So far in 2 separate cuttings, we (and by 'we', I am not including me in that equation) have baled 2300 bales of hay.  We are looking for one more stretch of nice weather to get one last field baled!  Due to the limited dry weather, baling hay this year has been a mad dash.  As soon as the hay is dry and ready, while Dave is loading a wagon full of hay, there is a crew in the barn unloading a wagon so that there is a constant turn around of available wagons so no time is wasted getting the hay off of the ground. 

The pictures below show Dave's cousin from New Jersey, Collin, Dave, and Dave's father, Pop (in that order).  What is missing from the group picture is the 3 wagons that were already unloaded! 

HAY, HAY, AND MORE HAY!  We are so excited to finally have hay!  With all of this rain, we have had beautiful, lush, green pastures which the cows love.  You know when you are in the honeymoon stage of marriage or just dating someone new, the lovey-dovey eyes you give to your significant other, that stay with you throughout your life together?  That is the look I have seen in our cows' eyes all spring and summer in the pasture.  Pure heaven for them.  However, it has been stressful for Dave as the absence of sunny weather means no hay is being cut, which could be problematic if we do not get it all into the barn for winter.  Thankfully, we are now in our 3 round of baling...today being time number 3 to get hay in and we are looking at one last pasture left to cut.  After the first cut of hay is off the fields, we let them grow back, and then rotate the cows on them.  If they thought they had it good early in the spring, wait until they get on these fields after it has been cut, pure blissfulness.  One field will be set aside for second cut hay which has always been described to me as "ice cream."  It is ice cream for cows, because nothing makes this gal feel better than a big bowl of ice cream (with mini-chocolate chips on top of course)!

*We wouldn't be this far in the game with hay had we not had lots of help from our dear family members...we thank you tremendously!*

Never been raised on a farm, it is neat to see farm life through my little ones' eyes.  The excitement of seeing the animals and going with daddy onto the next adventure makes me wish I could video tape every day to relive it again when they are older.  Makes me wonder why I waited so long to have kids...the antics are amusing and at times quite messy.  Here are a couple of pictures of the boys enjoying farm life and learning as they "work."


Have a happy July fourth everyone!