We leave tomorrow at noon. (Hope to see some of you there...you know who you are.)
Farming doesn't stop while I pack, and the days are so full and busy I barely have time to pick up the camera or spend a few minutes writing here.
I may not have mentioned it, but the boss was pulling the John Deere forage wagon through a particularly rutted bit of farm road last week when a front axle broke. When he called the local dealer about the part the price was way over five hundred bucks.
Plus freight.
Arrggghhh!! And the guy we generally borrow RR jacks from when we have a challenge like this was out of town. We brainstormed. The guys are running with only two wagons this year.
They need that JD.
But five hundred bucks! It was decided to take the part up to Broadalbin Manufacturing and see if they could weld it. If you ever need something like that done, I can't recommend those folks enough. They have big, complicated, metal machining projects going on all the time, but they have a soft spot for farmers and will fit in our little, but important to us, jobs as best they can. They do good work and their prices are very reasonable.
They repaired the axle and welded some kind of doohickey on it for $125. The guys borrowed jacks from my wonderful brother, (thanks, Mappy) who also cut them enough blocking to make what otherwise would have been a terribly dangerous job relatively safe.
And so they are running with two wagons again. They had a mishap with the bagger last week so we lost about sixty feet of bag. Thus yesterday during the storm the boss ran down for a new bag so he and Alan can set it up before we leave for camp. Teri has a pic of some of the hail that was around, but thank God it missed us. One of our friend's corn got hit last week and it looks like Sudan Grass now. In fact when we went by his place, not knowing about the hail, we thought that it WAS Sudan. It has been a very hard year to make forages, one of the worst we have ever seen.
I sure hope this weather pattern gets over itself and goes somewhere where it is needed.
Meantime....must pack.
Aaah, the simple live of a country farmer. HA!
ReplyDeleteIf it ain't the machinery, it's the weather. Or the animals. It's always something.
Hope you guys can make up the time you lost before the next series of rain storms arrives.
"life" not "live"
ReplyDeleteStupid fingers. Need more coffee.
Have a wonderful and relaxing time at camp!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time at camp, glad you came up with an alternative to the 500.00 question. They are calling for more hail around here today, so we will see what happens...
ReplyDeleteHopefully the weather will be nice this week. Enjoy your time at camp and maybe we'll stop for a visit.
ReplyDeleteY'all have a wonderful time at camp! Can't wait to see all your beautiful pics when you get back.
ReplyDeleteSafe travels friend. :)
Have a nice get-a-way!! We've a few people around here that will take the time to fix things for people in agriculture. Most of them came off a farm or ranch and they understand when you need something done in a timely manner so you can just get back to work.
ReplyDeleteGo have a good time. Get the getting while you can. We do little day trips, someday I hope we can do more.
ReplyDeleteLinda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
I hope you have a great time at camp. After the weather and mishaps you've been having you deserve a break!
ReplyDeleteFred Any time I can be helpfull let me know. I will be there with bells on! Thank you for thanking me(Tee Hee!!!)
ReplyDeleteLove ya!!
Mappy
P.S.
See you tomrrow!!
Wanted to wish you all a wonderful, relaxing, peaceful time away at camp. You all so DESERVE it!!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time at camp! We used to go camping a lot when I was young (not to a camp, but in a tent). It always poured. In fact tonight, as it's pouring yet again, all I can think is that it's 'camping' weather. Let's hope it finishes soon and you have lovely weather and sunshine!
ReplyDeleteGo enjoy. You have SOOOOOO earned a break!
ReplyDeletein 10 hours time we will be leaving!!!, don't worry i know what time it is
ReplyDeleteJoated, it has gotten so I hate to see the men walking toward the house with stereo grim looks on their faces...it's always what broke, or got out or got hurt.....thanks for the good wishes
ReplyDeleteApple, thank you so much. I am hoping..
WW, in this economy every one has had to get creative. I think Alan has saved us close to ten thousand dollars doing repairs himself and with ideas for fixing stuff. Thanks for the kind wishes. You have a good week too
NYX, thanks, please do! You know we would love to see you both. Hope you can get away
Dani, thank you so much! Hope you have a good week too.
LInda, thank you. Hope you have a good week too.
There are a few folks like that left around and we sure do appreciate them.
Linda, thanks, I hope you can too. I really shouldn't leave, but I need to.....just need some peace once in a while...
SC Momma, thanks so much. I will miss Liz and the boss and my blog friends, but the thought of sitting on the porch, which hangs right over the lake...with a good book, a cup of coffee, binocs and field guide and my fishing pole.
At sunrise.
Keeps me sane all year
Matt you are a dear, dear boy. Thanks again and again. And for the fire wood, which has kept me in hot water all week. And I like it that way. lol
Love you!
Deb, thank you. I can't wait.
Teri, what memories that brought back. My folks used to have a big old, leaky, smelly canvas tent, in which we also camped. If you touched the canvas from inside where you lay sweltering and swatting skeeters on a miserable rainy night, you could make it leak right over your head. lol
Wish you could stop up. Wish I had thought to send you directions and an invitation. Have a great week
Thanks FC, knowing that it is coming gets me through the year...and now it is here
Alan, and aren't you going to be the chirpy little cherub in the morning. I just can't wait.