Square bale fever

Our hay is nearly finished, two more fields are lined up and ready to be baled and the field where the donkeys have been has been cut, turned and lined ready to be bailed tomorrow for pig bedding as this field has a few too many docks and nettles that the cows will not eat.

Farmer J has worked his socks off over at La Contie and cutting our fields this year. Many farmers cut on Thursday, including farmer J. Friday it rained - a lot. But as it had only been cut the hay will be OK. Once turned to dry it then goes pants up if rained on, but no more rain is for casted, its been pretty hot so on with baling.

After dog walking this evening I came back to see not only farmer J with the new round baler in the field but also our friend down the road, Alex with his old square baler making a line of square bales. The sight brought a bit of a sweat over me, those memories of hot hard work but I thought I better go and help ( it was only one and a half lines of little squares)

Only 30 bales, enough for Alex to see if his old baler still worked well enough to be used for making straw bales for an Eco straw built house ( for the son of the partner of the farmer who is retiring at La Contie where we have taken over renting some of the land.- yes it is all a little bit everyone knowing everyone and everything about you here)

The square bales will come in handy for the sheep and donkeys as they can be carried by hand, rather then a round one which are a bit on the large side and unmovable by hand, unless they have been used and you are just left with the core in the middle, then its simple to lift into a wheelbarrow.

I am so glad we no longer have to make square bales, although those 30 do need to come off the field tomorrow - just in case it does rain on them, making them unusable.

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Snap shot

A moment from the week at La Singlarie Another steer went off on Wednesday. After spending 3 years with them it doesn't get any easier when they leave.

Weeding

Potatoes A sad looking patch Hunting for carrots The weather has now gone from one extreme to the other from rain, rain and a bit more rain to hot, sunny and hotter. Time to access the veggie patch after I planted everything in one hit and then it got very damp and soggy. Well the potatoes are growing well, although they are going to be a lot later this year, kind of Earlie's for late ones and late ones maybe ready for Christmas dinner ( if they survive the bugs, rabbits and moles). The weeds have and still are growing really well, this morning was spent finding the carrots and parsnips, which I have with no help from Sorrel, who after a quick sniff lazed under the shade of the apple tree (which by the looks of it hasn't got hardly any apples on it?) The poor herb seeds sowed don't look to good or the french and runner beans, think a hungry mouse have nibbled on them so I will have to resow (once I have weeded -again)

A problematic Ewe

While Master C and Miss F were here over the weekend we took the opportunity for their help in moving the two ewes, Gorgon and Thumberlina to the field where the donkeys had been. What with all the rain we have had lately the grass grow super quick. The only problem was Miss Fatty did not want to move from her safe field (if only she knew she was moving to new lush grass). It took farmer J and Master C to try moving her after pushing from me and Master C had failed and she fell to the floor not moving an inch. There try also failed so they were both lead through the field in another direction. Of course once in the new field there was no looking back. Gorgon on the other hand was a breeze to move, as long as you have food he will follow, you just need to make sure you have enough food!

The English Paysanne

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