{"id":48227,"date":"2018-12-31T08:16:13","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T13:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48227"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T15:11:27","slug":"btr-sourdough-starters-08-december-2018-by-bztrailriders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/?p=48227","title":{"rendered":"BTR Sourdough Starters #08 – December 2018 (by BZTrailriders)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summary: Describe a scene of\u00a0Christmas activity at the Ponderosa. It could be a party, reading a story, getting a tree, baking treats, helping the poor, etc. Tell us what you think one or more of the Cartwrights will be doing to get ready for Christmas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 2498<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

by\u00a0BettyHT<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Fri Dec 07, 2018 10:54 am<\/p>\n

\n

A Christmas Story<\/p>\n

It was so tempting but Adam knew he shouldn\u2019t do it. A nap seemed like such a pleasant thing to do, but he couldn\u2019t and forced himself to take inventory. Yes, he was exhausted. With Savannah nearing her delivery time, she couldn\u2019t do much. Helping her with the stairs, in and out of bed, to dress, and to do other things took so much time. In addition, she couldn\u2019t help with the children, so he had full time caregiver responsibilities with Owen and Eva including getting them to bed each night reading stories that nearly put him to sleep before they nodded off. Besides being so tired, he was hurt. The horses had backed up when startled by a rabbit of all things making the wagon lurch into him as he was loading pine boughs into it. His leg hurt where the wagon had hit it, but most of all his head hurt. He didn\u2019t know what his head had hit when he fell but something hard enough to stun him. To be honest, it had knocked him out. That led to the next problem, which was that he was cold and wet. It had started snowing while he lay on the ground. He\u2019d been working and the snow melted on him and chilled him. The wind picked up with the snowstorm too. It was getting dark. With the snow and the lack of sunlight, he was having a difficult time determining which way to go with the wagon. If he was honest with himself, he would have admitted that the blow to his head was a factor in that confusion too. Shivering almost uncontrollably by that point, he still managed a laugh although a rather derisive one. He had volunteered for this duty to get out of the house and now all he wanted to was to get back there, but he was afraid he wasn\u2019t going to make it.<\/p>\n

About two hours later, Hoss and Joe found the wagon. There was no sign of Adam but they found blood on the wagon seat. There wasn\u2019t much but enough to indicate that their brother was hurt. In the snowstorm, it was impossible to know where he was. They followed the tracks back to where he had cut the pine boughs and found nothing. Although everything in their hearts told them to keep searching, they had no idea where to look. Hoss climbed onto the wagon seat and drove the team home as Joe led Chubb. When they got back, Hoss drove the wagon into the stable and Joe rode in, dismounted, and pulled the doors closed against the storm\u2019s fury.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were lucky to get back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot so lucky. There\u2019s only two of us got back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoss, there was nothing we could do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben came into the stable at that point, and seeing only his two younger sons, his whole body sagged with despair. \u201cYou couldn\u2019t find him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPa, we looked everywhere. There was no sign of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was no sign of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I thought someone said \u2018help me\u2019 just now.\u201d<\/p>\n

All three listened carefully and then threw the pine boughs, snow, and ice out of the back of the wagon uncovering a cold, injured Adam underneath them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI fell backwards off the seat and decided to burrow under these to stay warm. I\u2019ve been trying to call for help since I heard Hoss, but you couldn\u2019t hear me. I could use a blanket and a hot cup of coffee.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas, son! Merry Christmas to all!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0AC1830<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:17 pm<\/p>\n

\n

Christmas Cheer<\/p>\n

I cain\u2019t never remember a time when Christmas at the Ponderosa wasn\u2019t always joyful and fun. Me, Adam and Joe would string popcorn and make cookies with Hop Sing, and then we\u2019d have dinner with our neighbors and of course, open our gifts on Christmas Day. But my favorite part was searchin\u2019 for and decoratin\u2019 the perfect tree.<\/p>\n

However, when Adam went to college some of the glow went out of our lives. That first year we was missin\u2019 Adam and Mama somethin\u2019 fierce. It was hard but we got through it, especially after Adam sent some really neat gifts for us. We got through the last Christmases pretty good too \u2018cause me and Little Joe teamed up to make \u2018em extra special for Pa.<\/p>\n

This year, I reckon it\u2019s \u2018cause Adam was s\u2019posed to be home last summer but he decided to stay one more year fer some extra schoolin\u2019 an\u2019 to have time with his grandpa who wasn\u2019t doin\u2019 so good. He said he\u2019d be home in the Spring.<\/p>\n

