Toys

When you're living on a ranch you need a few implements that are a bit larger than a trowel, rake, or lawn mower. So, of course, we had to have new toys. 

First need was to mow the "yard" that hadn't been touched for a year except by the realtor who kindly ran over it with his shredder/brush hog/whatever you want to call it. By the time we'd moved in it had grown another foot and still had the mowed year's worth laying around. So, you claim about 2 acres of land around the house as yard and only crazy people would choose to mow that with a push mower. We chose a zero turn mower to cut it in record time. Boy is it fun! Everybody ought to get on one at least once in their lives :) After 3 mowings and piles of hay laying around.... Yes, I said hay. It's coastal bermuda up at the house too so when it's cut, it's hay. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah... I was really glad once the tractor arrived because then we spent half a day moving the hay that I could only move so far with the mower out of the yard into other pastures. That was after a day of moving old hay bales out of the barn. BTW, I know I mentioned cleaning out the barn a couple of weeks back. Well, I didn't take before and after photos. We didn't end up putting the horses back there because we got three rather than two and there just wasn't enough room and when they moved the cows it got all messed up again... long story. Below you'll see a photo of Oliver and Tucker in the yard before, Sierra with piles of hay near her, and Merlin laying in a nicely mown yard. There were quite a few long piles spread all over the place. I was attempting not to kill off too much grass....

It'll look GREAT next year!

When the tractor was delivered I was watching him back it off the trailer and realized: I had always wanted a tractor and now I have one! It's really cool! I might add that when you're out there riding either of these for a few hours, it's work. It's not like just driving down the road in a car. Anyway, it's been put to use clearing the garden area, including using the hay fork to lift out some really stubborn tomato cages, and hauling hay, baled and cut. Mostly. And, over time it'll be used to clear trails in the back 70, etc. Not sure we'll ever cut our own hay. The equipment is very costly....

We also needed wanted a UTV for getting around. Okay, maybe we did need it. We carry stuff all over the ranch to work with that would be ridiculous to carry by hand over multiple trips. I get enough walking around here as it is. I'm sure if I hadn't lost my fit bit months ago it would be very proud of me on a daily, if not hourly, basis. It's actually lots of fun. Not exactly a smooth ride but the ground isn't exactly smooth either. Tucker loves to ride next to me or in the back. He's a pro after a couple of uncertain short slow trips in it and now doesn't like to be left behind. Actually, he and Oliver both ride with me a lot. Sierra and Merlin just run along beside following us.

So, that's it for today. A few people have asked for more details on the move, reason, etc. so I'll work on getting that together and sharing it soon. Have a blessed day!!