Making Hay While the Sun Shines/Feline Friday

We have been "making hay while the sun shines" this week.

DH did the mowing this time.  I ran the rake to make the windrows for the baler to pick up.  I need to make sure I miss all the rocks and holes.  I need to be sure not to cover up rocks with hay that might cause major damage to the baler. DH follows me making bales.  The hay has to lay on the ground and cure for a couple days in between mowing and baling.  It needs to be done right to be good feed for the cattle.

This is my view heading home dodging bales with the tractor and the rake.  DH will stack the bales this week-end.

These bales were stacked earlier.  If it would rain, we might be able to mow this patch again.  We are in need of rain for the corn.  It's getting dry again and the fire danger has risen in our area.  The wheat will need combining soon too.

Peanut has been spending the hot afternoons in the house.  I had to run to town for parts on Tuesday, so she rode along to get her shots at the Vet Clinic. 

She was a very good patient.  She slept in an interesting pose for her afternoon nap.

I hope she was having good dreams.  Hopefully I will get back to sewing sometime this week-end.
I'm linking up with Sarah for Feline Friday.  :)

Raking and Raining

It rained .15 this morning early.  It wasn't much, but better than NOTHING.   We will take every drop that God provides and not complain---I promise not to complain.  Please just send us some more--you know us humans -   never satisfied!  Seriously there is another 30% chance for tonight--bring it on, Lord!!    It's 91 F this afternoon and the guys are finishing up combining our Spring Wheat.

DH and I have been making some hay too.  I'm the raker.  (Please excuse the dirty tractor windows--yes, that is bird  poo.)

The rake takes two rows of hay and throws them together in one big row for the baler to pick up.   I was kind of nervous, because this was the "new to us" rake and we hadn't tried it yet.  It worked very well! 

Actually I'm ahead of DH and I'll eventually lap him.

 See I'm catching up to him.

He has to stop when the baler is full of hay, wait for it to wrap it with twine and pop it out.  I just keep going around and around--no stops.  I just have to watch for rocks and badger holes and not put the row of hay over them--especially rocks.  Rocks do very bad things to the inner workings of a baler.  It's very comfortable in the tractor--AC of course.  I use the time to pray for rain and people on my prayer list.  So it is time well spent!

I've told you before that sometimes when I haven't gotten to sew for a while I have a hard time not buying quilt supplies.  It's like a "fix" I need.  I've been really good this year and haven't been buying anything.  I lost control recently!  Today's Quilting sent me an email and tempted me with their sale.
I highly recommend this quilt shop.  They ship very, very quickly too.

I have such a weakness for Me & My Sister designs.  The Good Morning charm packs were calling my name.

There were some books on sale too.  This one is by Gathering Friends.  I love their books.  This book has 11 table runners and 2 table toppers.  They are all very quick and easy to make.  They are also easy to make smaller or larger..  I like making table toppers for gifts and I like making different ones.

I'm a Nancy Halverson fan.  I have almost all of her books.  I like this book, because parts of the quilt can be used for table runners or wall hangings too.  And I'm just a sucker for Nancy Halverson designs--what can I say? 

My last splurge was some Froggin by Sue Zipkin for Clothworks.  This is just the cutest fabric.  It will make a nice baby or child's quilt. 

Can you resist a frog face like that?

The green print has such cute fish, snails and turtles on it too.

It's true I didn't need this fabric, but it filled a need inside of me.  My creative need is hungry.  I really need to find time to feed it---SOON!   lol  Thank you for letting me share my new stuff with you!!

I've been everywhere

I've been everywhere, man!  Just kidding, but I've been on the road every day.  DH and I traveled to Edgely, ND on Friday to buy used double mowers for more hay making.   Our old mowers are shot, so we bought better used mowers.  Of course these mowers will take some fixing too.

DD1 moved from her one bedroom apartment to a small two bedroom house.  It was only 108 F on Saturday and 113 F on Sunday.  We helped her with some home improvement projects--shower curtain rod, closet rods, sink fixture and some other fix-its.  So hot and humid!    (DD 1 has had two more lesions removed.  One of these has come back as needing additional surgery.  Thank you for your prayers for her as she continues to visit the dermatologist.)

