Levi and Mattie invited us up for supper tonight, and it was just what the doctor ordered. A gaggle of kids around a long wood table, the oil lamps casting a nice glow across the table. Mattie made pizza and I brought along a couple bags of nacho chips and some taco dip I'd made. I also made dirt cups for the kids which made them laugh.
Levi, Andy and Amos got their first deer and Mattie and Katie have spent the day processing deer meat. They can it and they make sausage which is smoked.
The kids were very excited when we came in because they immediately spied, with their little eyes, a Pie Face game. They couldn't have it until after supper, but it was such an exciting thing that they had to run next door and get Grandma over to see this marvel. Grandma got a giggle out of it too.
At some point during the summer, I'd taught the girls how to play cat's cradle, a string game I'd played for hours as a child. I was pretty surprised they'd never heard of the game before, and they got quite excited about it. I thought it was for my benefit, really, because it is just a simple repeating pattern game. I guess I was wrong about that. I was pretty surprised when Reuben pulled out a string and sat down with me to play a game. It has become a favorite recess game at the Amish school. They all had never managed to get through the diamond pattern, and they were determined to learn it. Reuben got it first. Then he taught Elizabeth, chattering the instructions in their own tongue. After a few tries, Elizabeth got it. They were all quite excited at that point, and gathered around to teach Katie as Sarah and Druscilla crowded in to watch closely. Grandma looked on fascinated. She'd never seen the game either.
So we all sat there playing games as the lamplight flickered, the adults visited, the children giggled, and little David sat on his blanket in the middle of the floor contentedly chewing on a teether as Rudy hung upside down from a chair making faces at him.We began gathering up to leave. One of the children ran down to the smoke house and brought us a venison summer sausage.
This week has been a challenging one and it was wonderful to set all the worries aside and just relax with friends. We left and they crowded out on the porch to wish Tim luck.
Indeed - best of luck to Tim and what lovely friends.
ReplyDeleteOh they are, and quite honestly, I did not know how badly we needed this until it happened. It just felt so wonderful.
DeleteHow lovely! Just the thing, as you say. Laughter and friendship can cure a lot of ills.
ReplyDeleteNot sure about curing, but boy, it can give you a break from worrying about things. As we were leaving the house, Mattie said something, and I responded, "I know, but in case you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a worry wart." Mattie laughed and said she was too. "I wonder why we're like that?" and from across the room next to the big kitchen wood stove came the answer from Grandma. "Because the men don't worry at all."
DeleteVery difficult to worry about anything when surrounded by giggling children. I think cat's cradle has disappeared here too, though I remember children playing it in my childhood.
ReplyDeleteYou are right. I need to get about a half dozen of them and keep them around for emergencies!
DeleteSounds like just the perfect way to ease the tension and worry of this week.
ReplyDeleteIt was. It really was.
DeleteI'd forgotten all about cat's cradle, I shall have to have a try of it with a granddaughter sometime.
ReplyDeleteMore good luck wishes to Tim from here too
I was surprised that the girls had been so interested that they taught the boys.
DeleteI remember cat's cradle, then there was 'jacks' little silver knobbly things, threw them up in the air and then picked up as many as you could. Balls against the wall in innumerable games and skipping. All playground games and no handheld phones.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about jacks. I wonder if they still even make them? I remember full well how painful it was to step on a forgotten jack.
DeleteAnd the answer is yes. They still do make jacks. I remember it as an inexpensive game that hung on a tree inside the door of the little corner store along with small inexpensive cars and dolls and hand held puzzles. Now they range in price from $12 and up~
DeleteIt sounds like a well needed evening of good fun with friends. Pie Face looks like a hoot and I remember cat's cradle.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun to watch the kids. The younger ones were a bit afraid, but once they realized that the hand wasn't going to hit them, everyone got in on the fun.
DeleteWhat a lovely evening - I was in stitches over the Pie Game!! I remember Cat's Cradle too, and jacks, and dibs, and my favourite which was French Skipping, with a length of elastic round two people's legs and you had to carry the elastic over with your feet, in ever more complicated moves.
ReplyDeleteWishing Tim Good Luck and hope the op is soon a dim and distant and very successful memory.
You know, I remember that we called it Chinese Jumprope. I never had one, and the kids that did have them did not want to pair up with someone who didn't know how to do it, but it looked fun to watch the other kids.
DeleteYou have a unique and lovely relationship with these folk. The evening must have been especially helpful this week.
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful friendship.
DeleteA perfect evening. Just what you need
ReplyDeleteWe sure did. PS: I can't stop being shocked at how those people repaid your kindness. Doesn't the BnB have their contact information so that you can pursue this legally?
