Done Been Hexed!
If you are from the eastern portion of our nation, or live in Amish country, you have probably seen these before. They are known as “Hex Signs”, and often adorn barns or houses in the hopes of swaying fate. Originally, they often contained a 6 sided star. In fact, some say the term “Hex” was derived from the mispronunciation of the German word “Sechs”, or six. Today you see more with a Distelfink (bird) Double Distelfink (2 birds), hearts, or other geometric designs.
"fertility"
There is no need to fear these Hex Signs. As far as I can tell, there are none designed to give passers-by an extra eye or anything incideous. They are intended to benefit the farm. Prosperity, Fertility, Strength, and Love seem to be the common goal. A Pineapple (meaning welcome), or the word Wilkum was often incorporated, almost advertising hospitality. Where can you find one of these historical pieces for your farm?
First, you must take a hair from one of your animals. Then at midnight, travel to a local cemetary… Ha Ha! OK, Halloween is next month! Actually, I would start at Zook’s Family Crafts. They have been making these signs for generations. Take a look at their on-line catalog. Use caution, as I said before, Halloween is next month!
A New Country Radio Station
The full moon has affected me! With a little lunacy, I created a web radio station. This is not your usual radio station. I created it for rural folks to have a chance to get the content they would like. Click on the Green play button on the top right of this page. You will hear the start of a new web radio station. Click on “RADIO” at the top of this page for more information.
I am looking for talent, points of view, and anything you might find entertaining. Give me some ideas or give me a hard time with the “Contact Me” button at the top of this site.
Seasons are Changing…slowly
It sure has been hot! Looks like relief is on the way. For the last few weeks the low temperatures have stayed in the 80′s. Not cooling down overnight just makes the next day heat up quicker. The weatherman is finally giving the forecast I have been waiting on. High’s in the 70′s and lows in the 50′s! Way to go weatherman! Now see if you can hold off on the rain for a couple weeks.
The cool mornings cause lots of fog and dew. Makes me think back to when we used to walk beans and I’d be wet up to my chest. It does make for some interesting pictures though. I sure am glad there are no cows out this morning. They would be hard to find, and I would get soaked chasing them.
I saw my poor boat sitting in the A.M. fog. “Come on” it said, “Summer is almost over!” Sorry boat. Too much to do this week. Duck season is just around the corner anyway. I probably won’t have time for that either, but a change in seasons always brings forth new hopes and plans. Maybe I should try harder to chase a duck or two this year. Yep, new hopes and plans.
That’s Fair… State Fair, That Is.
In the old days, farmers would head to the state fair to see who had the fattest hog. Wives would prepare their best pies for the competition. Letters were written to relatives… “My watermelon is way bigger than yours!”. I picture my Grandmother covering the receiver on her telephone as she listened in on the party line. “Old man Brown is gonna take that fat steer to the fair”, She would report. For some it was a 2 day trip just to get there! These were big doin’s back in them days. Things have changed a little, but luckily, the state fair is still an agricultural showcase.
I had a few things I wanted to see at the fair this year. With a sudden cool-down in the temps, the decision was made. “Honey Bunches” let her Facebook friends know where she would be for the day, and we were off.
While I wasn’t actually looking for them, the mules are always interesting to me. Dad used mules when he was a kid. I picture them as the movie stereotype small and stubborn ones. You learn a little lesson when you see the big draft mules up close. Those guys are large! Today people compare tractor horsepower and wish they had the neighbors shiny four-wheel drive. A hundred years ago I can imagine the same thing as a one mule farmer looked across the fence at a 4 draft mule team disking a field.
Honey Bunches was relieved I was not looking to buy a mule! We looked at the cattle, the sheep, the chickens, and finally, what I had come to see. Between all the animals and vegetables are the equipment vendors. I looked around and TADA, I found the pole barn sales people. After visiting 4 dealers, I came away with the realization there are no cheap pole barns! Maybe my dream shop will have to wait a couple years. At least I have all the pamphlets and info I need to make an informed decision.
