Written By Mary D. Johnson
Volume I
(Series of 12 short stories per volume)
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first.
The Puddintain Family
Introduction
This is the first story in a series of short stories written about the Puddintain Family. The stories will describe many unexpected heartfelt adventures that this family will face or curtail while working and living together. The purpose of these short stories is to create and bring back some of life’s basic teachings. Each story has a hidden message and some teaching tools to try and illustrate the thoughts and convictions of the writer.
A long time ago there lived a family by the name of Puddintain. There was Papa Razz, Mama Nellie, and Baby Peaches and of course their dog named Beanie Bone and a cat named Tiny Twister. They all lived together back in the woods in a small country farm house on Apple Blossom Lane located in Blushing USA.
Papa Razz was a carpenter who built everything. He built the house that the family lived in and all the other buildings on the farm. Papa Razz also built his little girl Baby Peaches a special play house which she named, “The Gingerbread House”. It was a cute little play house where Baby Peaches played and spent many hours with her dog Beanie Bone and her cat Tiny Twister.
In the play house Papa Razz built Peaches a large book case. He filled the book case with many wonderful books which Peaches read to her dog and cat along with her special baby dolls. Peaches had tea parties; she enjoyed washing the doll clothes and hanging the clothes up to dry on her very own little clothesline that Papa Razz built for her. “The Gingerbread House”, was where Peaches enjoyed playing the most. The little house had curtains on the windows and rugs on the floor that Mama Nellie had made. Beanie Bone and Tiny Twister enjoyed laying on the soft rug while Peaches read her favorite stories to them. When Peaches was done playing for the day she had her very own key to lock the door, so all her special treasures would be safe until the next time she went in to play.
Mama Nellie was a seamstress she made all the families clothes and spent many hours mending Papa Razzes torn socks and other clothing. Mama made all the breads, cakes and cookies along with some other goodies for her family and for some of the neighbors in her community. Peaches loved to help her Mama bake and she would always look forward to the delivers to the community at the end of the week with her Mama.
They spent lots of time together making homemade jams and jellies. Mama Nellie and Peaches would get up early in the mornings and off to the woods they would go to pick buckets of big blackberries, cherries, strawberries, or whatever the fruits or berries were in season at that time of the year. It was hard work and sometimes the summers were very hot but Peaches always remembered that in the winter the special jams and jellies would taste mighty good on her Mama’s homemade bread.
Mama always put out a large garden so they would have plenty of food for the long winter months ahead. Baby Peaches loved helping Mama put up the green beans, tomatoes, and potatoes for winter. Mama however, never forgot to plant a row or two of fresh garden peas just for Baby Peaches in the garden. Mama knew that the raw peas were her little girl’s favorite vegetable to be eaten raw.
Peaches had her very own apron that Mama Nellie made just for her and when it was time to cook Mama and Peaches put on their look alike aprons and they were ready to get started for a full day of baking. Baby Peaches told Mama Nellie many times she wanted to grow up to be a seamstress and baker just like her.
Baby Peaches was an only child, she had no brothers or sisters so many times her dog and cat were her play mates. Her dog Beanie Bone was given to her on her fourth birthday. Peaches had always wanted a dog and enjoyed teaching Beanie Bone new tricks. Peaches decided on the name of Beanie Bone for her dog because he loved pinto and kidney beans which Peaches didn’t like at all. Peaches would feed the dog her beans a little at a time under the table and when Beanie Bone finished the last bean she would give him a bone for a treat. That was how he got the name Beanie Bone.
Tiny Twister the cat had wondered onto their farm one hot summer’s day. Peaches checked with all the neighbors in her community but nobody claimed the little kitten, so it became hers. Since the kitten was so tiny and was always chasing its tail Peaches decided to name the kitten Tiny Twister. The cat and the dog got along like best friends. You never found them very far apart, and wherever Peaches was the dog and cat was sure to be there too.
Kids check in again with us real soon. Read some more short stories about the Puddintain Family and their new life’s adventures.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first.
Story Number 1
Building Birdhouse’s for Mother’s Day
Today was a special day Papa Razz and Baby Peaches were going to make several birdhouses for Mama Nellie’s Mother’s Day gift. Papa Razz had promised to show Peaches how to make the birdhouses out of some left over lumber he had from when he built the green house shed for Mama Nellie. Peaches enjoyed watching her Papa Razz when he was building. She helped to straighten the nails when Papa bent them or would pick up the nails that her Papa dropped from time to time. Papa taught Peaches how to read the measuring tape and explained how important math and reading is both now and throughout her entire life.
Peaches couldn’t wait for the Saturday before Mother’s Day to come so she could build some birdhouses to give to her Mama for Mother’s Day. The first thing Papa and Peaches did was to gather all the tools and wood they would be using to build the two birdhouses. After finding all the left over pieces of wood they needed it was time to measure, mark, and cut the pieces to size. Each time Papa asked Peaches, if the measurements were correct. Papa wanted Peaches to think and understand what she was doing. Papa explained, to Peaches that if they didn’t measure the wood correctly they might not have enough wood for the two birdhouses. So Peaches measured and measured to make sure the measuring tape and marks was just where she wanted them to be.
Now it was time for Papa Razz to start cutting out the pieces of the birdhouse where Peaches had marked the wood. Papa noticed as he was cutting out the pieces for the birdhouses that Baby Peaches had failed to mark another piece for the roof on the second birdhouse. Papa again asked Baby Peaches to look over the pieces and make sure everything was correct. Peaches shouted, “Oh no Papa, I have forgotten one side of the roof on one of the birdhouses whatever will we do now. “ Papa explained, that they were building birdhouses and if this was a house or a building how this mistake could have been costly, but since they were building small birdhouses he thought he might be able to find another piece of wood to fit the roof on the second birdhouse. Peaches hugged her Papa and said,” I should have thought about this more when you asked me to do so Papa, instead I thought I had done everything right.” Papa Razz explained to Peaches that is how we learn by the mistakes we make along life’s path, but Papa went on to explain when we do things over and over again wrong then we have not learned and some time those mistakes will cost you time and money farther down the road. Papa and Peaches went through the scraps of wood until they found another piece of wood for the missing side of the roof that Peaches needed for the second birdhouse.
Now it was time for Papa and Peaches to assemble the birdhouses. They first put the pieces of each birdhouse into two different groups. Making sure each birdhouse had the correct number of pieces and counted out the small nails that they would use to build each of the birdhouses. Papa and Peaches marked a small x where each nail would go, then they took the hammer and started to nail the birdhouse together slowly trying not to bend any nails during the building. When Peaches had finished the four sides of each of the birdhouse’s she asked Papa if she couldn’t write a note on the bottom of each birdhouse to Mama, before putting the roof on. Papa explained, that Mama would have trouble reading or seeing her note if they wrote it on the inside of each of the birdhouses. Papa suggested, to Peaches that after the birdhouses were all together and painted she might want to write her message to Mama on the bottom of each birdhouse on the outside. The message then could be sealed with a clear sealer. The writing could then be read and be seen forever.
The birdhouses were finally built and ready to paint. Papa Razz told Peaches to think about what color she wanted to paint the birdhouses and what designs she wanted to draw on the birdhouses. Papa asked Peaches if she wanted the house to be plain or have flowers, he told Peaches to write down on a piece of paper what color she wanted to make each of the birdhouses and to draw the designs or some flowers on a piece of paper so she could see how that would look on the birdhouse before starting them. Peaches also wrote the message she wanted for the bottom of each birdhouse it read. Built by Peaches and Papa on May 14 th 1948 “Happy Mother’s Day” to Mama with love.
