Market Day and Peanut Hay...

Many small farms are unable to keep livestock any more.  The drought has finished many.  The need for hay far exceeds the resources.  All calves but one went to the sale in hopes we could find hay for our seed stock.  We wanted to keep our heifers this year since we had a beautiful bunch.  We could not, not knowing if we would find hay or not.  Many are making this choice and many have had to sell completely.

Hubby directs the trailer to the loading chute.  The bull was not happy and voices his discontent with part of his herd leaving.  He was in the corral with them but promptly jumped the gate crushing it with his heavy exit strategy.  Normally a nice calm fellow, he did not like this one bit.

On the news last night I heard people are stealing hay in Missouri and Texas because of the long drought or maybe just because they can.  Hay is at a premium.  We were able to go a different "hay" way this year.

Peanut hay!  We have hay and the cows love it!!!  I do believe we will have enough for the winter and that is a great relief.  We feed range cubes and keep feeder buckets out but hay or roughage is necessary.  I imagine horses would colic or founder on this but the cows are very happy.  In fact the first bale was rolled out by the bull himself.

In south Arkansas peanuts are grown.  They have a  machine that pulls them up.  After a few days, the peanuts are ready to be harvested.  Another piece of equipment picks up the plants and shakes them to remove the peanuts. What is left has been baled for cattle feed.  It would be an added bonus if peanuts voluntarily grow next year.

We are the lucky ones!  We have feed!  Our herd is the smallest it's been since we began.  Hopefully the rains will come well timed and we can increase our herd again.

For now, we're happy...WE HAVE HAY!

My Ghost Story Caught On Camera

I sat exhausted, vulnerable.  The most overwhelming feeling of sadness, hopelessness over came me.  My heart beat accelerated and a distinct heaviness centered in my chest.  I could not get past this depressed  feeling.

The circles under my eyes clearly show the effects of  dreams I can't explain and my lack of good sleep.  The extreme tiredness is mirrored in the folds of my face.

Marcy came to visit taking this picture.  The pressure is marked by the perfectly round orb centered on my chest.

I think I see a face! Camera malfunction?  No orbs in any other shots before this or after.

Does this mean something or is it a cock and bull story?

You decide.

Eating Out...

Gotcha!

A new place I whirled into on a day out with Marcy.

This was a  first for us.

The grill was surrounded by people waiting for lunch.  The chef entertained us with his artful cooking skills.

Rice, eggs and vegetables grilled and served to each plate.  

The meat is cooked next, chicken, shrimp and steak.

It was wonderful!

My steak was cooked to perfection.

The chef received a round of applause.

Got Bread!

Remember the post where I made Justin Wilson's bread?  I inquired about what kind of bread machine to use.  I discovered that most made theirs by hand like me.   

I have "met" many wonderful people since I began blogging and I knew there would be someone with the answer.  Lynne from Irish Garden House  went way above and beyond with her help.  She sent me a bread machine!

I was so thrilled to receive this wonderful gift.  I read and read and discovered every recipe called for dry milk.  I didn't have any at the moment so I worked on getting a table ready because the instructions said Do not operate on flammable surface.  Here is my knocked together unit that will hold the meat grinder and my bread machine while providing extra work space.  The top is an old enamel piece from a destroyed, not by me, Hoosier cabinet.  The bottom has rollers so I can move it anywhere.

My sweet sister Marcy shows up with a bread recipe mix!  I was so involved in the instructions, when it said a entire envelope of yeast, I got my own and found the one included later.  It will not waste.

As much as I love the art of bread making it was so nice to place ingredients in here and go about my rat killing without waiting on any thing.  I remembered to take pictures when SOMEONE reminded me.  I was two seconds from done.

Beautiful!  I think it touched the top because I used my yeast instead of the one they had in the packet but that didn't hurt one thing.

Here's the bucket,

Here's the loaf, perfect!

I slathered it with butter and set it to cool.

Didn't make it to cool. That is why it's a little crooked. Sliced it early, shared with Marcy since she brought the mix.  Jake, Andrew and Hubby came through sniffing the air like a coon dog looking for game.  It's gone before it cooled.

Thank you, Lynne.  The old saying "...and the whole da** family thanks you" is very true!  You have made me a very happy cook.

Oh, I will still knead that dough time to time just for the pure joy of it but for now I can bake homemade bread while I'm taking a nap...right!

Sunday Excitement...Part Two

These are from Marcy's perspective.  The approaching storm is beautiful.  We can hear the roar above us.

The water was beginning to run into the basement.  As you can see my hero watching me risk life and limb to open a spill way with A MOP!

My flip flops came off. I threw them toward the basement and opened a spillway quite well, I think for an old fat lady.  I'm wondering why I even bothered with an umbrella.  I guess I was just using that for a lightning rod!

Andrew in the dark basement played guitar.

Part of the aftermath.

Glad to get some rain.