Memorial Day Hay...

We woke up this morning to the sound of a gentle rain...and to the feeling of thankfulness for yesterday's beautiful weather!

Baling dry hay is always a challenge, or so it seems the past few years!  We need at least three or four consecutive days of hot, sunny weather to be sure that the hay is dry enough to make good quality feed for the cows, and that it is dry enough to safely store in the barn.

I did this post last June, explaining how Jim decides when to mow the hay. Two weeks ago, he began checking out the fields.  They were in very early bud stage...a tad early for mowing...but he noticed this...

You can see that the leaves are damaged...with little holes in them.  This damage is caused by the alfalfa weevil.  If left go, the weevils will cause more and more damage, diminishing the hay quality significantly!  Some years they are worse than others...it seems like every three years on average we have a problem with them.

The solution?  Mow and bale the hay right away.

The first step is to listen to this...

Do you have one of these?  We have several, and all summer long, it is kind of like an extra appendage. Farmers rely so much on the weather...almost everything we do depends upon it!  The weather forecast that we rely upon most is often from the NOAA weather radio, based out of State College PA.  I remember my Dad using the same thing when I was a girl.  As we all know, weather forecasters are not God, and are often wrong, but we have to rely on what they say.

The forecast didn't look promising for baling the hay dry, so Jim mowed most of it and baled it wet, in round bales and wrapped them.  Up until a couple of years ago, we didn't have this option, and it sure has been nice!  Now we know that we can make balage if we don't have a good forecast, although we prefer feeding dry hay to the cows.

He left one field here at home stand, as it was a little younger than the others, and didn't show much weevil damage.  He mowed that one this past Friday afternoon, hearing a good forecast for the holiday weekend.  It rained on Friday evening, but rain on freshly mowed hay isn't a problem. It might take a little longer to dry, but the strong winds on Saturday and Sunday cooperated nicely, helping it along.

Yesterday was gorgeous!  In the morning Jim checked the hay, and raked it into windrows.  (no pictures this time, as the day was a bit crazy...sorry!) He baled it up in the afternoon, and three neighbor boys and Eric unloaded it into the mow.  They did a great job stacking.  Again, no pictures of the action, because I was milking while they were working.  I took this picture this morning...

It doesn't look like much in the empty mow, but it's a start.  I just wish I could somehow bottle up the smell and share it.  I know, I say that often, but it's true!  Freshly mowed and baled hay is one of the best smells!

We are so thankful that the rain held off until this morning.  We haven't been past our neighbors' fields yet today, to see if they finished or not, but some of them had a lot to bale.  I hope they're done too!

Fresh Strawberries...

It's been a strange week.  Like spring usually is, it's been busy.

We've had strange weather...a couple of hot, humid, typical Pennsylvania late spring weather days, and now it's cold and rainy!  The insulated coveralls have been washed...again...and put away until next winter, but they almost got pulled out again this afternoon!  We don't know how to dress...but we don't mind putting off the hot stuff for another week or so!

1.  Chilly weather aside, look what I found in my garden this morning...

This is the first time picking my new patch.  Oh my, are they tasty!

2.  I've recently been reading a book...the Animal Vegetable Miracle, by Barbara Kingsolver.  Hopefully I'll finish it soon...but every time I pick it up, I fall asleep.  Not the book's fault...it's very interesting!  Maybe it's a sign that I'm getting old!

3.  I spent some time this afternoon at Goodwill...digging through the clothing bins for barn shirts for .85 each.  If they get stained the first time they're worn...and they will...it's no great loss!  While waiting in line for what felt like forever...I got to talking to the people around me.  They were buying things to resell on eBay!  I had no idea, but they said they make a lot of money doing this.

4.  Here are last year's raspberries.  I had to protect them from the dogs digging them out...

...and here they are this year. I think they're happier now... and this is after I thinned them!  They have gone wild...and are already loaded with blossoms...

5.  There are only seven days of school left!  But who's counting?

Linking up today with Random 5 Friday

Revisiting an Old Idea...

Some years back, I tried something different in my garden...

 A friend had very successfully launched a "pick your own flowers" business in her garden.  She lived along a pretty major thoroughfare, and sold tons of flowers...mostly zinnias and sunflowers.  Her beautiful flowers advertised themselves well.  When her family moved out of the immediate area, she gave me her sign...and her blessing...to give it a whirl in my own garden.

Well...it didn't go so well.  We live on a corner, with a busy road on one side, and a not so busy road on the other.  But...my garden is just over the hill and out of sight from the busier of the two roads, and thus, the flowers were hidden from view.  I was disappointed, to say the least.