Now, it was time for Peaches to start painting the birdhouses. The first birdhouse would be a pretty light pink. Peaches decided to put white and yellow daisies all the way around the bottom of this birdhouse. She made stripes on the roof that were made up of a light brown, a little yellow and light green mixture. Peaches carefully blended the paint together to make a unique color for the roof. The birdhouse was looking very nice, but now she was going to clean her paint brushes real good and start painting on the second birdhouse. Peaches decided to completely paint both of the birdhouses, before she would turn the birdhouses upside down to write her message to Mama.
The second birdhouse was going to be a light blue on all the sides and a mixture of white, light cream, and a little light brown mixed together for the shade of the roof. Peaches decided to make the second little birdhouse look like a country scene. She drew a few trees on the birdhouse and put a sun coming up in the back ground, with a little swing in one of the trees that looked just like the one she had in her own back yard. On the other side of the birdhouse Peaches drew a garden spot with an old garden bench, where her Mama sometimes would sit to catch her breath and have a drink of water after working so hard in the garden. Both birdhouses looked bright and fresh, Peaches couldn’t wait for them to dry.
Papa and Peaches decided to go into the house and have lunch while the birdhouses were drying. Mama asked both of them what they were up to out in the workshop and why they were so quite? Papa and Peaches smiled at each other and said, “Mama, you will see soon.” Peaches liked having and sharing a secret with both of her parents from time to time it was fun. While having lunch Mama told Papa she needed to take some fresh vegetables and bake goods she had for sale to several families in the community but she would be back within several hours. Both Papa and Peaches helped Mama with the lunch dishes and then helped her load up the family car with all the goodies she was taking to town to be delivered.
Peaches couldn’t wait to write the message on the bottom of the birdhouses which were now dry. Peaches was writing the messages and date on the bottom of the birdhouses while Papa was getting the clear sealer mixed and ready to paint on the birdhouses. Papa told Peaches that he would apply the sealer since it was different than the paint that she had been using. The sealer was very runny and you had to work fast with it to make it look good and keep it from getting fingerprints all over the birdhouses. Peaches agreed and while Papa was applying the sealer Peaches cleaned up the work benches and put everything away like Papa had taught her too. Papa never minded anyone working in his workshop but when they were done he wanted it clean and picked up, so that the next time Papa returned to work in his workshop it would be ready to go for him.
While the birdhouses were drying from the sealer that Papa had applied, Papa made several hangers to put in the tree just outside the kitchen window where Mama watched the bird’s everyday while washing the dishes. That would be where Peaches would hang the new birdhouses that she had just built.
It was almost time for Mama to return from town when Papa called Peaches to the workshop and said, “Peaches it is now time to go hang the birdhouses in the tree are you ready?” Peaches took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go Papa.”
Papa picked up Peaches and let her hang the birdhouses on each hook he had made for the tree, oh how nice both birdhouses looked. Peaches was so proud of her accomplishments. Peaches hugged and thanked her Papa for helping her. Peaches couldn’t wait for Mama to come home and find the birdhouses she had made for her for Mother’s Day.
Don’t forget your Mother on Mother’s Day let her know in your own way, how much you love her while she is still here with you.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first.
Story Number 2
The Father’s Day Dinner
Baby Peaches wanted to do something special for her Papa Razz for Father’s Day. She thought long and hard on this special surprise and finally she had her answer. Baby Peaches told her Mama Nellie that she decided to make Papa Razz a special Fathers Day dinner all by herself and she wanted to write Papa a special Father’s Day poem from her heart. Father’s Day was still several weeks away but Baby Peaches felt nervous. She was afraid the time would go by too fast and she wouldn’t get the poem done in time, so every night she would write a few words hoping that the poem would be done by Father’s Day.
The next thing Baby Peaches did was to talk to Mama Nellie about the Father’s Day dinner. Mama Nellie suggested Baby Peaches make a list of what she wanted for the special dinner then together they would choose a meat for the main course. Since papa liked all the other vegetables and fruits on the list Mama suggested Baby Peaches pick some of the vegetables and fruits that would give the meal a nice color. After several hours of thought Baby Peaches had her menu written down. Peaches shared her final decision with Mama Nellie to see if they needed anything from town.
The menu read as follows; Center cut pork chops, new potatoes, fresh green beans, sliced carrots and radishes, apple sauce, home made bread and of course iced sun tea with fresh lemon. For desert she was making strawberry Jell-o with fresh cut up strawberries and just a little whip cream on top with a slice of one of her Papas favorite chocolate cakes.
When Mama Nellie seen the menu for the Father Days dinner she said, “ Peaches you have done a very good job putting together a well balanced meal for your Papa, but you will have to make a few of the food items on the menu a day ahead so you won’t be so tired the day of the dinner. Now taking a few minutes more, they both sat down and looked at the menu together, deciding which food items should be made a day ahead and how the food would be cooked so the entire dinner could be served on time for Father’s Day.
The first note Peaches made to herself was to slice the radishes and carrots the day before and put them in a jar of fresh water so the vegetables would be cold and crisp.
The new potatoes and green beans would be dug and picked fresh the day before the dinner. That way when the meat was about 30 minutes from being done Peaches could put the vegetables up to cook.
The day of the Fathers day dinner, Mama suggested Baby Peaches make the Jell-o with the fresh sliced strawberries early in the morning so the Jell-o would have time to set up for the noon meal.
After making the Jell-o Peaches would fill the big gallon glass jug with water and place several tea bags in the jar and sit the jar in the sun so the tea would be ready by noon.
That same morning Peaches would get up early and prepare the meat for the outside smoker it would take about 3 ½ hours for the slow smoker to cook the meat.
The next thing Peaches would do is make the homemade bread herself. Peaches had watched Mama many times make bread but had never completed the task on her own, this would be the very first time and she wanted to do a good job.
Peaches would make the chocolate cake and icing of course with a little supervision from her Mama Nellie. While the cake was baking Peaches would set the table and pick some of Mama Nellie’s pretty flowers for the table.
When the cake was done baking it would be time to place the raised loaf of homemade bread in the oven. Then it would be time to start cooking the green beans and potatoes. By the time the bread came out of the oven the meat and the vegetables would all be done.
Now all the planning and decisions were made and Peaches just waited for the big day. Sometimes she was so excited she couldn’t sleep at night. When she was awake during the night she would try to think of the words she wanted to write for Papa’s poem, but there were so many words in her heart and in her mind she sometimes became confused. Then two days before Father’s Day the words seemed to come into Peaches head like a flood of running water. Peaches sat down and started writing the words that she believed reminded her of her Papa. Here is the poem that Peaches wrote for her Papa Razz, straight from her heart. When Peaches was done writing her poem, she rolled the poem up into a scroll and had Mama Nellie help her to tie a pretty red ribbon around the poem. Peaches decided to put the poem next to Papa’s dinner plate on Father’s Day.
Father’s Day Poem to Papa
Oh, how I love you Papa you’re so very kind and always polite, you will always be my best friend through both the day and night.
I want to thank you from my heart for teaching me to be humble, even when I am not always right and don’t clearly see and sometimes fumble.
