IMH 74:4 360

"Chronicles of Upper Burnet" (1)

Wednesday December 22nd

The clouds threatened snow or rain every minute all day and made the day dark and gloomy. Alfred
Kivett was here a short time in the morning. His object if I understood it correctly was to chop wood
for pay in other words to be hired to cut some. After about an hour's waiting for it to storm we hitched
to the wagon and got what corn remained in the field south of Bill Hand's wheat. We got first about
16 bushels of husked corn and "nubbins" which we put in the crib. We then got the remainder of the
field which consisted mainly of "nubbins" pulling if off in the husk and putting it on the floor of the
cow-barn. After a short council in which Alvin somewhat bittterly opposed gathering any more,
Father was indifferent, and I earnestly in favor of continuing, we finally went down into the field
across the creek or the "clover-patch" This was planted in "Bloody Butcher" or Michigan corn
and gave a small yield so that though we were there nearly 3 hours we only got about 20 bushels
making a days' gathering of about 40 bushels. The last piece of a load we put in the old crib.
The ground over there is very rough. The first buckwheat cakes were eaten this morning.

Teaching Notes:   You or some of your students might enjoy bringing some buckwheat pancakes
to class for sampling. These cakes ar dark and rather strong flavored...and I particularly like
them, although many do not. I must have tasted particularly good  to the Harrison's considering
the work that they have been doing to have them. One activity you might want to try depending
on the season, is to dip a dandelion blossoms into the buckwheat batter then fry them up. My
Scouts used to enjoy that on campouts.  I don't imagine the Harrison's ever attempted that
but I would not be surprised that they did not gather dandelion greens in the Spring ...although
there is no mention of it in the journal.