At first this challenge, cows, was very difficult for me. I just couldn't get inspired by cows! I grew up in what was once the biggest milk producing county in Michigan. My parents had a small farm and initially the only memories that came to me were of the smell, the dirt, and all the work. At age 7 my parents sold their dairy herd to go to just beef farming. I can still remember that day as the last truck pulled off the farm my mom said, 'Now we can go on a real vacation!' Before we always had to be home in the evening to milk. As I was thinking of these things I realized how negative I sounded as my childhood was wonderful, growing up in that small farming community. When I saw this particular cow, I knew where my thoughts were headed:
I LOVED growing up in the country! The smell of the fresh cut hay in the fields, the feeling of riding atop the hay wagon on the way to the barn, and playing in the hay mow. Playing hide in seek in the hay mow was so much fun and everyone else's (my friends were all farm kids too) hay mows were always so much more fun than your own! I remember the taste of a fresh, warm cup of milk. Part of my babysitting responsibilites as a teenager for the farm family across the field were to turn off the pasturizer and put the milk in the fridge. Milk that had just been brought to the house from the evening milking. My thoughts continued to the memory of having a new born calf suck on your hand, something every child should feel! So my card is all about childhood and dreams. My girl is walking in the pasture after a very hot summer day. You know the kind of day when there is finally a little breeze just as the sun is going down. The only problem here is that the image isn't quite right as I never walked barefoot through the cow pasture! I decided that I better not draw in the cow patties though to make it more realistic. Thanks for reading my thoughts and memories and for looking!!!
Date: Saturday, April 12, 2008 GMT Views: 738
Favorited:3
Registered: November 7, 2006 Location: Willamette Valley Oregon Posts: 34503
Sat, Apr 12, 2008 @ 12:55 PM
what a wonderful memory and insight into your world! Have to tell you it brought tears to my eyes as I read! LOVELY INSPIRATION and even more beautiful ART!
------------------------------ Susan~~~One4Joydaily I'm a FAN CLUB member, U? MY GALLERYof visual Delights MY BLOG
Registered: April 7, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 13672
Sat, Apr 12, 2008 @ 5:49 PM
Neat card and story. My dh and I had a dairy farm for several years; raise beef cattle now. I can relate to most of what your story conveyed. My two grown daughters didn't have a love of the milk barn though they liked living on a farm!! Thanks for sharing your memories.