At last, today we will finish first crop hay!

The weather has stretched our harvest to take two weeks longer than normal. We usually have a break between crops. But that is not so this year. We will begin second crop right away. Yet with the rains we had earlier in June, there was a 3-week delay between the second and third cuttings. So there will be a break in this crop, too. During that break time, we must let the alfalfa have time to grow and mature. So we will deviate from the normal summer routine and still get the harvest.

Most of the hay that we have made this summer has been stored in our hay shed.  The hay shed is a structure made with no walls. Posts hold up the roof to protect the hay from the rain and snow. The bottom bales have been soaked in deluge rains in times past. So we now place the bottom layer of bales on wooden pallets. This lifts them up to protect them from flooding in the event that we get more heavy rains. The exposure to air (in the building with out walls) gives the hay that may still have some moisture content a chance to be dried or at least to keep cool.

Hay that goes into a building like the barn must be dry. Any moisture can cause decay and that produces heat. The heat becomes great enough that it can start fires. With second crop hay, we are looking at putting most of it in the barn. So the hay quality is even more crucial than for our first crop. We are still dependent on the Lord’s provision of dry, hot weather.

 

 

The raspberries are ready.  This year with all of the rain they look nice and big.

Our youngest patch, the yellow raspberries, is providing a treat. We have gotten a few bowls of berries to eat at the table. They are mild and honey-sweet.

The black raspberries are from a wild variety of bramble. The patch is small and the thorns are everywhere. This is the long-sleeve patch.  We need long sleeves and long pants to protect ourselves from the thorny atmosphere.  The rains have made these berries fuller and more fruitful. Generally, we get one nice picking of about 2 quarts.  This year we have gotten 2 such pickings and there will be more. Since we get so few of these rich, full-flavored berries, I like to make freezer jam with them.  It is easy and yummy! It makes their delightful sweetness last longer than just a handful of taste during the summer.

The red raspberry patch is our old faithful one.We have had this patch for years. Although some years we replant the young stalks, and clear out the old, the patch remains and produces well. We have gotten about 12 quarts of berries already.  We have many more coming. Besides that, we get a second crop of berries in September. There are many berries to freeze as sauce and jam. When I have plenty of them, I make pie and syrup, too.

Since we did not get enough strawberries for making preserves or pie, I am very grateful for the raspberry crop. When I go to the produce counter at my supermarket, I feel like a rich woman.  The prices of this crop would discourage me from enjoying this part of the Lord’s provision for us.

Thank You, Lord, for the raspberry harvest!

 

Each flower has a “time” when they are ready to bloom.  They reach their flowering time and recede as new ones take their place. Peonies come in early summer.

 

Peonies are a favorite bloom from my childhood.  My neighbor lady had two or three plants that of differing colors.  The large flowers and their delicate scent still delight me.

 

 

 

 

I bought several to plant on the farm a few years ago.  I thought I would be able to enjoy the differing colors.  I would like to let you drink in their beauty, too.  I hope you like them.

 

 

 

 

The blooms last longest on the plant. However, I do pick some to place a bouquet on my kitchen table. To make their beauty longer lasting, I dry the flowers.  They dry to make lovely bouquets for the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To dry them, I bind a few stems together with a rubber band.  The rubber band will hook nicely from a door knob or other hanging place.  With the flowers hanging upside down the peonies dry to ensure that their blooms will stand erect in a vase.  After the drying I have a special bouquet that lasts for weeks or months.  Give it a try sometime. Other flowers and herbs dry well this way, too.

peony photo credits:Wenda Grabau
photo credit: Don Hankins via photopin cc

All of the rain muddied up our haying operation. But the flowers still radiate the creative genius of our Lord.  It paints a picture for us that tells me how He delights to encourage me.  I do enjoy the beauty of His flowers.  I hope you enjoy these flourishes of beauty.

 

1. Iris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. More irises

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Mock orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. More mock orange

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Poppy

 

 

 

Each flower is unique and yet so similar.  God’s imagination is so vast, yet He designs each flower with care.

People, too, are each unique and yet so similar.  God has shown His creativity in many ways and He has designed you with care.

photo credits:Wenda Grabau

Summer is a time of producing fruitful harvests.  Between the rain showers I took a walk to see how the fruit is progressing.  I thought you might like to see its growth along with me.

1. North Star Cherry

 

 

 

2. Currants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Grapes

 

 

 

 

 

4. Pears

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Red raspberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Saskatoon berries

 

 

 

 

7. Apples

There is much to look forward to harvest this summer. There is a lot of fruit coming and there will be plenty of work to preserve it.

photo credits:Wenda Grabau

For us, Independence Day had to be a work day.  I am not complaining.  The Lord provided sunshine and conditions for baling hay.  The cut hay had been on the field for 7 days.  This is less than ideal.  Three or four days would have been much better.  In that seven days we did have some rain.  So the hay we made lacked desired quality. Yet to save the crop beneath it, we had to get it off of the field in order for the new crop to thrive.  Does this sound like the last batch of hay we made? It certainly does, yet the last time we baled, the hay had been on the field for ten days before we could bale.  To celebrate the day, we baled about 8 loads of hay.

On the 5th of July, the Lord gave us more sun, a steady wind, no dew on the ground and we were able to bale at least 16 loads of hay of excellent quality.  (We lost count since we were so busy.)  It had only been cut for a few days and had not been rained on.  This hay oozed with the quality the cattle need. What a day to praise the Lord!

Forecasts were grim, but He blessed us anyway.  Besides that, three of our four children, one son-in-law and his sister were on hand to help with this important task.  To top it all off we got to see five of our grandchildren at the farmhouse when the workday was over. We were all exhausted and  the day after our muscles ache, but we are praising the Lord anyway.

You will notice that of the 5th of July, we could bale, because the farmer had been faithful to do his part.  Amidst nasty predictions, he cut the hay and crimped it in faith that he could bale.  He did not know he could, forecasters were naysayers in this regard. Yet, in faith, he used his knowledge, experience, ability and tools to get the job done so that when God provided the weather, the hay would be ready.  The Lord gets credit even for that.  He gives the farmer the good judgement and He provides all that is necessary for the harvest.

It is fitting for us to say, “Praise the Lord” in every circumstance.  And when He moves His Mighty Hand to work on our behalf,  it is also fitting to say, “Thank You, Lord.”  And we do.

photo credit: JeepersMedia via photopin cc