Hay Season

Well... it's that time of year again. The mad dash, 2 wks. long scramble to get enough hay to feed your livestock for an entire year. It's always HOT, the hay is prickly and sticks to your skin inside your clothes. Your arms are flecked with tiny cuts- your hands are bruised from the string on the bales. 

There's a certain camaraderie- as you pass other vehicles pulling empty trailers, you know exactly where they are headed. On your way to the ranch of your choice, you view trucks, and pickers in other fields, while assessing how good their hay is, how much they have, and wonder how many horses they are feeding. You wave and smile at the exhausted people in low riding pick ups, crawling down the road, loaded bed and trailers stacked 6 rows high with fragrant, fresh hay.  You reminisce about your first time bucking bales.  Montana in July.

Today, it was our turn.

There's no point in even starting until the evening. Going out in 100 degree weather would just about kill anyone, so people tend to wait until the temperature starts to drop a bit.

This year, Bruce had to do the hay alone.  I'm not much help. I drive the truck while Bruce lifts the 50-70 lb. bales, and stacks them in the bed of the pick-up, and on the trailer. He can fit about 55 bales before we have to head for home... Meaning numerous trips, since there are about 35 bales per ton, and we need 6 tons.

It's HARD work! 

At the same time, however.....

You're outdoors. The scenery is AMAZING.

There is wildlife, and nature all around you.

The air starts to cool down, and you get magnificent sunsets.

There's a peacefulness... and the satisfaction of hard work done well.  A sense of providing for your family with sheer, physical labor. Preparation for the long Winter months ahead.

Finally, this load is done, and the long, slow drive home begins.

BUT!!!  The job isn't finished. Poor Bruce still had to stack the hay into the barn at home!

Luckily, Bruce had Selkie to help.

because the horses, while appreciative, gave no assistance!

That's 3 tons of hay...  time to get 3 more tons.