Christmas at the Diamond O Ranch

Christmas at the Morgan Ranch, otherwise known as the Diamond O, was just as much about giving as it
was about receiving. We were always aware of how fortunate we were to be a family, to be with friends,
and to share our blessings with our family and friends. I remember every Christmas, Mom
and Dad would make their rounds to friends and neighbors with homemade candy and bottles of cheer.
And the recipients would share the goodies with the delivery team.

It was on this one day that the cows would have to wait. The children and the tree came first; but we
couldn’t dally too long. After the gifts were opened and eagerness to enjoy the
special surprises, Mom would go to the kitchen to start the turkey. We girls were there to set the table
for six to twenty, depending upon who was coming. Later it became Prime Rib, after all we were cattle
ranchers. Dad would take off in the pick-up with one, two, or three girls to feed the horses and cows.
The stock had waited long enough. Hay, grain, and maybe break ice on the water. The girls would come
back home with noses red like Rudolph, fingers too cold to touch, and coats quickly removed. The wood
fire was ready for them to back up to and soak in the wonderful heat.

Every rancher’s wife had a few leppy calves that were bottle fed. The winter months, Christmas time especially, they had to be watched carefully for pneumonia or some other cold malady.
Some in little huts, some in the barn, some even in the basement. They too lined up for the bucket
brigade, but they too waited on Christmas day until after the tree. The dinner table was always set for plenty. The ranching world does not always get to go home to family because the chores and caring for animals is a 365 day per year job. Many times there would be friends home alone for the holiday, we called them Christmas orphans, as they too called themselves. Dinner was at 1:00 so everyone could get back home to do their evening chores. Christmas was a festive time to appreciate the friendship, but also to remember our responsibilities.

In 1955, there was another big California flood. We lived in Hopland, the families were in
Byron and Livermore. We were still traveling to family for the holiday; a hired man was home doing the
chores. The trek was down Highway 101, but this time with a horse trailer behind us. I don’t remember
if we were delivering or picking up. But there we were, big outfit going down the mud and rain soaked
road. Just north of Cloverdale, the traffic control stopped us because the road was caving into the
Russian River. No on and off ramps here in 1955 to drive around the inconvenience. We were the last
vehicle they allowed through, and went on our Merry Christmas way to be with family. In the front seat
the adults let out a big sigh of relief as they got the trailer past that crumbling area.

Then there was the year of the bad flood in Northern California. Interstate 5 freeway had caved in south
of Dunsmuir, a mudslide. Mom said, “Take me to the edge of it, I will get to Livermore if I can.” First we
made sure all the cattle and horses were fed and cared for during this rare Christmas trip. We delivered
neighbor gifts through flood waters, Dad wrapped pipes so they would not freeze while we were gone,
and we loaded the car with luggage, gifts and probably a bit to trade and headed south. To our joy, the mudslide was by an off-ramp. We exited the freeway, passed the collapsed overpass, entered the
freeway and continued on our journey. But it wasn’t over yet. The flood waters were sweeping through
the washes by Dixon and on to Antioch. The water was 2 inches deep inside the car at one point; I have
the mark on my leather purse. As we went through, one of us exclaimed, “The presents!” I do not know how, not one drop of water entered the trunk. All was dry and secure. And that was the last time the
Morgan family left the Diamond O Ranch for Christmas.

The gifts were thoughtful. They could have been purchased any time during the year and held until
that special time of giving. You had to be careful when you opened closets; there might be something
you should not have seen. Just keep quiet and act surprised. The game of attempted peeking was fun
for a few times. One year, the first one Mom was working and we would come home unaccompanied,
my sister and I thought we had unwrapped and rewrapped all the presents well. Evidently not.
Mom started hauling the presents in the trunk of the car until Christmas.

What do you buy a rancher who is so self-sufficient and likes his life as it is? Dad was very hard to buy
for. Bits were the best gift when Mom could find one and surprise him. There was the last bit Romie
Pomi made that Dad tried to get from Val Valentine, no luck. But Val sold it to Mom to be a Christmas
present. And Dick Deller worked with Mom to put the AB Hunt under the tree. And Dad saw a Chuck
Irwin bit he really liked in Los Alamos in October. He chose to think about it. While he was pondering, Mom got it bought and hidden. Chuck played along and told Dad some guy came by and bought it earlier in the day. For two months it stayed hidden and was then put under the tree to Dad’s total surprise.

Or there was the letter to Santa from a 5 year old granddaughter asking for red boots with butterflies,
that’s all. Red boots with butterflies. They were there Christmas morning to her delight.

Our Christmases were the culmination of another special year on the Diamond O Ranch, living a life most people can only dream about. Family, friends, nature, and love, the material gifts were a cherry on top.

Merry Christmas to all of you. I wish you treasured memories, loved ones nearly, and time to stop and
enjoy what you have too.