I Remember

	Red Cedar Christmas Trees by Harold Hoskins A week or less before Christmas, we would take horse, a sleigh, or a drag if no snow was upon the ground. the tribe would set out for a place we called cedar bluff.. this was down by the river, just east of the turtle tree (which is a story unto itself), and upon a hill side lay cedar bluff. we would pick the tree, usually by a democratic type vote, who ever yelled the loudest, or cried their best, got their way. we would place the tree and one, two, or maybe three kids upon the drag (or sleigh), and off to the slate covered cabin we would go. the tree was cut to size, bottom limbs cut off, and a tree stand, usually made of ole wash pan, as to hold water, and some boards to hold the tree upright. The tree was fancified with strands of hazelnut shells, and English walnut shells, also paper chains, and garlands of pop corn that was strung the week before. and little cut out decorations from Christmas cards that were received the year before. we always liked to have a star on top, but oft time as not, mom placed an angel to perch atop the tree. don't remember packages ever being put under the tree prior to Christmas eve. there was no electric lights, just the shimmer of the "icicles" silvery and shiny upon the tree, from the light of the coal oil lamps. on Christmas morning, there would be oranges, and chocolate covered mountains as we called them, and home made fudge candy, which sis and mom had made from scratch the night before. presents were not a plenty, but they were appreciated.
	Marilyn Sue Pettice I remember when I stayed at Hawbuck over night. Penny and I had to go pee. it was dark out and the out house was out in the Dark. that was scary to me we were only about 4-5 Any way we slipped out of the house and we didn't want to go that far out so we stayed close. Penny ask me you know how I got my name ? how she said like this she started peeing and she peed out penny's ( really came from her hand) as we peed. was that a shock to me! young and Nineveh. Another time my folks lived at Hawbuck they had little baby chicks they were so cute ! I wanted to hold one so I ask my brother Jerry to get me one, Next thing I know this monster hen come out of nowhere and jumped on him fogging him with her wings. They went round and round. Scared me! beat the crap out of Jerry. When we lived in Potomac we kids would play hide and seek was fun. Jerry decided to scare us. He caught lighting buds and smeared them on his face like an Indian then he put them on each of finger nails and then his teeth . Now that was SCARY HA HA LOL. I remember Penny and I pestering Lester and Harold and they were milking old Blue we were calling them names and they started squirting us with the milk. that didn't stop us. So they throw turds at us then chased the cow out of the barn after us. I ran and got squished between the door and the cow. That will teach you and we took off .
	Jim Hoskins I remember when I was younger and Jerry, Steve and Dave Cade and I were standing next to our cellar door. It was close to the 4th of July so they were lighting fire crackers and throwing them. I really wanted to throw one and they being bigger were hogging all the fun. Finally someone hands me one already lit. Being in such a tight little circle I panicked and dropped it in front of the cellar door. My dad just happened to be coming up out of the cellar. The fire cracker just happened to land in wet MUD. About the time he was face to face with it BANG. Mud flew all over my Dad's face and glasses! I headed for the barn because I knew I'd be scooping Manure for awhile. I heard my Dad say that's the dumbest damn thing you've done all year! At which Dave Cade says Don't worry John there's still 5 months left !
	Harold Hoskins about 1958 My sister Eva, not being of sound mind, bought a ski boat. and my dad being of sound mind, and not liking any of sis's boy friends at the time, was often at the helm of the ski boat, but this was not good for one of sis's boyfriends, who was Mr. macho.... and oft time trying to impress sis. the young man was skiing, dad was steering, sis was in boat with dad, cool.. then the young lad put the rope in his mouth, and my dad noticed, and with a snide grin upon his face, my dad, yes my dad, hit the throttle full bore and yanked the poor young man's teeth out. several years later two of the man's son's worked for me. we were talking about sis (Eva) and the two boy's confirmed my story, that my dad had indeed caused him (their dad) to wear a partial plate for the rest of his life. but - he never dated sis again. lol When quite young, I remember the standing order from dad, was for there to be so many trees felled, and cut up for the winter store of firewood each day.. this is was all fine and dandy, except I and Lester, being so little, was of little use in the gathering of the timber. and mom made the older boys take us with them, none the less. so as not to be in the way of the falling trees, so I was told, I and Lester, were made to climb the tree that was about to be toppled. it was either that or get out butts whupped. so we would climb the tree, the older boys, with glee in their hearts - or so it seemed, cut and laughed, and laughed and cut. we held on for dear life to the tree, for it hit the ground with our backs to the ground, we could not hold on, but tried with all our strength.. so we always hoped the tree would fall in a direction that was face down, not a fun ride, but better than the alternative. it is a wonder any of us lived... Lester and I for the rides, and the older brothers when we told on them. mom was not a happy camper. Any one ever tell