We went back to the veggies and saw the Missouri record pumpkin. Not a world record, but 738 pounds in case you are curious. We made a loop through the hot tubs and spa vendors. Those would be a nice addition to the house! Finally full of fair food we decided to make the trek home.
Tired, we make our way through the front door and take a break on the couch. Honey Bunches checks her email. “Is there anything to see at the State Fair?” asks a Facebook friend. Maybe not for this particular friend, but there was plenty for us.
Finally Finishing Up Hay
I have had so many hay posts, you probably think nothing else goes on around here. For this time of year, you would be almost correct! Visitors love the farm sights and sounds, but remember, we are out here everyday working in the sun. I did take some scenic pictures you may enjoy while I finished up the hay raking.
The old M Farmall did pretty good this year. It had a sputter I couldn’t quite get figured out. When I would apply the brakes, or turn up a hill, the goverver would kick in and vroom, we were off again! Dad bought this old tractor back when it was new. I have been using an Oliver 880 to rake the last couple years. It was surprising to me to get back on the narrow front end tractor with power steering. Nice cornering with the old basket rake!
I raked a large hill reminiscent of our Pennsylvania trip. The hay was thin here and I rolled 3 windrows into one. I had to make it heavy enough for the baler guy’s big round baler. I think he appreciated the view from the hill. He didn’t complain about the raking.
Then I headed to some terraces around a large pond. The hay here was almost too heavy to double rake. The baler guy’s new baler makes good 5X6 bale. I estimated this patch to be about 8 acres. When the baler guy was done, we had 41 bales in this little field!
I could mow some more waterways. I could mow some more pasture. So far we have a little over 400 big round bales this year. At 13 dollars a bale to roll it up, I better quit. Fertilizer, equipment, and custom baling costs are up again. Beef, my end product, is not.
Busy Summer
Summer work has slowed my blog activity recently. I am always mowing, raking, or hauling hay around! I have lots of plans, interviews, and radio show guests to come… I just can’t seem to get them done right now. That said, I do take break now and then. Here is some typical fun around Salt Creek.
Since my Brother and Sister-In-Law were in from Virginia, we decided to take in the church picnic. People come from near and far for the burgers, ice cream, and the fireworks. The games at the picnic are, of course, to bring in a little extra money for the church. I don’t think any of them have changed since I was a kid.
We played bingo and ring-toss. Glad we could donate, heh heh! No BINGO’s for us. I think some of the older ladies were cheating! No free soda either. Maybe some of those kids were cheating! I don’t think I have my technique perfected. We didn’t even win anything at the raffle, dangit! There is always next year.
There is one unique game everyone seems to enjoy… The Turtle Races! That’s right, turtle races. The idea is simple. You buy a card with a number on it. Several turtles are released in the center of an enclosure with numbered exits. When the first turtle clears an exit, the corresponding number wins. I did not have a corresponding number! Guess I am not much of a racing expert either!
One thing I do know a lot about is making noise. The fireworks did not disappoint. Plenty of flashing and banging! Honey Bunches and I sat on the tail-gate of my truck and watched from the beginning to the finale. It was pretty impressive.
So, I lost a little money on the games. I had good food, good neighbors, and an enjoyable evening. Maybe some of my losings will add to the fireworks show next year. God Bless America!
That’s Not Fair!
OK Mother Nature! I have had about enough! You have frozen my cattle waterers. You have knocked out all my water gaps. You have flooded my beans. Don’t you think that’s enough for this year? I guess not! I think this time you have gone a little too far!
I know it’s a little game we play. I try to put up hay, you try to rain on it. Your job is to give us farmers as much grief as you can dish out. When you threw 7 inches of rain on my hay field, I waited to mow. After I mowed you sent another inch of rain. Even after I baled, you rained on my hay again. I know it upset you when I got the hay dried and baled, but this is getting out of hand!
