Time Travels
By Sandy Collins
 

Lover, the Gentle Giant
 

By Sandy Collins -
Story #2 –       
Two unexpected welcomers greeted shy, 5 and 6 year old girls on a January day in 1955.  After we met ‘Ike’ the dog, in a previous the story, our second welcome wagon surprise was ‘Lover’, a spotted Holstein cow.  Our parents had just finished moving their young family to the 160 acre dairy farm where our dad grew up before he went into WWII service.  After raising 14 children on the family farm, his parents were finally ready to retire.

Wendy, Ike and I tagged along with Dad through snow, up to the barn for the first time. Our big brother Kenny slid the barn door open just enough for all of us to enter into the dimly lit cavern.  In unison we exclaimed “It stinks!, holding our little noses.  Several deep bellows reverberated off the walls as we made our way to the back of the barn.  We found ourselves standing in front of a huge, four-legged spotted giant, with big eyes.  As the Holstein slowly lowered her massive head to gaze eye to eye, we quickly jumped back. 

Behind us, we heard Kenny laugh. “Meet Lover, the friendliest cow in the herd.  She will even let you ride on her back!” he exclaimed, and climbed up to demonstrate.  We soon learned this was Lover’s  reserved place in the barn, right next to the silo where corn silage was stored, and special offerings could be easily dispensed.  

Dad was a bit more practical.  “To make milk, cows need to drink a lot of water.  All farm animals need clean water.  The wooden water tank outside next to the barn is for cattle and horses to drink from during the summer.  It is not a swimming pool.” Dad explained.  Inside the barn, well water was piped from the milk house, to each cow’s stanchion.   Wendy and I soon became mesmerized as we watched the cows individually fill their own water-cups by pushing down a lever with their noses. 

I can still hear the loud clanking contraptions and the sound of running water echoing through the barn. 
Thinking back, our cows enjoyed a pretty healthy lifestyle.  After long summer days of grazing in meadows, drinking from the fresh trout stream, being milked twice daily, they also had a straw bed to sleep upon.  Sunlight, fresh air, clean water, healthy food, exercise, and a full night’s rest is good for cows, and still good for people! 

“I Like Ike!”
 

By Sandy Collins -

Two unexpected welcomers greeted shy, 5 and 6 year old girls on a January day in 1955.   Our parents had just finished moving their young family to the 160 acre dairy farm where our dad grew up before serving in WWII.  After raising 14 children on the family farm, his parents were finally ready to retire.

A heavy snow had fallen shortly before we arrived.  Friendly smiling faces and open arms coaxed us into a warm kitchen heated by an old cook stove.   The adults were soon immersed in conversation with Grandma and Grampa about the life changes they were making, and our big move from Chicago to the New Glarus area.  Wendy and I couldn’t help but notice a yummy aroma. Something good was surely baking in Grandma’s oven.  Then, almost like magic, we both had a warm oatmeal-raisen cookie in one hand and cold glass of milk in the other. 

After cookies and milk, we began exploring our new home, first poking around the main floor before running up the stairs to find which room we would be sleeping in.  With that important task behind us, mom helped us bundle up with boots, coats, mittens and scarves, and we headed outdoors to play in the snow. 

The first eager greeter to meet my sister Wendy and I, was ‘Ike’ the farm dog. The wind had sculpted the pure white snow into deep drifts, making it hard for our short legs to walk.  Suddenly out of nowhere, we saw a big brown and white dog taking great leaps toward us through the snow.   We both screamed and fell backwards sinking into the softness.  Immediately we heard the creaking farmhouse door open with multiple footsteps crunching through the snow, a quiet pause, followed by lots of laughter.  Still frightened, we slowly opened our eyes to find the big dog, with toothy grin, happily panting with his large paws holding us down in the deep snow.  What I humorous sight it must have been, for the adults that is.

Wendy and I soon grew to love and trust Ike the lumbering half St. Bernard.  He was gentle, loyal and a smart herding dog.  Ike was named in honor of President Dwight D. ‘Ike’ Eisenhower, a widely respected general during WWII.  The name ‘Ike’ suited  our family dog very well too, as ‘commander of herd’  “I Like Ike!” became our chant.

Sandy can be reached at scollins@mwt.net