One, two, three, four ... cuttings of alfalfa

 Fourth cutting!

That's right - four times a year we cut, rake, and chop the alfalfa to feed our cattle.  Seems like we just covered the pile and put on the tires.  But now it's time to take off the tires, remove the plastic, and add more feed for the long winter! 

The timing worked okay on this one - it's supposed to be nice all this week.  We chopped all day today and should be able to finish tomorrow.  I almost hate to say that, because it's as if I'm just asking for a flat tire/breakdown/weather/other unforeseen delay.  It's like going to the airport and saying, "I haven't ever had a flight cancelled!"  (I would never say that.  My flights get cancelled all the time, especially when trying to return from other countries.  With no backup to watch the children.)

The boys wanted to ride with Kris in the tractor, so we went to see him.  My youngest had to go to bed, so he was just stopping by to say hello.

The boys waited patiently until Kris was able to stop and pick them up.

Kris came to see Max.  Kris doesn't even flinch anymore when I continually take his picture. 

Goodnight!

Off to rake in the tractor.

After they got home, the boys excitedly told me they drove the tractor.  They were also both really thirsty.  Cole said, "It was hot, dusty, and exhausty.  You know, it's an old tractor."

Not as old as these boys seem.  By the time they can drive a tractor for real, they won't even remember their first cutting. 

Here's to a great post-drought alfalfa harvest!  And a merry corn chopping to come!

Fourth time around

Today we started cutting the alfalfa for the fourth time this year.

Due to the weather, we didn't do a fourth cutting last year. It was just too dry to make it worth it.

But with the weather this year, the fourth cutting looks like it's going to be good. To remind you, alfalfa grows back after you cut it, like grass. (But it's a legume, Kris just told me. Did not know that. Seems like that fun fact would've come up at some point. Now hope to get that right in a trivia game somewhere down the road.)

It certainly seems like fall now. It's cold in the morning, the leaves are starting to fall, and the birds are flocking. We're still doing all the same summer activities - swimming, climbing trees, playing softball - but you can't ignore that it feels different.

Cutting alfalfa the fourth time should be a lot like cutting it the first time. When we cover the pile this time, it'll be the FINAL final covering. And for the guys, that will definitely feel different.

(Kris just told me it won't feel different during the covering. Just afterward. Really doubt this will have any trivia use later.)