I like old Iowa farm barns and corncribs. I'm not picky--I don't seek out the buildings that have been refurbished, restored or remodeled. I just enjoy the variety of old barns, corncribs and grain bins that are still standing and are such an important part of our Iowa farm history.

Back to the 1930's and 1940's--our Iowa barn wasn't fancy, but it was home--home for our animals.

One stall was always full of straw for bedding and alfafa hay was stored in the loft. Many of the animals slept outdoors when the weather was nice but during those cold winter nights you could expect an imaginary "No Vacancy" sign above the barn door. Here's who checked in tonight (January 05, 1935): My dad's work horses Dick and Prince, my sister's blind pony Babe, Joe the mule, a mother sow with a litter of new pigs, five or six milk cows (yes, they all had names), a couple of barn rats, a herd of cats getting fat on mice (of course, all of the cats had names--but not the mice) and last, but not least, our farm dog Fido. Old Fido would stand guard over them all, and believe me--I would feel much more secure with him than I would with the security guard at the mall--with no gun. Now today, May 01, 2017, that old barn, along with the other farm buildings, is gone and a corn field takes its place. That is true of so many of our smaller Iowa farms. Our Iowa farms got bigger and more specialized, so there was less need for so many farmsteads. However, I am so thankful for those farmers who still have their old barns to remind us of days gone by.

However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. (NIV) (Deuteronomy 28:15) -- You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because the locusts will devour it. (Deuteronomy 28:38.)