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January 2, 1874 – From the Soddy Journal
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January 2, 1874 – From the Soddy Journal |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart 
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January 2, 1874 – From the Soddy Journal Wind whipped him into the soddy, Sputtered the golden fire, Causing everyone to catch their breath As bitter cold crept in; But his smile delayed its frigidness, By bringing back the warmth Of summer. “It’s here,” he cried, Pulling a dog-earred book Out from his pocket, a Second book from its brown Wrapper.  “Our new calendar!” Children gathered in as if Santa Had made a return trip, To hear father pour over directives Of when to plant, What to watch for, Wooley worms and moon phases, Astrological time-tables When to castrate sheep, Cut hair to encourage growth, Plant below ground crops, Harvest above ground crops, Wean animals, when to Slaughter them, best… A veritable encyclopedia of How-to-when-to-why-to Directory and director, advisor Since Benjamin’s Poor Richard First poured forth All to be anticipated On historical knowledge… …and while the children clamored Around him, noting his voice Lowered in studied projection Of what lay ahead… His wife quietly took up the Dog-earred copy, placed it Safely with her Treasured papers, for on it, There contained notations Of events in his hand, and in Her hand, Of births, and deaths, Fires, and floods, Indian raids and new families Come into the community, From which she would go Back to write about, A few pages Here and there, holding a Dried flower or seed, Yet to contain a story Or two, a ribbon from her Dress, a lock of hair from Their youngest child’s first Cut locks, All treasures, all held within The almanac of last year, And she wished she could put These treasures in her Heart for safe-keeping, but the Almanac, next to her Bible, Would have to do. ©Karilea Rilling Jungel 2 January 2002 Interesting to bring this back as the book was used, initially, just as is laid out above. On December 30, 2003, large headlines proclaimed use of the Almanac by terrorists, and to be suspicious of anyone carrying around an Almanac. Strange, what was once familiar in its antiquated simplicity and uniqueness, could now be construed as terrifying. Thank you for reading. [This message has been edited by Sunshine (01-02-2004 04:25 PM).] |
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| © Copyright 2004 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Enchantress Member Empyrean
since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113Canada eh. |
Oh my....the Farmer's Almanac! Wow!...Oh you know how I love these stories from the Soddy Journal. Excellent! Hugs~ In the midst of winter.. |
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garysgirl  
since 2002-09-29
Posts 19237Florida, USA |
Karilea, my dad still has to have an Almanac every year, and when he used to be able to fish and plant, he always consulted his Almanac to make sure he was doing it on the right days. And, his Dad, my Grandfather, told me when my daughter would be born....from the Almanac signs of the moon. According to my doctor, she was two weeks late, but according to my Granddad, she was right on time. LOL Thanks for bringing back these memories. And, I hope that my Dad isn't picked up for buying an Almanac! Hugs to you sweet lady,  Ethel |
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Kethry Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-29
Posts 9082Victoria Australia |
Sunshine, what a wealth of information you put in your work. It makes it live! Here in the midst of my lonely abyss, a single joy I find...your presence in my mind. Unknown |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
yup I second Kethry. Fantastic Karilea. Maree  "I can't believe |
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Patricia Member Elite
since 2003-04-06
Posts 2160Missouri |
I, too, love your Soddy Journal entries. I think (as you predicted once without Poor Richard) LOL...that I would come to appreciate those who came before me...now, it may be my longing for a simpler time that calls me to the Journal or it may be that I know the author will capture my imagination with her words...or it may be a combination, but no matter what it is, I am so glad I come to read the Soddy. Hugs to you this spring eve in January...we hit 71 degrees today. They say we'll be in the teens next week...Winter returns. I wonder if the Almanac predicted that. One last thing, as I read, I recalled the news of last week regarding those carrying an Almanac...makes me long even more for the days of the Soddy. Patricia |
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Sadelite Member Elite
since 2003-10-11
Posts 2519 |
Sunshine, Your title led me to this. (January 2 is my daughter's birthday-I just posted a poem to her about turning 18!) Anyway, I'm glad it led me here! This was soooo good and of history! My grandpa lived by the almanac and the moon! He "planted" many fence posts in his time, swearing that if you planted them in the ground at the wrong phase, the fence would become crooked. After putting up a few crooked fences of our own, I wonder if there wasn't something to the legend! Sadelite [This message has been edited by Sadelite (01-02-2004 11:02 PM).] |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
I get an almanac every year, just to wander through it. It always gives me that "down home" feeling...like your writing. KJ Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
You are terrifically creative in your writing and so good at evoking memories and images, and I am really glad you made time to write something about our history and culture here! Thanks. lol |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
All of these should be put into one big book...the detail and character developement within the lines always take me away to a much simpler time. Happy New Year |
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dingusjr Member
since 2003-09-24
Posts 415Missouri |
Sunshine....you KNOW this ole history nut would love the Soddy Journal! Very much enjoyed! Larry |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
you write these and do it so consistantly well because you have tapped into a place of "once was"..that few know how to do... I have NO doubt you have walked in those soddy shoes... your pen is a priceless time machine.  Nature poets can't walk across the backyard without tripping over an epiphany. |
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Ericc Member Elite
since 2003-01-31
Posts 4178 |
Incredible write! Eric |
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