you of the time Richard wrecked his Chevy down on the corner by Bud Powell's? if I recall right, Dick (Richard) had had a "fine time" in Danville and on way home, west of Jamesburg, fell asleep. or whatever, and wound up hitting the ditch near the mailbox. his car flipped so high it broke limbs off the tree several feet up in the air. Richard unphased, walked home and clumb in bed. then the next morning, Mr. Powell knocked frantically on the door, for he had found the wreck, but no Richard. upon finding out Richard was fine, and not injuries, dad made him along with a bunch of the others, go help bud Powell get the car out of the ditch and brought home. upon uprighting the car.. and for some unknown reason, someone turned on the radio... and the song "I am a rolling on" came on the air. The fourth of July memory, reminds me of the time when I, being about 10, and cousin Bob who was about 8, grabbed a hand full of alligator firecrackers from the older boys. Bob stuffed them in his pocket along with a bunch of farmers matches,, as you might know, farmer's matches will light when struck against one another, and they did.. bob was running down the hill toward John and Kay's cabin, over the river.. all at once bob started running twice as fast,, and his pants were puffing out with bulges with every firecracker that went off.. no one could catch him... finally, he fell,, his pants were removed, and he had welts all over the top of his legs,,, it was quite scary at the time, but now bob and i laugh each time we talk of the incident. From Kearns to Kentucky Back in the 1800's, my great grandparents and several offsprings lived in Kearns Minnesota on a farm (which if I am correct - is the birth place of my grandfather, Truman Leander Hoskins).. one year the locust (or grasshoppers) infested the land and Azariah and Lucrecia had had enough. they traded their farm for a place in Kentucky, sight unseen. Azi and Luci loaded all the kids except let (Lester) and Ttruman (grandpa), into the Calistoga wagon and headed south by south east. Let and Truman's responsibility was to drive a herd of milk cows from Kearns county, Mn. to Kentucky. The amazing thing to me, is that the are reported to have been of the age and 12 and 14. they would drive the cattle all day, find a farmstead, stop and trade milk for lodging and food. Thence the next morning would milk the cows, and start again. This went well, until they got down near Vincinnes Indiana, where unknown from where, a horse, being just a colt joined the herd. Let and Truman would shew the horse away, and the next they knew he was back in the herd. Horse thievery was a hanging offense back then. They just knew they were doomed. They made it to the Ohio river, and having to raise money for the ferry to cross, with the herd, they camped till they sold enough milk to make the fare. Upon loading the cattle, and shewing the colt away, they were quite relieved to be across the state line into Kentucky waters, but upon looking back they espied the young colt swimming along behind the ferry. upon reaching the Kentucky landing, and out of the jurisdiction of Indiana, they decided to keep the colt. And they did. Dimes have Changed........ Twas early 1950's when my dad and his brother Freddie, decided to go an a trip to Kentucky, with their wives, to search our their father's ole stomping grounds when he was growing up. To put the trip in perspective, a few items must be noted... uncle Fred never spent a dime, literally, he saved every dime, and that was his vacation money. remember now that 40 dimes would fill a tank with gas. another thing to note, is that neither Fred nor dad (Harry) had ever been to Kentucky before this trip. Uncle Fred explained when they got back home, that the roads were so crooked and the curves were so sharp that your could reach out the drivers window of the car and get a can of beer out of the trunk, not that uncle Fred ever stretched the truth. upon arriving in Kentucky near where they thought my grandfather Truman (their dad) had lived, they stopped at the local gas station. Today it would be considered a convenience store, but back then it was local Texaco oil gas station. Dad, being in dire need of use the "facilities" asked the proprietor where the out house was.. the gentleman pointed around the corner and down the path aways. Dad took about forty steps toward the house behind the house when the owner hollered wait a minute,,,, oh never mind... Dad had stopped and started again,,, again the proprietor, while washing the windows, said hey mister come here,,, now dad was in dire need to use the facilities, and the guy again said "never mind" After dad done his duty, in the half moon shack.. the owner of the place said "you're Truman Hoskins son, aren't you? For I would know that walk anywheres........ true story as told to me by dad and uncle Fred.... for they had never met the gentleman, and grandpa Truman had not lived there for 50 years or better... Harold Hoskins
