Doreen's Mountain Home

When winter came the mill shut down and he had more free time. He spent more time in town. On December 11, 1937 he had gone to town early as there was a winter storm approaching. He didn’t return so I went to do the milking early, I had to leave the boys in the house by themselves, I would tell them to look out the window until mommy Came back from the barn. I worried about the open fireplace; but Timmy was five and very responsible. After I fed all the animals and hooked the cows up to milk, I felt a sharp pain. Not now! I thought, not now! I buried my head in the warm curve of the cows belly with each pain. I squirted milk into the waiting cats mouth and continued to fill the pail with warm foamy milk. I hurried back to the house and saw that Grant had returned. I was so relieved, but when I entered the house he was passed out in bed. I put the boys next to him and went to the bottom of the hill to carry water up for the night. We already had a deep snow on the ground from the week before and the new snow was falling fast and furious. I had made deep footprints in the snow to guide me up and down the hill. I grabbed two buckets and made my way down the hill. Filling both buckets I started up the hill but the pains were so bad I had to stop and wait until they passed. I made my way to the top. I knew I would need more water for the birthing of the baby but I couldn’t make another trip. I stripped off my wet clothes, dressed the boys for bed and tried to wake Grant. He was out like a light. The old crank telephone had been out of order for over a year. After the boys fell asleep I pulled and tugged on him until he understood that I was in labor. He sobered up fast and walked up the hill to get Norris to go for help.