The Hay Is All Done

Yesterday we drove to Livingston to look at an enclosed trailer for pulling behind the motorhome. It was not the one, Michael felt it was too light duty. When we got home he went right to baling and I started quilting again.

Nat came up today and cut the rest of our hay here on the place; he is 87 years old and still loves to run the swather. Michael finished baling the last of the neighbor's hay so all he has left to do is bale ours here on our 40 acres.

We had a delicious Sunday lunch, round steak that I had marinated in olive oil, garlic and rosemary then grilled--cooked a little rare and sliced thin--YUM.

After lunch Nat went back to Big Timber--I think he really misses the Jazzy dog. He told me today that we just have to get another dog.

Lupine flowers and Boone Mountain in the distance.

Lettuce, spinach and radishes from our garden. Notice the ragged upper edge of the basket, that is one of the few things Jazzy chewed on when she was a puppy.

Mr. Bucky and his girlfriend.

After Michael finished moving some hay bales home we took a walk--I needed one--I spent 3 hours today ripping out a border design I stitched onto my bear quilt, may I never have to do that again!

Haying and Going To Town

Michael needed a couple hydraulic hoses for the old truck we use to move round bales and I as usual needed some quilting fabric so it was off to town for me this morning. I did get the house semi cleaned before I left.

I seem to have a problem when figuring yardage for quilts. I never seem to buy enough fabric and this was the case with my bear quilt I am trying to get ready to enter into the Sweet Grass County Fair. At least two weeks ago I started trying to find some more of the original backing fabric, ordered it online but when it came almost a week later it wasn't flannel--that is a problem, now I am a week behind. I ordered fabric again online and the shop from which I ordered took their own sweet time in telling me they were out of the fabric I needed--OK, now we are two weeks behind. With Jazzy dying, I've kind of lost my ambition for a while so I may or may not have a quilt in the fair but I did find some backing fabric today---not the original fabric I started with but backing fabric none the less!

Michael finished cutting the neighbor's hay and came home for lunch--burgers on the grill. He went back over and started baling this afternoon.

I downloaded some older photos of Jazzy from CD's to the computer and our digital picture frame. She was such a sweet little dog. I'm glad I was always taking photos of her. The rest of the afternoon I worked on one of my Aunt's quilts.

You wouldn't think cactus could survive Montana winters but here is proof.

Michael and I are just enjoying a nice Montana summer evening.

Cutting Hay

Michael started cutting hay at the neighbor's yesterday afternoon and that is where he has been all day. The hay has some alfalfa mixed in with the grass and is really thick, good hay. But, it has been tough cutting with our old swather. I took him some ice cream and iced tea a little while ago and he was intending to cut for a couple more hours.

I spent the day spraying weeds for Joe and Tammy who own our former ranch. We are doing some bartering--they have a very large enclosed barn building that is entirely empty and we need storage for equipment. My weed spraying is part of the rent--a fair trade wouldn't you say?

A view of Boone Mountain from the hay fields where Mike is cutting.

Off he goes again.

It was a beautiful warm sunny day here in Montana.

Jazzy Girl

Thanks to all of you who left comments on the blog about Jazzy. Our friends Jim and Ellie sent the following poem to us in an e-mail. While difficult to read, it gave us comfort.

Rainbow Bridge:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Jazz

It is a very sad day in Montana today. We had our precious Jazzy girl put to sleep this morning. She was having more and more difficulty breathing and we needed to end her suffering.

Jazz came to live with us just as we started building this house eight years ago. We put a blanket in a milk carton and she road in the backhoe with Dad while he dug the footings and basement for our house. She was a little bundle of energy and joy with such personality and we miss her so much.

Jazz, we hope you are having a ball chasing bunny rabbits somewhere!

Quilting and Working on the Tractor

Did some catch-up things this morning and then started quilting. I wanted to finish this little quilt of Aunt Margaret's and get going on her next one. My Aunt has been drumming up more business for me--she has a friend who would like to send me some quilts and Aunt Margaret has more to send, too. So--I was on a roll today. The fabrics in this quilt--batiks--are beautiful.

Michael spent the day working on the baler and tractor and he is now ready to start baling what hay is cut when it drys out. We have had almost an inch of rain the last couple of days which is so unusual for Montana this time of year but we will take it. I feel sorry for the ranchers that had some really good hay on the ground and it was soaked by all this rain.

Jazzy went for a short walk with us this morning and even chased a bunny or two. She spent the rest of the day in bed and on the couch.

While I was quilting today I had the radio on--what is our world coming to??? There was a song which I later found out Brad Paisley sings called Tick. The lyrics are "I want to check you all over for ticks." Strange music!

More Rain and Wind

There was .6 of an inch of rain in the gauge this morning and more has fallen today. The wind has been incredible. As we traveled home from Billings tonight, it rained and rained and the wind blew us all over the road.

Our dinner with Jim & Ellie and Mark & Dortha was not meant to be--we send them on to Yellowstone Park tomorrow with wishes for safe travel and an enjoyable stay in the Park.

Jazzy girl has not been doing well and today we took her to Billings for a consult and ultrasound. The news we received was not good and while our hearts are sad at least we know that when the time comes and she is no longer comfortable we can have peace of mind that we are doing the right thing.