Coffee anyone ?

[Mini Horses]

I pounded in hot wire insulators, 100+…..bush hogged a little. Checked some field growth for identity -- lespedeza, so I'm good. Still had nice breeze from yesterday going on. That was great. Last of insulators I bought come tomorrow, then wire gets added, then zapparoooo time

Soooo much grass. I'm thinking hay how? Haystacks? tasted some of different types of grass and it's not sweet! Some was tough to me. Goats are scarfing it up & I'm thinking glad it's not my dinner!

 

[Baymule]

I worked outside until 1:30. Truck wouldn’t start. Chris said batteries so I went to Sam’s and got 2. He’ll come put them in tomorrow.

 

[Baymule]

Coffee is ready. Chores, church, then get batteries in truck. Unload branches to burn pile, check and air up tires. Hitch stock trailer, check and air up tires. Be ready for morning, going to haul 2 hogs to slaughter for friends.

 

[peteyfoozer]

I miss having a church to go to but driving for hours just won’t do. Plus the boss would NOT be happy as cows need fed and stuff breaks down 7 days a week.
Fen woke me promptly @5. I was sure he was lying about the time, but unless he can reset the clocks (which is a possibility with him…) I had to feed him. He’s full of kisses this morning, and picked all his toys up for me.
Waiting for coffee to cool down enough to finish so I can clean Mister’s shed and figure out what I can do today

 

[Mini Horses]

Fed cats. Filled my cup, looked out at all fields. Animals seem fine and where they need to be started heat on pot of milk for cheese, while in kitchen. Spooned off some cream first, for my hot tea. It's some nice, thick cream. I'll need to do 2 batches today -- frig room needs. I'm thinking I want to buy an ice cream maker milk keeps coming.

Looked for small rounds hay baler last evening. Well that's out...$6k buys a good amount of hay. I do have the hand baler options son is a carpenter -- yeah, I'd go there I just have so much grass that I have to cut and can't emotionally handle letting it lay to rot, while I buy hay! Yesterday I cut some crap stuff off an area that horses had eaten all around & left this tall weed. Going to that area, cut a swath of this tall grass. Heat & wind dried it. Late day, I drove back & got a bag full....fed to some goats and they ate it right up. I have grass to cut, heat to dry, way to cut, way to rake, animals to feed -- see my problem? Baler.

Well, the special, tall insulators will arrive today -- then I'll add those and wire to wood posts, adding height and zap to that fenced area. Protecting the corn field next to me!!! The goats don't GO anywhere. Just eat corn leaves and come back to house for me to let them back in their pasture. If I see them out, drive back blowing horn, they jump back in pasture . Thus the new hot wire to keep them in -- they'll get zapped as they put feet up to propel over. They will stop doing it then.

Ahhh, the fun part of goat acrobatics

 

[canesisters]

Is mowing it & collecting in a bagger an option? Maybe spreading it out to dry?? Or would that be so minced-up that it would mold too fast?

 

[Baymule]

Build a wood box with a flat piece of plywood and plunger to press the hay. Pack it, tie with string and after $50 worth of hourly wages you’d have a small poorly made $10 square bale. What a DEAL! No more wasted grass!

 

[Margali]

I had two acres in Iowa that I mowed with a standard lawnmower. I mowed it while super long with side discharge making windrows. I let it dry then ran over again with lawnmower deck on high which blew the windrow over. Then I used a pull hind lawn sweeper. I just made a haystack vs trying to bale.

 

[Mini Horses]

Actually, with hay at $15 for 50# bale it's expensive. If alfalfa mixed it's $20. My bush hog leaves the cuts long and sorta rowed. I have a rake attachment, I can turn it, then row OR pile it. Besides, I have a lot of time at home right now. . If I make even half my winter hay, I'm delighted. This is dried. If I used for bedding or mulch I'd still be ok to use in kidding jugs. Have sent for test kit to have sample tested for nutrition.

@canesisters yeah, mower chops too fine -- and I do have both the bagger & sweeper systems. Used to cut grass, bag, dump to piggies.

We do some "unnecessary" things, just because. Like this cream cheese I just made...plain & seasoned...I'm still not raising meat chickens it's about using what we raise, raising what we use and knowing we can. Next lockdown is when? Besides I like to milk and drink about a qt a day.

Still 4 gal in frig. Yes, I do sell some... And make soaps.

ETA...TSC sells pull behind row rakes, the Flippy kind, under $300. For riding mowers.

 

[peteyfoozer]

Fed cats. Filled my cup, looked out at all fields. Animals seem fine and where they need to be started heat on pot of milk for cheese, while in kitchen. Spooned off some cream first, for my hot tea. It's some nice, thick cream. I'll need to do 2 batches today -- frig room needs. I'm thinking I want to buy an ice cream maker

I love our ice cream maker! And I really miss being able to milk goats and my little Jersey Cow, EmmalouMoo