As the sun rose higher in the cloudless sky, family, friends and neighbors arrived at the farm gate offering their help. Son Matt arrived with our two rapidly growing grandsons and, as the mercury in the barn thermometer indicated sweltering temperatures, our old farm Chevy truck growled out of the ranch gate followed by the noisy rattling trailer. Children we remember as babies in our early years on the ranch now buck bales and enjoy the familiar camaraderie as we toil under the baking afternoon sun. Young Aiyanna, barely tall enough to reach the pedals in her flip flops peered over the dashboard and maneuvered the hay laden truck between the waiting bales. Equally anxious and excited our young teen driver now has to grasp the very significant distinction between accelerate and BRAKE and even more significantly the importance of the word GENTLY !! Sadly, as truck after hay laden truck returned to the barn, all was not well with the laboring hay baler, as firstly an integral piece of the machinery apparently baled itself and then not content with slowing down the days activity..... frustratingly blew a tire.
Today, friendship, affection brotherhood, fellowship and harmony were demonstrated as family and friends spread out across the hay field, as bales were loaded onto the trucks and trailer and stacked in the barn. We want to thank you all for your friendship and love.....without you all, life really wouldn't be so special. Take care, keep safe, M