I love the home you built for Mama and for me; a home back in the woods with lots of room to roam, and where I will always have my space among the trees.
Papa, thanks for all the things you do for me everyday, you’ll never know how you make my life so enjoyable and complete.
This is the first poem I have ever wrote, I hope it makes some sense, for these words came out of my head, my heart, and I am a little tense.
The last thing I want you to know is that you will always be, my special Papa, my Best friend, and first teacher in my life, with your love, understanding, faith and caring, my life will never be anything but really lovely and neat!
Love you always, Baby Peaches (Age 7)
Father’s Day finally came and everything turned out as special as it could be. The meal was wonderful, even the homemade bread came out just fine and when Papa read his poem out loud after dinner he cried with tears of joy. Papa Razz told Peaches he could never have asked for a better Father’s Day gift and it was extra special sharing the day with the two lovely ladies who were in his life. The gift Peaches gave her Papa he will always treasure for as long as he lives. Papa told Peaches he was going to make a frame to put her lovely poem in and then he was going to hang the poem on the wall by his favorite chair where he could look at it everyday.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first.
Story Number 3
A trip to the big city
Baby Peaches goes to the big city for a special day with Mama. They were going to visit some friends, then to a fabric store to pick out some fabric for Peaches new school clothes for the up coming school year, and of course Mama was taking Baby Peaches out for a special girls out dinner. Just the two of them would be eating at a restaurant where Baby Peaches could eat whatever she choose for the buffet had every kind of food you could think of. Mama was always amazed to see how Peaches picked just the right food combinations. Peaches didn’t fill up on sweets but choose a well balanced plate full of food and only taking what she could eat, while still having the flare of acting like a young lady. Mama was so proud of Peaches and she felt that this was a good time for Peaches to see how other people lived in the big city, it gave Peaches a chance to make choices and at the same time put to use the manners and values she had been taught at home.
Once a year, Peaches and Mama spent their special day out together. It was always an interesting day and it was something the two of them remembered and talked about throughout the year. It was a time for them to expand their mother daughter friendship and bond with one another. Mama Nellie and Baby Peaches always stopped on the way home to get a triple dip of their favorite ice cream. The cones were so big, they were hard to hold and you didn’t dare talk, you had to eat the ice cream cone fast before it melted. The ice cream cones were called Bigee’s you couldn’t buy a smaller cone they just refused to make them. The big three dip ice cream cones were only twenty-five cents. What a deal, all the ice cream flavors were very good. This was the last stop Mama would make before starting home; it was a wonderful delicious highlight to end our special day to the city.
Now full to the gill, Mama Nellie and Baby Peaches were back on the road, it would be another hour before they would arrive home. To help pass the time they always played a few games. Some of the games were looking for a certain license plate or trying to find items along the road, sometimes they counted all the cars that were a certain color. This helped to past the time and before they knew it they would be home.
When the girls got home Papa Razz gave them a hard time telling them he was going with them next year to the city. Papa said he wanted to go to the buffet dinner and of course to Bigee’s to get his favorite ice cream cone too. Papa would tease both of them until Peaches would leave the room. Papa loved teasing Peaches and of course she always knew he was just kidding. The girls never forgot Papa Razz they always brought something back for him. This time Mama Nellie bought Papa a new pair of socks and several new handkerchiefs to wipe his brow when he was out working. Papa always loved the surprise gifts as much as the girls loved buying them for him.
Tonight like so many other nights, Peaches wrote in her dairy before bed. Tonight she wrote what a wonderful day I spent with my mother, she is lots of fun and I love her so much. I always look forward to our once a year trip to the big city. But I am always glad to get home to my house in the country. Here I feel so comfortable and happy. Thank you Lord for another special day with Mama and keep her and Papa safe and sound forever. Oh and by the way Lord, Thanks for letting us get home safe.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first.
Story Number 4
The summer of 1956
In the summer of 1956 the Puddintain family experienced some wonderful adventures that they will never forget. Of course Peaches is the center of these exciting new farm life adventures and with each of these adventures you will be able to share both the happy and sad times this family will experience while learning from each of the situations they are faced with during this summer.
It was the first Saturday in June the summer of 1956 when Peaches and Papa went off to the sale barn. Papa explained to Peaches that they would be buying a small calf for her to feed and raise throughout the following year. Peaches was so excited she couldn’t wait to find just the right little calf to bring home and start caring for since she loved animals so much. That day went well, several hours had past at the auction when all at once Peaches seen the little black calf come out in the ring
The summer fun began when Papa Razz and Mama Nellie decide to buy a small calf for Peaches to care for by herself. They felt that the responsibilities that went along with the bottle feedings and the caring of the calf would be a good experience for Peaches. and she knew it was the one she wanted. The only white spot on the calf was located on the inside of the right ear and the white mark was shaped just like a question mark. “Oh, Papa that is the one I want.” The little bull was not very old and seemed to have a limp when he walked. Papa suggested that they wait for maybe another calf, but Peaches had her mind set on this one. They paid for the small calf and as they were loading the calf into the truck, Papa noticed a cut on the calf’s back right leg. Papa said, “Peaches I don’t like how this cut looks, my better judgment says no to this calf. “ But Peaches insisted they could doctor the leg once they got the calf home. Peaches assured Papa that the calf would be fine; she felt it in her heart. All the way home Peaches thought about a name for the calf, when they were almost home Peaches said, “Papa, I know what I will call the calf. I am going to call him Risky.” “Why is that, Papa asked?” Well Peaches said, “Papa, you felt it was a big risk buying him and I want to show you and the calf that I can and will be able to take care of him.” “Risky, it is.” Papa smiled, as he pulled into the lane to their house.
Mama was waiting for them; she couldn’t wait to see what the two of them brought home. Mama said, “What a pretty little calf and look he has a white question mark in his right ear. Oh, how unique this little calf is” Mama told Peaches. Mama then asked Peaches, “What are you going to name the calf.” Peaches explained about the calf’s back right leg and why she named the calf, Risky. Then Mama looked at the calf’s leg and then at Papa. “What do you think, Razz? It looks really bad, don’t you think.” Papa shook his head, yes. Papa then said,” Lets get the calf into the pen Peaches and try to doctor his leg before night fall.” Peaches went to the barn and brought out the animals first aid kit so Papa could help her fix the calves leg, before she gave the calf its first bottle feeding. The calf didn’t fight either of them. Risky just stood there while Papa fixed his right back leg. The cut was deep it looked like the leg had been cut on a nail or maybe a piece of barbwire. Peaches talked to Risky and told him this was his new home and that his new name was Risky and why he was named as such. The calf rubbed his head on Peaches arm as if to say thank you for bringing me to your home. Papa showed Peaches how to mix the milk for the calf’s bottle feedings. The calf was so hungry he took two bottles. Risky then was locked in the new pen where he could bed down for the night.
