Supplement to Pages 211-212 (Patreon)

Hi patrons, here's the part in my grandpa's essay where I got inspiration for this whole waking-up-on-the-farm section. It's probably my favorite part. 

"Bringing the cows to the barn was a big responsibility for me at age eight or nine.  I rose before the sun was up and trudged off up the hills with our Collie dog Lady looking for the cows.  We always had a big Holstein bull feeding with the herd so I had to be cautious.  I usually picked up a few rocks to defend myself from the bull not realizing that the rocks would be useless if he charged me. The cows wore bells around their necks which clanged when they moved their heads.  I could find them by listening for the calling noise of the bells.  The herd would usually be loitering in a cool place under a pine forest canopy chewing their cuds and waiting to be herded down the hill to the barn.  Sometimes I would discover a baby calf that was born during the night and barely able to stand. I had to leave the calf with the mother while I drove the rest of the herd down and come back later when the calf could be loaded into wheelbarrow for the trip down.  

On the way down to the barn I often hunted for mushrooms and puffballs.  Puffballs are sometimes 6-8 inches in diameter like a large softball. They were remarkably firm and felt heavy.  The morning dew clinging to the puffballs was moist to the touch and they are fresh and delicious to eat when picked at dawn."

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