Make hay while the sun shines.

June was the month when we would get the first of our three crops of hay off the fields.  The work would begin early in the month with cleaning and fixing the machinery in an effort to reduce inevitable breakdowns.  The process is completely mechanized now which nearly always means expensive and labour consuming repairs.

Our second son was born on June 22, right in the middle of getting the first crop of the year in.  The grass is at it's thickest in June, making the crop heavy and time consuming, the machines even more prone to breaking.  The quest is always to get the hay in without being rained on which in June is challenging given the unstable weather patterns.  My son made his appearance at this time and I felt that we were causing a major inconvenience.  My husband appeared somewhat distracted and after an early release from the hospital my son and I were left alone.  There is a lack of  recognition in our culture that support  is required for the new mother and baby as they struggle through those first few days of healing.  Fortunately for us I had a relatively uncomplicated birth and my son was calm and healthy.  I would advise anyone in my position to plan their births outside of the hay season or hire help.  

Given the time pressures and the heavy work of making hay it is always been a topic of discussion on the farm on how to make the whole process faster and easier.  It is for this reason that Eddy was so excited when while honeymooning in New Zealand he came across a miraculous piece of machinery.  It was a hay loader invented by Mr. Maxwell who was quite interested in creating an overseas market with the help of Eddy.  The machine required "only one driver for the truck or tractor and one man on the wagon or deck of the truck to put the bales in order - we can load as fast as you can bale".  Eddy was determined that he would be able to obtain a lot of contract work and that the machines would "sell like bread".   As the months went on Eddy became increasingly excited about this piece of machinery, suggesting that they paint the tractor, baler and side delivery rake in order to make a movie of the hay making with the new machine for T.V. There were long lists of work to do to make the farm look its best for all the people who will be coming to look at this demonstration model.  It seemed that Gus became quite overwhelmed with the complications of arranging the delivery and the worry about the implications for the new machine on the farm.  Eddy hastened to reassure him that the machine would not take time away from the farm and indeed would save them time as well as making them good money as he was convinced that sales would be like "popcorn at a movie".  Gus was also concerned about breakdowns but the machine apparently only had one possible piece that could break and Eddy was bringing home a spare as well any parts could easily be made by a local blacksmith.

Eventually of course Eddy did purchase his machine at a price of 600 dollars, using the money the newlyweds were going to use to purchase furniture and appliances for their new house.  Eddy was a fiercely determined man and when his mind was set on an idea could not be swayed from it.  

The machine was a miraculous invention due to it's simplicity.  It indeed never did break down unlike all the other machines on the farm and did make the work easier and faster.  However the dreams of creating a market here in Canada never did materialize and the machine remained the only one of it's kind.  It served the farm for many years until it was replaced by another type of loading device.  

Hay making in June

Don’t forget who you were,

the college professor, the breastfeeding mother, a young farmer.

It is all still there in the tired aching skin of our lives.

How we are tossed and turned!

Every moment of this life brings a new resolution, I must.

I must be strong, well, survive.

It is not always so.

We are sometimes none of these things.

But still those old skins find us in our dark corners.

Remember when?

Then in a flood we feel;

the baby on the breast, the hay crop in before the rains.

It is all still there, and what more?

Around that corner of life.

All yet unknown, an African journey, a beach wedding,

a parrot that quotes Shakespeare.

I don’t know, but I can hardly wait.

Caroline Miege