	Hi Top Boots About 1936 We lived on a farm and I was 10 ,the oldest of 5 or 6 kids then. I wanted a pair of Hi Top Boots or shoes that were all leather, and came up to almost my knees. One boot had a pocket for a folding knife. It come Oct 4th that year. Dad and mom got me boots, shinny black and the best knife you ever seen. We went to Danville to the court house. A colored man shined shoes for 10cents. Dad treated me to a shine so the boots would last longer. I wore the boots to school, to church, hunting everywhere through the mud and snow. Id dry them over by the old wood stove, I put lard on them to water proof them, and make the leather softer. They were great and I could carry my knife, and clean rabbits, and trap for fur. One day, in the spring it was thawing out and I had cut wood most of the day to deep the house warm, and the kitchen stove going, so mom could cook our meals. Anyway I was tired, wet and muddy. I put the last arm load of wood in the wood box by the stove. I sit by the stove to get warm and propped up my feet; toward the side or the stove, and went to sleep. When I woke up my feet were real hot. I jerked off my Hi tops and the souls were rubber. They were so hot that they about fell off. I cried and was sort of afraid to tell dad. He looked them over and said they could be fixed. He took them to the work shop and put hog rings all out side of the souls to keep them together That worked except when I got to school them hog rings made a lot of noise walking on that wood floor. All the kids would laugh. It was close enough to spring that I just went bare footed the rest of the year. Sure missed them boots. Lesson learned Don't go to sleep too close to the fire. From John Hoskins Nov7, 04
	I remember an Easter Egg Hunt once when Eva and Donny were little, so it had to be in the late 70's, Anyway, Grandpa Harry wanted all the girls (Mother's of the kids, Aunt Sis, Me and sisters-in-law) to do 2 dozen eggs each and bring them to the hunt. Sissy and Dad had collected a bunch of stuffed animals to give out as gifts. So we all went and Sis and Dad hid the eggs while we other grown-ups contained the kids, which were mostly teenagers at that time. When Grandpa said GO!, they were off and collecting eggs. Now the eggs that had stars on them, that Dad had put on, would win a gift. When the hunt was over, we all gathered around Grandpa and he said to hand over the ones that had stars on them and you would win a gift. I had 2 of those eggs and dad was sitting just a couple of feet from me so I tossed them to him. When he caught one it broke and ran down his arm, ooooohh did it stink! One of the sister-in-law, I won't mention the name, had under cooked the eggs a week a head of time. So they had rotten and we had no way of knowing which eggs were bad as the kids had all gotten together and colored all the eggs at the same time a few days ahead of Easter. Dad was upset but decided to go ahead and give out the gifts. When he counted up the star eggs there were still 3 or 4 missing so he sent Sis to go and fetch them on the back side of the house. Now these teens, (Randy, Mike, Tod, Trent, Brian, Butch, Pam, Wendy, Tim, Danny, Lyn, Walt and probably a couple more that I have forgotten), got the bright idea that since they wasn't going to eat any of these rotten eggs, than why not have some fun and started pelting them over the house trying to hit Aunt Sis on the other side. Someone did hit her with a rotten egg and off ran the teens toward the woods with her in hot pursuit. One of the boys, and I believe it was Tod, but maybe one of the others, ran into a barb-wire fence and cut up his leg or thigh area. Aunt Sis was pretty pissed and as soon as the teen was fixed up and sent on his way they all disappeared for fear of what Aunt Sis would do if she got a hold of them. You had to admit it was pretty funny, and you had to be there to really appreciate the humor of it. I'm sure that when the then teenager read this they will remember it and get a laugh out of it. Another time I remember, Marilyn Sue and I were playing dolls on the big front porch while watching Jimmy, he was settling in a wagon I think and we had some doll clothes on him playing dress up and John came home from work. When he came up on the porch he told us girls, "get that boy out of those girl clothes, Christ almighty, you want Jim to growing up thinking he's a girl, and don't let me catch you doing that again!" and he stormed into the house. Well we never dressed him up again but I often think about that whenever I see pictures of Jim. Now can you imagine him ever growing up thinking he's a girl? I Think Not! But it is funny if you try to visualize it! Whoooa! lol Or how about the time Marilyn Sue pushed Jerry into the open pit at the back of the house and told him to get to work not realizing that he had hit his head on the shovel that was laying down there. When she realized what had happened she thought she killed him and ran into the bathroom and locked the door and wouldn't let anyone in. Grandma Eva had to finally bust the door in to get into her and calm her down and make her realize that he was not dead and that he would be okay. It was a pretty close call though, the doc said, any closer and it would have hit his brain and probably killed him. Anyway, he survived and seems to be doing okay as of the last I had heard. There was a time when we lived out on the 40 acres and Dick had just gotten home on leave. We younger ones were down at the swimming hole and he came down to see us. Well, just as he walked up Harold and I were fighting over the swing and lost our balance, (I had to be about 5 or 6 and Harold around 8 or 9) off the edge of the bank we went and neither of us had a good hold and when we lost our grip we landed in the deepest part of the river. Well let me tell you I wasn't drowning, no way, when Harold came up I came up on top of him and down he went and down he pulled me with him and the battle was on for survival! Dick saw what was happening and jumped in, in his uniform, to save us two drowning brats and drug us up on the bank. Let me tell you when he got done with us two we wished we had of drowned. We got us a really good whooping, but in the end, we were glad to see him home on leave. And to this day you will not catch me swimming in a river! Aunt Penny

	More To Come I Hope !