Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The Sassy Cow Creamery

Before I get into our Sassy Cow Adventure I must talk about what happened to DJ's dad sixty-three years ago today.

Mel was riding on top of the USS Indianapolis (a Portland-class cruiser and Flag Ship for the Pacific Fleet) as a Marine near the end of WWII when the front of the Indy was blown off by torpedo. The ship plowed into the water and sunk in twelve minutes leaving Mel and 779 of the 1,197 floating in the water.

Life jackets were pretty new back then and were designed to stay a float for maybe a day or two.

The real problem came when sharks, hearing the noise decided to investigate and started nabbing the sailors one by one.

The ship sank so fast that only a few SOS's went out which were quickly dismissed by the Navy as being a Japanese trick and this being a vessel of war with radio silence, no one thought anything about the Indy not coming one on schedule.

And there they floated. In a 100+ degree, cloudless sea with no water, no food, very few flotation devices , no one knowing they were there and one by one, being eaten by sharks. Day after day after day.

After five days the survivors, now numbering only 317 were accidentally spotted by a PBY (the same plane my dad flew in WWII in search and rescue) and what LT. R. Adrian Marks the pilot saw was horrific. In the crystal clear water he saw survivors from an unknown ship with hundreds of oceanic whitetip shark's circling just below.

Against orders he landed the plane in choppy seas and as Mel has said, many tried to swim to the plane and sunk due to lack of strength. When some did make it they were asked "what ship are you from" and it is then when the Navy found out their Flag Ship had been sunk.

The call went out for a major rescue and the PBY started to get people on the plane. When the plane was full they started to tie survivors to the wings damaging the plane but saving lives. All the while the sharks were thrashing the waters.

It was total darkness when the Cecil Doyle arrived to help the rescue and again, against all orders turned on search lights knowing there was at least one submarine in the area to look for more survivors.

Three hundred seventeen were rescued.

I won't get into the rest of the story but two movie companies are looking into making this a major motion picture.

If you want a fantastic book on this look for "In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors". There is one,(maybe two?) photos of DJs dad, Mel Jacob in the book.
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The Sassy Cow Creamery

After the cement guys came for our patio DJ, Blake and I decided to go get my new cell phone and on the way back from Madison stop off at The Sassy Cow Creamery.

The Sassy Cow is a brand new farmstead milk bottling business between Columbus and Sun Prairie and near Bristol. Just find "N" near Bristol and head north - can't miss it.

We stopped in and were looking around when owner James Baerwolf came out and we started talking. Of course I was on edge, could this be THE JAMES that stole my cell phone Friday? I looked deep into his eyes searching for clues, I felt like calling him, maybe interviewing him ON THE PHONE but he did not seem to be the type.

I think the book Freak-o-nomics mentioned "farmstead milk bottling business owners rarely steal cell phones".

So I relaxed but took a photo anyway just in case.

He does look a little shifty though!!

ANYWAY - the place is spotless and you can see into the windows at the milking process (no milk is actually visible). The great news is THEY HAVE ICE CREAM. And it is really good. In fact they also have Organic Milk (I should have asked what that actually means) and all sorts of dairy products. (The next time you make Habanero salsa make sure you go there first . . . that is a story for another time though).

ANYWAY - They have 100-ish Organic Cows (as opposed to inorganic cows) and 400-ish normal cows (like ANY cow is normal? - they have like 5 stomachs, yea - normal).

This is an abnormal cow - stay away from milk from these dudes!

Back at the Creamery, DJ and I get ice cream (good price) and go outside to eat it. We sit on the provided benches and look at the scenery. The distant white barns are where the normal cows live.
(click photo to enlarge)


DJ and I are eating our ice cream and of course Blake is wanting some also so we give him a nice taste.

Totally forgetting he is Lactose Intolerant.

JUST KIDDING

We're done eating and I go into buy some milk and Smooth Hand Luke (that is what the cows call him) says that fresh milk, as of this morning, will be available in 15 minutes.

We hang and get our fresh milk. We will not be strangers to the place! You really should go there to check them out.

