Cool weather is upon us and fall chores have begun
This old newspaper clipping stood out in a stack of many. It caught my attention, with our family on the verge of knocking down a beef and deer hunting just around the corner. It’s a lot of hard work and long hours from start to finish. One of the reasons we take on this chore is to avoid the high prices in the grocery store and the quality is unsurpassed.
It looks like things haven’t changed much over the years. Maybe the styles of clothing, but the white apron is the same as the three we have waiting on the hook in the pantry for butchering day. One for each of us, Mom, Dad, and Son.
Oh, we grumble and struggle and laugh through the whole process, but when you smell the smoker working on that ham and bacon, and you hear the first batch of sausage sizzling on the cast iron fry pan for a quick sausage sandwich lunch-break while you work, you know you’ll be doing it all again next year, Lord willing.
This is one of the traditions our ancestors passed down to us that I look forward to each season. To me it’s as much a part of Thanksgiving as the color of the leaves and the pumpkins coming from our gardens.
Sharpen your favorite knives; set up the tables and grinders; season your cast iron skillet; as you give thanks for the richness of this years harvest. Butchering Season has begun in West Virginia!