The last summer holiday weekend doesn’t always include a trip to the beach or river. Sometimes it doesn’t even include a backyard barbecue or pool party.
Labor Day weekend wouldn’t be properly celebrated in our household if it didn’t include some “labor.” This year’s long weekend provided plenty of time for goofing off. The kids got off the school bus Friday afternoon with some friends from school. I’ve decided our home will always have “extra” kids in it and that’s alright with me. The girls got out the horse and rode double to get as many rides in as possible. The neighbor boys came down the hill and the party ensued at the playhouse.
Saturday morning found my husband and our boys up before daylight prepared for opening day of dove hunting season. They were meeting up at another farm with one of our “town” friends and his son. It was a morning full of hunting, snacks and juice boxes. The kids loved their first bird hunt with dad, even if the day started in the dark.
My day started early too. We are working on a remodel project at our house that includes a mud and laundry room joining the garage. The cabinetmaker asked if they could come early to do the installation. By early, he meant before 6 a.m. Didn’t matter, the dove hunters had already started my day early. This was a wet blanket on the girls’ slumber party upstairs. Chocolate chip pancakes and bacon fixed some grumpy moods. Then I took the friends home.
The dove hunters arrived home by noon, exhausted. The party continued with our “town” friends’ family coming to ride the horse and motorcycles. We were treated to grilled dove and laid up on the couch to kick off the first Razorback football game of the season. Woo Pig Sooie!
Sunday was my husband’s birthday. The kids baked him a favorite sheet cake and created homemade artwork to decorate their dad’s celebration. They were happy to show off on their motorcycles for their uncle later that day as they raced one another around our front yard.
Labor Day started out early with the family cleaning out the garden. The weeds had taken over most of it and all the trellises and tomato cages had to be stored for winter. It’s a whole lot more fun planting it than it is tearing it all out. About halfway through pulling weeds my husband startled me with a, “watch out for that snake!” There was no snake. I was on edge the rest of the morning.
We sprayed weeds around the fence rows and flower beds – a never-ending battle. Every time the kids thought we were finished, another chore popped up. The deer feeders were set out and filled with corn to prepare for fall hunting. The farm RTV had a flat tire over at another farm and my husband had to call a neighbor to bring an air compressor to fix it. I was busy at home working my way through a mountain of laundry.
Our Labor Day weekend was a balance of work and fun. The United States Department of Labor declares, “The first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” I hope your hard-working family celebrated too, neighbor.
