Opa Reads

Ralph and Lonnie have no luck finding ranch jobs, then their car breaks down, so Ralph takes on the new enterprise of making busts of leading men in the city. He hasn’t actually made one yet, but he has his first contract with a banker.

Christmas dinner developed over the course of an entire day—from fixing the flat tire to milking a wild cow.

Ralph creates an Indian pony from clay, and they camp beside the road to make a Christmas Eve dinner…with a flat tire.

Ralph and Lonnie have a tough time getting even a few miles along the road before the limitations of vehicular travel become apparent.

Lots of work was required to put Shiftless into working condition, and that was not possible without the Larsen’s help. Ralph and Lonnie left town blessed by them!

Ralph reconnects with Lonnie, then enters into hours of wrangling over a price for the car and two saddle outfits.

We learn how Ralph became proficient in Clay modeling, and of its joy to his life while healing in Phoenix.

Ralph reconnects with his friendly train conductor after he leaves the set, and his return to Phoenix brings news about the state of his personal health.

Ralph learns how to fall by watching others, then he earns $435 in four days.

Ralph receives good advice from Ted that gives him insight into how the horses fall, what the obstacles on the set are made out of, and even s bit of pay advice.

Ralph gets on and off trains in the wrong way until he gets away from Lonnie long enough to ask permission to ride broke, then he checks into a Hollywood movie outfit.

Ralph is diagnosed with diabetes, so he goes west…but he also goes broke.

The strawberries ripen, tomatoes go to market, corn is canned, potatoes get harvested, and the barn is raised. A great culmination of a full year’s work.

The strawberries plants get ordered, potatoes and sweet corn go into the field, and Uncle Levi figures out how to get a few strawberries to fruit in the first year.

Ralph and Grandfather clear out the chestnut grove and the joy of grandfather’s new personality blesses everyone.

Ralph helps with the road crew and then the removal of stumps us done with the help of dynamite…with grandfather’s blessing and to his great joy.

Annie gets red ribbon and Grandfather “finds” Millie all before Uncle Levi repairs the spreader for the new strawberry and tomato Field

Uncle Levi shows up to help take care of Grandfather, and his main concern is to get good food into him. That is where Annie Littlehale comes in—she cooks a full days worth of food for them and then disappears.

Grandfather keeps seeking out Millie, but she isn’t found on the payrolls.

Grandfather and Ralph can’t get the butter to set until Annie is called in to help. The rest of the day is spent picking apples and then topped off by Ralph receiving a used manure spreader.

Grandfather gets rid of one ornery cow in trade for a good milker, and then commences to tell Ralph about an oak crop from 1814.

Ralph finds a new and chipper grandfather when he wakes, then during milking grandfather decides he will trade the brindle to ’Bijah.

Ralph invites Annie to teach him how to cook, but trouble follows that good intention. By morning, though, Grandfather catches a vision for the farm.

Ralph survives on eggs and burned food, and he shares some apples with the Yella Colt.

Ralph arrived home to an empty house, but is grateful to be back with Grandfather, to see Annie, and to work the Yella Colt. The food is burned, the flies overwhelm things, and the calves are skinny.