Today is a real 'hay day' - blue sky, light breeze, hot sun and very dry atmosphere. Two fields are baled and ready for leading in. The third field, which was cut a day later, will not be ready until morning so we are hoping the weather holds. Thunder storms are set to creep up the country from the South. It is difficult not to become weather obsessed at haytime.
We have had so few summery days this year, but it is one today. On these days it is quiet and yet there is a buzz in the air difficult to explain but there all the same.
Tess has spent most of the day lying on the stone floor in the utility room with her back legs splayed back so that her tummy is in contact with the cool stone. (feel a bit like doing that myself).
I am gradually getting used to my new telephone - slowly but surely. Not completely there yet though.
Does anyone out there know Steinbeck's 'Travels with Charley'? It is one of those books I reread when I am short of reading matter. Each time I read it I find more in it and this time has been no exception. When I read about the anti Negro feeling in the deep South in the book I can't help wondering what Steinbeck would have said to America having a black president almost fifty years after he died. Certainly unimagineable in Steinbeck's day.
I shall now go and make some sandwiches for the farmer's tea. Ice cream for 'afters' I think.
Whatever happened to a 'Ploughman's lunch, washed down with a few gallons of cider'?
ReplyDeleteStorms due here this evening/tomorrow. Not unwelcomed.
I used to dread haymaking time - will the weather hold - will it rain and ruin the crop - how many more times will it need to be turned. We used to turn all our hay by hand, steady rhythmic work - most enjoyable, amongst the rows with the heavenly smell of fresh mown hay. Thankfully I don't have to worry about it now but it was always a tense time.
ReplyDeleteI hope the farmer gets the hay in before the rain makes it's way north. I don't know the book you mention. Steinbeck would be very surprised to know of a black President, but they still have a way to go according to news accounts.
ReplyDeleteYou asked how my book is coming on. Very slow progress I'm afraid. The garden has taken up my time and energy lately but I will get back to it as soon as possible.
Enjoy your ice cream and sandwiches.
Looking at the rain forecast maps on the met office site it looks as though rain will take until the afternoon to get your far north. Friday looks a bit wetter. Penny hates thunder, just goes in a dark corner panting like mad.
ReplyDeleteHere it's been cold early mornings, hot in the middle of the day and then cool onshore breezes in the afternoons.
We are forecast rain too and the farmers over the road are rushing to cultivate and sow rape seed( which they do at the same time), they only took the bales off on Saturday from this years wheat. What happened to laying fallow!
ReplyDeleteHope it's fine Saturday for our barn sale.
Travels with Charlie has drawn me back more than once. I think Steinbeck would have to point out little has changed and much has degenerated in race relations in the last eight years, and not because our president is a black man, but because too many people in this country have an irrational hatred of folks not of their color, religious persuasion or mindset.
ReplyDeleteWe have lots of good "haying sunshine" too, but it is so cold for August.
A grand day here Pat with warm sunshine and no wind. Our farmers are taking advantage as they take a second cut.
ReplyDeleteI also love this book and read it again and again.
ReplyDeleteI worked in a Garden Center for several years Pat and believe me i became weather obsessed ... still am to a certain point. I love weather what can i say. But when i worked i needed to know how much water to give the plants etc... Were we expecting storms ? Did they need to be protected... Was it going to freeze that night... etc...
ReplyDeleteWe are having a couple 'cool' days... in the mid 80's F instead of near 100 and we were able to leave our windows open last night and probably will the next couple nights before summer comes back... Hugs! deb
Glad to read the haying is going well.
ReplyDeleteAs for phones...the new smart phone is still in the package. Funny though...I've been telling myself to save it until the next time I see my son that lives nearby. lol
Sounds familiar, the same thing happens here, but usually in November.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the Weather Gods are playing ball at last, although we have storms and heavy rain forecast for today/ tomorrow. The garden and ponds will be pleased.
ReplyDeleteSome really interesting comments for everyone today so well worth a read through. Thanks as usual for your contribution.
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