Annual Turnover

I've been watching one particular field above a neighbour's house very carefully since Easter. It's an old meadow attached to a single-horse family that no longer keeps one, is fairly free of thistle and buttercup, and it hasn't been grazed since last year.

Farmer Caroline has asked the owners if she can make small-bale hay from it.  Every acre in the vicinity has been put to work this year to overcome the shortage suffered after last summer's low crop and Caroline has promised to set aside some some hay for Hoss as well.  There are maybe 3 acres of 'my' field and we hope it will yield several hundred bales, plenty enough for her own animals and some left over for Hoss.
 
So 'my' field is in good heart, awaiting a spell of dry weather which has at last returned. Nick went up there and cut it and has been out twice each day with the Grass Twiddler attached to the back of his tractor.  The Hay Twiddler looks a bit like a collection of several  giant wire egg-whisks and is towed behind the tractor, turning the grass over and over as it goes, to make sure it dries evenly.

We're hoping the rain will stay away another couple of days so that the boys can get in there to bale up the grass and tow it all away to the barns where it will 'make' over the next few months into lovely meadow hay for Hoss and the others.

If it rains, the crop could ruin.

Please don't rain.

We all need this hay.