Hay, Dog Day and Geese Respecting the Speed Limit

Twas truly a mix of summer moments yesterday. 

Thanks to Kendra, Keith and Amanda, just one step remains before our small crop of hay is stacked in the barn for the winter. 

Throughout the morning hours, these three members of Harvey's harvesting crew came rolling down the driveway and put their respective pieces of equipment to work. 

Kendra raked the hay into wind rows.  Keith baled it, and Amanda picked it up with the bale loader and left it in a stack in front of the barn door. 

Not sure yet which strong young men will make a few bucks stacking the bales inside the barn, but that should happen in the next day or two.

Happily, with no rain in the near forecast, urgency is currently not a factor. 

Like all of Harvey's customers, I appreciate the professionalism and care that each of these harvesting technicians demonstrates while doing their jobs.  

I also enjoy visiting with them because they're nice peeps too. 

It was fun to reconnect with Keith yesterday.  He told me it had been about 32 years since I'd seen much of him, 'cept for one time when he was home on leave from the Army where he spent his career. 

Keith said I didn't seem to recognize him that time, and I wasn't so sure who he was yesterday until he gave his name.  

I've known his family for years and have seen his pseudonym on frequent Selle Valley Neighbors Facebook posts. Nice to put a face to the name. 

Turns out Keith graduated with the SHS Class of 1986, which in both of our minds, included a significant ongoing emotional story.  

That was the year Keith's classmate Tony Bottarini received his diploma---in a Portland hospital. 

Tony died five days before the official graduation, but a few local residents, including Dr. Forrest Bird and Joni, one of our school secretaries saw that our then principal Jim Wilund and I would fly to Portland to have a hospital graduation ceremony. 

Tony, who had reigned as king of the Senior Prom, was quite pleased, to say the least. 

That was definitely an experience I'll never forget, and Tony was definitely a young man whom his classmates and a host of other admirers will never forget.

In Keith's case:  a simple but poignant story.  

"I didn't know Tony very well," Keith told me, "but one day he asked if he could have a ride in my pickup. 

"It was just an old white pickup," he added, "but I gave him a ride." 

In my experiences with Tony, twas the simple things in life that meant the most to him. 

And, I'm sure that old white pickup was pretty special for Tony, who bravely dealt with cancer for many of his teen years. 

It was obvious the opportunity to spend a few minutes with Tony all those years ago meant a lot to Keith also. 

I'm glad to have reconnected with Keith. I don't think I'll ever forget the "white pickup" story. 

Around 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Amanda, who will soon be off to the University of Idaho to continue her quest for a math degree, came by with the bale loader.  A few minutes later, the day's finely tuned hay operation was done. 

Soon after that, feeling a strong desire to dangle my toes in some refreshing water, I drove out to the Trestle Creek recreation area where several others were enjoying the water and, in some cases, having a great time with their canine friends.

Even a large pink flamingo was providing refreshment for a couple of ladies on this hot, hot afternoon. 

On the way home, some creatures which I first assumed were turkeys crossing Selle Road turned out to be a family of Canada geese. 

There was pretty precise order among the group, and it was obvious that Ma and Pa were fully in charge, trying to direct the little guys to their proper destination. 

The speed limit sign did give them cause for pause, but soon they trotted into Toni's yard, where I'm guessing they may be regulars.  

All in a day when it felt like we could melt away.  That didn't happen, but that possibility certainly remains as the thermometer is supposed to go up a notch or two. 

I may have to take another visit to Trestle Creek, and that will be okay. 

Happy Tuesday.