Making Hay!

Tuesday, May 15th, brought about our first time square baling for the year.  Most of the field had been mowed and chopped over the previous three days' time (mowed one day, dried over the next day and a half and then chopped on the remaining part of day three), but a few short rounds were left for Josh and Loren to test their repair work on a small square baler that we recently found.  We usually chop all our hay for haylage for cattle feed, but the bales that we baled today will also be used for feed in special circumstances (for example, if a cow needs to be locked up with her calf for special care, she'll get a sweet bale of hay).  (By the way, we will still continue to chop everything, the bales today were just for a test run of the baler.  Also, the date on the camera is a day off.  Oops!)

The experience today was the first time the kids had been around the square baler while it was working.  Last fall, we baled square stalk bales with our neighbor's baler that they so graciously loaned us, but we (the kids and I) weren't around during the baling process... just the picking up part.  Caleb was fascinated with the whole process of watching the bales pop out and seeing how they would land.  Then he would run around, trying to see which ones he could lift or flip.  It was a fun time watching his enthusiasm!

As soon as we got to the field and Caleb saw the tractor, he was sure he was in for a ride and was up the ladder and into the tractor before Josh could get there!  It took a little explaining to convince him that staying outside and watching the bales pop out would be more fun.  This is true, but it was also because the tractor has no air conditioning so its a pretty hot ride!  Being in the fresh (hay-dusty) air was so much better!

They kept their eyes on the baler the whole time, Caleb trying to figure it out and Sarah watching because Caleb was.

Still watching....

See the bale popping out?

Baling all done, cleaning out the last bale.  Pretty scenery, huh?

Taking a rest.  He'd been at school all day, then "helped" bale hay... this little guy was tuckered out and ready for a little rest.

After the baling, the bales have to be picked.  Since there weren't that many, we just picked them up in the pickup truck.  Caleb rode in the back with Papa until it got too full and exceeded Mama's safety regulations.  He then had to move up front with me.

I was given the job of driving the pickup along while the men threw them in and stacked them.

All done picking up, now time to head back home, unload and move on to the next project!