. Come to think of it, I don't remember that we ever snagged one. They were too high on the porch top to reach without someone holding us up to get one. And to my recollection, no one ever held us up, so I don't suppose we grabbed any. Now, whenever I reflect on winter, I see snow-covered landscapes and pine needles overlaid with ice, their thin, spindle-like "fingers" drooping toward the ground. For a day or two, or sometime three, our world was white with beauty that would soon melt away with the first puff of a warmer, southern wind. Spring would finally gently push winter away.

Living in the countryside can be fun..with one of the most fun parts being staying indoors (during winter) beside a glowing, hot stove..a sack of pecans in your lap with a most enjoyable children's book (I'm speaking of my 50s childhood) just waiting to be read. But finally push comes to shove, and you had to venture outside. There were things that had to be done that couldn't possibly be done from the comfort of a warm room. While we had to walk some, we did have a car. Fortunately, some drivers had snow-chains (for their tires) just in case the ground froze, which occasionally it did. I don't remember Dad ever owning snow-chains, but since it's been so long ago, he just may have. At any rate, I do remember a few slippery-sliding episodes on those wet, country roads. At the time, the "near landing in the ditch" wasn't funny at all, but afterward when the "scare" wore off, I could laugh about it. Winter was by no means my favorite season of the year. I hated those long, cold, wet, and sometimes cloudy days. Perhaps because I was born in June, cold weather was never a close friend of mine. Instead of the three calendar months of winter, this unwelcome visitor seemed to hang around for more than six long months. On the positive side, though, there were a few things I really liked about this "frenemy" season. One was its breath-taking snow-falls. When snow covers everything over, its white, fleece-like cape just makes the world so breath-takingly beautiful. I'd stare out the window, gazing affectionately at the beautifully snow-covered landscape with it sloping vale and the winter sun shining on its glistening, white coat. When the sun shone at a certain angle, the vast fields looked like the ski slopes in Vail, Colorado. From the comfort of my living room, my heart was warmed with winter's gift of freshly-fallen snow. Then, my other favorite thing about winter was sitting by the warm stove while eating a bowl of ice cream made exclusively from winter's first, pristine snowfall. Now, that to me, was real winter living.

Whatever I write about Arkansas winters comes from my childhood as I am no longer a resident of that fair state. However, I do remember, vividly, those long, cold, Arctic-like winters that seemed never to end. They were not typical New England winters, but anything below 80 degrees was cold to me. This season was usually gracious to us until at least after Thanksgiving. Christmas was usually cold but not cold enough for snow. Once, it snowed the day after Christmas, so I never remembered having a White Christmas. So now, that we're into January, I'll see what I can recall from that introduction month of our year. We could almost always expect snow...enough to make our favorite winter dessert "snow ice cream." I may tell you about that later. Anyway, by January, we had to have collected all our winter gear: hats; head scarves; caps, ear muffs (perhaps); high-top shoes; socks; long-johns (if we could afford them); and gloves...No, I don't remember wearing those. Thank God for deep pockets though. They did come in handy. And of course, I searched in the back of the Chifferobe for the heaviest winter coat I could find - be it Mama's, Dada's, Grandma's or one of my younger siblings. All I wanted was some kind of wrap to ward off the southern "hawk." If we had to work, then it was too cold to go outside. but if we wanted to frolick in the snow, then the weather seemed to warm up. Isn't that strange? Work made the outdoors cold. Play made it tolerable. When we had to go to school, then it was cold again. If we wanted to go out and get snow for ice cream, then the weather seemed just fine. If we had to run an errand, it was definitely too cold, but if we wanted to fight each other with snowballs, then, we just put on extra layers of clothing, went outside and had a "ball." Then, again, to go out and cut fire wood., it was cold again. Now, when it's winter in my adopted state, California, all I have to remind me of that dreaded season are the thoughts I cherish of the beauty snow brings and the memory of the first daffodil sticking its head up through the cold, spring ground. Even if it was still cold, the blooming of any flower announced that winter was slowly and surely creeping itself away. I could finally lift my head toward the clear, blue sky and blow my dear old "frenemy" a farewell kiss. "Good bye Old Man Winter," I'd say..."Hello and welcome bright, warm spring time."

Now that you’ve purchased your chains it’s time to put them on. The first thing to do is lay them out on a long flat surface and get the kinks out of them. Compare photos 1 and 2. Look at the difference where the cross links attach to the outer chains. In photo 1 the bottom cross link is twisted. To correct this, lift up the chain at the outer ends of the lower cross link then roll the attaching ends under the cross link and bring them around inside and back over the top. Then the chain will look like the one pictured in photo 2. That’s how it should be the entire length of the chain.

