Haying for the Horses

I went haying on the weekend. I went haying, but it would be erroneous to view me as a fully active participant.

I participated in this heavily, labour intensive enterprise. I stacked bales - some, I drove the truck - some, I threw bales up onto the wagon - not a bit. I was a walk on player in a grand production.

It was a glorious day. It seemed as if the whole population of Lunenberg County was making hay while the sun shone. The land was as beautiful as the day. A grove of rustling beech trees, on the ridge of a hill separated us from a nearby lake. The entire field was surrounded by trees.

The hay had just been cut and baled in square bales. It was dry and sweet. Our job was to gather and load the hay, on wagons to be taken back to the barn some ways off. It is amazing, how quickly the field was cleared.

Young men, in their prime, tossed the bales as if they were of no weight at all. The older men and women weren't left far behind. I, on the other hand, carried bales, with some effort to form  little centralized spots, where the truck stopped and the real hefting took place. I took pictures.

When the wagons were loaded, we took a rest, and took care of our thirst. Water was the beverage of choice.

Back at the barn the clickedy, clackedy, hay elevator was started. All the beautiful hay we had just loaded was unloaded, brought into the barn and sent up to be stacked in the loft. The barn swallows were most alarmed.

The well fed horses, in their stalls, took keen interest in all the activity. I don't believe they quite comprehended all this was being done for them.

As evening came, we gathered around the empty wagons, quenching our thirst with water and a brew or two. The salty potato chips replenished sodium, lost through the sweat of our brows and most of the rest of our bodies. Fat was well chewed, then all returned to their homes to eat and rest so that we could begin again the next day.

I went into my friends', welcoming home, had dinner with a glass or two of wine, saw the sun set, went to bed and slept well throughout the night, waking early to the bird songs and the sun streaming into my bedroom.