Gotta watch the weather!!

Yes, we're in a drought, but it hasn't been rainless. The forecast for July 16th wasn't for rain, but this is what I saw while I unloaded my hay. 11:30 AM, Mackerel Sky "> 1:30 PM "> At 2:10 PM--THUNDER!!...then, 2:30 PM "> It helps to watch the sky. I'll ruin my hay if it gets rained on, and wet hay will heat up and cause a fire in my barn. 2:35 PM and Unloading DONE!! "> I was Convinced we were gonna get rain. WE got none, but Champaign-Urbana (20 miles north) got 1/4 inch, and THAT would have wet down my hay. So...I just got about 17 bales in, but not stacked. Here's what you do~ "> No problem. I'll have time this weekend to stack this stuff. =D

Here's where I start, the northwest 1/2 of the loft. It's directly over the "Lodge", which used to be a 1 1/2-car garage with an opener, and can take the weight of ~80 bales. It doesn't need to be tight here to take best advantage of the space. I find it's easiest to follow the 2 x 4 "ribs" of the roof's underside, like this. "> Then, I start the 2nd row from the west. "> ...and so on... "> ...and so on... "> I "tie it on" by alternating east-west and north-south, so you don't have a whole stack of heavy hay falling on you if one slips. On the north and south edges, where it's shallow, this is less likely to occur, but... safety first!

Prepping the loft for my hay

I swept with my hand broom and push broom and cleaned the loft floor first. Next, I swept up cobwebs and the dust sticking to it where the hay goes, so the storage area was clean. "> This still needs cleaning, but it's on the wall, so I'll get it later. "> This is the northwest side, where I'll start stacking hay. ">

Getting Hay, 2012

Usually this is an adventure. Yes, Monday was fun bc my DD helped me by tying down and driving the other (newer, 2007 Dodge Cummins Full ton doolie) truck. We also had to find the right route there--THAT was an adventure. But we're having a terrible drought this year and hay is scarce. I found a new supplier. The hay is really good, nice 50-60 pound bales and he's willing to sell me what I need for this winter. ANYWAY, my great Christmas camera (Nikon COOLPIX S6200)is along this year to document. I packed the usual 35 bales on my 1993 Dodge 3/4 ton Cummins. The tires wells won't allow 4 across the middle, so the bottom row has 11, then the next 2 rows have 12 bales of hay. UNfortunately, I didn't tie them down well enough, and lost 2 bales on the way home. THAT won't happen with the next trip!! "> 1/2-way done... "> The other truck "> carried 40 bales. Now, to prep the loft...

The H E A T

I had planned a "work-cation". My DH and DD were on the promise-fulfilled HS graduation (2006),Washington, D.C. trip, finally realized, and I wanted to stay home and get some things done.
Of COURSE, the massive 2011 heat wave started 2 days in to my 9 day week. I was handling it okay--I spent 2 days mowing down the up-to-5 foot tall weed patches in my pastures. Wore a tank top to get some color to try to hide my darker and darker "farmer's tan." Did some cleaning and throwing away. Broke down the guest bed, and even moved the mattresses upstairs--With help.
But, the middle of week did me in. I had a music practice at church. My other DD wanted the free desk I had arranged.
Finally, my dogs just couldn't handle taking care of ME and staying in a cool spot. Rose and Pyg and me ended up driving over to Lizzy's basement apartment with the GREAT AC, and sleeping there 3 super hot nights in a row.
It was reassuring to see my dogs breathing normally, dozing, having doggy dreams and generally recovering.
Fortunately, my other animals handled the heat fine.
I gave my adult flock cold water every day, and they took to the shade spot and panted.
My 6 week old flock did the same, in their 10 x 20 run with some open-air spots and the grown up weeds for shade.
My 2 week old chicks needed extra heat because they hadn't grown all of their feathers--THEY were fine this last week.
The horses drank a lot of water, licked from their salt block and had numerous shade/breezy spots in their pastures, so THEY did fine.
ONLY the dogs were suffering. Sooo...I changed my plans.
**sigh**
AND...the heat continues this week.
Happily ALL of my crops have deep roots and are happy AND I'm harvesting beans and tomatoes and cucumbers AND okra.

Remember Tass

I grew up with a Strong Soviet Union. They had one newsmedia, and they called it "Tass."
Tass told the people what the government wanted them to think. Nobody disagreed, nobody argued, nobody protested or else their friends never saw them again.

My GUT tells me when something is wrong.
It was WRONG (in 2008) to bail out those rotten businesses (Too Big To Fail) that were run into the ground by corrupt CPO's. You wouldn't hire a plumber twice if his work made your pipes leak. You'd be HAPPY to un-recommend him...on "Angie's List", or by word-of-mouth.
It is natural and right for businesses and people to rise and fall, if they are not good stewards.

It was REALLY wrong for our government to go off of the Gold Standard in the early 1930's. The explanation that says we don't need it doesn't explain what our paper and metal (not LONGER semi-precious metals, either) is based on today.

It is wrong to spend money like~
...a drunken sailor
...a freshman in college with his rich uncle's credit card
...it's "going out of style"
...you HAVE to buy friends/votes

It is WRONG to carelessly spend OTHER people's money.

It is wrong to tell other people that something is good, when you KNOW it is bad.
(How many REAL Journalists can you name?)

NEXT time you get ready to vote, don't count on any talking heads to tell you what to think. Listen to your "gut". It's the thing connected with you and it has a vested interest in your welfare.

Since WHEN?!?!?, page 6

AND...I want to pursue my Happiness!!!
I don't know about YOU, but I will never feel comfortable again ignoring the government and "pursuing happiness," as is my right in the Constitution. You can't relax with a rapid dog in the room. I think that we are fortunate for a few politicians who woke up their consciences and are not worrying about the consequences. BUT most lose their perspectives when ALL they do is live/work in a political world. Even George Wallace was amazed at how many laws applied to his retirement business--a Bed & Breakfast--laws that HE helped pass.

NOBODY is there to pick up the pieces of your fractured business when you fail. Creditors are there, but they just want their cut of your debt.

LOTS of Americans used to run their own tiny businesses. Lots of Americans used to be self-sufficient. EVEN during the used-to-be-the-worst Great Depression, FDR realized that it would help for people to keep chickens and grow a Victory Garden, so that they could survive.

Do I think it's wrong to work in a city and eat at restaurants? NO!! I don't wanna tell YOU how to live, and I want YOU, my fellow American, to be happy, too.

(...more on "Remember Tass")