the old red barn part 2

Mom & Dad moved onto the family farm around 1957. Dad first worked at places like the cement plant in Superior & also worked in Hastings. He decided he wanted to do something that kept him at home, which led him to milking cows. Holstein cows. The barn had eight stalls for milking. The cows got led into a stall where their head was caught between wooden boards so they couldn't back out. They got a scoop of grain to chew on while they were milked. A surcingle was strapped over the cow's back & a six gallon bucket milker was attached. A vacuum pump milked the cow. The milker was then carried over to the three hundred gallon bulk tank & emptied. At his peak, Dad milked forty-four cows. This job meant he was up at 4 o'clock every morning & a second milking took place about twelve hours later. Milking cows paid the bills. I got these detail from him a couple of days ago. And he said he had spent the previous night milking cows again in his dreams. And after all those years of milking he is still awake at an early hour. Now instead of milking, he is praying rosaries for Mom & whomever else needs his prayers. I have six brothers, so I was never much involved with milking. I do remember after it was all done, they'd throw out the milk soaked filter for the cats to eat. I remember hearing James Taylor singing "You've Got a Friend" on the radio they played when milking. I was often riding a bicycle round & round in the driveway while the afternoon milking was going on. We grew up on whole raw milk. Now I'd think it was cream. Lots of hard work in that red barn. I saw a calf born there. The vet had his arm inside that cow all the way up to his shoulder, trying to get that calf turned & delivered. Many good memories that I enjoy revisiting.

the old red barn

I'm finishing up my Photo 5 project this weekend. My final subject really meshed all three of the ideas submitted to me by family members: things I love, windows & doors, and windmills & barns. (Barbara would never have let me have so many topics in Photo 4, but I made my own rules this time.) When barns were suggested, it meant only one barn for me. It's the barn on the farm where I grew up. Coming over the hill from the west on the gravel road it is the first thing you notice. Unfortunately, as the photos show, it is slowly deteriorating. And the cost to return it to its previous glory is prohibitive, so its decline will continue. I took these photos on the day I photographed the windmills. So again, Dad was waiting (patiently) in my Honda while I spent a few moments inside & outside. I would've lingered longer if alone, but I am very happy with the photos I have. I'll share my favorites on Sunday.

windmill favorites

Until I moved away to college I rode or drove down this road every school day. Just about where the road meets the horizon there used to be railroad tracks. They've been gone for years now but I still find myself slowing down for them. The windmill is a landmark on this piece of land my Dad owns. I'd never paid much attention to the structure of a windmill until Dad mentioned that once a year they had to climb to the top to put oil in it. I considered climbing the windmill to check out the view but in the end decided not to. Maybe another day. The other windmill I photographed has not aged as gracefully, but I find the photos I took of it to be more interesting.

windmills

One of my readers (my sister, Nancy) suggested I photograph windmills & barns. That sounds great but many people just can't step out their front door & start photographing these things. Fortunately I knew where I could find a couple & not get arrested for trespassing. Having the land owner along for the ride for one of the windmills helps. And being related to the other land owner is beneficial too. I took a gamble & made the drive out on a cloudy day where there was a 60% chance of rain. The rain was never a factor & the gray sky was a great backdrop for the windmills. I could've spent more time photographing. I didn't even consider that Dad would accompany me but having him along made it all the better. To see the land with him. Tomorrow, my favorites.

favorites