DeleteWhat a lovely evening! I've never seen Pie Face, which is fun for the one who doesn't get the pie in the face. The laughter in the video is very infectious.
ReplyDeleteI only ever played Cat's Cradle on my own, along with two balls, Jacks and Fives, and, of course, skipping.
Oh, it is great fun. The boys especially loved it and spent a lot of time working out how they could get the whipped cream in their mouths. I heard Mattie tell Levi, "This is going to be a lot of fun when all the nieces and nephews are here." The kids nearly fell out of their chairs every time.
DeleteOh, my gosh. We used to play cat's cradle and I loved it! My grandmother was so good at string games. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful balm to the soul for you and Tim to eat supper with your friends. What sweetness.
Nearly as soothing as time on the beach with a heron named Brad.
DeleteWishing Tim and you the best of all outcomes tomorrow…. We’re all pulling for you!! Another Deb
ReplyDeleteWe have to be at the hospital at 5:30, which means we'll be leaving the house at 4. Which means I'll be getting up at 2:30. Which doesn't even really matter, because I doubt either one of us will get much sleep.
DeleteBest of luck to Tim. Hope all goes smoothly and he heals quickly.
ReplyDeleteI think at this point, we're both just ready to be on the other side of this. We were talking last night and it just feels as if this has been hanging over our heads forever.
DeleteIt sounds like a lovely way to spend the evening. Saying a prayer for Tim, that all goes well.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pixie. I know that he will appreciate that. We've got a good little group here.
DeleteSounds like a good way to take your mind off things. However, I don't understand the attraction to the pie in the face game. I guess I understand it from a kid's perspective but that fellow in the video must be half drunk.
ReplyDeleteHis reaction does seem a bit over the top, but what a dandy grandpa he'd make!
DeleteCat's cradle was a favorite of the Inuit and they did some incredible things. They seemed to be very fast. So I'm surprised to hear that cat's cradle is still around in some places.
ReplyDeleteOh, that's the fun of it. You go faster and faster until someone messes it up. It was such a popular thing 60 years ago. I taught my own kids to play. I wonder if they remember? It amazes me that I still remembered all the moves. The diamond one was hard for them to catch because I can't explain it. If I try to think about what I'm doing, I'm the one who messes up.
DeleteI still have my string from 50+ years ago along with a good set of metal jacks. I still pull out the string occasionally to see what I can remember, but it's been ages since I played jacks. I'm not sure my knees will let me sit comfortably on the floor anymore. (she said as she eyed the drawer in which the jacks are kept...)
ReplyDeleteIf your blog goes quiet, we will know that somewhere in Arkansas, Kelly is still trying to get back up from playing jacks.
DeleteI wish you & Tim the very best of outcomes tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jim. It's been a long day. Tomorrow is sure to be even longer.
DeleteThe laughter of children is a wonderful thing.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you & Tim, and wishing you the very best.
It is. As John noted, it is impossible to worry when you're surrounded by giggling children.
DeleteI remember cats cradle too. We had a craze for hopscotch and living in an area of chalky soil we always had a piece of chalk to draw out the pattern of rectangles on the pavement (sidewalk). Hope tomorrow goes well for you both.
ReplyDeleteWe played a game called four square. I wonder if kids still play that?
DeleteSounds like you had a really lovely time together - good friend are gold! Thanks for that hilarious face pie video😄We used to play cat’s cradle and I taunted my kids and nieces and nephews too.. I’m going to try again tonight! I am sending you and Tim all the best wishes for a smooth surgery tomorrow ❤️ xo, Ricki
ReplyDeleteOh, they are solid gold. The wierd thing about cat's cradle for me, is that I still after 60 years do it automatically. If I stop and try to do it step by step, I get messed up. That's hilarious to them.
DeleteI taught the two granddaughters who lived with me to play cat's cradle and they taught friends and friends and friends. My granddaughter was visiting me recently, spied the cone of oversized thread I taught them from and went back to college with a skein of the thread to "show my friends."
ReplyDeleteGood wishes for Tim tomorrow.
I was surprised to discover how many kids don't know anything about it these days.
DeleteThis is so much fun to see. Gosh! I don't know about that pie in the face game. I loved seeing the Cat's Cradle. It sure did bring back memories. We used to always get stuck on one of those and now I see how to keep going. Thank you so much for this video.
ReplyDeleteIt was just so much fun to watch the kids giggling. When they ran over to get grandma, well, I knew they were all being thoroughly entertained.
Delete