Cut hay today, about 1/2 the field so far. It's a slow process. Put the tractor in gear, lower the sickle mower, engage the PTO, pull the accelerator arm hard, and off I go. Then, when the cutter starts leaving uncut swathes, I release the accelerator, move the PTO lever to off, stop the tractor, lift the mowing arm, put it into reverse and move back to where the bad cutting started. Get off, walk around to the arm and pull all the cut grasses off it, throwing it onto the already cut side, fishing out the pieces chewed up by the teeth. Anni chases the tossed grass, jumping, snapping and barking. After the accident with Sarge last year, I'm careful to make sure she's not running on the blade side. She doesn't understand why I yell at her to move :(. Usually only get ¼ around the field before having to stop and clear.
Had a bit of an issue with Boytjie today. Herbie hung the back rub with insecticide for me today, and on a trip to the loo and to get another drink, saw the tube was lying on the ground, one of the gates was off it's hinges lying on the electric fence, and Boytjie kicking up a ruckus, pawibg the ground, rubbing his face in the dirt. I went to pick the gate up and re-attach the rub, when he made threatening moves to me. He'd step back when I waved my arms, but then he'd come forward again. I picked up a plank the ward him off if necessary and quickly fixed the 2 issues, without turning my back on him.
So, Larry wants an older boy to butcher, and Boytjie now fits that bill. This is no longer that sweet little boy I bought at a few days old, nursed through shipping fever and bottle-fed until Star adopted him. This is 1,500 lbs of protective mean. Let him impregnate Dolly who is bagging nicely and will hopefully calve in the next few weeks, Star should be preggers already, so Daisy May is the unsure one, but maybe she's preggers too, and he can go up North to Larry. Maybe Larry will have him impregnate Starlette before butchering him.
The Honda wouldn't go today, so Herbie left it in the driveway and took the truck. Later in the afternoon I tried to move it but couldn't get it to start, but when I tried a 2nd time a little layer, started with no problem, so I put it back in it's parking spot. Herbie phoned tonight asking me to see if I could start it and move it. Told him done and already done :)
Man, I already stiffened up tonight. This old bod is going to hurt in the AM. Haven't driven the tractor for 5 hours in one day since I plowed that hayfield 2 ½ years ago.