Ranch Memories

 by Selah Barger

Growing up in Southern California was a childhood dream.  My brothers and I lived with our mama and daddy on a ranch with a whole bunch of animals and orange trees.  Supper, school, and sunsets were always highlights of my day.

After my brothers and I would finish our barn chores, we’d have about an hour and a half ‘till we needed to wash up for supper. Supper typicicly included tastey sausages and russet burbank potatoes topped with mama’s fresh churned butter. On speacial occasions, such as birthdays or Christmas, mama made her fabulous blueberry lemon pie, which we would wash down with hand squeezed orange juice.  After we ate, we would heard the cattle back into their pen for the night. Well , at least that is what we did in the summer while school was out.

During the school year me and my brothers had to wake up at 4:30 in the mornin’ so we could do our chores, then walk the four and a half miles to school and get there before the bell rang. The school master was kinda scary. He had this big black snake whip that he  would whip the kids with if they were misbehaveing. He said it teaches them a lesson. Half way through the school day, we got to play outside for recess. To the left of the school house was a big oak tree with low limbs that me and my freinds always climbed until it was time to go back inside. During the lessons, we tried to pass notes when the schoolmaster was not looking. If we got caught, he sent us home with a letter for ma and daddy, then we really got it. When we came home from school each evening, we listened to daddy reading the good book to the family. Then we ate supper and packed up the leftovers for the next day’s lunch at school.

The sunsets ‘round here are breathtaking. There was a path near the ranch that led to the orange grove, which was about two and a half acres long, where we would see beautiful sunsets.  The fireflies came out at dusk. My brothers and I would catch ‘em in a jar and later release ‘em for the chickens and ducks as a treat when we get back to the ranch. After the sun was gone, we used lanturns to find our way back to the ranch.

It was a great childhood filled with many memories. I’m grateful that I got to grow up on a ranch to enjoy beautiful sunsets, delicious meals and exciting days!