The next morning Peaches got up early to go out and feed Risky and check his leg. But when Peaches got to the pen she found Risky just laying down and not moving. Peaches rubbed Risky’s head but he just laid there lifeless. Peaches ran back to the house, calling Papa out to the barn she needed help she couldn’t get Risky up and she knew something was bad wrong. When Papa got to the barn he told Peaches to go get some cold towels and rags the calf had a fever and his breathing was labored. Papa and Peaches worked together and redressed the leg first, the leg looked better than the day before but the calf lay very still as he blinked his eyes at the both of them. Papa knew the calf needed a shot of antibiotic and he knew that the fever had to be broken soon. Papa gave Risky a shot of antibiotics and then they both wiped Risky’s body down until the calf felt cooler to the touch. Peaches looked up at Papa and said, “You were right what will we do if Risky doesn’t get better?” Papa said, “Peaches lets take one day at a time. Peaches then asked Papa to bow his head and say a prayer for Risky. They both bowed their heads and said a prayer. Now it would take time for the medicine to work. Papa told Peaches not to make any bottled milk up for Risky just yet. Risky needed his rest right now more than anything else. That morning Peaches didn’t want to eat breakfast she felt so bad for Risky, she only had him one day and nothing was going like it should. Every couple of hours Peaches checked on Risky throughout the day but he was still no better that evening Peaches asked Papa and Mama if she could spend the night with Risky in the barn but they both said, no. Peaches felt crushed to think that Risky had not eaten anything the entire day and now he would have to be in the barn by himself all night. Papa gave Risky another round of antibiotics hoping that he would be better by morning.
Peaches slept very little that night she wanted to go out and check on Risky so bad but knew her parents would be upset with her should she disobey. Peaches thought morning would never come finally at the crack of dawn Peaches got up and dressed as fast as she could and ran out to check on Risky. When Peaches looked at Risky’s pen she noticed the gate open, her heart was now beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump right out of her chest. Risky was gone, he was no where to be found. How could this be the pen door was shut last night and now it stood open and Risky was gone. Tears filled Peaches eyes as she started back to the house. She hated to tell Mama and Papa about Risky. Mama met Peaches at the door and put her arms around Peaches who sobbed so hard. Peaches told Mama that Risky was gone. Mama smiled and told Peaches,” Risky was much better today. Papa got up early and went out to check on Risky who was very hungry.” Papa said,” I hope Peaches wont mind I am going to feed Risky several bottles of milk, then I am going to walk him for about an half hour to help limber up his back leg.” Peaches looked up into Mama’s eyes and smiled. Peaches said, “God does answer prayers.” Peaches ran out to find Papa and Risky they were just coming down the lane and Risky was walking very well by himself. Peaches ran and hugged both Papa and Risky then she took Risky back to his pen and feed him one more bottle.
Now a week later Risky was doing much better, his back leg was almost healed and Risky was eating all the time. Peaches thought the worst was behind them until several weeks later when Peaches went to feed Risky, she noticed he had gotten out of his pen, again. Oh dear, Peaches thought I hope Risky has not run off. Peaches looked around the fields and other barn buildings but no Risky. Panic was starting to set in when she heard something behind her rustle in the grass. Peaches spotted Risky; he was in Mama’s garden. Risky had munched down most of Mama’s beans and some of the corn that Mama was going to put away for the families food supply this winter. Peaches felt her heart sink, knowing that Mama would be so upset and disappointed because the second garden she had planted for the winters food storage was nearly gone. Peaches put a rope around Risky’s head and guided him back to the pen talking and shaming him the entire way for getting into the garden. Peaches knew the worse was not over she still had to tell Mama about the garden.
Mama had breakfast ready for Papa and Peaches when she came back from the barn. Mama was singing and seemed to be so happy today. Peaches hated to tell Mama the bad news about her garden so Peaches decided to wait and tell Mama after they had eaten breakfast. But during breakfast Mama stated today was going to be a good day for canning the green beans and putting up the corn for winter. Peaches almost choked on her oatmeal as she took a drink of milk to help wash down the oatmeal that was now sticking to the back of her throat. Papa was now asking Peaches how Risky was doing today, but all Peaches could say was that Risky had gotten out of his pen and had been all around the farm throughout the night. Mama then said, “I glad Risky didn’t find the garden, since I don’t have very much food put away yet for us this winter.” Peaches knew she should have said something at that point but the words just wouldn’t come out of her mouth.
While doing dishes with Mama after breakfast Peaches asked,” How many quarts of beans and corn do we need for the winter food supply?” Mama said, “Since the first garden had not done too well most of the food supply was to come from this planting.” Peaches then said,” Mama I have some bad news to tell you.” Risky got into the garden and most of the beans are gone and a lot of the corn was eaten as well as stumped down by Risky.” Mama was silent for sometime, then she said, “You know Peaches; it is your responsibility to keep Risky in his pen and make sure that he can’t get out.” Now we will all have to pay for this mistake.” Peaches said, “Mama I am so sorry for not checking the gate better in Risky’s pen. I feel bad because we might all starve now this winter and it is my fault.” Mama stood there finishing the dishes, saying nothing else for a long time. Then Mama smiled and said,”You know Peaches, “We will just have to make do. We will put up what is left from the garden and then we will have to put up some extra apples and peaches to fill in for the lost vegetables but I think we will be okay.” Peaches gave Mama a big hug and said,” I will never let this happen again I will check the gate on the pen two and three times to make sure it is locked.”
Peaches learned a valuable lesson that day, and Risky knows that the pen is where he is to stay and that the garden will never be his free lunch or overnight snack again. Peaches however, is extra careful and thinks twice about what she is doing. She has become a very responsible person and understands how a mistake like this didn’t just affect her but the entire family.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
Story Number 5
Peaches Starts Second Grade
Summer is over school will be starting soon and the big yellow school bus will be coming down the lane where Peaches lives. However, this school year is going to be a little different for Peaches because she has to feed and water all of her animals and make sure they were okay for the entire day while she is at school. Feeding and watering her animals took extra time and she had to get this done every morning before she could go and eat her own breakfast and get ready for school. This was her new responsibility that she took on during the summer when she begged her Papa and Mama to let her raise a small calf and a few chickens along with her pet dog and cat. This meant that Peaches had to get up an hour earlier every morning to get her chores done.
Peaches has always loved school, learning was fun for her and being able to read and understand things made it even more fun when she was able to help her Papa Razz and Mama Nellie do things around the farm. Her parents had a rule around the farm and it went like this. Papa would say, “Peaches, you can help us with anything on the farm as long as you can read directions, write and spell correctly, and figure out the math on how to solve problems. When you can do these things Peaches, you will be ready to do whatever project we need help with on the farm.” Peaches would always smile and say, “Those projects are called the good stuff on the farm Papa.”
Peaches was into her third week of the new school year and still enjoyed school very much. Oh, there was extra homework this year but it didn’t seem to bother Peaches. She always found the time to finish most of her homework in her classes, having to take very little of it home. This week was special, the teacher asked each student to bring an item to school on that Friday that they might want to share with the rest of the class. Peaches thought long and hard on what she could bring and share with the class, she knew it had to be something that the class would find interesting too.
The next morning while Peaches was feeding her animals she decided to take the birdhouse that Papa and her built for Mama on Mother’s day. It was something special that she enjoyed making and the class wouldn’t believe that she made it herself, with very little help. The paint job was not bad and the house was made strong. The birds had already built a nest in it that summer and had now left for the coming fall season. That morning Peaches asked Mama if she could take her birdhouse to school for the show and tell activity. Mama said it would be okay for her to take the birdhouse to school but reminded Peaches how special it was to her and asked her not to forget to bring it back home that night. Peaches assured her Mother she would take very good care of it.
