I sighed as I looked at the
infant sleeping in the bed I had made out of her play box, and seeing how that
its been every time that I've laid down Bliss would wake. I went head and
started on the jams, I had the table full of all kinds of fruits, Apples,
blueberries, black berries, grapes, everything. Three over large pots of
boiling water, to cook them.
By the time the first of the
children had come pattering into the room had three creates full. And was
putting them in the cart packing them in good and tight so that none would fall
out and break. I looked up to see Shanda standing there,
"Morn'" As I
climbed down she grabbed onto my leg.
"Don't worry," I
told her as I picked her up and carried her back inside. "I'm not going
anywhere yet. It'll be a few weeks. I'm just getting things ready," I explained.
"You see these jars," I pointed to the ones that were in the hot
water, just as I helped her to look at them they made a popping sound that made
her jump then grin. “That means they won't spoil. That lid will help be
good." I walked over to the pot that had some fresh cherries cooking; I
took out a spoon and let her have a taste.
"Would you like me to
keep a jar of that one for you?" I asked her, the grin on her face was
enough.
"Alright, I'll do
that." She watched those jars carefully as soon as they made that noise
Shanda came running to me.
"We have to let it cool,
before you can touch it. They’re pretty hot, so be careful." I took her
over to where I knew that some were cool enough for her to handle,
"Do me a favor, put
these ones in here." I told her. Showing her.
"Mamma," Skyla
called walking into the room, I walked over to her,
"You want a little taste
of the jam?" She shook her head. And reached for me. I let her up. Not
before to long she had fallen back to sleep.
*That’s odd* I thought.
"That’s alright; I can
manage on handed I think." I told her, letting her sleep.
"How's it going
Shanda?" I asked walking over to where she was sitting. The case was
almost full. The next batch was ready. I had to think. I went ahead and put Sky
into my room and let her sleep in there. I had the feeling I knew what was up,
and wanted to be close just incase.
When I entered the kitchen I
had a big surprise, Shanda was covered in the sticky jam, and she was standing
where I had the pot sitting, trying to spoon it into the jars,
"Here let me help
you." I showed her the best way to get the stuff out. I laughed when she
licked the sweet mess off her fingers. She was a mess! I noticed it was even in
her hair! This one was going to have to sit in the tub for a while before all
of it would be coming off.
Once the cart was full and
table had almost nothing left I told her she could go play. But Shanda stood
there looking at me.
"What?" She walked
over to one of the jars and pointed.
"Oh, you want yours do
you?" She nodded, then headed over to my desk and pulled out a pin. Bring
it to me she pointed to the jar.
"What do you want me to
do?" I asked just as the baby started fussing again. I walked over to
where Darlita was sitting and took the infant.
"Come to Mamma,
Baby." I pulled a new pacifier from the freezer and gave it to her. I knew
I was going to have my hands full today for sure.
"I forgot to ask, where
is Sky?"
"My room doesn't feel too
good. She's sleeping at the moment."
"Oh." Darlita said.
As she put the last jar into the crate. Putting Bliss down I took the jars out
and stacked them with the others. The thing was packed tight, with only enough
room for me and the children.
"When I go this time, you’re
all going with me. I think it would be good for all of you." I told her as
I climbed down, now where'd Shanda go, she's a mess."
"I haven't got a clue;
she took off with that jar." Darlita said.
"She wanted that
something terribly. More than she did when I gave her that doll."
"There she is." Dar
spoke out pointing into the hayloft, sure enough she was up there, eating the
entire jar, and she was sharing it with the rag doll I had spoke of earlier.
"Should I go get
her?"
"Leave her Dar, she's
not hurting anything, I can take care of the mess later. But remind me what
that dolls got all over it before we go to bed tonight.
A bit later I walked to where
the girl was still at, I looked up there, and had to smile, although there was
no way I was going to touch her with all the jam she had on her. She had fallen
asleep with the jam covered fingers in her mouth, and doll and jar in the other
hand.
"Keep an eye on
her." I told the dog that was sitting in the doorway; I watched as a
kitten had crawled out of a haystack and wandered over licking the tiny hands
then lay beside her. I grabbed a camera that I had always kept in the barn
taking the picture. I had to savor the moment.
"Mamma?" A small voice called from behind me, I turned and greeted
Skyla, and pulled her into my arms.
"I better now." She
told me.
"I think you’re getting
there, but I think we should go back in, so we don't upset anything."
Skyla had already placed her head back on my shoulder. I knew with in a matter
of time she would go back to sleep. I knew that I should try again to get
something in her, but I also knew that it would have been pointless. It didn't
take me a year to figure out that if this little girl didn't want to do
something nothing could make her.
Just as I sat in the rocker,
Bliss started telling me about her problem and that her pacifier was no longer
cold. Or that’s what it seemed like. I had to think, I didn't want to put Sky
down yet, but the baby needed me and I had sent Darlita out to play so I knew
she would be deep in the woods, she also took her book with her so I had a
feeling I wouldn't see her at least until dinner.
"Sky, I'll hold you
again in a minute," I told her as I put her down and headed to get the
baby. After taking care of that problem she too was able to settle into sleep
again. At least these two could. I haven't done that since the night before.
After she settled I went back to my other daughter. As I rocked I thought about
the new wagon I should build, cause of the feeling I had. Seeing that she was
out, I carried the child back to my bed, and then headed out.
My oldest laughed at the
wagon seats I had made for the cart. The second one even had a seat for Bliss,
who would soon become too active for one to hold for one of those long trips.
"This will make thing easier
come next month." I told her when she came back. Without the eyes of the
children watching I'll hide little treats under each seat so that they can keep
busy and not be too board.
I still can't figure out why
I have a funny feeling that something was about to change again. I brushed it
off and headed to the berry patches. So that I could start on some cakes and
things for the young bunch that were around me. Something I did about once a week
for my girls. I secretly made cookies late that night then have a bag full at
the end of each ones bed. While they sleep if they've done well for that week,
you know the small things like if they've done extra chores, or just been overly
pleasant that week. Skyla calls it the Cookie Fairy. Dar's the only one that
knows the truth besides me, but I won't ruin the younger one's imaginations I
just let her have little fun. Besides I enjoy it. Although I wonder what Ulisa
will think when that child tells her the Cookie Fairy left cookies under her
wagon seat. Oh well I think that everyone will get a good laugh at it. Seeing
that the extras are put into the out door freeze for winter treats, and each
bag is in the respective beds for that child, I climb into a well wanted and
welcomed bed.