When many of us hear the term ‘pioneer woman’, we think of a popular cooking show on The Food Network. This is about the true pioneer women, from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. How would you measure up to the task?
In April, 1903, Carrie Gladys Thomson, age 7, her mother and other members of the family boarded the train from Wisconsin to North Dakota. Her father had gone out several weeks earlier to claim their new land and begin the homestead. He was lured by the great harvest fields and was chasing the wheat rush – similar to the gold rush. Life would be good for the Thomson’s.
The family lived in tents and cooked over a camp fire for several weeks until the house was finished. The closest town with any shopping was 26 miles away, and once a week, someone would travel by horseback to get mail and supplies.
In less than three months, Carrie’s mother, Mary Ann, delivered some bad news to her husband. “Charley, we’re outta here.”
The amber waves of grain would not be a part of my family’s history as they traded in North Dakota’s flat, barren land and returned to the lush, green hills (and rocks) of Wisconsin.
So what’s the significance of this story? Carrie was my paternal grandmother, and I thought of this story last weekend when I lost power in my home. As I sat next to the window knitting a scarf, wrapped in a quilt, hanging on to the last vestiges of daylight, I wondered if I had the attributes of a true pioneer woman. Here’s what I came up with.
√ Likes a good adventure (Provided a warm shower and good bed awaits me each night.)
√ Travels light (But prefers not to.)
√ Enjoys sleeping in a tent and a Conestoga wagon (Does junior high camp count?)
√ Can start a campfire (Butane lighter and fire-starters required.)
√ Makes a good one-pot meal (This, I can do!)
√ Experience squatting in the woods (Had to do this in Africa; swore I’d never do it again)
√ Can assist in bartering (What can a quilt or handwoven blanket buy?)
√ Orientation skills (All I need is the sun and some moss.)
√ Knowledge of trail marking (Sticks and stones.)
Ο Can entertain herself when the sun goes down – Nope, no way, not a chance
In reality, I couldn’t have made it as a pioneer woman, and the prospect of being a prospector would have been wasted on me, and not just because I don’t like to read by candlelight.
It wasn’t fifteen minutes after sundown a week ago, and with no knowledge of when power might return, I was packed and on my way to the Conestoga Crown Plaza where a warm bed and a good dinner was waiting for me. I know. A little soft. What do you do these days when its dark and the power goes out? When it’s five hours before bedtime? (Going to a movie wasn’t an option.)
How about you? Would you have welcomed the songs of wild animals and the opportunity to find nuts and berries for your meals? Just curious – who are my pioneer friends? You’re a far better person than I am.
At least you know they weren’t lying when they told you you weren’t adopted.
Ha! That’s a good one. Thanks, Leslie.
I would have been stuck at home with the dogs and thanking Apple for the back light and a battery that would allow for several hours of reading on my iPad. Nice story, Pam!
Thanks, Kate. Of course, I’d let my I-pad battery get too low. Lessons…
Ah, this brings back memories of the power-sucking ice storm of 2013. Thousands of people without power. Ice-laden trees falling everywhere. We were fortunate enough to have a generator that powered major components in our home. My daughter and her family were not. Temperatures dropped to dangerously low levels and we invited them to share our three-bedroom home until their power was restored.
What did that mean? Two adults, two children, one 90-pound golden and two cats added to our household of two adults and one cat. We assigned one individual to be a cat herder to maintain the kittys’ personal spaces. We cooked using a microwave and our gas cooktop, played lots of boardgames, told stories, sang Christmas carols and huddled up together. Despite the occasional feelings of being locked up in the zoo, we made some great memories during those four days!
I know, my trouble was so pitiful. Yours was an opportunity to make great memories for the grands!
Ha! My idea of “wilderness camping” is a Holiday Inn with only an outdoor pool, sooooo . . . need I say more? 😀
I get it. My camping days are long gone.
LOL — I’m pretty good at most of those things, but I’m with you on the squatting in the woods! They did have a bit of an advantage hiding under those long skirts, but on the other side, they may have been a little damp!
Personally, I love camping, as long as they have room service until at least 11pm.
Around Halloween in 2011, Western MA was hit with a cold front bringing a blizzard of heavy, wet snow. All the leaves were still on the trees, due to a warm Fall. The trees could not stand the weight of the snow. Overnight, every tree (literally) in Longmeadow lost major limbs, split down the middle or fell over, bringing down the power lines. (It was the most terrifying night of my life, due to the trees cracking and smashing down on the deck and house.) We were without power for 8 days, and it was below freezing. We were fortunate: Our gas fireplace gave us warmth and a gentle and comforting light. We read by flashlight and slept in sleeping bags with our dog and cat. Our friends next door, who had a gas stove, made us hot coffe/tea every morning. The whole neighborhood got together every night to have a communal meal to use up all the frozen food that was defrosting. The men with chainsaws cleared the downed trees from the driveways. We all helped each other. As difficult as it was, the comradery and kindness was the great gift.
I know. Experiences like this really put everything in perspective. Thanks.
I consider myself a pioneer woman in many ways taught by past generations through the years. I am now 65 and going strong with alot of determination to win and never give up. I still enjoy nature and surviving off the land. I wish I could live outdoors year round in the beauty of nature. I love to explore new territories and survival skills along the way.
Thank for the response, Jeanette. You’re a much better pioneer than I am.