Took me 3 hours to bale the 3 acres I cut, which is a little less than ½ our hayfield. Think I made 190 bales. Based on this quantity, I hope the balance of the field gives me another 250 bales, making this 2nd cutting enough for the sheep for a year. And I only broke 1 shear pin, within the first few minutes of starting to bale, forgot how slow I had to take it. Thanks to Herbie for helping to replace it. Saw the most beautiful sunset while I was baling, and except for the mozzies, it's very pleasant working outside in the late evening. Now comes the hardest part, picking them up out of the field and stacking them in the barn which had to be done tomorrow before the expected rain on Tuesday. Need to check the weather forecasts to see when I can cut, rake and bale the 2nd half.
Maybe, if we eventually get our tax refund before the 3rd cutting of hay, there may be enough left after paying our delinquent property taxes together with the penalties, to buy an old round baler. That would be sooo nice :). Wow, how my life has changed. A round baler, and the big tractor to be running again, is on my wish list. Not holidays, jewellry, shoes or anything else like that.
I have my Parmesan cheese in the press. Put it back under pressure as it got some fissures during the 24 hours in the brine. Will go check it now again, and them hopefully start the drying period.
Started pitting the cherries today. One cherry ar a time. 1lb down, 12½ to go. And had the first penny cool I made with some of the strawberries when I came in from baling. A little tart, but refreshing.
Herbies last surviving Uncle Stanley, Uncle Bill, died yesterday. Viewing on Tuesday, funeral on Wednesday. So we're going up North in Noddy. Think the last funeral we went to up there was for Uncle Bills' wife.
Checked on my veggie garden this morning after watering the new blueberries and lavender. The geese have destroyed all but 5 of my tomato plants, and dug the 5 newly emerging cucumbers up ! And Herbie drove over the other 3 cucumber plants with the truck yesterday when he took the old hay from the field and dumped it in the veggie garden. Also only saw about 10 potato plants coming up after planting about 50.
Chased the nesting guinea fowl out of my strawberry patch and took about 30 eggs and put them under 2 other chickens. The guineas have already started, and abandoned, 2 other nests. I read about other people being surprised with a mama guinea arriving with over 16 keets, and mine just lay eggs all over the place which they never hatch !
Took Liquorice and her still unnamed ewe lamb back to the others yesterday as they left the lower barn and bunked down in the chicken house. Mama Toulouse goose ia still sitting in the chicken house, but only on one egg now. On Friday, I saw Anni eating something which she wouldn't drop when I told her too. Thought I saw a webbed foot, but wasn't missing any ducklings or goslings. Believe she ate the egg, but not sure if she took it, the goose kicked it out the nest, or if Rosco took it and Anni stole it from him. Farm life :(.