Busy Summer Days

Meckley Farms has been a busy place the last two months.   The days have been busy with hay, calves, water, rubs, and all the things that let you know that summer on the farm is not for the faint of heart.   The summer of 2012 has proven to be especially challenging with its drought, its extreme heat and its abundance of flies that I know must have had really good winter coats as they survived the mild winter and were already being a nuisance by the end of February.

Hay was the major work in June. One forgets over the winter just how stiff you feel after 8 hours on a thirty year old tractor equipped with the original seat.  You also forget how hot you feel when the temperature hits 102 and you still have a whole field to rake before dark.  I will tell you that you don’t forget how much hotter you feel when you see your husband or sons cruising in the air conditioned tractor ,sipping on a cola, listening to tunes on the in cab stereo, and sitting on the “lazy boy”  seat of the tractor that was especially equipped to “roll them bales.”

The cows and calves have really done well this summer and are growing and thriving despite the weather. Some of the early calves are almost as big as their moms and are still growing.  The two orphans in the barn have been weaned and are ready to face the world.

The Meckley family is good also. The first grandchild is due in two weeks and we are not sure who is more excited the actual parents or the aunts.  The son/teacher/farmhand is relocating this weekend due to work, but not beyond a call should an emergency or a “we need help” flare be shot in the sky.  The oldest son is recovering from his “run in” with the four wheeler and the daughters are working in Morgantown and South Carolina. They visit often and it is always fun to see them transform back to “farm girls” within ten minutes of being home.

June and July have been the busiest of busy. They have been a challenge and at times it seemed rained would never come or the fields would never be done. But it did rain and the fields got baled and the crib is ready and life is good especially if you live on Meckley Farms.

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