Note to self, next year be diligent about keeping the fence-line clear ! On leaving the field with the baler the last time, it caught the fence and caused an awful mess. I ended up cutting the handles off and then pulling the wire out from under it.
Halfway around the other side of the field it had snapped 2 of the strands, and some of the posts were leaning at various angles. Went hunting for the manual thing that hits them back into the ground - not in the shed, found it in the garage after remembering the last time I'd used it was to break ice on the cow water troughs. Thanked God that my arm is so much better that I could use it to re-anchor (smack) the posts into the ground. Had to replace a few of the yellow insulators, pried them off with the pliers.
Fixed a system that the whole fence doesn't collapse when the gate is opened. Had to go around the whole 7 acres, pulling the wire out of the grass, the cows following me around the field. Even Gabriel came and stood within 2 feet of me while I scratched Stars' face. Went and switched the fence back on, but no green lights, only orange and red. Went in to finish the soup / stew I'd popped into the pressure cooker before I went a-fencing, to eat and visit a little with my husband.
Went back and found 2 places where the wire was against the metal posts, and shortened some wire to tighten the fencing, and bingo, 5 green bars lit up. It was getting dark, gave the dogs treats, filled up the water for the soon-to-be-butchered roosters and drake in the trailer, then walked back out with horse treats and a lead to haul Dolly back to the barn. She didn't want to go, had to beg, threaten, drag and just sing to her while scratching her head. Eventually called Star, so all the cows, horses and alpacas came up, so Dolly walked to the gate with me. Then she stopped again. Called Anni. That got her moving.
The beasties had been eating fresh alfalfa and grasses since about noon, so they were all just standing there, looking huge. Hopefully this puts some weight back onto Star and Dolly, who were looking rather thin although all the others are looking better than fine. When I opened the gate to the hayfield for them, the horses ran back to above the pond - didn't want to know about the hayfield. Eventually got Star in, but the others were still in the lower pasture. Star moved to fast and they didn't keep up, and then followed her on the inside of the fence. Damn cows. Dolly then figured it out with me calling her, and all except Larry and Immanuelle followed. I went into the pasture to shoo them out and Immanuelle dashed down away from me. Opened another gate and they both went into the main pasture and while I was closing both gates again, Larry found his way to the others, Immanuelle wouldn't try so I left her there. Larry was running around the hayfield, exploring. Was gleeful to just watch him for a while although he kept looking at Immanuelle to join him.
Didn't get the apples picked. Think we're getting our first heavy frost tonight and I wanted to pick as many as I could to press, but fixing the fencing took over 4 hours and I thought it was more important for the beasties to eat.