Hay Day

Today was pretty cut and dry...literally and figuratively!

We did chores as usual and then moved out to the hay field. We were in some pretty wet and thin spots, so Ross came out and dump raked while I used the V rake and Merle baled. The hay was dry and cured for the most part but it was hard to do because we were really tearing up the field. But, what can you do? If you want the hay I guess you just deal with making the field rough (next year someone is going to hate me for that). We cleared that field off pretty quick, then picked everything up and moved south of the Hisle Dam pasture in that big hay field. We spent the rest of the day there and managed to get everything up that was ready to be baled without any trouble. Ross windrowed the whole time and went back after we were done too. I'm sure he has quite a bit down now too. This second cutting hay isn't too bad- we've been getting about a bale an acre, which isn't a whole lot, but the hay is good quality and thicker in some spots. After all, not everyone can be as cool as us east river people and cut three or four times!

There was cell reception in that field so I definitly got some phone calls made and stuff...kinda nice. Anyway, we got out of there at about four and headed back home. We did chores a little early because there was a picnic we were invited to through the fire department at the LaCreek Refuge. It's a national wildlife refuge just a few miles south of Martin. I hadn't been there yet, but it was worth the wait. Since it was a picnic, we spent most of the time mingling with people and stuff..this was nice, good food, good company. I'm even getting so that I know people when we go places-that's really nice, and a lot of fun. I was able to meet a few people there too last night. After we ate we went out and climbed the lookout tour there. It stands about 115ft tall with 132 steps (I counted so who knows if that's accurate). It is one of like 5 or 6 left standing in the nation. They used to use them as lookout tours for fires and different things, but now it's just for tourism. This one was just rebuilt a year or so ago, so it's really nice to climb and see. I need to post the pictures I took as well as my Sturgis ones very very soon. I swear I'll get it done when I have an hour to do it! :) But anyway, the tour was cool- it's the same kind of one that is only partially left on Eagles Nest Butte that I was talking about- in fact we found out last night that they may have moved the top half of that tour to Porcupine Butte- interesting.

But, it started to get dark so we headed home. That pretty much concludes the day, it sounds like we're going to string some salt and mineral this morning because there isn't any hay cured at the moment. I better head out- late for chores!