August 1 and Summer Plays On

Just before dawn the last blue moon until January 2, 2018, as it disappeared behind the mountain. 

Daddy John and Daniel found a few days window of no rain and managed to get my hay field mowed, tethered, put into wind rows and then baled into 5x5 bales. My upper meadow will be done same this coming week and perhaps another ten or dozen bales to be given half to the cutter and then my half sold. 

One of the prettiest sights, to my way of thinking, and at this stage of life, is a hay field with freshly cut, newly baled, dry hay.

Depending on my count, which changes each time, the round bales totaled either 28.5 or 29.5 or 30.5. I'll know for sure once I move them from field center to field edge in preparation of moving them to the hay lot near the barns.

Each year, after the men finish haying, the dogs and I take the Ranger so I can glean hay from the field. It's silly enough but it pleases me and the horses like having a change in their diet.

During the mornings, while listening to Youssef and Begg, I'm working on a bowl or nest, ala Vicki at 2 Bags Full. This yarn is more like roving, made in Peru (if memory serves) and knits up beautifully. The bottom is crochet and is being attached to the knitted bowl with knit stitches; once finished, it'll be felted and, in similar manner, turned into a nest with my own little touches. I don't have a pattern but am relying on old fashioned brain power (can you imagine the burning of my little gray cells?) to figure it out. As Agatha Christie had Poirot say, "It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within--not without." As an aside, JOY JOY JOY, this summer filming began of Tommy and Tuppence, another of Christie's books. On BBC ONE, a few nights ago, you could view And Then There Were None which was called, I believe, Ten Little Indians when Christie first wrote it and worth seeing if only for the scenery. Although, we all know the acting will be stellar and the clothes fabulous. (I suppose the PC police got their shorts in a twist and had the name changed from Indians to None. Seriously, "those people", those PC people, haven't any sense of humor and are as rigid as a flag pole!) Partners in Crime, is another title for the Tommy and Tuppence series filed in the 1980's. If the new films are as good as the old ones, they're to be highly recommended!

Recently, the first three parts of Parade's End have entertained me although it's also brought a keen sense of ennui into my life. The main character, Christopher Tietjens, reminds me so much of Dave; both honorable, respectful men, always doing the right thing as they provide for and protect their women, their home and their country. The actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, has been in a lot of roles...Sherlock (fabulous!), The Imitation Game (bittersweet), The Hobbit (didn't see but I've heard his voice as Smaug) and a theatre production of Hamlet and Star Trek Into Darkness released this summer (I think).

Anyway, if you like Downton Abbey, you will probably like Parade's End and the first three parts are on Netflex, whereas the sixth and final season of Downton Abbey doesn't come 'round until January 1.

Summer is full of work, work, work keeping me busy, busy, busy and out of trouble. By the time I finish either on the farm or in the house, it's time for supper, shower and sleep. Speaking of, I'm only one third of the way so shall close.

Be safe, keep busy and no whining...okay? 

It's terribly unattractive. 

Blessings ~ dry round rolls of HAY! ~ movies as evening entertainment ~ Agatha Christie ~ 

Winner, Random 5 Friday

~ two barn owls roost in my hay loft ~

Lately, a lot of folks have been saying, "Can you believe it's the end of January already?!" That's what happens when you blink and breath...tempus fugit with skates on winged feet. Pretend with me...it's Wednesday and the winner of the $50 Visa gift card is being announced. To mimic Susan Branch, "Oh Vanna! Vanna, Dahling, please, would you come here a moment? Your adoring audience beckons because they want to know whose name you'll choose." Vanna comes schlepping through my house, dodging the ball of yarn that the cats captured, unrolled on the floor and now all over the kitchen, into the living room where she comments, "Ah, that wood stove feels DiViNe!" as she reaches into the dog basket.

Hey, around here we used what's available; remember Fat Charlie going under the knife...as in Leatherman?

Vanna taps her toe, delicately, against the Persian carpet, glances around the room (Hey Vanna, the vacuum cleaner fits all hands!) and draws a name...Lynne of Irish Garden House! Right after Dave died and I was all over the place, emotionally, spiritually, physically, Lynne would write notes of encouragement because she knew what I was going through; she'd "been there, done that" and was one of the people who showed me such great kindness and love. She blessed me greatly, many thanks, Lynne! I'm glad you won and hope you enjoy the Visa card, spend it wisely -grin-. And, no, Vanna didn't actually draw the Lynne's name, that was done by random generator...Vanna just makes a better story.

