Woke up early, packed a cooler full of water, and trail mix and headed out for the day... This day was set out to be hot, sticky, hurry up and wait type of day. For this day is my husband and my full day off, and today we Hay!!
Having a farm with horses, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and a few other animals = several hot summer days of bringing in hay. The past years we have cut, raked, baled, and sweat on good old Whig Street, with my wonderful in-laws. This year we are all over the map, because this year we are working with my husbands aunt and uncle helping them to bring in hay for their full time horse farm, as well as bring in our own.
The men worked on the balers to make sure they have all their "teeth (which scoops the hay up)", My husbands Aunt got the water coolers filled, gathered the extra bale n twine, and did the odds and ends, while I ran to the gas station to get the diesel fuel for the tractors. This was my first trip to the diesel pumps and after filling all the gas containers for the tractors. I didn't realize all that goes into farming. I road with Megan in a truck hauling a hay wagon to the fields, while the men drove 4 different tractors, 1 attached to a our square baler, another to their round baler, two attached to two rakes while Luke drove the big diesel; it looks like a mini semi with a long flat bed attached. Although the fields were less than 7miles away it seemed to take forever to get there. Upon our arrival, we saw my husbands Uncle cutting in one field, and in another field the hay was cut and his Aunt was raking. This is all new to me, I work so much I usually show up to throw the bales on the wagon. Three years living on a farm and I'm just beginning to learn what it really takes. I watched the miracles happening, and not happening. I saw the frustration in 4 men's faces as the baler stopped wrapping the hay! After an hour of delay and them pulling the thing apart, out came a metal file, the cutters got sharpened and voila the men are sweating, smiling, and back in business! I ran to and from their tractors taking them water, and throwing broken bales into piles to be re-baled. I learned where the bathroom was, and decided to "hold it" until the next trip back to the house. At around 6ish pizza and pop was brought to us. Funny realizeing most of us haven't eaten since 7-8am in the morning and due to heat I didn't really think about eating until we got pizza. Dinners over back to work! Two wagons piled up sky high, ropes to hold it in place, and a flat bed filed with round bales. I got asked to drive a tractor back to the farm. This too being new to me. Sitting on that tractor, I smiled with sweat from the hot, humid, sun beatin day dripping down my face, my shirt was sticking to my back, and even my legs rolled with sweat. In front of me was my husband with a tractor pulling a full load of hay. It tended to Lean to the right a bit but slow and steady and he'll be fine.
I sat on that tractor and as much as I thought I was driving it home, I think that big blue ford knew our work was done and time to retire for the night. Being in the Sun all day and now driving home as the sun sets, I froze. My cold body was filled with the events that took place throughout the day, and the smile on my face got bigger and bigger. Today 4 couples worked together bringing in hay. No one yelled at each other, no one stormed off, no one complained about each other (well often complained about the machinery, lol). 4 beautiful hardworking women, 4 handsome hardworking men spent the day together, quantity time getting hay. I thought about all the times we laughed, and all the times we were silent. It was a good day, no a great day, no a fantastic day.
Getting back to the barn, the men situated the wagons filled with hay, for the hay would be taken off the wagons tomorrow. It was 10:47pm when we all gathered around sitting, chatting, laughing over the day. I thought about a saying as my husband held my hand as we walked to our car, " couples who pray together, stay together".... Well in farming world the saying stands true "couples that HAY together, stay together!". I fell asleep holding my husbands hand as he drove us home. When we got home, quick showers and straight to bed. I slept smiling on the chest of the most perfect man God has created for me...
LIVE, LIFE, LOUD....
