St . Nicholas Annual Church Picnic
Page 12A THE BEACON September 2018
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In the OOD OLD DAYS
By Doris Butt
Community Correspondent
goodolddays @ goBEACONnews . com
Growing Up On the Homestead
Not everyone is as privileged as I am . I still live on the farmstead where I came as a toddler . Here I only need a quiet moment to see myself as a happy child playing about the yard and buildings . Many yearn to return to their childhood home , mine surrounds me .
My earliest memory is sitting on a rock in front of the barn and playing with a makebelieve miniature village with houses made of mower teeth and stick soldiers . I remember I had a make-believe playmate I named Mert that battled in war games with me . I often pleaded with my parents to buy me a cap gun like my neighbor friends had to shoot the enemies . It never happened . World War II had a definite influence on my childhood games .
I was about the same age when something special happened once a year . No child who has lived the experience of seeing and hearing that giant threshing machine pulled by a puffing steam engine will ever forget it . The harmonious sounds of the chugging thresher and snorting engine are still very much in my memories . I can still see the neighbor men arriving with their teams and wagons . The ladies helped my Mother cook a special dinner that wouldalthough never a spoken word said so-out do all other meals served . I can smell the worker ’ s sweat , see them washing their faces in the pan on a bench and drying with feed sackcloth towels . A crew of men carried bags of wheat into the granary and up the stairs . I would sit in the bin and they would pore the grain over me . I liked that . It was a wonderful day .
I have only to enter the barn to see my mother milking the cows while Dad did other chores . I can see the horses , Fannie and Barney . I remember slipping them ears of corn and enjoying their chomping noises as they ate . Their noses felt so soft . Later there was another team , Sam and Bob . They were sold when they were of no more use . My father did not ask what would become of them .
I hear the business of the barn : the squeak of the hay wagon and hollow sound of horses ’ hooves as they walk across the wooden floor , the creak of that loaded hay
“ When my time comes , just put me in a Pine Box .”
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FCN-Takeover-Beacon-10x5.45-Ta-Da . pdf 3 5 / 22 / 18 1:05 PM fork as it struggles along the track of the barn , and rattle of impatient horses shaking their harness . I hear the sound of machinery : the slap of the drive belt as it powers the feed grinder , the pulsations of the tractor as each grain bundle is received into that noisy thresher or the corn shredder . I can hear the talk of horses , bellowing bulls , mooing cows crying for weaned calves , cats with kittens , and chickens clucking in nests in the hay . I definitely will not forget the hissing of geese as they chased me . They are sounds so alive and gratifying to my ears .
One of my jobs as a child was pulling the hay rope back . Of all the jobs my parents did I remember harvesting hay the most . My dad pitched hay to my mother who arranged it on the wagon . Later in the barn , she ran the hayfork while my father worked in the mow . ... The tractor driven by my sister pulled the rope that pulled the fork with the hay into the loft . I pulled it back . It always seemed to be a very
The harmonious sound of the thresher and steam engine were a part of life on the farm .
hot day .
Many of the chores I could not do because of a health condition . When I got old enough I cooked dinner while my parents worked in the fields . For some reason I especially remember cooking corn . Home grown corn from the freezer is still a favorite of mine .
I have many special little memories . My father had a special way of keeping the grass mowed . He would tie a calf in the yard . For years afterwards the lawn had special little patches where the grass grew especially high ... I can remember playing in the haymow and on the straw stack . I can remember my father helping me learn to ride a bike .
I can say in all honesty I do not have one unpleasant memory from my youth . God gave me a very positive outlook on life and good parents . And a very special place to grow into adulthood . I say ‘ thank you ’ to Him with every memory .
Schlemmers Celebrate 65th Wedding Anniversary
Ray Schlemmer and Ruth Ann Siefferman were married on August 15 , 1953 . Ray completed a tour of duty in Korea for the Air Force , after which the couple returned home to Bright . Ray worked as a tool and die maker for thirty-seven years . Throughout their married lives , the couple enjoyed traveling through all of the United States ( except Alaska ) and abroad for pleasure . They also went on many mission trips . Being active members of the Methodist Church , Ray was involved in the merger and construction of the Dearborn Hills United Methodist Church . Ruth Ann ’ s activities included president of United Methodist Women , conference lay delegate , and speaker at lay witness missions and
St . Nicholas Annual Church Picnic
Sunday , August 19 , 2018 Buffet Serving 11AM to 5PM Carryout available until 6PM • Mass at 10:30 AM
All you can eat buffet – Fried Chicken or Roast Beef Also St . Nicholas Famous Turtle Soup
Games for the Whole Family
6461 St . Nicholas Rd , Sunman , IN 47041 Directions : I-74 to the Sunman-Milan exit # 156 – Turn south on SR 101 to Sunman ( approx . 4 miles ). After RR tracks turn right and follow signs to St . Nicholas Church ( approx . 3 miles )
Call the parish office with questions ( 812 ) 623-2964 License # 145616
Ray and Ruth Ann Schlemmer
attending retreats . Over a more recent seventeen-year period , Ray and Ruth Ann enjoyed working with the senior events of Old Friends Bright Beginnings .
Ray ( born to Ralph and Clarice Schlemmer ) and Ruth Ann ( born to Clyde and Leora Siefferman ) have two children , Tonyia ( married to Dan Cormican ) and Ron ( married to Donna Malter ), two granddaughters , Leah ( married to David Burkhardt ) and Lauren ( married to Eoghan Reade ), and three greatgrandchildren , Liam Reade , Norah Burkhardt , and Finnley Burkhardt . Ray has two brothers , Glen and Merle , and one sister , Norma ( deceased ). Ruth Ann has one sister , Jane who resides in Florida with her husband , Roy Dawson .
The couple plans to celebrate the blessings of their life together with their family .
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