Rural Reality Days

I fed the horses hay this morning rather than taking them to their pastures.  

The pastures are drying up quickly.  Grasshoppers are having a heyday.  

And, we may even have a hay day. 

I learned yesterday that our hay will be cut either today or tomorrow. 

I also learned last night from Selle Valley Neighbors group Facebook page that our Oden Water supply will be down this afternoon while the workers fix a leak at the plant. 

So, it's best that the horses stay out of the pasture, eat their hay and be assured that they have plenty of water in the barnyard stock tank.  

The pastures do have automatic waterers, but I'm not too sure how much water is available in those tanks to replenish itself every time a thirsty horse takes a long drink on a hot afternoon.

So, the barnyard water tank is full, and horse bellies are in the process of filling up with a different morning menu than usual. 

This week is the tell-all on how much hay I'll have to purchase for the winter, and I'm thinking it will be substantially more than usual.  

One extra horse and word of lighter-than-usual hay harvests pretty much validates that assumption. 

Seems like pretty much everyone I talk to has reported that their harvests this year are significantly lower than usual. 

Again, that's our North Idaho.  

It's a beautiful place, but those of us who've lived here a while know that this area is chronically inconsistent on giving us a break with the natural events over which we have little control. 

Still, the flowers are pretty this year, and for the most part, it's been a great summer.  So, rather than too much complaining, the other North Idaho staple----resilience----kicks in.  

Ya just figure out how it's all gonna work out. 

Inconsistency and unpredictability are to be expected with rural life, but the plus sides far outweigh the frustrations.  

On any given day, amidst all the work and frustration of farm life, we can experience rich, sustaining moments through our animals, our gardening efforts, our neighbors and countless unexpected and amazing sights flashing through the landscape surrounding us.

Can ya tell I kinda like this life????? 

Happy Friday.