Ranch News -

Haaaaaaayyyyy.  It's complicated when the field is divided three ways with only one person clearly marking boundaries.  We have about two and a half acres of the 40 acre field.  It's a little pie shape in the middle of the field.  We marked our boundaries.  Problem is, the other two owners did not.  So, the poor cutter guy is all confused.  To add to the complications, one of the owners is not here and is trying to explain to yet another party so he can explain to the cutter, where the boundary is.  The property lines do not neatly intersect.  There are overlaps.  It's all so complicated.  Despite having clearly marked our boundaries with stakes and flags well before the cutter arrived on the scene, we are having our hay cut as part of the other owner's crops.  So, today, I sit and wait for the cutter to arrive, plat map in hand, to show him this confusing mess AND hopefully, he stays in a good mood about it all.  It's hard to have someone come out and cut in a timely manner on sunny days, for a good price, let alone deal with all this mess.  I spent all night last night researching hand harvesting hay.  I am seriously considering buying a scythe and hand harvesting our tiny acreage in the future.  My big dream of having a tractor with all necessary implements is at the minimum $12000.00 away for now.  But, a scythe, a pitchfork, a big rake and some hard work IS within reach.  Scytheonnection online makes the whole notion of working the land sound poetic and fulfilling.  Plus, I'm HERE.  I see when it's sunny and dry and perfect timing means alot in the end quality of the hay.  We had a whole crop ruined when a guy baled in the rain a couple of years ago.  It wasn't even good enough for cow hay.  We literally could not give it away for free during a big hay shortage and exorbitant prices.  In the meantime, some good communication, plat maps, and boundary posts are our best efforts at ensuring our tiny little crop.  So, it turns out, wise old Rocket really knew what he was whinnying about when he warned me of the melee in the hay field.  So, after much searching, transferring, computer problems, etc.  I have finally found his picture, taken a few years ago in march before the pasture greened up where he is frolicking with his little mustang buddy, Blaze.  I post it today, in honor of my guard mustang, Rocket.