Today was Friday the students were excited about the show and tell activity. The students brought many different things to share with the class but nothing had been homemade. It was now Peaches turn to show what she had brought and the class was amazed by the fact that she had built the birdhouse by herself and painted it too.
Peaches didn’t tell the class that there was a secret message inside the birdhouse that nobody else knew about except the birds, Mama and Papa. It was a love message she had wrote to her Mama and the year that Peaches built it. When everyone had a chance to show off their item that they had brought it was time to put the items back in the brown paper bags and put the bag on the shelf until they were ready to go home.
Several hours later the bell rang and the class was being dismissed. Everyone was grabbing their brown paper bags and hurried off to catch the bus. When Peaches went to get her brown paper bag she noticed that her bag was gone. Someone had taken her brown paper bag and there was nothing left on the shelf. Oh how Peaches felt her heart drop. Mama’s favorite birdhouse the one I built for her, was gone. Who could have taken it? Peaches knew her name was on the brown paper bag, maybe Monday somebody would return it to her or realize they took her bag by mistake and then they would bring it back. Tears filled Peaches eyes, she felt so bad. She could still hear her Mama’s voice in her head. “You can take my birdhouse to show Peaches, but it is dear to my heart, make sure you don’t forget to bring it back home tonight.” The teacher and Peaches looked every where, but the birdhouse was gone. The teacher told Peaches, she would ask the students on Monday morning about the birdhouse, and for her to run along and catch her bus. The teachers last words were, “Don’t worry Peaches, we will find your Mama’s birdhouse.”
Peaches told Mama what had happened when she got home from school and her Mama understood and told Peaches sometimes things like this happens. Don’t worry about it. “I’ am sure whoever got my birdhouse by mistake will return it on Monday.” That whole night Peaches didn’t sleep much, she was so upset most of the week-end about her Mama’s birdhouse.
The following Monday when the class was called to order, the teacher explained that Peaches birdhouse that she made for her Mama was gone and asked if anyone in the room might have taken it home by mistake? Nobody raised their hands and the teacher as well as Peaches was shocked. The teacher said, “We know that the birdhouse was probably taken by mistake but Peaches and her Mama would like it back.” still nobody raised their hand. The teacher then told the students to go home tonight and look in their brown paper bags to see if they might have Peaches birdhouse and if they did to bring it back the following day and give it to her.
The next day came and went but no birdhouse. Several more weeks went by and still the birdhouse was not returned. The teacher felt very bad for Peaches and several students in the class asked if Peaches couldn’t build her mother another birdhouse, but Peaches smiled and said, “Sure I could but that birdhouse was special and I want that one back.” Nothing more was ever mentioned in the classroom about the birdhouse.
Papa Razz told Peaches,” Sometime this winter we will build another birdhouse for Mama, try not to worry about the other birdhouse.” Papa explained that maybe someone else needed the birdhouse more than your Mama. Papa told Peaches, “He hoped whoever had the birdhouse was enjoying it a hundred times more than her Mama did.”
Cooler weather was coming and the fall leaves were beginning to fall and cover the ground with all its beautiful colored autumn leaves. The colors were so pretty and the more the winds blew the more the leaves began to fall. Peaches loved fall and she knew that the summer was long behind them now. School was still lots of fun but she will always wonder who took her Mother’s birdhouse and she also knew that was the last time she would ever share anything that special again without being able to keep her hands on it at all times. Peaches learned a valuable lesson at an early age from something as simple as a show and tell activity at school, one she will never forget. The second grade is one grade Peaches will always remember.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
Story Number 6
Fall Leaves - Hidden secrets deep in the woods
It was the month of October and the students in Peaches second grade class was studying about leaves. The teacher asked the class what they thought might make the leaves on the trees in the fall to change color? The student’s assignment for the second weekend in October was to go for a walk with one or both of their parents in the woods. Find some pretty leaves to share with the class, record all the things they see while walking through the woods and if the students found any other interesting or unusual items from their walk they could bring the items to school and share them with the other students on the following Monday. Peaches loved going for walks in the woods, so this was one assignment she knew she would enjoy doing.
On the second Friday of October at the supper table Peaches explained what the teacher wanted them to do and her parents both Mama Nellie and Papa Razz said, “That sounded like fun.” Peaches wanted to find as many different things as she could in the woods, because the more things she found or brought back to share with the class the more extra credit she could earn. That night after doing the supper dishes, Mama Nellie packed a small lunch for the three of them and put some water into a jug for them to take tomorrow when they went on their exciting adventure through the woods. Everyone went to bed early that night so they could get up at dawn and start the unknown adventure that lay ahead of them in the woods.
The next morning at 6:00 a.m. the sun was just starting to light the sky. Peaches and her family were up and ready to go. Mama took the lunches she had packed the night before and Papa the water jug and a small shovel. Peaches took a brown paper bag, a pen and a small notebook along with several paper towels and a small box with handles on it just in case she found something extra special to collect. Peaches wanted to make sure she could bring everything back home without damage. Now, it was time to go off into the woods for at least a four hour hike and adventure. Papa explained that the animals and the other creatures that lived in the woods would just be waking up so being quite was important. Looking for unusual things meant they must all be observing and watching where they walked could be very important too.
The birds were starting to sing and fly from one tree to another. The squirrels were running from the ground where they had picked up some fallen nuts and were taking the nuts and hiding them in their nest high in the trees. The leaves on the ground that had fallen from some of the trees were still wet with the morning dew. About 30 minutes into the woods Papa suggested, they stop and sit on a fallen log and quietly watch what was going on around them.
Soon a mother deer and her fawn came from behind a tree both started walking down a small cleared path about 400 feet away from them. The wind was blowing ever so slightly towards them so the deer could not pick up any of their human scent. Peaches started writing down the things that she had already seen. Then again as they were sitting ever so quietly a small fox briskly came through the woods, maybe looking for a field mouse or a chipmunk for his morning breakfast.
Now it was time to move deeper into the woods and this time about 150 feet away hanging in a tree Peaches saw what appeared to be a large gray paper looking wasp nest. Papa said, “Yes you’re right Peaches that is a wasp nest. We need to watch the nest for awhile and if there is no activity around it I will try and get the nest down for you so you can take it to school for show and tell. “But we must make sure it is empty first.” Peaches and Mama Nellie were standing near an olive bush waiting for Papa to get the wasp nest down when Peaches seen a very tiny nest in the bush. It was ever so small. The nest was empty; her hand was larger than the nest which fascinated Peaches. “Could this be a hummingbird’s nest” she asked her parents? Yes Peaches, “That is a well built nest made by a hummingbird. Carefully they took the empty nest from the bush and put it in the box. Papa then put the wasp nest which he managed to get from the large tree into the paper bag and carefully carried it by the branch which he left on it when cutting it from the tree.
Peaches was amazed at all the things they had seen in the woods for only being out there for several hours. What else could they possible find during this adventure? Peaches wrote down all the things she had seen so far and recorded all the things she had found when all at once she dropped her pen in the leaves. As Peaches bent down to pick up her ink pen she noticed a clump of green moss with very tiny red flowers on it. She asked Papa how she might take the moss off the tree. Papa showed Peaches how to slowly remove the bark from the tree that held the moss, as not to destroy the moss since it is ever so delicate. Mama Nellie had wondered ahead of them about 50 feet and noticed a ray of beautiful red and orange flowers. Mama asked Peaches, “Do you know what these flowers are called?” Peaches smiled and said, “Yes, we just studied about these flowers they are rare, they are called Indian paint brushes.” Peaches picked several flowers and laid them carefully between the paper towels so that they could start drying. Peaches recorded more of what she had found in her notebook, the notebook was filling up fast. Papa Razz and Mama Nellie suggested they make a circle back towards the house and see what they find on the way back which would take another couple of hours. So that is what they did.
