Today Tom took two trips to get hay. The first was the feed store in the next state - the place where you can get five bales a week. And who knew that five bales would fit in a VW Golf! He put down the back seat, and voila!
That truck in the first picture is Matt's old, now dead, S-10, a truck much loved by those who had one. You can't get small trucks anymore. They are all huge - too huge in my estimation - and they cost a fortune.
Trip two was to a lovely place a few towns away. Turns out the guy cuts many fields and then sells the hay. Tom got four bales there, which were a bit bigger than the first load. So, nine bales in the barn. Money in the bank. I think we are going to try and sign up for next year's hay. Although I don't get political here, I am going to say that it has been a stress this year getting hay and feed at our usual store. It is one of the stores in the big town next to us where they refuse to wear masks. Most of the stuff we get is outdoors, but Tom still has to go inside for dog food, bird, and deer food. He's been going to another place sometimes, but the store is the only show in town when it comes to hay. I think it would be lovely to drive down to the new person's place once a week and get lovely, local hay.
So, there we are. Good for now. Haven't heard back from our friend yet, but that may well be another source. A tentative "whew".
Your animals will thank you and Tom for the hay.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it 8s political to talk about masks. It is a health issue. So many people just don't care. It makes me sad and mad to see the disregard for others even if a person thinks they are big and strong and can't be infected.
I think it's a health issue, but there are those for whom I do think it is a political issue - some dude in our state just went to another state, came back, and is not quarantining or wearing a mask and he's in the legislature. It's all part of this crazy time we are still in.
DeleteBecause of a series of very dry years, hay has been scarce here, too. I know of some farmers who ran out of fodder for their animals half way through winter, and had to resupply at great cost. Some went so far as to reduce their stock (and we all know what "reduce" means in that context) so that the hay would just about be enough for the smaller number of animals. Sad and worrying.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the car full of hay made me smile! Do you even bother to get out all the stalks, or just leave it there, knowing it will be full of hay again the next week?
Your header picture is lovely - especially the icycles in the corner of the roof.
I'm not a big car cleaner. haha! When the kids were little, I used to say we could live for a week on the food they spilled. So, no. We might wipe off a seat but we aren't going out to any fancy dress balls so our clothes will be fine.
DeleteThank you about the picture. I am very fond of those icicles and that corner. Apparently icicles mean one's house isn't that well insulated. Old country farmhouse - that is certainly true. We have some here and there but not enough.
Your animals are happy!
ReplyDeleteThey are!
DeleteHi, Nan, good to see you are getting some hay. Recently I have been stressed just about going out to the grocery store, but I never thought of having to provide lots of food for lots of animals. Take care, and I hope all of you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteI know! Just one more stress.
DeleteAnd I love the photo of your house in snow, on the header.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteHappy to see that you were able to stock up on hay. That has to be a load off your minds.
ReplyDeleteAs for that store where they refuse to wear masks...no way would I shop there right now. That's very reckless on their part, IMO. Maybe even ever again. (I do tend to hold a grudge sometimes, though.)
Have you heard the Irish Alzheimer's joke - They forget everything but the grudge. Well, that's me! And oddly enough my South Korean born son! Must be the Irish got into him anyway. If we can find a reliable, forever source of hay, you can bet I'll not patronize them again.
DeleteSo blind not to wear a mask. And to do it for a political statement is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. When we got our first covid vaccination, the nurse told us that even after we have our second one we need to still wear a mask as we could be carriers. It's such a vital part of getting our world past this.
ReplyDeleteYet, there are a whole lot of people out there who don't and won't. Or wear it low so their noses show. Unbelievable.
DeleteI know I am several hours away from you but if you need any Boston area hay I could help. I drove by a lot of farms today in pursuit of a hard-to-get library book and was thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteBless your heart!! So far, just now, we are doing okay. I have another post to put up today.
DeleteI love your snow photograph. Good luck with finding enough hay. So many ill-advised behaviors are in evidence now in the US.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you were able to get some hay. Love the photos of it in the vehicles!
ReplyDelete