 

 

Now that you have the chain straightened out it’s time to put it on the tire. Begin by draping it over the tire as shown in photo 3. Important: be sure that the outer “latch” is to the outside of the tire as shown in the photo. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in front of the tire or behind it. (Usually it will be to the front on one side and to the rear on the other side.)

 
 

With the chains draped over the tire, start the vehicle and drive forward. When you’ve gone about half of one revolution on the wheel stop (see photo 4). Now, take the end of the chain towards the center of the car and bring it up to the hook at the top inside of the wheel. You may have to crawl under the vehicle to see what you’re doing. (I always stash a small sheet of plastic in the bag I keep the chains in. I photo 5 I used an old dog food bag.) Once you’ve had some experience you’ll be able to do it by “feel.”

  

 

Chains come in lengths to fit several different sized tires. When you get yours install them on your tires and make a note which link you hook the connectors through. On our Cherokee I put the hook through the third link on the inside chain. When you finish you should have the same number of links “dangling” on both inner and outer chains to keep the chains centered on the tread.  Photo 6 shows how the inside "hook" should appear once installed.

 

Once you’ve hooked up the inside chain it’s now time to hook up the outside connector. The outside connectors usually provide some leverage to help tighten the chain. Photo 7  shows where to place the link before closing the connector. The way the connector is designed, as you pull the end over to the closed position it tightens the chain and also uses the chain’s tension to hold the connector closed. The more pressure applied the tighter the connector becomes.

 

When the connector is closed install a chain tightener to help center the chain. As in photo 8. I use a bungee cord instead of the commercially sold chain tighteners. Note how the cross links sag in photo 9. What will happen now is when I drive the vehicle centrifugal force will straighten out the sagging links. When that happens the chain will loosen slightly. If I’m going far (over a half mile), I’ll stop after a hundred yards, take off the bungee cord and move the outer connector one more link tighter (I’d have three “dangling” links instead of two as shown in photo 7.) I’d then re-install the bungee cord and go my merry way. Some of the newer chains have cam tighteners built into them. Those are great and eliminate the need for bungee cords or elastic chain tighteners.

 

 

When it’s time to remove the chains take the chain tightener off, unhook the outer connector then unhook the inner connector. Pull the ends of the chain to the outside and drive the vehicle forward until the chain is free. (See photo 10).

  

Now pick the chains up by lifting them in the center or either end and drop them in a bag or box for storage. Now they're ready to use the next time you need them.

I am not a cold weather person, so it stands to reason that winter is my least favorite season of the year. I just can’t handle those cold temperatures! My husband says I have no blood circulation, and maybe he is right! My blood pressure has always been on the low side. He says, "I don’t know how you can walk from a warm house and be shivering the second you step through the door!"

I am always worried about my children and my husband having to drive on bad roads this time of year. We live on dirt roads here that are, well, let’s just say driving in bad conditions is a challenge! It seems in my mind that we have gotten our fair share of down right yucky weather already too! There have been an awful lot of ice storms already this season, and even now the weather man says there are three to six inches of snow in the forecast for tonight into tomorrow.

But, even with all this complaining I’m doing, I can’t deny the beauty this season presents. The past few days here have been terrible with ice, but I just had to bundle up and venture out with my camera! I’m sure I was quite the sight, stiff-legging my way around on the ice trying to stay on my feet and take pictures. The world looks so different with ice clinging to everything in it! Things truly look like a wonderland!

I know that sooner or later, winter will have to give in to the new green growth of spring! Until then, I will look at my seed catalogues, make my garden plans, and enjoy the beauty this season brings my way!

When I first looked out at the pond the other morning, I was peeved. It looked as though packing peanuts had somehow ended up floating on the pond's surface and lodged in some of the weeds along the perimeter. Having just come through the Christmas season and wrestled with a couple of boxes full of the little styrofoam version of cockleburs, I was pre-disposed to be annoyed when I saw them. (How DO you keep them from sticking to everything, particularly fleece robes and p.j.s? I walked around looking like I was covered with carbuncles for most of Christmas morning...)

As I got closer, I saw that these weren't styrofoam at all, but little islands of ice, left in this peculiar and wonderful pattern as the pond thawed that warm Sunday morning. Even though I had a meeting in Kansas City, an hour and a half away, I knew I had to get a photo (why I don't routinely take my camera with me when I walk the animals, I can't say. Every time I forget it, I see something I wish I'd photographed). So I left Bob Dog, CP and the Ace of Kittens standing by the pond's edge wondering why The Woman had suddenly galloped away.

I shot these photos so quickly I wasn't certain what I had because CP was making motions toward wading the pond, which at that particular moment of our lives simply would not do. But yesterday when I downloaded the images from my camera, I was happy to discover I had gotten a few shots that would convey some of the wonder.

What an awesome world.