Round two...

I had a little extra room in the garden after my veggies were planted, so this morning I went to my favorite green house, and did a little shopping.  I planted two varieties of zinnias...State Fair, and Cut and Come Again, Blue Bedder Salvia, Indian Summer Rudbeckia, Liberty Classic Snapdragons and Blue Horizon Ageratum.  It doesn't look like much now, but hopefully in a few weeks, the flowers will be big and beautiful!

This time, I'm looking at it with a different attitude.  I'm not doing this to make a lot of money.  I love meeting people, and having something to offer that makes someone else happy.  So, every dozen I sell will be a bonus...and every flower that stays in the garden will just sit there and look pretty.  No problem!

As for the rest of the garden...the tomatoes, potatoes and beans survived the cold nights we had last week and are pushing out new growth...

I planted my lima beans this morning....

...and the Iris opened this week!  I think I post a picture of this every year, but it thrills me every spring, when all of a sudden there they are, blooming like they have nothing better to do than to make me smile.  And they smell so good...

What's growing or blooming in your garden?

When Two Worlds Meet...

I thought this was kind of fun today...watching two worlds meet.

We have wonderful farm neighbors...and most of them are Amish.  We get along with them well, and help each other out when needed.

But how often do you see a team of horses working in an English man's field?

There are several Amish men in the neighborhood who own round balers, and who do custom baling.  This one, who came to finish up our rye grass and alfalfa hay today, used his mules to pull the baler.  Jim operated the wrapper with our tractor.  I thought it was fun, seeing them working in the same field together.

No matter that we do things differently...the end result is the same!

Rhubarb Jam Recipe...

Last year, I picked up a cookbook that focuses on seasonal cooking...using what is fresh right now, to cook, right now.  It's full of great ideas!

Jim's Aunt gave me an armful of rhubarb yesterday, which is abundant here this time of year.  I had enough to make one batch of this delicious jam, as well as a small dessert that lasted all of about fifteen minutes.  :)

If you have access to fresh rhubarb, I'd suggest you give this recipe a try!

RHUBARB JAM

5 cups rhubarb, cut finely
4 cups sugar
1/3 cup strawberry jello  ( I used raspberry, because it's what I had on hand)

Mix rhubarb and sugar; let stand overnight.
Cook 5 minutes, and add jello.
Stir well, put into jars immediately, and seal.

You could also simply refrigerate it, as it won't last long, and only makes 4 jelly jars full.  The jam will be rather runny until it cools, but then sets nicely.  It is the simplest jam recipe that I've ever made.

My mouth is watering for a piece of bread from this recipe that is baking in the oven right now, spread with butter and some of my fresh rhubarb jam.

Thanks for the rhubarb, Aunt Marilyn!

Frost Warning...

Brrrr...it's getting chilly out there tonight, and there's a chance of frost for the early morning tomorrow!

Before you say, "You should have known better..." let me ask you if you were tempted to get out there in your garden the past week or so, with the beautiful weather we've been having?  I thought so....   :)

I tried to be good, really I did, but I just couldn't help it.  The onions, potatoes, lettuce, radishes, and other cold weather plants have been doing great.  The rest of the garden looked so lonely, so after sitting my tomato plants out on the porch for a week or so, I decided to risk it, and plant them in the garden.  Last week, I dug out my sturdy, square tomato cages, and got my hands in the dirt.

A few days ago, I was at my favorite greenhouse, and we got to talking about how we might have frost this weekend.  I came home with some plastic bags that originally held some potter's mix.  I cut off the bottoms, and they slipped perfectly over my cages...a nice snug fit...

I then slipped another bag over the top, making a tent to protect my tomatoes and my over-eager gardening!   Tomorrow morning, I'll remove the bags, and save them in case I need to use them again.  (Thanks Jack!)

My green beans are up about two inches, but there's really nothing I can do to protect them.  If they freeze, I'll just have to replant.  I have plenty of leftover seeds, and they come up quickly, so while it might be disappointing, it won't be a tragedy.

On another note...

Gato found a new place to sleep...

Right in the middle of my new herb garden, on top of the garlic.  Of all the places he could have chosen.

Maybe he likes the smell?

Random Five Friday...

I'm having fun with the Random Five Friday posts...

Some days or weeks, especially right now, it's hard to find the time to sit down and write a complete post about one event, so putting several things together all in one post is just right!

