December 06, 1990 - Warm Memories of Cold Winters PastCIO The Suffolk Times • December 6, 1990
Warm Memories of Cold Winters Past
By Paul Stoutenburah
Ice in the water buckets this morning
told me it wouldn't be long before I'd
have to start carrying water out to the
animals; I have no frost -free water lines
to the barn. A skim of ice is no prob-
lem to the cow for it merely pushes its
big nose through the ice and drinks
away, leaving a broken hole in the layer
of ice behind. The chickens peck a hole
at the edge of their water and likewise
drink.
Fresh water is one of the most impor-
tant items for animals and birds during
the winter when all their other sources
have dried up or frozen. With that in
mind, it's time to get the heater out for
the bird bath. It's surprising how open
water in the winter attracts birds and it's
doubly surprising how fast it evaporates
in the dryness of winter.
This dryness is one of the chief rea-
sons we get dust in the air, more in
winter than in summer. Of course, if a
farmer neglects to get his cover crop of
winter rye in and bare soil is left to the
dry, strong winds of winter, then we re-
ally have a dust storm. I remember read-
ing years ago about someone far out at
sea seeing great clouds of dust traveling
off the land and how that dust could be
translated into millions of tons of top
soil.
To prepare for winter I finished my
wood cutting and splitting. It's a job I
look forward to now rather than one I
hated when young. Seems in those days
there was always wood to be gathered
and cut. The old potbelly stove in the
middle of the living room never seemed
to heat anywhere but that one room.
Holiday gifts for those
Focus on
Nature
Our bedrooms were cold and my mother
always had flannel sheets to crawl into
to ward off that first shock when you
got into bed.
We'd back up to the old woodstove
just before going to bed, turn around
and get thoroughly cooked on the other
side, then rush to the bedroom and jump
in. I don't think we ever straightened
out so that our feet could explore the
bottom of the bed. Rather we'd be in a
knot, sort of rolled up to keep the heat
in.
Hole Went Unnoticed
The house's only insulation was celo-
tex on the inner walls. It was a sort of
pressed, shredded fiber that was soft
enough to put a hole through without
too much difficulty. I remember one
such hole that went unnoticed for years
because I hung a picture over it.
The bathroom was the farthest room
from the big woodstove in the living
room. It was a room you didn't spend
any extra time in. Saturday night baths
took on the appearance of steambaths;
when the kettles of hot water were
brought in off the stove and dumped
into the tub you could hardly see across
the room. How the steam bellowed up
and coated everything with its watery
mist.
When the water was just the right
temperature, I'd strip and jump in. How
wonderfully warm it was what with the
steam boiling up all around you. Every-
thing was fine until you leaned back
against the still -cold white porcelain
tub; then you'd be shocked into the real
world of a winter's bath. After one
scrub clean, I'd bundle up in a big towel
and race to the living room where I'd
finish drying by the glorious heat that
radiated from the woodstove.
This particular stove had two doors
on the front so that huge pieces of wood
could be stood up in it. Many's the
night the stove was stoked with logs so
that they'd hold over 'til morning when
Mom or Dad would start it anew with
special people on your list.
300 Different Gift Items
plus...
• 75 Different Birdfeeders
• Audubon Squirrel -Proof Feeder
• 'Aviadum' window feeder
• Full line of Binoculars
• Spotting Scopes
• Tripods /
• 7 Types of Seed/Suet 1)
• Birdhouses
• Purple Martin Houses
• Birdbaths
• Field Guides
• 135 Book Titles
• 'Gone Birding' VCR Game /
rlTie Birdwatcker's
QV Companion
North Road, (Cty. Rd. 48)
Southold • 765 -5872
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
WOODSHED —Fewer people use wood as a source of heat today but
for those who do it's time to make sure your supply is adequate for the
cold and snowy months ahead.
the hot coals that were still there. When
the stove was really cranking out the
heat, its lower belly would glow with a
dull red - orange.
The section below had a grate and an
ash box that seemed to fill more often
than it should. Emptying it could be a
job every two or three days and usually
the dust could be counted on to fill the
air. I was never very concerned with this
problem but I'm sure my mother was.
