Friends of the Field

I dread hay season. Every part of my being shutters at the thought of beginning another summer of haying. But on the flip side of that statement, I have some great friends down there that join me.

I have a red-tailed hawk that has joined me every year for many years now. His name is Falcone and he glides by and comes in for lunch that I prepare for him as I rake the hay up and expose his feast. He is my best friend in the hay field.

I also have my barn swallow friends that circle the tractor as I churn up the bugs out of the hay when I ted. Last year, one little one would land on my loader, so I would need to stop and shut down for a bit so this fella could take a rest. I suspect he appreciated a place to stop and rest and I suppose I did too.

And then there is Hope Doe. She has been around for a number of years. She gets really mad at me when I disturb her. She stomps her foot and sticks her tongue out at me. On occasion when I have looked out on the field from the house door. She will look in at me from across the road and snort. She is a funny little doe, who I love and look forward to see each year.

So as much as I detest haying, these are the things that keep me going and keep me sane.