PART III
Yes, with picked cotton being .03 or .035 cents a pound, we
might average $240.00 or $250.00 a week. Back then that was
pretty good money but when you took that to the store to buy
groceries to feed about a dozen people it didn't seem like so
much. However, while we were in the cotton field, Mom was at
home tending to the chickens and the garden. Those were two
of our primary sources of food, both for the present and for the
winter. The chickens would be put in the freezer along with
some of the vegetables for winter consumption.
Most of the vegetables would be canned or pickled, while others
like potatoes,turnips, and corn, would be put in sacks or in a
cellar or a crib in the barn. When the work happened to get
caught up around the house, Mom would come to the field and
pick cotton, too. It was all about making a living for the Seay
family. There wasn't much to distract a body in the cotton field,
but there would be something to draw our attention away from
our work. It might be some birds or it might be an Air Force
fighter jet flying over so fast that it would cause what was called
a "sonic boom". Of course, now we know it was only the
physics of space, air, and the rapid movement of the aircraft
that created the sound, but it sure could give you a start. Dad
would let us look for a while, but then would remind us that the
airplane or those birds wouldn't pick the cotton for us!
Sometimes we would all go home for dinner (lunch), but many
times Dad would go to the house and bring back beans,
potatoes, cornbread, and even a cake and we would eat at the
field--usually in the wagon yard. Together we would enjoy these
"picnic" type meals. The food was always good! What a cook
Mom was(and still is). We Always knew we were in for a treat
even if it was the same thing we had before because there is no
better eating than well prepared food.
might average $240.00 or $250.00 a week. Back then that was
pretty good money but when you took that to the store to buy
groceries to feed about a dozen people it didn't seem like so
much. However, while we were in the cotton field, Mom was at
home tending to the chickens and the garden. Those were two
of our primary sources of food, both for the present and for the
winter. The chickens would be put in the freezer along with
some of the vegetables for winter consumption.
Most of the vegetables would be canned or pickled, while others
like potatoes,turnips, and corn, would be put in sacks or in a
cellar or a crib in the barn. When the work happened to get
caught up around the house, Mom would come to the field and
pick cotton, too. It was all about making a living for the Seay
family. There wasn't much to distract a body in the cotton field,
but there would be something to draw our attention away from
our work. It might be some birds or it might be an Air Force
fighter jet flying over so fast that it would cause what was called
a "sonic boom". Of course, now we know it was only the
physics of space, air, and the rapid movement of the aircraft
that created the sound, but it sure could give you a start. Dad
would let us look for a while, but then would remind us that the
airplane or those birds wouldn't pick the cotton for us!
Sometimes we would all go home for dinner (lunch), but many
times Dad would go to the house and bring back beans,
potatoes, cornbread, and even a cake and we would eat at the
field--usually in the wagon yard. Together we would enjoy these
"picnic" type meals. The food was always good! What a cook
Mom was(and still is). We Always knew we were in for a treat
even if it was the same thing we had before because there is no
better eating than well prepared food.
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