There is something viscerally satisfying about seeing our hay field mowed and baled. The smell is fabulously fresh. Everything looks clean and tidy.
Last night Farmer Rudy and his brother picked up the hay bales because there is a chance of rain later today.
I couldn’t help going out to get some photos. Have I mentioned lately that I love living in the country?
Right Now at Bumblebee
Another Monday.
Harry and I spent the better part of the weekend painting the master bedroom. We traded off between rolling and detail work and we both made our fair share of messes. For a while Sophie perched on top of a chaise to supervise our work. Sarah was distraught. She does not like change.
Today we get back to normal. I will have to do something about my manicure. Speckled fingernails in Benjamin Moore Light Pewter is not really a good look.
Here’s wishing you a happy, calm and productive week.
Robin
If you’re in the neighborhood and just happen to have your paintbrush and paint clothes with you, stop on by. Harry and I are taking the day off from work to start painting the master bedroom. We figure it’ll take until Sunday. Harry does most of the rolling—no small chore with high ceilings—and I do all the tedious detail work. You, of course, can pitch in wherever you like.
We’re painting it a dove grey. So if you see some grey in my hair in the next few days, it’s paint. Got it? The grey is paint.
Robin
Happy Groundhog Day! What are you doing to celebrate?
We’ll have a special dinner of NOT groundhog. Dinner will be a special pasta (TBD) and some yummy homemade yeast rolls. Then we’ll pull out the photo album of past Groundhog Days and reminisce. We will toast Puxatawny Phil by opening the first bottle of my homemade apfelwein, which I hope is sparkly by now. If it’s any good, you’ll hear more about it.
Cheers!
Robin
Working from a home office is not always what it’s cracked up to be. I have a lousy IT department (me). Interruptions range from barking dogs to crowing roosters. I hear my business phone ring during non-business hours.
But there is a lot good about a 15 step commute. Such as today. It’s cloudy and a bit drizzly, but the temps will climb into the mid 60s for the second day in a row. I will turn off the heat, throw open the windows and give the house—and office—a good airing. Ahhh!
Robin
Garden and food writer Robin Ripley is co-author of Grocery Gardening and has a cookbook in development. Bumblebee is about her life in rural Maryland, her garden, cooking, dogs and pet chickens. She also blogs about food and chickens at Eggs & Chickens. Welcome! Thank you for visiting.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
I too, love living in the country, Robin. WE got our hay in about a month ago (that was late for us, but the weather was not cooperative earlier. On the other hand, it made the grass lush and we got a good quality cut (for horses, this is important). Now the farmers are harvesting corn and that should be the last of the harvesting for this year, other than apples and root and cole crops. Where does the time go?
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
That sky does look ominous. I would love to live in the country. I look forward to all of your posts about country living. How are the girls doing? Have you been able to integrate the youngsters with the original gals in the palace?
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I lived in the country all my life until moving to this little town about 10 years ago. (Pop. 3700) Even now, it’s a very agricultural area we live in (not far from jodi) and I still revel in the smell of freshly cut hay and the farm sounds that surround us. As jodi said, it’s mostly apples that are left to harvest in my area as well.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hay there! (couldn’t resist). You do make country living sound very nice!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:47 pm
I’m with you on the smells of living in the country — except for the manure — that I could live without. But I do like visiting my in-laws’ farm in IN and feeling so connected with the earth with all that’s always going on there. Never a dull moment … or a moment’s rest, for that matter.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
I’ve always love the smell of a freshly mowed lawn. I assume it’s the same aroma? Country living is great! the stars are brighter and the vistas are longer.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I grew up on a farm. The smell of new hay still makes my stomach ache…just from the thought of all the hot days loading, unloading, stacking, etc. (and it has been nearly 20 years). The country is a great place to live, but farming is a hard way to make a living!
October 25th, 2008 at 2:07 am
Robin, I know exactly what you mean! We live in the country, too, and there’s nothing like it.
October 25th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hm, that reminds me… I need to go experience the smell of freshly mown lawn. Too bad I have to get out the lawn mower and mow it first.