Big, Shiny Milk Truck

Yesterday morning it dawned on me.........I've not yet posted a photo of the milk truck which faithfully comes to our farm every other day. I've neglected to show you this very important part of our dairy operation; I guess the truck's arrival is so familiar to me, I hardly notice it.

Quite the shiny hunk of metal, isn't it........the drivers are very obsessive about keeping their trucks as sparkling clean as possible!

The same family has been hauling milk from this farm for 50 years.......making them like family to us! Several brothers own the milk route now, which was established by their dad many years ago. Whether there will be a third generation in their milk hauling dynasty remains to be seen........the brothers have been blessed with many daughters and only one son, who's now ten years old. So, only time will tell........I hope they don't put too much pressure on the poor kid!

Having a heavy truck drive into our farmyard on a regular basis puts much stress on our farm's driveway. Today, in fact, Husband had a dump truck deliver a load of crushed rock, which was spread on our long lane and in the area by the barn where the milk truck backs up next to the milkhouse porthole. In the rear of the truck's shiny tank is a long hose which is threaded through the porthole and attached to the bulk milk tank inside the milkhouse. The milk truck driver checks the milk level on measuring stick of the bulk tank in the milkhouse to determine the amount of milk which will be transferred to the truck. When the transfer is completed, the driver rinses out the bulk tank and turns on the automatic washer.

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While he waits for the milk to be pumped into the truck, Husband and/or I have the opportunity to visit with the driver and hear about the happenings in the brothers' families. The oldest driver is a new grandpa and he sometimes brings photos of grandbabies along to proudly show us. One of the brothers raises horses and likes to go on trailrides here in Iowa when the weather is good. Another brother has a Christmas tree farm business on the side and from him we hear about what's involved with that enterprise throughout the year.......its alot of work, and not just in December.

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Milk truck driving is not for slackers.......these guys get up at 3 a.m. each day to begin their milk routes. Their shiny, clean trucks don't get that way on their own........the drivers wash their trucks after each trip to the milk plant. Come heck or high water, milk must be picked up from the farms, and these drivers work on holidays just like the dairy farmers do. We appreciate their faithful service. Let's give a cheer for milk truck drivers everywhere!!

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Last week, I was endeavoring to use the Dr. Dictionary Word of the Day in each day's blog post. Hm-m........the past few days have been difficult because of words such as "excrescence"....... "obsequious"........ "xenophobia".........and today's word: "deux ex machina". Sheesh! The simple truth is, I haven't been determined enough to make the effort to think hard and figure out a way to use these words. I've been lazy; I'll try to do better.......tomorrow! Although......maybe this will work for today's word: Think hard so your mind can function as a "deux ex machina" when necessary!