Saturday Slight

Another banner year for plums!

Mowing, raking, baling, transporting to winter storage . . . . two down, two to go. 

The baling phase started last night when we went to dinner.  The baler counter indicates that we have 107 bales (about 80 pounds each) in one nearly completed field.  

The other field is yet to go.

In the grand scheme of farming, we have a pretty minimal hay operation, but for us and our two-plus horses, it's a big deal----considering that each year's hay harvest and purchase of extra tons usually amounts to more than $1,000. 

So, the more bales we put up from our own two small fields, the better. 

The prettiest picture, although maybe not the most artistic, will be when the hay is all stored in dry, mouse-free places for the winter. 

We're having to store some in the far shed again after a couple of years of putting it all in our barn.  With the need for a new stall for expectant Mama Lily, our storage space in the barn will be minimal.

I started putting all my hay in the barn the year after the mice helped themselves to a good portion of the stack in the shed.  We're hoping that stacking the bales on plywood will keep the mouse numbers down.  

Anywho, as I type, the only real worry at the time is a 50-percent chance of rain through 8 a.m.  So far so good, and the sky is looking brighter and more cloudless than it did an hour ago. 

Always a gamble and always a worry, thanks to weather unpredictability. 

Over at the Tibbs place, a huge stack of approximately 40 tons stands waiting for a crew to put it in the barn. 

Laurie and I talked yesterday about how we've reached the point in our lives where handling and stacking heavy bales of hay has become past tense.  We can do it, sorta, but not to the degree of past years.  

Our bodies are screaming "No" much louder than ever before.  So, until the crews arrive, hay will be covered by tarps.

Speaking of life milestones, Barbara told us at dinner last night that she has now advised the Sandpoint High Monticola for 25 years.  I think she has definitely set a record for yearbook advisers.  

She just returned from her annual yearbook clinic at Gonzaga, where her staff worked on theme and design ideas for this next year's annual. 

And, yet another milestone.  Bill brought home the Sandpoint Reader last night and noted that my longtime, dear friend Chris Moon can now officially call herself a Sandpoint resident.  

She has participated in this edition's weekly person-on-the-street interview, in this case giving her opinion of the recent Democratic Convention. 

Listed as partially retired and a Sandpoint resident, Chris has come full circle and has returned home to enjoy her retirement.  

Welcome home, Chris!  Good times ahead!

This morning when I suddenly realized that Emmylou Harris is singing at tonight's Festival concert, Bill and I commented on reaching our own milestone.  

Don't know if it's perceived by all as being a good one, but we find ourselves a bit out of the loop on local, giant happenings---in this case The Festival and the rodeo, both big-crowd events this weekend.

We're happily staying home.  Seems we've reached that point in life where hordes of people all stuffed into one spot---no matter how thrilling the event and no matter how much I used to love such scenarios---do not thrill us.  

Our quiet little farm out here in Selle at such times suits us just fine, thank you. No fuss, no muss. 

Plus, we're gonna take in a full diet of more than enough people when we visit Chicago in a just few days.

So, for now, we'll just enjoy our peace and quiet this weekend and watch the crowds on TV. 

Happy Saturday.