I stepped out on the deck just before seven this morning. A breeze wind out of the west made it a bit chilly.
When I looked toward the barn it looked smokey. All of a sudden a sneeze came on and had I done this at Wal-Mart, I would have heard a voice over the intercom, "Cleanup on aisle two."
I realized that it was not smoke I saw, but pine pollen. It was so thick I could have planted turnips on the bannisters.
Later when we walked, I saw something blooming down in the woods. I trekked down there to get a better look.
It was a buckeye bush. When the buckeyes come out on these bushes they look like small pears and the seeds inside are hard a stones.
When I was a kid, we used to use the buckeye seeds as redneck ammo. We'd cut limbs off an ironwood tree, sharpen the ends, stick on buckeye seeds and fling them.
Those seeds left the limber limbs so fast that you could hear them buzz. I've flung them out of sight.
I can also tell you that when one hit you, they sting like crazy. Once when I got caught in a crossfire, I got clipped by a buckeye seed traveling at warp speed. I had a bruise on my side for a week. It's a miracle that one of us didn't lose an eye playing with those things.
I reckon the Good Lord was watching out for his idiot children.
When I looked toward the barn it looked smokey. All of a sudden a sneeze came on and had I done this at Wal-Mart, I would have heard a voice over the intercom, "Cleanup on aisle two."
I realized that it was not smoke I saw, but pine pollen. It was so thick I could have planted turnips on the bannisters.
Later when we walked, I saw something blooming down in the woods. I trekked down there to get a better look.
It was a buckeye bush. When the buckeyes come out on these bushes they look like small pears and the seeds inside are hard a stones.
When I was a kid, we used to use the buckeye seeds as redneck ammo. We'd cut limbs off an ironwood tree, sharpen the ends, stick on buckeye seeds and fling them.
Those seeds left the limber limbs so fast that you could hear them buzz. I've flung them out of sight.
I can also tell you that when one hit you, they sting like crazy. Once when I got caught in a crossfire, I got clipped by a buckeye seed traveling at warp speed. I had a bruise on my side for a week. It's a miracle that one of us didn't lose an eye playing with those things.
I reckon the Good Lord was watching out for his idiot children.
I have thought the same thing about all the silly and crazy things our sisters and I did over the years... We weren't always that bright...
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of buckeyes I think of the candy made out of peanut butter and chocolate. I'm sure those would hurt less if you threw them at someone! =)
ReplyDeleteI chuckled all through this post.... well, not at the pollen stuff because that is just not funny. Ugghh. Allergies.
ReplyDeleteBut, the buckeye business. I am with Leandra... I think of the chocolate peanut butter candy. Even though I grew up in Ohio (The Buckeye State), I never did anything so radical with the buckeyes. This story made me think of the post I used for "J" a few days ago. It was written by JJ Botta, The Disconnected Writer, and it was called Somehow The Kids Get Lucky. If you get a chance you might want to go back and read that one. I think you'll appreciate it! Have a great Sunday:)
Rick: Love your blog, and I thank Robin for the intro. I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteI never heard of them before, but I love your story about them...I can almost see a group of young boys living out their imaginary battle and enjoying a spring day!
ReplyDeleteCome on, Rick--didn't your mother know anyone who got an eye put out by buckeye seeds?
ReplyDeleteWhat's that quote about God looking out for drunks and small children…..? ;)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of buckeye seeds but I bet they did hurt. We had a crabapple tree in the front yard and those became our ammo. They left some really good bruises!
(smile) I like the 'Clean up on aisle 2 " line. sneaky funny.
ReplyDeleteGood old buckeyes! They seem to grow every in the midwest and south. Many good hits with those, well, I got hit by them. I never knew what the tree looked like in spring.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen one in bloom, quite pretty!
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful picture. Sounds like they make serious weapons:)
ReplyDeleteI get the honor of being your newest follower:)
The bloom is beautiful. Could never imagine that seeds would hurt.
ReplyDeleteWe used good old fashioned slingshots and whatever we could find to sling--the yellow and green candies we didn't eat (never wasted the good ones), small rocks, and popped corn. Luckily, no one got a rock or hard candy in the eyes, but I do recall Mom confiscating our weapons before too much damage could be done.
ReplyDeleteDeb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com