For the next 20 minutes they found nothing. Peaches said, “Maybe there is nothing else out here.” but Mama Nellie said, “Don’t be too quick to say that, Peaches.” Mama Nellie knew there were some wild mushrooms around one of the old trees and just then Peaches spotted them. The mushrooms were called sponge mushrooms which are eatable. Peaches bent down and picked three of the sponge type mushrooms. While she was picking up the mushrooms she spotted a large ball of rabbit fur. Peaches said, “Where do you think this rabbit fur came from?” Papa Razz said, “He was betting that the fox they seen earlier may have found himself a rabbit and left part of the rabbit’s fur behind.” Peaches then walked another 20 feet when she found several beautiful turkey feathers. Peaches could see their house way up ahead and didn’t figure on finding too much more when all of a sudden she spotted a chipmunk running into an old log. Papa,” What was the Chipmunk running from or was it chasing something?” Papa smiled and said, “I think it was just going to its nest in the log.” They sat on the old log for several minutes to rest when all at once Peaches looked up and said, “Look how pretty the leaves are on this tree.” Mama Nellie said, “Do you know what kind of tree this is Peaches? “Yes, it is a red maple.” The tree was covered with a ray of beautiful deep colored leaves. Peaches went over and picked some 15-20 leaves from the ground all the leaves were a bright and a colorful shade of the autumn which was just starting to color the woods. Peaches placed the leaves ever so carefully in the box and laid another paper towel over them.
The family was all sitting on the old log eating the picnic lunch Mama Nellie had fixed for them. They enjoyed looking around at the beauty that surrounded them. After eating, Peaches picked up a stick and started to move some of the leaves away from her feet, she smiled when she found a wooly worm crawling up her stick. Peaches placed the worm in the box and added that to her collection. Mama Nellie looked down and said, “What else do you see on the ground Peaches?” Peaches looked a little closer she was shocked to see some old nuts from last year that were under the leaves. Peaches bent down and picked them up and added them to the long list of items she had already collected earlier in the day.
The Puddintain family was now headed towards their home which they could see off in the distance about 300 feet away. Peaches turned to each of her parents and thanked them for helping her to find and see the many hidden secrets deep within the woods. The family enjoyed the day’s adventure together and at the same time was able to get some much needed exercise. The school project turned out to be fun for everyone.
When Peaches returned home she wrote about how she thought the leaves changed colors. Peaches knew that moisture, light, and temperatures must play a part in the way the leaves were being colored. Peaches, could see as she looked down through the woods that the colors of the leaves were just starting to change, but how some of the different kinds of trees were not as colorful as others. Peaches remembers that smell of the woods that morning and knows that smell is associated with the signs of fall which now lays just ahead.
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
Just a reminder
When reading these short stories about the Puddintain family, see if you can find the many hidden messages within this story and all the other stories written by this author. The author writes and displays many different characters the family has to learn to live, work and play with; while trying to give us learning tools along the way showing by example how good or difficult life can really be.
The times the family spends together are treasured moments, lived to the fullest. The family shows respect towards one another and applies it throughout the stories at all times. Going back to basics isn’t so bad. Living life to the fullest and appreciating each other can be good and is so refreshing.
Story Number 7
Thanksgiving at the Puddintains
Thanksgiving Day was only three weeks away. This was one of Peaches favorite times of the year. It was a time for the Puddintain family to share their big Thanksgiving dinner with several of the elderly widow ladies who lived in the country close by. Mama Nellie always made more than enough food and the widow ladies enjoyed coming over and sharing dinner with them and all their many stories that had taken place earlier throughout the year.
Thanksgiving was going to be different this year. Peaches and Papa Razz had shot their own wild turkey. It was the first time Peaches was old enough to go turkey hunting with her Papa. Peaches enjoyed the woods and Papa never had to ask her more than once to go hunting with him. Peaches was like his shadow. This year they shot a 20 pound turkey hen and the cleaning seemed to take forever but Peaches knew that this bird would taste mighty good at Thanksgiving and she couldn’t wait to sink her teeth into the juicy meat. Mama Nellie always made several pies and at least three different salads. The cornbread dressing was always a special treat and her gravy couldn’t be beat. Peaches told Mama Nellie someday when she had her own family she too would make a big feast for her family and then both Mama Nellie and Papa Razz could come to her house.
Mama Nellie had made some match alike aprons for Peaches and herself again this year. Mama Nellie always made aprons for the Thanksgiving time dinner. Peaches told her Mama that she loved wearing the new apron; it made her feel like a fancy waitress. This was just a special little holiday gift Mama always made for the two of them.
Mama Nellie and Peaches sat down and made a list of what they were both going to prepare for the holiday dinner. Mama always made two favorite dishes that each of the family members liked the most. This year Peaches was going to make four of the favorite side dishes herself and of course she was making the homemade bread and rolls. Mama was making the wild turkey, cornbread dressing, potatoes, gravy, pies, salad deserts and a new holiday cider punch.
The three weeks had now past and the time to cook and prepare the wonderful feast was upon them.
Both Peaches and Mama Nellie woke up early and started the cooking on the 24th for the following day. Mama and Peaches always had everything done and all prepared except for the turkey which Mama put in the oven at midnight the night before Thanksgiving. The whole house smelled so good. Now that everything was all done and cleaned up both Mama Nellie and Peaches could enjoy Thanksgiving Day without being so tired. Tomorrow they both could enjoy visiting with their company and Papa Razz. Everything went well. The day of Thanksgiving both Mama Nellie and Peaches set the table and placed all the pretty autumn decorations on the table and throughout the house. Everything looked so nice, now they were just waiting for their company to arrive.
The Thanksgiving dinner was so good everything was perfect. The wild turkey tasted wonderful. Peaches shared with the company how she and Papa Razz shot the turkey. While Peaches was telling her story Papa Razz happened to glance out the dinning room window the yard was full of wild turkey again. After dinner everyone settled in for some of Mama’s hot apple cider and talked about the good old days sharing stories about the past.
The north winds were starting to blow harder as Papa brought more fire wood into the house. Everyone made a prediction to when the first snow fall of the season would be. The elderly widows enjoyed their time with the Puddintains and put their request in for an invitation for the next year. This gave everybody something to look forward to for the following year. The Puddintain family would like to wish all of you a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Story Number 8
The Christmas tree
The Christmas tree and the Puddintain family. Papa Razz told his daughter Peaches that this year she could pick out their Christmas tree all by herself. Peaches couldn’t wait for the day to come when she and Papa would walk out in the woods and she could pick out what ever tree she wanted. Papa told Peaches that many times once your out in the woods the trees look small and if your not careful the tree you cut might be too big and then it would not fit in the house. Peaches assured her father that she could pick out a good tree and it would be just fine and of course it would be just the right size. Papa smiled at Peaches and said, “Okay.” Every year Papa had picked out their Christmas tree and every year Peaches stated that the trees Papa picked were just too small. This year Peaches would get to pick out the families Christmas tree. Peaches would need to get some measurements and make sure before Papa cut a tree down that it would fit through the back door and be able to go into their house. Peaches took some of the needed measurements and now just waited for the second week in December to come when Papa and she would be ready for this big new adventure.