~ saw this young buck on the way home today ~

Random 5 Friday is by Nancy at A Rural Journal. Wonder of wonders I remembered it was today and there's even barely enough time left in the day to join in. It's been a COLD day today and chores were accomplished but left my bones achy. After I eat my meatballs and pasta, I'm going to have a lovely tot of B&B...just because I'm finally an adult and old enough to drink legally. so there!

Nancy's guidelines are (1) link up a blog post with 5 random facts about you, your day, pets, whatever; (2) posts must contain 5 random facts; (3) visit other participants; (4) wait a minute...only 3 guidelines that even a idiot could follow...right? Yeah, well, we'll see...

1. I gave up sat television as in Direct TV. I put pencil to paper and figured out I was paying almost $160 per television show I enjoyed. I really loved watching NCIS, Elementary, PBS and a couple of others but not $1,000 worth per year. I decided that money would be better spent on a sunny, Caribbean island...St. Lucia or Bonaire or even going to Puerto Rico (no passport needed) and take a Southern Caribbean cruise and visit many islands...that's the ticket...yeah! As for television, the county library has a lot of PBS shows and tonight I'm watching Dame Margaret Rutherford as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in Murder She Said...delightful! A little tidbit...Mr. Stringer, Miss Marple's "friend" is, in real life, Dame Rutherford's husband. Click on Dame Margaret's name and read some true hair raising facts about her and her family.

A number of very fine actresses have played Miss Marple - Angela Lansbury, Joan Hickson, Geraldine McEwan (oh my, another favorite!), Julia McKenzie (liked her better in Cranford), Helen Hayes, Margaret Rutherford and others, but my favorite is Dame Margaret. She knows she's over the top and plays the entire role tongue in cheek always and with great aplomb.

If you think you could write as well as Agatha Christie (HA!), try your hand here; entries for Chapter 4 are now being accepted.

~ Black Angus cattle country ~

2. And speaking of Vanna (she was born in Myrtle Beach, SC)...this past week, I went on a road trip to my condo at Cherry Grove, North Myrtle Beach, SC. Folks are renting it for February and March and I wanted it to be ready for them and also wanted to escape the frigid cold but that didn't happen. There, it was 18 above zero one night, 28 above zero another night but got into the high 50's during the day. One day I saw 61 on a bank thermometer but we all know how unreliable those things can be.  My week was work, work and more work just different location which is turning into the story of my life. Or, perhaps it's just that time of year when it takes everything I've got, plus some, to get the work done. Today, after doing town errands, I came home to throw out square bales for the horses, take food and water to Harry and Sophie, meds and food to Carly and load up the Ranger with a load of work wood (oops) which I'll bring to the house tomorrow. It's supposed to warm up to 32 - glory! - but will snow; Sunday it'll be 42 but rain and Monday is more snow. I'd rather deal with snow, it's not as much misery on my old bones but considering I've got to get out the tractor to put out round bales of hay, what difference do it make? Animals have got to be fed so work has got to be done.

3. Carly Shetland is 20 and still loving her groceries; Harry Shetland is up there and also enjoy his groceries. Today I found Sophie Shetland, cast, and heaved her to her feet. I'm not sure how long she'd been down but, judging from the spot, it'd been a while. Now, she's in the small lot with blind Harry where they'll both receive grain, corn, hay and water twice a day. "Good grief, Pa, but I do love my critters!", says Ellie Mae nee Sandra Bennett. -grin-

~ snow drifts of 3+ feet ~

4. Gosh, it's imperative I come up with 5 random things and it's harder than it looks. Hmmm, there's a fire in the wood stove and it feels wonderbar! It's a boatload of hard work but it warms me thrice...bringing it to the house, bringing it into the house and carrying ashes out. Have I ever mentioned I dislike boring people or people who say, "I'm bored" suggests a decided lack of imagination! There's always something to do even when we don't want to do it. I've developed a bone spur on the bottom of my heel; any ideas on how to make it go away? I'm figuring a huge, family sized KJV and have someone smash it against my heel...yes or no?

5. I'm fixing meatballs and pasta for supper. Not very exciting but it's what I want...protein and carbs with a glass of red is just what I want/need. I'll fix it, bring it into the living room where the wood fire is blazing and watch Dame Margaret Rutherford as she careens through Murder She Said. This evening is my idea of bliss!

Whew! These things are more difficult than they first appeared. My hat's off to Nancy, she comes up with this week after week. The only thing I come up with, week after week, is dirty laundry.

Don't forget, Vicki's Blog Party is happening tomorrow; I'm excited!

Now, go out there, be safe and make it a week to remember wonderfully!

Blessings ~ warmth ~ Nancy, A Rural Journal ~ Dame Margaret Rutherford ~ Lynn, Irish Garden House ~ my critters, beasts and varmints ~