Making Hay...or...The FRUGAL SHEPHERD strikes again!

In the past, every time I mowed the pastures or ditches, I felt guilty. Guilty for wasting all of that beautiful grass ~ and, yes, even the weeds! Hopefully, no more...

When I mowed this past weekend, I used the mower to blow the clippings into concentrated rows. I let them dry yesterday and this morning I raked them up!

One of these days, I'll learn to wear gloves when I'm raking or weed-whacking. My blisters have blisters!

Every hard job, worth doing, is made more pleasant by the company of a good FARM DOG!

I'm thinking I got about 6 to 8 bales of hay, all total. I truly hope that Pride is not a sin ~ because I really am proud of myself for my morning's work. Of course, I poked lots of holes in the giant plastic bags that I filled with hay. I will take some in and have it tested for nutritional value and store it (with the bags left open) in the basement of my house (where the dehumidifier runs all summer)...

Gotta get ready for work now!

Happy Sheep/Happy Shepherdess...

*As always, click on any image to enlarge.*

I did it!
I got the ditches fenced in. Now my sheep all have grass to graze.

I know it doesn't look like much in these photos but there really is plenty there and I'll be able to stop feeding hay ~ with about 8 bales left for the bred ewes! That was cutting it close. These darn, slow, cool Springs slow the grass growth down and I've got too many sheep ~ not a good combination!

This is the girls' ditch.


This is the view from the bottom of my driveway!
I won't have to mow much at all this year!

Most important of all ~ my sheep will be happy! THAT makes me a happy shepherd...

DREAM says...

"I'm happy but I think the boys would be a lot happier if you let them over on our side of the driveway!"

You could be right about that, Dreamer. I'm afraid the boys will just have to be happy with what they've got!

REALITY Check....

Everyone's posting their lovely photos of lilac buds and blooming crocuses. I thought I'd give you a glimpse of the Other side of Spring. The side that I'm dealing with in the Bluff Country...

I spent my morning...
Picking up poop.

Don't get me wrong; I actually enjoy picking up poop. And with two, mid-sized dogs, there's plenty for me to pick up. Especially considering that I do not bother to do it during the winter months.

In my never-ending-attempts to be a frugal shepherd, I'm using the poop to fill in holes that the dogs dug in the backyard last fall (chasing gophers & chipmunks, I suppose). Then I'll just need to top off the holes with a little top soil and some grass seed. I'm hopeful that the fact that the holes are filled with dog poop will deter both the dogs and the gophers from digging in those areas again...

DREAM says...
..."Hope springs eternal in the Bluff Country."

That it does, Dreamer! I'm heading into town to get some potting soil and seed starter pots so that I can start some pumpkin and Impatience seeds! I'm also going to get some fertilizer and seed for the pastures...