Pa\u2019s left a few days ago on some business promising he\u2019d be back by Christmas Eve. I\u2019ve decided me and Joe are gonna get that tree an\u2019 decorate it and I\u2019ll see if Hop Sing\u2019ll make some of Pa\u2019s favorite cookies for when he gets back.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, this mopin\u2019 around just ain\u2019t gonna work Let\u2019s go get a Christmas tree and get it all decorated \u2018fore Pa gets home. Whaddya say Little Joe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHot diggity. Let\u2019s go Hoss. Where we gonna look? I saw one last summer over by the lake. Can we get that one? Huh Hoss? Pa\u2019ll be so glad to see it won\u2019t he Hoss?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe sure will little brother. You tell Hop Sing what we\u2019re gonna do and I\u2019ll get the tools together. I know what tree ya mean so we\u2019ll go there first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe scampered off to tell Hop Sing and when he finally made it outside he showed me a bag of cookies. We each ate one right there in the yard then took off toward the lake.<\/p>\n

After lunch we got all the ornaments on the tree. Little Joe was real careful with some of them glass balls that belonged to his mama. I put the candles on but we weren\u2019t gonna light them till Pa was home. Hop Sing brought out popcorn and hot cider for us, an\u2019 he helped me an\u2019 Joe get all the greenery up everywhere. Joe an\u2019 me even made some popcorn strings. \u2018Course little brother an\u2019 I probably ate as much as we strung, but it was mighty good.<\/p>\n

Tonight, me an\u2019 Joe been sittin\u2019 by the fire admirin\u2019 our purty tree an\u2019 waitin\u2019 ta hear Pa\u2019s footsteps on the front porch. Pa was late gettin\u2019 home so Hop Sing told us to eat then get ready for bed. Being Christmas Eve it was hard fer us ta do that but Hop Sing said tomorrow was a brand new day and that Pa wouldn\u2019t miss Christmas.<\/p>\n

The next morning I awoke with a start since Little Joe was tuggin\u2019 on my sleeve. It was still dark an\u2019 he was already dressed. II did the same an\u2019 we crept down the hall. Pa\u2019s door was closed which meant he was home. When we was halfway down the stairs Joe froze makin\u2019 me bump into him. I was about to push him on when he pointed to the settee an\u2019 jumped off the landin\u2019. What I saw was the best present I ever got in my life as I jumped the last of the stairs too.<\/p>\n

\u201cADAM!!!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

\u00a0by\u00a0Hart4Ben<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Fri Dec 14, 2018 6:39 pm<\/p>\n

Below is my Sourdough for this month. RL has kept me pretty busy of late, but I hope to expand this one to complete the writing challenge. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
\n<\/strong>
\nFinding ChristmasJamie Hunter turned up his collar and jammed his gloved hands into his coat pockets falling into step with Hoss and Joe. This excursion to cut a Christmas tree and the preparations he would take part in were brand new to the boy. The Cartwright brothers had opened their hearts and were including him on their mission: finding a twelve foot pine that would fill the space by the stairway at the ranch house.Jamie had showed up in the area the previous summer during a drought. Luck or Providence had brought the rain he promised. Having no family, Ben Cartwright had invited him to stay on.<\/p>\n

Christmas had always been a bit of an afterthought for Jamie\u2019s father, never a tree or much in the way of presents. Christmas day usually came and went much as any other. Somehow when you are constantly on the move, things just seemed to work that way.<\/p>\n

The threesome trudged up a mild slope through patchy snow into a grove of pines. The brothers gave each other furtive glances and then reached down to scoop up some snow. They pelted Jamie with the white powder.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey! Cut that out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe giggled. \u201cConsider yourself initiated!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d Hoss then pushed the slight boy over into a pile of snow. His guffaw seemed to fill the woods as he reached out to offer Jamie a hand up. \u201cAll in good fun, Jamie. All in good fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFun for you two, maybe!\u201d The boy scowled while he brushed himself off.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is nothing. If you only knew how many times Adam and Hoss sent me head first into a snow drift!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah!\u201d Hoss laughed hard until he sighed. \u201cOne more for old time\u2019s sake?\u201d Hoss grabbed the shoulder of Joe\u2019s coat.<\/p>\n

Joe\u2019s arm came up quickly and he jumped away. \u201cNot on your life, big brother!\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie chuckled realizing he had probably gotten off easy, at least, so far.<\/p>\n

\u201cOk, so we have this contest each year. Whoever picks out the right sized tree gets their choice of dessert from Hop Sing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, no taller \u2018an this. Ya go over, ya lose.\u201d Hoss extended the saw over his head. \u201cGot it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Always up for a game, Jamie responded, \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe winked at Hoss who nodded back hoping their plan would work.<\/p>\n

When all was said and done, Hoss\u2019 selection was over, Joe\u2019s was significantly under, and Jamie\u2019s was within six inches of the end of the saw blade.<\/p>\n

Jamie crossed his arms over his chest. \u201cI get the feeling you two let me win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joe gave him an innocent look. \u201cWho us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMust be smarter than he looks.\u201d Again Hoss\u2019 laughter filled the area.<\/p>\n