Coming events - This Friday a brat fry from 11am to 2pm with creamery and farms tours and Friday August 29th, 3pm to 8pm is pie, ice cream and root beer floats night! Also be offering tours of the creamery and farms!

Hey - let's skip the Kurth that Friday and go to the Creamery (Kurth afterword to wash down the dairy products). Seriously - it would be a hoot. Let's show support!!
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As I was waiting for the cement guys I was looking in the garden a and took a few more photos. The Monarch butterfly's are making an appearance. Fear not the Monarch caterpillar.





Have a great day.

OH Johnny Depp is going to play the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's new gripping, spooky, Alice in Wonderland . Mia Wasikowska will play Alice.

OH - cell phone is up and running - same number as before. AND I have insurance.

Rod

33 comments:

  1. The torpedos hit the middle of the ship where his sleeping quarters were. Luckily it was so hot that night, that he decided to sleep on deck. Otherwise he would have been toast!

    I am so jealous that you have monarch catepillars in your garden! I love catepillars! They are my favorite. Last fall we found a wooly bear. He was sooo cute!

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  2. Oh yeah. Friday Aug 29, we should all go to the Creamery! That would be fun!

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  3. Wow! DJ's daddy is tough hero! How awesome he must be!!

    Yummy, I want ice cream! Did you get fresh cheese curds too??

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  4. I saw curds but were unsure of freshness they were cold - can't eat cold curds!

    If there were cheese curds you know John Micheal Bolger would not go (being afraid of cheese curds - it's a Hells Kitchen thing I think).

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  5. Wow. Mr. Jacobs' story is incredible. My dad was a WWII vet, but he never talked about it. I love watching WWII docs and reading about the various stages-- thanks for the book recommendation!
    A salute to Mr. Jacobs.

    CJ's 4th-grade teacher works at the Sassy Cow; they took a field trip there. CJ loves the place!

    I couldn't sleep last night. Thanks, Brewers...

    -Mary

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  6. Busting a gut laughing...cows!

    The debate ensues at our house...wether the very cool photo of the caterpillar is a Monarch or a Swallowtail because the kids helped them grow in a school lab.

    Thanks for the funny post.

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  7. Swallowtail caterpillars are shorter and do not have the feelers

    http://tinyurl.com/5le648

    Monarchs are longer with feelers

    http://tinyurl.com/6q3tsu

    Only bulls have feelers and are hard - cows have ears!

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  8. Just wanted to hi from Sassy Cow Creamery and we hope that you can all come out soon and visit. Mention this blog and we will give you half off your ice cream cone!
    Thanks- Kara

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  9. HEY - I wish I could put that last post in Sassy Red!!

    Thanks Kara!!!

    The bus will be pulling up soon ;-)


    Ice Cream - it's an American tradition - like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

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  10. oh! Last year on Shark Week they had a special about the USS Indianapolis, I watched it and man oh man was I freaked out...DJ, mad props to your dad and the others for keeping their wits about them.

    I'll have to let you all know more about Friday when it comes closer...dentist appointment at 3...boo hiss.

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  11. Just had a 5.4 earthquake in Cali! Centered in Diamond Bar area... about 25 miles North/East from me.... as of right now no reported damage. It lasted a long time..... all is well, will keep you posted....

    You can get info on my blog as well....

    carry on!

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  12. Where is earthquake dude!!!

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  13. http://earthquakealert.blogspot.com/

    But watch out, it's kind of weird.

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  14. Wow!!! Dj Your Dad is one Special Man,... God Bless him!
    My Father was in WWII as a Gunner..
    Wish I was more into it growing up so he could of told me stories...

    Sassy Creamery sounds Yummy!!!

    Who doesn't Love Ice cream!
    Let's do it!

    What Friday????


    Those pictures of the flowers are just awesome...
    And Caterpillar's will be pretty soon!Hope they stay around your flowers.

    Minxie~ Sure hope you are going to be ok!!!!!!' Keep us posted!!!!

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  15. Coming from the big UK dairy county (Somerset - home of the real Cheddar!) I have to ask - why do American cows live in barns? I saw that in Cali, and it looks awful. Our cows mooch about in the fields, stuffing themselves with grass. Is it too hot there? And if the cows are in barns, how do you guys know when it's going to rain? Cows lie down when it rains!