Life's been pretty busy around here the past few weeks, as I'm sure it is for most of you.  This beautiful spring weather has made everyone here...including the cows...happy.  They're spending most of the day outside grazing, and are much more content.  We've had wonderful temps, and low humidity (yay!) and just enough rain to (hopefully) pop the corn up quickly, and to make the grass grow like crazy!

1.  I don't like thunderstorms.  Never did.  Probably never will.

Here's what the sky looked like just after milking time tonight...

It just started raining a few minutes ago, and I saw a little lightning, and just heard some thunder, but I don't think it will be too bad.

2.  We've been mowing the yard twice per week of late.  We put some "Weed and Feed" on it a couple of weeks ago, and does that stuff ever work!  If I hadn't mowed today, I think Jim might have had to use the haybine, it was that thick!

3.  Both kids are finishing up their track and field seasons this week.  They both run distance, and each got a new PR (personal record) in the 1600m this spring.  Eric ran a 4:49.9, and Jenna a 5:59.  We're proud of their accomplishments!

4.  I'm soon finished with my mulching for the spring, and it feels so good!  A few weeks ago, when I looked at the weeds that continued to grow all winter long in the mild temps and damp winter we had, I thought I would never get to this point!  This is my favorite spring perennial bed.  It's not yet in full bloom, but it's getting there...

5.  Jim started mowing first cutting of alfalfa hay already this evening!  He just called to have someone come pick him up, as it's now dark and the storm is rolling in.

I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Rye Grass...and More Rye Grass...

On Friday's post, I posted a couple of pictures of the rye grass field...mowed and ready for baling.  Here's what happened next...

They began baling mid afternoon, and went on through milking time.  The landscape soon changed...

As the baler continued to bale, Jim began wrapping bales and bringing them in from the field.  He would wrap one bale in the field, pick up another bale, and bring them both in to where he wanted to store them.  He would then dump the finished bale, and begin wrapping the second one.  Over and over again...

Here's a video of the wrapper at work...

My memory card got full just before the finished bale was dumped into it's final resting place.  Bummer.  But when it was finished, it was rolled to what is the right side of the picture, and dumped towards us into a row...

We ended up with fifty six bales!  They will sit for a few weeks to cure before we open them up and begin feeding them.  Hopefully the cows will be grateful!

Next step for this field?  Planting corn...stay tuned!

Random Five Friday...

It's been a busy week...lots is happening at home and on the farm.  With the beautiful...gorgeous...perfect weather we've been having, there just aren't enough daylight hours in each day!

1. Peanut's kitties are growing fast, and getting so playful!  She moved them from the fodder mow, outside to the shed.  They live underneath, play in the weeds behind it, and come running bouncing when we call "here kitty, kitty, kitty".  This is the home she chose for them, and they seem quite healthy and happy!  There are four males and two females.  We've told the kids we will keep two, and the rest are going to a good home next week...

2.  Today is the day Jim will bale his rye grass.  It was mowed on Tuesday afternoon, he's finishing up raking right now, and the round baler will begin anytime!  I wonder how many bales it will make?

3.  My garden is slowly taking shape for the season.  The onions, radishes and potatoes are up...and on the far left lies the string been packet, at the end of the first row I planted a few days ago...

The strawberry blossoms are showing off!  I sure hope we don't get a freeze...this will be the first year picking off of this new patch, and I'm hoping for a bumper crop...

4.  The dogs are in their glory this time of year...they follow me everywhere, and lay at my feet no matter what I'm doing.  If I'm planting in the garden, they lay in the rows... if I'm feeding calves, they lay beside the calf hutches...if I'm mulching, they lay in the flowers.  Here's Snickers, enjoying the sunshine as I fed calves this morning...

5.  My perennials are coming to life!  I have been given small pieces of many different plants over the years, and have had fun sharing with others as well.  (That's what I like so much about perennials!)  I think of my friends when they bloom.

The early blooming Iris came from Brenda...the Fern Leaf Peony came from Edith...

The Forget Me Nots came from Betty, the Lamium came from Carolyn, and I don't remember where the Bleeding Heart came from...

This isn't blooming yet, but the Lily Of the Valley growing fast.  It can become invasive, but I'll forgive it, because I love it's story so much!  This particular plant came to me at the end of a long family trail.  It originally came from my Great Grandma Herr...to my Grandma Herr...to my Aunt Alice from Colorado... to my Mom... and then to me!

What fun!

I hope you're enjoying your Friday!

I'm joining up with Random Five Friday again this week.