September 11, 2008

esterday afternoon was quite delightful. What can be better than standing in the middle of a ranch field watching animals doing a great job at something they have been trained to do? I have been waiting for weeks (as well as have the ranchers for that matter) for the weather to smarten up enough for the horse teams to go out to mow hay and cut the oats.

This delightful ranching couple have been horse farming as long as they have been alive. Both were born on ranches in different small communities and horses were the only 'tractor power' to use.

Today, although they are not adzactly stating how long that has been from then to now, they still work horses in harness and own six draft horses.

The mower in the two lower pictures was bought about the time they were married in the 1930's. It was lost for many years when they sold one farm and moved to their current (longtime) ranch, but they found it again and restored it. Yesterday was it's trial run after being repaired and unfortunately a piece broke, but no matter, as the horses went trotting up to the barns to go get another mower. I was very interested in how the mechanics of the mower worked and was surprised at how well it worked for being such a simple, yet complicated machine.

I will be going back for the next phases of what needs to be done with the downed hay and green oats soon. I am sure I will post pictures then too.

Last night there was a frost and it killed the beans off. Later today I need to pick what is left of the beans and give them to my companion and his housemate for dinner. Thus far the rest of the garden looks pretty unscathed.