Back to the Farm in Iowa

I never thought I would see my childhood home again but it came about when my niece called to tell me her mother had passed away.  The farm where I was born was kept in the family and now it belongs to my two nieces- Cindy and Susan.  My son, Tim and I flew to Omaha and rented a car.  When we arrived in Gravity (the nearest town to the farmhouse), it was about lunchtime.  We decided to stop and eat at the Junction- a favorite cafe of my father and grandfather.  We took a booth.  We looked like outsiders for sure.  Everyone else was dressed in overalls.  Most of the other booths were men in overalls sitting alone but all conversing back and forth about their tractors.  Two women also in similar attire discussed their new ride-on lawnmowers.






I ordered their "world-famous" Strawberry Shortcake.  Yes- that was my lunch.  It did not disappoint!  You could barely see the shortcake for all the whipped cream and strawberries.  

The strawberries were locally grown and lightly cooked into a sauce with sugar until they were perfectly sweet and tender.







Tim ordered what most of the farmers were having- the Roast Beef Special. It came with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy and Blue Jello.  This is a typical farmer's meal.  Dad got up early to do his chores most of which were feeding the animals.  Dinner was at noon.  If he was in the field (which was normal) Mom summoned him that dinner was ready by ringing an enormous bell (one loud enough to be heard a quarter of a mile away).  There was always dessert.  After dinner he took a five minute nap and then returned to the field.  At the end of the day we had a light supper- leftovers or soup or an egg dish.  Eggs were from our chickens.  Jello was a common side.  On Saturday he went into town (Bedford) and ate here at the junction (often with my grandfather who lived in town.

After lunch we drove to the farm.  The barn was in disrepair but was still standing.  It was here the cows were milked.  I had my own stool when I was 4 or 5 in the corner of the barn to watch.  My cat, Cookie also watched hoping to get some of the milk which sooner or later Dad squirted across the milking room into her mouth.









The house was well cared for.  My brother had done some remodeling and planted two trees for each of his granddaughters.  In one of the sheds, stood my mother's butter churn. After the cows were milked, the milk was separated into cream some of which was made into butter in this churn.  Almost everything we ate came from something on the farm.  Even vegetables and fruits were home canned for future consumption.

Of course our main crop corn since we lived in Iowa.  One of the nickname for Iowa is "where the tall corn grows.  This trip was in August so the corn is not as high as it will get but it is visible at many of the farms we pass on the road.  Iowa corn stalks grown to over six feet high.



Finally it was time to say "Goodbye" to the farm but who knows?  Maybe there will be another trip at some

time ink the future.