It is 50 degrees at the airport and probably a lot colder outside town. That is over twenty degrees colder than normal.
The furnace is running.
The windows are closed.
The winter clothes that I sorted out to take upstairs and put away have been placed in a pile in the back room where they are handy, since we still need them every day.
In June, no less.
I usually keep a couple of sweatshirts out for everyone, as you can expect some cool mornings, but this “summer” there are still as many heavy (not to mention muddy) boots by the kitchen door and big, thick coats and shirts piled on the chair there as if it were still January.
And rain! 26 out the past 30 days it has rained. We are supposed to POSSIBLY get two nice days before it rains again.
We have no corn planted. It should have been finished weeks ago. This may actually be a good thing, as at least one farmer of our acquaintance is going to be forced to replant all their land because of the rain. We don’t have any, but at least we don’t have to pay for it twice.
The guys are only able to chop green grass for the cows (which is what we feed them in the summer) by towing the tractor on the chopper with the 2-105 four-wheel drive. This means double the man-hours, double the fuel and the field is turning into a disaster area. Three-foot deep ruts fill with running water before they have gone ten feet. The field will be ruined and have to be plowed for corn, which it is according to the government too late to plant. If this doesn’t stop soon they will have to hit another field the same way.
The corn fields were all ready to plant when this weather struck. They just sit there bare and muddy. Don’t know what we are going to feed the cows this winter.
Or this summer for that matter. We can’t make hay either. The old saying about doing that task while the sun shines is true. You have no choice in that matter.
The only heartening aspect of this true slow-moving weather disaster is that when you go to a farm meeting, the farmers are still joking, although you can see the fear behind their eyes.
“The drought is over,” they say.
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Going Forward—Monday, December 23, 2024
1 hour ago
5 comments:
fred
ken stopped by today. he wants to make our hay next week. going to plow the field for corn. make balage out of the hay. hope i don't get stuck while mowing .
luv ya
matt.
Hey bro,
Yeah, the wind dried things out a teenie bit yesterday but the guys got stuck four times chopping and the cows had enough mud on them to have a mud wrestling match. In fact that is what milking felt like.
I was feelilng sorry for myself because I can't get my flowers planted in my planters because of the weather, but realize this weather is pure hell for you farmers. My poor tomatoe plants look pathetic. The wind is just horrible. Hopefully the weather will change overnight, and we'll have sunny skies and warm nights. Love the picture of Becky, whats the occasion with the gown. She looks like a princess about to go to a ball. School dance?
Hi Karen, thanks for your kind thoughts. It is nice today at least. My garden, what i have planted of it, isn't doing much either, although I am growing lettuce in containers and that is thriving. Garlic looks good too.
Becky was ready to leave for her senior ball. My mom made her dress and we just loved it. She had a nice time.
I wish we could have a conscious discussion about this in this country ... it would help a lot of folk.
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