Haying Time

Clark Farms just finished up the first hay cutting of the summer. Weather permitting, we usually do three cuttings a summer. We cut the hay just before it blooms. That's when the protein content is the highest. The higher the protein, the better. It makes the hay worth more. Dairy's want the higher protein and if you can get the hay put up without rain that's an added bonus. I think this is the first crop we've put up without being rained on for a couple of years. Alan started cuttting the hay across from Grandma Clark's on June 7th. It took a week to cut all our hay.

After they cut the hay they let it dry for four or five days then they rake two windrows into one larger windrow. It also turns the hay over so it can dry some more. But the trick is to rake it early in the morning when it's dewier so all the leaves don't fall off the stems. Cow's don't like just stems and all the nutrients are in the leaves. Raking has been Laura's job this year. She's been a little trooper getting up between 4 and 5 a.m. taking off in her tractor until 10 or 11 a.m. She's been alone in the dark in some fields far from the main road let alone anywhere near the house. But she has seen some awesome sunrises and a lot of wild life; a moose, a few deer and a den of coyote pups running and playing through the field and she loves watching the Osprey and Eagles flying around when she's working near the river. She also likes to listen to a good book on tape while working.

Then after the hay is dry but not too dry, Roger comes in and bales it. Again there's the tricky timing of not too wet or to dry. He usually starts about 11 at night and has been baling until 2 or 3 in the morning until it's too dewy. He comes in and sleeps a few hours then heads back out about 9 a.m to check water and when the dew comes off he will bale again until it's too dry. He bales it in the 3 by 4 by 8 foot size bales. We have had larger bales or round bales, but this size is easier to truck and still works well for us to feed our own cattle with.

It took Roger about a week to bale 1,500 bales which was a record time for us. The no rain issue helped there. The little wagon on the back of the baler is an accumulator. It holds three bales as they come out of the baler then he can dump them at the end of the field making it so they don't have to drive all over the field when loading them on the trucks.

Then they load them on the trucks. I thought it was strange when they started using the semi for hauling hay out of the fields. But it sure beats the old little wagons we used to use. They can move a lot of hay with it.

They also use this trailer behind the flatbed pickup. It holds a fair amount of hay itself.

Roger used this trailer last week to pull the red tractor up to the ranch to do some work. It's not very often we take the tractor to the ranch. But it's nice to be able to when needed.

They then unload the hay in one of the many stack yards where it sits until it is needed or sold. The machine Alan is using here is called the Telehandler. I guess because the arm can telescope longer and shorter as needed. I wasn't sure this was a necessary piece of equipment when Roger brought it home but it has become indispensable to our farming operation. They use it all the time from loading hay, hauling manure and pushing snow. Roger even used it to lift Uncle Les up high to fix his yard light a couple of weeks ago.



They finished baling and hauling the last field June 30th. It's a good job to have done. Only two more times to go this summer.

Oh, I had to add this picture of Tanner. We like to start training the help while they're young.

Happy 18th Birthday Laura!

A Great Father's Day

With Sunday being Father's Day and the forecast saying "Sunny and light breeze" we thought it would be a great day to have the family over for a barbecue. It was! It has been such a long time since we've had a nice sunny day without wind. We grilled a few steaks and had some salad and some of Grandma's rolls and Kimberly made dessert. Yum! Yum! Roger was presented with his Father's Day gift...a propane camp grill with griddle. To be used for family reunions, Fourth of July breakfasts and canning corn. We then played a new game called Blongo Ball. It consists of throwing two golf balls attached by a string at a goal ladder. You score points according to which rung the balls land on or wrap around. It was really fun to play. Alan is the champion Blongo guy. Tanner had his first introduction to the trampoline. It took him about a minute to figure it out. After that he knew how to bounce just like the big kids. You might notice that Alan's wife, Sara and their baby, Kailynn are missing from the pictures. Sara has been in Pennsylvania visiting her family for the last two weeks. They will return this week. We have missed them, especially Alan. All in all it was a great day. It doesn't get much better than family, food, fun and great weather.