The boy shrugged. \u201cSo who usually wins the contest?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAdam. I\u2019d o\u2019 sworn he rode out a few days ahead and marked the \u2018xact sized tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, except for the year I did just that!\u201d Joe giggled.<\/p>\n

Hoss guffawed. Yeah, older brother was right put out \u2018bout that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jamie gave them a serious look. \u201cWell, next time, we play it straight, ok?\u201d<\/p>\n

The words were out of Jamie\u2019s mouth before he realized it. Joe shot a big grin in Hoss\u2019 direction and saw his brother push his tongue into the side of his cheek. Jamie opened his mouth about to clarify that he wasn\u2019t making any assumptions, but then thought better of it.<\/p>\n

Tempering his expression, Joe offered casually, \u201cYou got it. Challenge accepted!\u201d<\/p>\n

The threesome carried the pine to the wagon in amiable silence pondering and secretly hoping that this was the first of many more family experiences they would share.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

by\u00a0AH83<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb\u00a0<\/span>Thu Dec 27, 2018 6:31 pm<\/p>\n

\n

Joe ran into the house and slammed the door. \u201cPa! Pa!\u201d he shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoseph, how many times have I told you not to slam the door. I\u2019m in the office,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

Joe ran in the office. \u201cPa, do you remember last year when we helped the Carter\u2019s with Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a new family in that moved to town. Their son is my age and I\u2019m friends with him. Can we help them?\u201d
\nJoe begged.<\/p>\n

\u201cJoe, what\u2019s their name?\u201d Ben asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, it\u2019s Lund. His name is Bobby. He said they weren\u2019t going to have a Christmas because they just moved here and all their money went to food and to rebuild the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I know the family. Hoss, Adam and I met them in town yesterday. They told us about moving here and buying the old Murphy place. Yes, we can help them. I\u2019m happy to hear that you became friends with Bobby unlike what you did last year with Kenny Carter and not playing with him,\u201d Ben said looking at his eight-year-old son.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned my lesson last year. That\u2019s why I want to help this family. They need a good Christmas like the Carter\u2019s did last year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben smiled. \u201cAll right, we\u2019ll do that. When your brothers come in we\u2019ll talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks, Pa!\u201d Joe said and ran off.<\/p>\n

Ben shook his head and laughed.<\/p>\n

Ben thought about last year. Jeff Carter and his family had moved to Virginia City and had nothing but what they brought. Hoss and Adam had overheard Jeff talking with Mr. Baker about moving into town and how he couldn\u2019t afford the item he wanted. Adam and Hoss told Ben about it. Joe wanted nothing to do with it. He didn\u2019t want to be at someone else\u2019s house on Christmas when he could be home opening presents. As they repaired the house and gave them gifts of food and toys for the children, Joe realized that it wasn\u2019t just about the presents and himself but helping others. Ben was proud of Joe.<\/p>\n

At dinner that night, Joe told his brothers about the new family and wanting to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s a great idea.\u201d Hoss said.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good. You learned your lesson from last year.\u201d Adam replied.<\/p>\n

Joe looked at him in disgust.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll go into town tomorrow and gather what we need,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

Everyone nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n

The next day, the Cartwrights went to the mercantile to gather what they needed for the Lunds.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right. I think that\u2019s it.\u201d Ben paid for the items.<\/p>\n

Christmas morning found the Cartwrights going to the Lunds. Ben knocked on the door and Larry Lund opened the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cBen, Merry Christmas. Please come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMerry Christmas. We have some presents for the family. Santa left them at our house and told me to give them to
\nyour family.\u201d Ben and his boys walked in carrying a sack full of goodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cSanta really came to your house?\u201d five-year-old Cindy asked in surprise. \u201cHe certainly did.\u201d<\/p>\n

They handed out flour, sugar, a doll for Cindy and the train set for Bobby. Squeals of excitement came from the children. Cindy held her doll carefully and Bobby played with his train.<\/p>\n

Mrs. Lund teared up. \u201cThank you, Mr. Cartwright. This means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Christmas. The children needed something.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey weren\u2019t expecting anything. How can we repay you?\u201d Mr. Lund asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo need to. Joseph wanted to do something for your family.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for making our children\u2019s Christmas a happy one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d best be off.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cartwrights headed home.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
A Note from the Brandsters.\u00a0 This was originally written and published on the Bonanza Trail Riders site.\u00a0 Brand is happy to offer this story a new home.<\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Summary: Describe a scene of\u00a0Christmas activity at the Ponderosa. It could be a party, reading a story, getting a tree, baking treats, helping the poor, etc. Tell us what you think one or more of the Cartwrights will be doing to get ready for Christmas.<\/p>\n

Rating: G, Word Count: 2498<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12475,"featured_media":62121,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-full-width-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[1323],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sourdough","wpcat-1323-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/BTR.png?fit=442%2C255&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12475"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48227\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/62121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bonanzabrand.info\/library\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}