From a Surprise Capture to an Exhausted Husband

Today was the day to get up hay.  The plan was square bales and a crew of four were coming so that meant that my main role of the day was refreshment and gopher.  I awoke at about 6:45 because our little bantam rooster was having a crowing fit outside of my bedroom window.  I get up, Xena follows, and go pee then check the rooster, he's no where to be seen then - since I was already up and out - go let the chickens out and feed them.

I head straight to the chicken house door and shove it open just like always and then, headed uphill to the house lot door to throw the scratch feed in.  I have to open the door now since I've put the mesh over the top of the entire lot.   I stopped in my tracks as I look up and in the lot and see, looking back at me, a huge owl. He had dived in but wasn't able to get out.  My heart stopped in my throat.  I did a complete 180 and rand back to the house to get Johnny.  He met me at the door when he saw me run up.  I told him what I had seen and that I needed his help.  Johnny slipped on his shoes and came behind me fetching a gun on the way.  He took aim but the gun wouldn't shoot it - I ran and fetched a piece of wire that he rammed down the barrel to free a previously spent bullet by dislodging it.  He took aim one final time. This time with a repeat of the shot.  Johnny said, ok, go get it, I was still afraid of it and told him that is what I got a husband for.  He collected and disposed of the owl and I collected and disposed of the last one of my chickens that he will get.  Good riddance and I'm sorry if you are offended by the graphic description, however this owl had taken more than six of my pullets.

After that was taken care of Xena and I headed to Food Lion with the list of menu items I had prepared.  Almost $200 later we return back to the farm to begin preparing for the day.  We started with a breakfast of fish sticks.  Sustained and ready to roll; it was on!

Johnny headed to the fields and I made macaroni salad, made the hamburger patties and marinated the chicken.  It was then time to head to the lawnmower for me.

About noon the crew arrived; Jared, Bryan, Josh, and Roger.  HK came down and all was underway.  Then that's when things started to go wrong.  The tongue broke on one wagon, the tire came off the rim on another, the driveshaft broke on the baler.  All were repaired.

I fired up the grill about 4:30 and the crew fed and marked the end of the day.