We three Caywood kids must have really evolved from monkeys, because we played in trees almost as much as we played on the ground. We had a long row of Catalpa trees that Dad had planted on the north side of our yard. Most of the trees were close enough together that we could "Tarzan" jump from one tree limb to another through the whole row of them. There was one place that was excitingly scary that we had to make an extra long leap to make it from one tree to the next. We often missed the limb and sprawled not so gracefully on the ground below. We might have looked and acted like an ole’ ruffled and insulted wet hen, but we picked ourselves up, dusted off the dirt, and with much determination shinnied right back up the tree. Most of our limb leaping was done when mama did not realize what we were doing, or at least we thought she didn’t know. Daddy always had the “kids will be kids” attitude and did not worry as much about what we did as mama. It is a wonder we never broke any bones. Willis could shinny up a tree like a squirrel. I got to be pretty good too, after a few bouts of scuffed legs and hands. I was and am still afraid of heights, so I did not climb very high. Willis and Lila climbed to the tree tops many times. As much as we kids loved playing in trees, we never made a tree house. Dad loved trees and planted a yard full. We had such a beautiful shady yard. When we first moved to this farm near Sand Creek, OK, there were only a few tall Cottonwood trees standing. Daddy definitely had a green thumb as most of what he planted flourished. We had dozens of peach trees at one time. They were so pretty with their pink flowers and smelled delightful when they bloomed in the spring. I am not sure why we did not have cherry trees. Uncle Isaac and Aunt Myrtle had an orchard of them, and sometimes shared their crop with us. When we picked cherries for our family, I would eat what I wanted first. More went into my tummy than into the bucket. Mama canned what we brought home. She also canned a lot of homegrown peaches and made peach butter from the culls. This fruit was especially tasty during the winter months. When we went to school, many times we only had home made bread and peach or plum butter sandwiches to eat. It was very filling though. One time, Willis, Lila and I were playing in our south grove of Locust trees and climbed an old Mulberry tree that stood in their midst. We decided it would be so funny to paint Lila up like a monkey with the berry juice. She was such a willing subject. We laughed and thought how funny mama would think she looked. Wrong!!!! When we walked back to the house to show off our handiwork, mama's shrill retort almost pierced our ears. The more upset mama became, the higher the decibel pitch her voice was. Mama directed her dismay mainly toward Willis. I just stood there bewildered as to why mama did not see the humor as we did. Lila was grinning from ear to ear, not helping our plight in the least. I do remember Mama griping to Daddy about what we did after trying in vain to remove the most of Lila’s facial artwork. Daddy had to stifle his chuckles. We felt a bit justified then. We did feel badly when we found it would not just wash right off. It literally had to wear off in the days to come with Mama’s added disapproval remarks. I still love trees...

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Created December 19, 2020

Modified 19 June, 2021

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