Lightning?!? You are zapping my bales with lightning? That’s just uncalled for, not to mention dangerous! What if I had been out there trying to haul those bales in? Have you even thought of that? Maybe you were hoping I would be out there! I can see the full extent of your cruelty now. Rest assured, Mother Nature, I will be keeping my eyes on you… and checking the lightning rods on my house!
Bad Dog?
Please Forgive Me
Scout “The Wonder Dog” is in serious trouble. Try as we may, Honey Bunches and I cannot stop his determination to jump on strangers. Maybe it’s our fault. While not completely hermits, we don’t get a lot of visitors. Scout gets the run of the house and behaves with all 4 planted on the floor until someone new arrives. Then the “Mad Puppy” syndrome kicks in and I can’t seem to stop him! After all the rain, I would suggest you stay in your car. You are risking your clean clothes. This happened again today.
While Scout and I were heading out to work on the addition, I noticed a mini-van pulling in to the drive. I quickened my pace and called Scout, hoping the visitor would knock on the door where Honey Bunches was located. No such luck! She flashed the lights, gave a yell and got Scout’s total attention. Since Scout was going to welcome her, I felt it was my responsibility to try to warn her. She exited the mini-van with a political flyer in hand and headed straight for me. I yelled, “He won’t bite”, about the same time his muddy feet hit her light gray dress.
I am laughing on the inside!
I soon found she was a Democrat running for the county Associate Circuit Court Judge. Since I don’t have any information on her opponent, I would give her my vote, just for acting like the muddy, mauling dog was not distracting. On the other hand, Scout “The Wonder Dog” is a Republican. If I don’t want all my newly planted trees dug up, I may have to side with him!
The Green Green Grass Of Home
Hayin’ time is in full swing in Salt Creek Township. Dodging ditches and rain, I am putting up hay as fast as I can. I have been mowing the heaviest hay first. Probably a mistake, but I hated to see the clover and timothy drying up. I seem to be able to mow faster than I can get it raked, baled and hauled in. Having a 3 year old mower and a 25 year old rake may be to blame! 
The clover, fescue, and timothy mix seems to be a good combination for the disk mower. I can run about as fast as I can stay in the seat without dragging the motor down. New blades help a lot, and it is obvious as you watch the RPM’s slowly drop through the mowing season.
I had about 40 acres down and got it baled up before the rain started again. There is still about a 150 acres to go, but with the threat of rain looming again, I am hauling hay in instead of mowing. Once again, probably a mistake. In the words of a wise farmer I know, (maybe not all that wise) You gotta do somethin’!
I’ve lost my bearings!
With the rake tires aired up, I hitched up the old M Farmall. I was confident there would be no problems, as I completely rebuilt the gearbox and replaced the U-Joints on the New Holland 258 hay rake two years ago. Running around to grease the bearings, I noticed one was loose. I gave the bar a jerk and it separated from the hub. That’s pretty loose! After 2 trips to the parts store I had everything I needed, except time.
“What time you gonna start rakin’”, asked the baler man. “Don’t know”, I said, “Rake’s torn apart”. A neighbor hearing of my plight loaned me a wheel rake. “Now I’m ready”, I thought. This time I hitched up the Oliver 880 tractor and was off to rake. After about 20 acres, I started to exit a field, but couldn’t steer straight. I looked back at the rake to see if it was pulling too hard and lifting the front of the tractor. Nope! It was the tractor. The pin in front shaft had worn through and one wheel was facing left and the other right. While searching for parts, baler man showed up with his shiny Case/IH Baler. “Having troubles?” He chuckled.
With the repair completed, I left baler man and headed to another patch of hay. I kept expecting to see him speeding down the gravel road, pushing me to go faster. He never showed. Even when I finished raking, no baler man! Upon further investigation, I found a bearing had gone out on top of his baler. He smoked a couple belts and the shaft spun a clean foot long slice down the side of his shiny baler. “Havin’ troubles?”, I asked.