Finally the second week of December had arrived and it was time for Peaches and Papa to go cut a fresh Christmas tree and bring it in before the snow storm started later that day. It was cold and dark the wind was blowing and Peaches remarked to Papa that they couldn’t be out in the woods too long or they would freeze. Both of them bundled up warm after eating breakfast and picked up the hand saw and a rope and off to the woods they both walked. Peaches pasted several trees that Papa thought were good ones, but she wanted one just a little larger. Finally up ahead of them another 100 feet away Peaches spotted the tree that she thought was perfect. Peaches reached in her coat pocket to get her tape measure and her measurements for where the tree would be placed in the house that she so carefully had written down, but both were not in her coat pocket because she had wore her heavier coat since the weather was so bad.. Papa asked, “Peaches are you sure this is the tree you want?” Peaches said, “This tree looks small but it is a little bigger than what you pick every year Papa. Go ahead and cut this tree it will be okay it has a nice shape and it is just a little taller that you Papa I am sure it will work.” The wind was starting to pick up and the snow was starting to fall they had to cut the tree and drag the tree to the house and they were both becoming very cold so the measurements of the tree was not as important as Peaches once thought they had been. Finally the tree was down and Papa tied the rope to the trunk of the tree both of them could barely pull the tree up the hill to the house. Peaches made the statement that this tree was sure hard to pull but Papa just smiled and said, “We can do it.” Finally almost 45 minutes later the tree was at the back door of the house. Mama was watching out the window as the two of them pulled the tree to the back door. Mama smiled and thought to herself, Peaches you have picked out a mighty big tree. Mama stuck her head out the back door and suggested they both come in and have something warm to drink before bringing the tree into the house. It was starting to snow harder and they both looked like they needed some warming up.
While drinking some hot cocoa Peaches shared how that tree was the best looking one for its size and she was sure they could get it in the house without any trouble. Papa knew it would never fit through the back door and he knew there was nothing he had to support that size of tree. However, Papa wanted to let Peaches see this for herself. They had finished their cocoa and now bundled up again to go out and get the tree and bring it into the house. When they stood the tree up Peaches let out a loud yell, “Oh no, this tree is taller than our house. What can we do Papa it is too big around it will never go through the door.” Papa said, “You know, Peaches that is just the beginning, I don’t have anything big enough to put the tree’s truck in to support it or water it.” Peaches said, “What do we do now?” Papa said, “Peaches we have two things we need to do. We need to go out and cut another smaller tree before the snow gets any worse that way you will be able to decorate the tree tomorrow with Mama. Then the next thing we need to decide is what we are going to do with this tree that we have cut down.” So let me get the saw and while we are getting another smaller tree we need to figure out what we will do with this big one.” Out to the woods both of them went again but this time they didn’t go as far into the woods and after looking at several smaller trees Peaches stated, “Will this one work, Papa?” “Yes Peaches, I do believe this tree will work, it has a nice shape and it is just a little taller than you.” Peaches smiled and said, “I think you are right Papa this tree looks big enough.” Papa cut the tree down and tied the rope on the tree truck; again they both started pulling the tree to the house. Peaches said, “Papa this tree is much lighter to pull or we are getting stronger.” They were back to the house in no time and the smaller tree went right in the back door and into the five gallon bucket Papa had prepared for the tree to set in. Papa asked, “Peaches have you decided what we should do with the first tree that we cut down.” Peaches said, “Papa lets put the big tree in the hole that you dug several months ago for our new flag pole since you won’t be putting the flag pole up until next summer. The hole is deep and large enough to put the tree truck in and it can support itself if we fill the hole with some dirt and rocks. We can make the tree for the birds by stringing popcorn, berries, and making some nut cups to hang on the tree. This will be a way to feed the birds throughout the winter and the tree will be a place for the birds to get some cover from the weather. It will be the birds, Special Christmas Tree.” What a good idea Papa and Mama thought and that way the tree wont be wasted and at the end of the winter the tree can be cut up for next years fire wood.
This is one Christmas Peaches won’t ever forget. It was much harder to size up a tree out in the woods than it was once it was in the house. From that year on Peaches never told Papa that the Christmas trees he picked weren’t big enough or that they were too small. Peaches was happy to have a Christmas tree to decorate and she realized it wasn’t how big the tree was that made it pretty, but how nice you can make the tree look when you are done.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Puddintain Family. Peaches says, “Count your blessings all of them, for the small ones are as important as the big ones. Share what you have and be glad you have it to share and remember having someone to share life’s experiences with helps you to care.”
* These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
Story Number 10
The Valentine Surprise
The month of February had finally arrived and Peaches wanted to do something extra special for her Mom and Dad on Valentines Day. Peaches wanted her parents to remember this surprise for many years to come. Peaches thought long and hard, then finally a week before Valentines Day
she had an idea.
Peaches decided to make her parents breakfast in bed, paint each of them a special coffee mug and decorate their bathroom with red hearts made of create paper which would go around the large mirror that hung on the bathroom wall above the sink.
Peaches knew she had a lot to do to get ready for the big surprise on Valentines Day, she decided to start painting on the coffee mugs a week early that way the paint would be good and dry. Peaches took two of her Mamas white coffee mugs from the cupboard; and on each she painted a bright red heart and a short message to each of her parents. On Papas mug she wrote, To Papa - The best teacher in my life. Love Peaches. On the other mug she wrote To Mama - You’re my very best friend. Love Peaches. The mugs looked very nice, Peaches thought she had done a good job and hid the mugs in her closet until Valentines Day. Peaches then took some red create paper and made several long stem red roses that she would place on the breakfast serving tray for Valentines Day. Peaches decided to make lots of red hearts of all sizes, she attached a piece of sewing thread to each of the hearts that was how she would hang the hearts from the string all over the bathroom mirror and on the wall around the mirror. Each heart had a word or several words printed on it. Then she took the left over create paper and made it into a long ruffled strip. Peaches would put this on the sides and top of the mirror to frame the mirror. That way when her parents looked in the mirror throughout Valentines Day for whatever reason each would look framed and pretty as a picture and of course they would think of her and all the work she had went to just to make their day so perfect.
Peaches thought about what she could make for their special breakfast in bed. She decided on fresh fruit sliced and arranged on a plate, a blueberry muffin for each of them, (Mama always made the muffins up ahead and froze some for special occasions and of course this was a special occasion) a cup of hot tea would be something to put in their newly painted mugs. Last but not least Peaches thought that a small bowl of oatmeal with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar mixture made into a heart on top of each of the bowls of oatmeal would look pretty and taste good too.
Peaches knew how to do all of these things so she would get up extra early on Valentines Day to get everything together and be ready to serve Mama and Papa before they could get out of bed. Peaches was so excited she couldn’t wait for the special day to come.
At last Valentines Day was here everything went as planned. Peaches got up at 5:00 a.m. she decorated the bathroom by a small light and then washed her hands and off to the kitchen to start the breakfast. She had everything done and ready to go when the alarm went off at 6:00 a. m. Peaches heard Mama tell Papa Razz Happy Valentines Day and Papa returned the greeting to Mama Nellie.
