Tornadoes!

I hate Tornadoes!

I know that hate is a strong word, but it's true.  I get sweaty, my heart races, and I become very anxious anytime there is a tornado anywhere in my state.

Unfortunately today there were tornadoes here in Oklahoma.  We here in Wheat country are praying for rain, but not bad weather.  Our wheat needs a drink, but if we were to get a tornado or hail, it could wipe out our crop.  We were fortunate enough that the tornadoes  missed Western Oklahoma.  BUT, the rest of Oklahoma was not as lucky as us.  I think after watching the news we all need to say a prayer for those families who lost their homes, or maybe even a loved one.  Tornadoes can be very devastating and scary.

I am very very very terrified of tornadoes.  We didn't have any stormy weather here, at my house.  We didn't even have any rain.  We did have some STRONG winds.  Winds that were reaching 60 MPH!  But that was it.  No devastation.  No scare, and I still became very anxious.

When I got home from work, I turned on the TV so that I could see what was going on.  That's when it all started.  My heart races.  I get worried.  I can't take my eyes off the TV.  I keep checking to make sure that the tornadoes are NOT anywhere near my house.  I also check the counties where my family is and give them calls to make sure they are paying attention to the weather.  I become filled with anxiety.  I can even worry myself into an upset stomach during times like this.  LB finally told me to turn off the TV so that I'd feel better.  So I did and all my anxiety went away.

I have decided that I have an unexplained obsession with making sure I know what is going on when there is bad weather.  I become all consumed with it.  I can't even think or do anything else.  I don't know why bad weather bothers me so much.  I haven't been through anything traumatizing.  So who knows what's wrong with me!  Is there such thing as a  bad weather phobia?  Because if there is, I think I have it!

Well, We are all safe and well.  Let's not forget the ones less fortunate.

Amy

Hay, Fire Trucks, and Holes!

I had originally planned to show you pictures of our fields after the hay had been bailed, but unfortunately that's not gonna happen.

On Friday, after I got off work, LB and I were supposed to haul the hay out of the field so that we could get it plowed as soon as it rains.  Which, keep your fingers crossed, is in the forecast for Monday.  But, I got a phone call from LB telling me that I needed to grab my camera and come down to the fire station as quick as I could get there. 

So, I grab Moose and the camera and head for the fire station.  Much to my surprise, when I get there, LB has somehow convinced the fire chief that they need to go for a drive in their 1936 Fire truck!  This fire truck was so cool, it had the original seat, tires, ladders, hoses, fire extinguisher, paint and pretty much everything else it came with.  It had never been taken out of commission, but was kept stored so that they could use it in parades and other special events. 

I'll have to post those photos on here sometime next week.

The guys even hooked it up to a fire hydrant and pumped water through it!  Who knows how long it's been since that truck has had water through it.

Well, since LB was playing down at the fire station, we didn't get to the field to move the hay until late.  I had planned to take pictures of the bailed hay for you guys.  So, when we get to the field, I jump out of the pick up to get in position to take some pics before the sun gets to low.  LB goes ahead and starts moving the hay, and I take off in a nice jog across the field.

Now, before I go on, I just want to let you know that I am a graceful person, I have just never learned how to use it.  So you should never be suprised at what kinds of messes I get myself into.

All of a sudden, I step in a hole.  Fortunately, I don't fall all the way down, but it definitely didn't feel good.  If someone had of had a video camera, they probably could have won a million dollars. 

 So, then, I was mad.  Mad because I should have known better than to run across a wheat field in flip flops.  Especially a dry wheat field where the ground is cracked and holey!

Needless to say I didn't get any pictures.  By the time I had recovered from my fall it was to dark to get any good pictures so I got back in the pick up with LB and we hauled the rest of the hay.

The End

P.S. This probably won't be the last post with a story about me falling down.  Just to fore warn you.

Hay, Hay, Hay!

Well, I told you that tonight it was going to be all about hay, so that's what your gonna get!

The kind of hay we have is wheat hay.  We cut the wheat when it is still green, then we let it lay until it reaches the right moisture content.

I love the way these fields look in the summer. 

This is what my 30 minute drive to work looks like in the morning.  All winter it's green because of the wheat.  You can't help but be happy by the time you get to work with views like this.  The yellow lines in the front of the picture are windrows.  They will bail those for hay.  The green in the back of the picture is wheat.  We will leave that to  mature and will later harvest for the grain.

LB and Moose waited very patiently.  So after I took my 100th picture, I got back in the pickup and we went to check the cattle.

The End

Your shutterbug friend

Loading Cattle to be Taken To The Feed Lots

This is the story of my rainy Saturday morning.

First:  Pen all the Calves into the lots.

"Who is that person with that weird thing on her face?"

(That's what those calves are thinking!)

Next:  Count the calves that are going on the trailer.

Then: Push all the unwilling calves onto the trailer.

These two didn't want to get in the trailer!

Neither did she!

Don't Worry, the guys coaxed her in.

Yes, I'm actually good for something other than taking pictures. 

I took the 4-wheeler back to the barn!

Tune in tomorrow for Hay!

Your Farm Friend

Amy

Beautiful Weekend

I love living on the Prairie!  It's so pretty out here.  On a clear day you can see for miles.  This weekend started out a little on the cloudy side, but it brightened right up and was beautiful the rest of the weekend. 

LB and I started Saturday morning out with a quick trip to the farm to help is dad with the cattle.  What was supposed to be a sunshiny day had turned into a rainy morning.  Never the less, the work must go on.  No matter the weather.  We got the heifers up and loaded in the trailer to take to the feedlot.  I saw this as the perfect picture opportunity.  So I found a spot and settled down to take some pictures. 

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to get the pictures ready, So I'll post them tomorrow.

Sunday was a much more beautiful day!  I decided to leave the laundry for later and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.  I talked LB into driving me and Moose all over the country so that I could take more pictures.  Those too are still on my camera.  I'll post them tomorrow as well.

This weekend was definitely more play than work!