Elder Adam Clark

Today is Adam's 18 month mark on his mission. He is serving in the Jacksonville, Florida Mission. He loves it there even if it is awfully hot and muggy for an Idaho boy. He has had good success teaching the Gospel and has met many people who have become near and dear to him. Adam's testimony has really grown and he has learned to rely on his Heavenly Father. Here are a few pictures he has sent us over the last eighteen months

He has been able to attend the Orlando Temple several times.

University of Florida Stadium

A nice visit from cousin David Cziep, Hunter & Uncle Heinrich

Elder Adams & Elder Clark at Desiree's baptism.

Adam told us in his last letter that last week almost everyday was sunny until about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Then a thunderstorm would come in and then leave as quickly as it came leaving the air very humid. So the Elders are either wet from the rain or the humidity. This is last year's picture but it gives you an idea of how wet they can get. I wanted to add some more recent photos, but my scanner decided not to work. We are very proud of Adam and hope his next six months are just as successful if not more so than the first eighteen. We love you Adam!

A Day at the Circus

Last week Rachel called me from Kimberly's house where she was babysitting Tanner. She had just seen a commercial about an upcoming circus in Idaho Falls. She was so excited. She said she had never seen a circus (I had taken all my kids when she was three but she didn't remember). She really wanted to go. She feels like she is the caboose of the family and has missed or doesn't remember all the fun stuff the older kids have done. So being the kind of mother I am, (guilt ridden) I told her we would go.

So Tuesday I took Rachel and her two friends, Katie and Courtney to the Circus. In my defense, Katie and Courtney had never seen a circus either. It was a lousy day weather wise. The circus was outside at the Sandy Downs Rodeo Arena and the wind was blowing about 40 miles an hour. You could see dust in the air. Plus it was cold. There were still quite a few people there with lots of little kids wearing their winter coats. The girls were excited about all the acts. Some of the high wire acts could not perform because of the high winds. The tight wire walker got blown off his wire doing a back flip but he was only 8 feet off the ground, thank Heavens.

Balancing bear.

Trapeze artists. The man is holding them both up by his neck and teeth while spinning.

The girls squealed with excitement when they saw the elephants.

To make the experience complete we even bought very expensive cotton candy. I wanted to take a picture of the girls with a clown that was in the grandstands, but it turns out Courtney is afraid of clowns and wouldn't go near him. Even though we had to huddle together for warmth it was a fun afternoon.

Weekend Getaway

Last week Roger and I went on a weekend getaway. He had a few days when they weren't irrigating any fields so we thought we'd take the long way to the cabin to check the cattle and spend the night. By the long way I mean we first went to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, which is the total opposite way. It was a great day. The sun was shining, no wind and it was semi warm. The drive was beautiful though I didn't take any pictures on the way. After we left Jackson we went over the pass into Victor, then on to Driggs. Somewhere past Driggs we took a back way to Ashton. The farms were scenic, they rolled on forever. From Ashton we went through Island Park to Last Chance then we turned onto the Kilgore road that took us through Kilgore and on in to Spencer where we got on the highway to Humphrey then to the cabin. It was a great ride. Here are a few pictures from the Ranch.

Cabin Sweet Cabin

Look how high the creek behind the cabin is.

Happy cows with the snowy Lima Peaks in the background.

Two bulls fighting for the affections of a lady cow.

Handsome Rancher Roger overlooking his herd in the big field.

Guess What Rachel Did On Saturday?

Free Kittens!

Okay, the time has come. I've got a box full of
kitties to give away. We have had fun watching these little sweeties grow. In April I wrote Adam, who is still on his mission, that our cat had five kittens. He said he didn't even know we had a cat and wanted to know how Dad felt about it. As any Clark knows, Roger is not a fan of pets. After being married to me for 28 years he has learned to tolerate them. I am not a crazy animal lover but animals have always been a part of my life. I think that everyone should have some sort of pet while growing up. They are part of the joy of childhood to me. I find them amusing to watch and have smiled many a time watching these kittens play and sleep on my back deck. But they are now eight weeks old and need to find their own homes. If you would like one let me know. I think Jayden and Hallie are still working on their parents for one or two. Awwww don't they look cute holding them. If I can't give them away to friends or family, Rachel will be at a local Walmart trying to give them away. She really doesn't want to do that. Too embarrassing! She says she "knows" people. they might recognize her. Save Rachel the embarrassment and call now to reserve your kitty.