Monday was rake shopping day.  We own half interest in a rake with one of the neighbors, but that isn't working out so well anymore.  We both need it at the same time.  After chores we headed to Onida to buy a used rake DH found on the internet.   He told the salesman we were coming.  After we had driven all the way there--the rake had been sold to another buyer.  Poor communication between the implement business owner and his salesman--made for an unhappy DH.   No sense wasting another day!  Off we went to Huron to another implement dealer.  We ended up buying a newer (more expensive)  rake than we planned, but maybe this one won't need as much "fixin".

Tuesday I had an appointment to pick up my new glasses and have my eyes dilated and examined.  I was diagnosed with ocular histoplasmosis in 1979 and had laser surgery, so I am faithful with my eye check ups.  A scan of my macula looks different this year and now I am scheduled to see a retina specialist in August. 

Wednesday I had my regular yearly check-up scheduled at the clinic.  It's nice to know I'm healthy!

I was looking forward to staying home today.  I've been to town once already for mower parts.  Our "new" mower has taken more fixing than DH anticipated.  It should be in fine condition once all the repairs are made.

No matter where we go, this little gal brings us home.

This is Lambie Pie.  She was born June 2nd.  She is a twin.  Her mom chose the little bull calf and deserted the heifer.   She sounded just like a little lamb when she cried.  We tried and tried to get her mom to take both babies.  No such luck.  At birth Pie only weighed about 40 pounds.  We have nursed her along and she is doing well now.  We feed her morning and night and she drinks a gallon of milk replacer a day.   In another week or so she will be put on pellet feed.  She is in a pasture with her mom and brother and another cow, who likes both her twin bulls.   She keeps us tied down, so no camping or fishing yet this summer.  She is so cute and funny.   Who can resist a little baby who comes running to be fed?

As you can see, no sewing so far this week---only traveling!  It has been so hot and we pray for rain daily.  The corn is starting to burn up--hard to watch.  Some dark clouds passed over this morning as we were fixing on the mower and we each felt a few drops--such a teaser!!  DH says he will never complain about a blizzard again.  July has been a long series of hot, hot, dry days.

Staying Cool

I've been staying cool in the house in the afternoons.  I enjoyed blind stitching around all the petals as I listened to my audio book.  I used the thread I ordered from Connecting Threads.  It sews and looks very nice.

This afternoon I layed out the blocks.  I kept moving them around and around until I finally decided to just sew them together.  It's been so much fun to be making a quilt again.  I can tell the difference in my mood when I sew.  You would think DH would want me to sew all the time.  lol

 

  

DH has been "making hay while the sunshines".  The sun has definitely been shining.  It has been hot, hot, hot.  Tomorrow is suppose to be better.  It really cooled off tonight--must have been at least 75.  It's lovely to have an air-conditioned cab on your tractor, but break downs are not so much fun.  I nearly melted this morning helping DH fix.  I hate "fixing", especially with such a cheerful fixer.  I really needed to sew this afternoon.  lol

 

  

This is what we call a hay binder.  DH uses it to cut the alfalfa and  the tall grass down.  It puts it into windrows.  He usually lets the hay lay for 3 days to "cure" and then bales it into large bales.  The grass is extra tall this year because of all the rain we've had.  The high humidity has made it harder to get everything to work like it usually does.  The grass is tall and thick and wetter than ever.  

The alfalfa is in full bloom.  It is very pretty and smells sweet.  Cows love alfalfa bales in the winter.  We have two fields of alfalfa.   DH has cut and baled them once.  If we get some rain, it will grow up again and we can cut and bale a "second cutting".

 

The alfalfa has spread to the road ditches too. DH will cut and bale there too. 

 

The canary grass is shoulder high this year.   It grows wild with other native prairie grasses.  It's extra tall this year, so it's been a challenge to work with.  DH will spend tomorrow baling.  I have an appointment for a hair cut.  I need to stock up on groceries too.  We are going to be chopping the oats for silage next week.  I'll be taking lunches to the field for the crew.  The wheat is starting to ripen, so combining will be next.  It will be a busy time ahead.