This Father’s Day I’m remembering my Dad and the influence he had on my storytelling. He loved to tell stories. When I was growing up I didn’t always appreciate hearing the same ones over and over. Now, however, I am glad I captured some of them on tape, and enjoy hearing his voice, even though he has been gone for almost eight years. If you haven’t heard the tribute I prepared for CBC Radio in 2002 on the occasion of his 90th birthday, you can check it out on my Broadcasting page. There are two versions -the original and a shorter, edited version.

When Deana Driver of DriverWorks Ink put out a call for stories for an anthology about all that was involved on prairie farms in the process of selling cream, it got me thinking – and talking to my siblings. We started reminiscing and pulling out old photos.

The photo of me milking a cow appears on the back cover of Cream Money Stories of Prairie People, which was recently launched. Inside you will find several stories and photos from our family, along with excerpts from my father’s diaries, and a recipe my mother wrote down on the envelope from a cream cheque.

I can’t say I’m nostalgic about milking cows, but I do miss real cream, freshly churned butter, and home-made cottage cheese…