    Organic dairy products - no artificial pesticides on the pasture for at least two years, no routine antibiotics/growth promoters in the cows. Means the cows are looked after more carefully, and less chemical residues in the milk. Organics are in every supermarket here. We still don't have cheese curds though!

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  16. ms_wonderland, I can assure that the cows in California are not happy, no matter what the commercials say.
    Here in Wisconsin, I believe the barns are just for show. So we had something to put on the back of our state quarter. Or something.

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  17. ms wonderland - I don't know about Cali, but cow in Wisconsin sleep in barns, but most are let out in the fields during the day I think cuz I always see them in the fields eating. I think it is mean to keep them in a barn their whole life :(

    I never noticed that they sit when it is going to rain. Now I'm gonna have to keep my eyes peeled!

    Rod- Yeah what ever happened to earthquake guy???

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  18. I get teary-eyed everytime I hear the story of the Uss Indy.

    I'm humbled and echo Mary's salute to DJ's Dad...

    Love the Creamery idea, is that this Friday? ;) mmm....

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  19. Our cows all have WiFi in the barns and can look at the radar - then they go lay outside.

    Many people thing they have tags on their ears - actually it's blue tooth phones.

    seriously though - And I hope Kara can correct me. Cows spend most of the time outside but eat special meals made for each cow (seriously).

    Then they play cards at night (you have seen the paintings - cows playing poker)

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  20. Sassy G2G on August 29th?

    *marks calendar*

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  21. Wow - WiFi, Bluetooth and poker? Those sure are contented cows! They must be checking Rod's weather blog to find out when to go have a lie down.

    It's good to know Wisconsin knows how to grow happy cows.

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  22. Robbi,

    "Who doesn't Love Ice cream!"

    You're wrong!!! Bascomb Hall Ice Cream IS THE BEST!!!! (Well, until I get to taste the Sassy Cow's)

    I think this is kind'a like "Who will help me drink my beer?"

    I will! I Will!

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  23. I will help Who drink your beer

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  24. dj,

    I've watched documentaries about the USS Indy for years and have GREATLY admired those who survivied. We were just watching a promo for "Shark Week" that talked about it. My father was in the South Pacific for three and a half years through WWII. I agree with Mary, he didn't talk about it much. Every once in a while, he would talk alittle while watching one of the movies (or M*A*S*H).

    ::A Salute to dj's Dad::

    Thank you Sir!

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  25. Minxie,

    Hope you are safe and not shaken too badly!

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  26. Update: all is well in Cali.... hundreds of small after shocks, but really NO major damage to report.....

    Osh, love, I have to disagree, cows in Cali ARE happy! Hell, they just got one hell of a hoof massage! LOL..... The cows are only in the barns during milking, otherwise they are outside on pasture or in extremely large pens. The weather is wonderful most of the year, so their milk production is pretty high (according to the dairy farmers)...... and hell, how could they NOT be happy.... they live in Cali! =0P

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  27. Part 1 of 2 of the USS Indianapolis sinking is actually on the Discovery channel tonight from 11pm-12. It's called "Ocean of Fear: Worst Shark".

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  28. I was JUST watching Shark week on the discovery channel, and they had an hour long episode of what happened to the men of the USS Indianapolis with the sharks.

    Thanks for sharing your stories with us today, and I am glad you got your new cell phone!

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  29. I am SO glad you have documented your FIL's harrowing experience. I asked my dad to write down his WWII memories and never knew that he was a hero and had received a medal for it. I salute DJ's dad and all other veterans!!
    Wish I could stay up to watch the documentary tonight!!
    Glad everyone's okay, Minxie!!
    Does the Sassy Cow sell milk right from the cows? Dh grew up drinking it with the cream on top?!! I'm marking the calendar for the 29th!
    Smart move getting insurance on your new phone, Rod!

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  30. Myth Busters had a myth on their shark episode about the USS Indianapolis...

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  31. thank you very much for your information........


    ___________________
    Julie
    "BEST PRICE for the BEST ENTERTAINMENT"

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