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...