Stuck and unstuck

Yesterday, using the excavator with the multch head we were making a crossing through bottom land between the bulldozer annex and the cogongrass field.    All of a sudden, the excavator ran into a spot with, as they say, no bottom.   The excavator did not sink out of sight, but it was certainly well on its way.

It was late in the afternoon when this happened and we worked until almost dark to try and free th excavator.   No success.  We almost had it by attaching chains to the tracks, with the other end attached to a tree, and driving out on the chain.  But that could not quite do it.  The excavator ran out of power to turn one of its tracks and it was sliding down more into the muck.

The next morning the contractors brought the ground machine that has a heavy duty winch on its rear.  Between the winch and driving on the chain the excavator came right out.

Ground Machine

I am following the ground machine as we blaze a trail through the woods.  We are following a stream keeping the tall trees associated with that stream on the right.  Ahead is a crossing point we are heading for.  Once we find it coming from this side we will backtrack and make a 30 foot wide swath suitable for a fence.

Making Hay

While I monitor the multching operation, Jeffrey is making hay in the west bahia field.  He cut the grass 2 days ago and got a little rain early in the drying period.  Yesterday and today are dry and hot, good for hay, not so good for people.   This afternoon Jeffrey started raking and will bale using the round baler later in the afternoon.

Multching Crossing 2

This crossing is along the fence line just west of Jeffrey's 40 acres.

Multching Crossing

Excavator with multch head is able to rapidly cut through trees and brush.  Here he is working on setting up a branch crossing on the north side of the Pinelands where we will establish a fence along the south side of a stream.

Multching Arrival

Multching contractor, Shear View Mulching,  arrived this morning.   He will be clearing a number of fence lines, passages between fields through stream bottoms, and brush encroachments in pastures.  The past several days Jeffrey and I have been stomping through the brush flagging old fence line wire getting ready to have a path adjacent cleared.

Natchez Crepe Myrtle

The Natchez variety of crepe myrtle makes a wonderful umbrella of shade during the hot summer months.  This time of year it is in bloom and is loudly buzzing with all manner of bees.  We have three around the house and I planted several around the chick barn sheep working areas to provide fast growing shade.

Unstuck

Once Jeffrey was home, we got the International and pulled the John Deere out with no problem.   Only issue was that the battery on the International was dead, so we temporarily scavenged a battery from the pallet lift trailer.

Stuck

I was making good progress cleaning up areas the sheep had just been in, mowing stuff they would not eat.  And, I was really trying to be careful and stay out of questionable areas, because I did not want to get stuck.  But, misjudged this spot. 

Kratos

I guess I never tire of cute dog shots.  Just after noon I had put out new hay bales for the sheep.  Then starting about 2:00 PM torential thunderstorm rains came through for most of rest of the afternoon.   Kratos stayed dry in his cushy spot in the hay feeder.

Supplemental Feeding

Started supplemental feeding of ewe flock  after bringing them back from Carney field.   The previous fall lambing ewes are in good shape, however, the spring lambing ewes are in poorer body condition after nursing their lambs not too long ago.  We have the rams in with all of them as we convert over to a only fall lambing operation.

Carney Field

The ewe flock has eaten most of the forage available to them in fenced areas.  This morning I took them on a field trip to the Carney field.   This is contiguous to the lone pine field, but not yet fenced on the west side.  As you can see, lots of forage.   Two out of three dogs are on leash to inhibit pack roaming.   We will stay for a little over an hour then head back.

Canine Alignment

Some say that when planets align significant events are likely to occur.  I wonder what they say about an alignment of dogs.  In the early evening, after feeding the dogs, the sheep were lounging, and I was working on setting up a supplemental feeding area for the sheep.  I noticed this rare alignment. 

Niobe had followed me out and is in front.  Anneika is just behind the fence.   Aurora is next, she often visits and hangs out with the big flock and other dogs.  Kratos is next.  And last, sitting, is Zeus.  He also is visiting tonight, on vacation from being with the lambs.  He followed me out and volunteered to stay with the adult flock tonight.

Last photo shows Anneika and Kratos lounging with the sheep.   Zeus is sitting in the background.

Cowpeas

The cowpeas had good germination and seem to be coming along fine.  This is the south field.

Murphy Dog

Jackie's friend raises and trains border collies to herd sheep.  Murphy is on loan to Jackie and came over with Jackie to help us work the lambs today.  We weighed, dewormed and sorted 350 lambs, getting ready to sell them.  Our buyer wants them mostly in the 60 to 70-pound weight range.  Murphy helped round up and bring in the lambs.  A bit more practice is needed, but it was nice to have some 4-legged help.  Our guardian dogs were a bit suspicious of the process, but for the most part all went well.

Lime Truck Out

We finally got the lime spreader truck with the broken drive shaft out of here.   The other day I pulled it to the side of the field, next to the driveway.   Yesterday we got 2 inches of rain.  That softened the ground a bit.  Tried pulling it forward; it wouldn't go.  Front tires too stuck in the soft dirt.  Ended up pulling it backwards out on to the dirt driveway,  and backwards all the way down the drive to the street where a low boy was waiting.