Wood ashes were used by my dad in
the compost pile that was part of our
way of life. It was in a special spot in
back of the house. Everything from the
kitchen went there and was covered with
dirt as soon as it was dumped. The
wood ashes were sprinkled over the pile
and mixed in during the process. I'm
not sure but I don't remember my dad
ever using chemical fertilizers on his
garden. Perhaps he did but I think his
compost, which I'm sure had all sorts
of odd goodies added to it, was his only
fertilizer in those lean years.
Every once in a while we'd have
some animal rooting through the pile
but that didn't seem to deter my folks.
One of the many culprits in those days
were the skunks. They were common
then and many a skunk you'd see hit
along the roadside. Once hit there was
always that pungent skunk smell you'd
never forget.
We had raccoons but nothing like we
have now. Occasionally you'd see one
or hear of one being shot or hit on the
side of the road. Seldom did we ever see
them around the house. The same was
true with the opossum. These last two
have moved up from the south and have
multiplied dramatically in the past 10 or
15 years. They seem to thrive in man's
company, making them a real problem
today, as many of us can testify.
And so winter is here. My wood has
been tut. The storm windows are on.
The plants have been taken in and we're
settling down to the winter ahead.
Snowy and colder weather is sure to
come but like the grey squirrel that's
built its leafy snug nest in the top of
the trees and buried its nuts for winter,
we're ready for it. It's part of our world
and we intend to enjoy it. For me, win-
ter is another act on the stage of life
that has its wonders and joys for those
who seek them out.
Fall Forum Series
A Seminar on
Saving The Natural Resources
of the North Fork
December 9 "Guarding Our Natural Assets"
9am -10am Robert Amer - Recycling Manager for East End
Recycling Association
Seminar Location: First Presbyterian Church
Main Road, Southold
No Admission Fee, Public Invited
r,
Y.
x
i
f
T
g
`t
Photo by Paul Stoutenburgh
WOODSHED —Fewer people use wood as a source of heat today but
for those who do it's time to make sure your supply is adequate for the
cold and snowy months ahead.
the hot coals that were still there. When
the stove was really cranking out the
heat, its lower belly would glow with a
dull red - orange.
The section below had a grate and an
ash box that seemed to fill more often
than it should. Emptying it could be a
job every two or three days and usually
the dust could be counted on to fill the
air. I was never very concerned with this
problem but I'm sure my mother was.
Wood ashes were used by my dad in
the compost pile that was part of our
way of life. It was in a special spot in
back of the house. Everything from the
kitchen went there and was covered with
dirt as soon as it was dumped. The
wood ashes were sprinkled over the pile
and mixed in during the process. I'm
not sure but I don't remember my dad
ever using chemical fertilizers on his
garden. Perhaps he did but I think his
compost, which I'm sure had all sorts
of odd goodies added to it, was his only
fertilizer in those lean years.
Every once in a while we'd have
some animal rooting through the pile
but that didn't seem to deter my folks.
One of the many culprits in those days
were the skunks. They were common
then and many a skunk you'd see hit
along the roadside. Once hit there was
always that pungent skunk smell you'd
never forget.
We had raccoons but nothing like we
have now. Occasionally you'd see one
or hear of one being shot or hit on the
side of the road. Seldom did we ever see
them around the house. The same was
true with the opossum. These last two
have moved up from the south and have
multiplied dramatically in the past 10 or
15 years. They seem to thrive in man's
company, making them a real problem
today, as many of us can testify.
And so winter is here. My wood has
been tut. The storm windows are on.
The plants have been taken in and we're
settling down to the winter ahead.
Snowy and colder weather is sure to
come but like the grey squirrel that's
built its leafy snug nest in the top of
the trees and buried its nuts for winter,
we're ready for it. It's part of our world
and we intend to enjoy it. For me, win-
ter is another act on the stage of life
that has its wonders and joys for those
who seek them out.
Fall Forum Series
A Seminar on
Saving The Natural Resources
of the North Fork
December 9 "Guarding Our Natural Assets"
9am -10am Robert Amer - Recycling Manager for East End
Recycling Association
Seminar Location: First Presbyterian Church
Main Road, Southold
No Admission Fee, Public Invited
r,