Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Of Cow Stanchions & Old Rocks...


Spring...so glorious.

It's time to go to the new barn and dig out goodies we've salvaged from the old barns on this old place...

And this year I'm showing an old barn door of some sort with a rusty old cow stanchion leaning against it. Those heavy iron and wood stanchions were lined with what I think is oak, because these things weigh a ton. I can imagine the farmer's arms being very muscle-bound with blue veins popping after fastening up the dairy herd in these every morning and evening.

(I would love more information on these old stanchions if anyone knows about them. I wonder if they're still made basically the same way or not. I love ours and saved every one of them. I think they go perfectly with the sign Dee made with the rooster hanging from a hook at the top of the old door.)

This whole display sits in our little front garden, behind a GIGANTIC old rock that came from our yard that has been here forever and ever. It had to be moved when the house was remodeled but I couldn't stand to get rid of it; it now sits by one of the front doors for everyone to see.

Our cats have always loved to stretch out on it in the sun while warming themselves, or perching on top, very alert and watching the garden for a mouse. It's a trough for them (and an occasional bird, too) as they will lick water from the puddles that form in its big crevices after a refreshing spring or summer rain.

I love this old rock too. Something about it speaks of OLD and SOLID. I'm glad we decided to let it be dug on up moved here to hold a place of prominence.

Before it was moved, most of the rock was under the ground and one could only see about the top third of it. And now the WHOLE big beautiful thing is on display, it's the size of a small kitchen table.

I never get tired of the surprises and stories that old farm places offer. I try to hold onto the stories and learn as much about our place as I can.

Sadly, we only have one outbuilding left-- but we thought it was important to have saved as much of the interesting relics from the barns, coops and sheds as possible. They all take turns to be on display this way.

The barns were in the worst condition...as they were much older than our house, as the barns were put up first while the founding family that built this house lived in a log cabin just a small distance away.

The house was the last and least important thing in the order of priorities for a full-time farmer in the late 1800's.


8 comments:

A Joyful Chaos said...

That's interesting especially since we just moved to a place where the house and barn were both built in the 1880's I haven't been out in the barn yet so I don't know how the stanchions look but the ones we used to have while we were dairy farmers didn't look like the one you are displaying.

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

I love how you have taken something so utilitarian and made a lovely corner in your yard.
I wish we had a barn and some land to spread our wings out on.

Have a sweet day,
Becky

Dar said...

Such a pleasure to read about your stanchions and that lovely big ol' rock. I have a kinship with the old and beautiful things God has created too. Your stanchion looks just like mine...also taken from our little barn of 100 years. If you don't mind, I'd love to borrow your idea as a back drop for some of my flowers to embellish an old stanchion.
I loved this entry...any part of the lost small farms makes my heart sing.
BlessYourHeart

★Carol★ said...

Who would have thought that an old farm implement could be beautiful? It's really lovely, with the flowers and especially with one of your cute signs!

Kathie Truitt said...

I had an old wooden door propped up in the house one time. I strung twinkling lights and flowers and all kinds of neat vintage-y things around it. The lady that bought the house, though wanted to keep it. I was ready to get the heck outta there so I let her have it.

I wish you'd spend about two weeks at my house and teach me to can, and re-upholster my chairs, too.

Sunshine Mom said...

omg, your blog is BEAUTIFUL!!

Meadowbrook Cabin Primitives said...

Thanks for the memories of my Grandma's dairy farm ! I remember those stanchions with the cow's head in it . How wonderful to save and see the beauty and history in them ! I also remember the milk separator in a little building where the ice cold spring went through it, and it was the best tasting water and we would use a dipper to drink the water .

Hugs,

Linda

mary your sis said...

I've been told that horses will chew on their stalls, and will chew any kind of wood except oak. I wonder if this is true of cows, too, and if maybe that's why the stanchions are lined with oak? Nice post. The display looks wonderful in your front garden.