Peaches was all ready to serve them both when they were starting to get up and out of bed. “Stop,” “Please Mama and Papa go wash your hands and come back to bed. I have a surprise for you both.” Mama and Papa went to the bathroom to wash their hands and both gasped at all the pretty decorations in the bathroom. “Oh Peaches, what a nice surprise, we love what you have done.” Back to bed both of her parents went and soon in the door Peaches came with a tray of goodies which was almost too heavy for Peaches to carry by herself. Peaches had to make three different trips into the bedroom from the kitchen so as not to spill any of the breakfast she had worked so hard preparing for the both of them. Peaches looked at her parents faces they were smiling and she could tell how happy they both were, “This was a wonderful surprise Peaches, we have never had breakfast in bed. Everything taste so good and looks so pretty.” Papa Razz said, “We will treasure our mugs you painted for us they are really special and you did such a good job.” Mama Nellie said,
“Peaches you made a wonderful breakfast and your decorations are so lovely. Thanks, for taking so much of your time making our day so special we shall never forget what you have done for us.” Now it was time to surprise Peaches.
Mama Nellie asked Peaches to go get the big brown bag out of her closet which was decorated with red hearts and a card that read, “For our special daughter Peaches, who is always there for us and fills our hearts with so much love and joy.” In the bag was a new red coat which Mama Nellie had made and in the coat pocket was a wooden heart key chain from Papa Razz. The key chain with the wooden heart was hand carved. On one side of the heart Papa wrote, Peaches on the other side the words Love - Faith - Hope. The coat fit Peaches perfectly and the key chain was what Peaches had wanted to put her special keys on for safe keeping. What a wonderful day that Valentine Day in 1948 was and the family will remember it always.
These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
(Shared Thoughts and WrittenOpinions From Our Kids)
New Feature Stories About
"The Puddintain Family "
Written By Mary D. Johnson
Volume I
Check Article Archive - January for earlier stories
Story Number 11
Facts about St. Patrick’s Day
By Peaches Puddintain
The month of March finally arrived and spring was just around the corner but looking out the classroom window Peaches didn’t see anything but snow on the ground. There was no green grass any where in sight. It had snowed several inches the day before and the ground was white for as far as she could see. Each student in Peaches class was to research how St. Patrick’s Day came about and then share these facts with the class. Here are the facts Peaches wrote about to share with her classmates. How many of these facts do you know?
One of the favorite sayings from Ireland is known as Top o' the mornin' to you.
St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14!
34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.
Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.
One estimate suggests that there are about 10, 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.
The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”
In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair.
Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St. Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19 that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt, dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17. Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston, Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade, which began in 1824.
St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.
The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace bringing them together as a nation.
The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”
Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
Peaches received A+ for her report on the subject she researched on St. Patrick’s Day. Peaches made her a green leipreachan hat to wear in class while reading her facts to the class. For some more fun Peaches had a small jar filled with green buttons and the class had to guess how many green buttons were in the jar. The classmate who guessed the correct number of buttons received a four leaf clover pin which Peaches made from a piece of green felt. What a fun subject this was to research and the things Peaches learned would stay with her for many years to come and someday she hoped to share this information with her own children.
These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
Story Number 9
The Snowmen on Puddintain Hill
I will never forget the winter of 1948. The weather had turned bitterly cold right before Christmas. We all stayed inside the house next to the fire where our toes and fingers remained toasty warm. However that was all to change soon. The weather man was calling for a big snow storm today January 1st and he was promising at least 20-23 inches of fresh snow. Our little house was at the end of a very long lane and when it snowed this much, there was no where to go nor could we get out of our long driveway if we had to. Papa Razz always made sure we had plenty of wood cut and covered to keep us warm and Mama Nellie of course always made sure she had several large pots of soup or stew cooking on the old wood stove to fill our tummy’s and keep us from starving. Mama loved to cook and she was always prepared for the bad winter weather that might be ahead.
Today was New Years day and the snow had started falling early this morning. Papa checked the amount of snow that had fallen since early that morning and it was already up to 7 1/2” deep. When looking out the window it was just like someone took a snow globe and shook it up. The snow was coming down harder now and Papa said to Mama and me that we might as well get ready for a long week ahead, because the weather didn’t look like it was going to get any better anytime soon. We all decided to do our own thing and wait for the snow storm to lighten up a bit before going out to feed the animals.
Mama was making me and Pa a new scarf. Mine was bright red and Pa’s was dark green. Papa Razz loved everything the color of green. Mama decided to work on the scarf project until it was time to eat supper. I curled up with a book and read for several hours when all of a sudden the lights began to flicker and go dim. I asked Pa what was the problem, “Papa said, there might be too much weight from the snow on the electric wires.” Right then and there both Papa and I decided to go out and feed the animals before the power went off.
We both bundled up and put on our heavy coats and snow boots and started out the door. Mama gave us both a hug and told us to be careful and for us not to be long since she would have dinner on the table within the hour. Both Papa and I could hardly walk in the snow. The snow was now well over 12 inches deep and there didn’t seem to be any clearing in sight. When we got to the barn we noticed the water for the animals was frozen. The animals would have no drinking water if Pa didn't break through the ice. Several minutes later after chopping and cutting through the ice Pa had the water flowing again for the animals to drink. I had went ahead and feed the grain and the hay to the cows and the horses while Pa worked with the frozen water. We both got done about the same time. I always liked helping Pa with the chores things always went so much faster when we both worked together. As we were headed to the house we noticed the snow was not as light as it had been earlier in the day, but the snow would be just right for making snowballs and a few snowmen. Pa bent down and made a few snowballs and threw them at me. This was fun, Pa and I spent the next ten minutes hitting each other with snowballs which seemed to be harder and wetter than usual. Finally I said, “Papa lets see who can make the biggest snowman and decorate it before going in the house to eat. Papa smiled and said, “You’re on Peaches.”
We both started making the bodies of the snowmen some of the bodies became so big we couldn’t hardly pick them up to put them together so we made lots of short snowmen and with each we decorated them with pieces of coal for their eyes, carrots for their noses and tree limbs for their arms and some old hop sacks for their hats and tore rags for their scarf’s. Before long Mama came to the door to call us for dinner she jumped back and laughed. Mama said, "I thought there were people out in our yard running around." Papa and I had made over 23 snowmen of all sizes. Each of them had their own personality and each looked like they could come alive and dance to the music of frosty the snowman. Mama quickly put on her winter clothes and said, “I want to have some fun too.” Mama made three of the biggest snowmen and put her apron on one of them and she even put her old broom in the arms of another snowman. Papa helped Mama put the bodies together since they were so heavy and too big for her to lift by herself. Now we had all made a total of 26 beautiful snow people and looking out across the yard it looked like the snowmen were all dancing together as the snow continued to fall from the sky, and the shadows of the moon reflected the shapes and sizes of all the snow people in the yard. What a wonderful time we all had and when we were done we couldn’t wait to go in the house and eat some of Mama’s homemade vegetable soup and hot bread.
I will never forget that winter of 1948 the snow stopped falling two days later after reaching 29 inches. The snow people were in our yard for almost four weeks and each of them seemed to enjoy their stay with us back in the woods on Puddintain hill. These are memories I will never forget and someday will be able to share with my children.
Happy New Year. Now it’s your turn to make some wonderful memories together with your family this coming New Year.
These stories may not be copied or reproduced in any way without the permission of the author first
