SheriM - Too Stubborn to Stop Dreamin' - SURPRISE!!!

[SheriM]

Thanks, Punkin. They'd be even happier if the rain would let up enough for them to come out and enjoy the run. We get too much snow in winter for me to put any kind of solid roof over the run.

 

[SheriM]

As you all know, I've been stressing lately over trying to get in decent hay this year. Between bad weather and mechanical breakdowns, it just didn't seem to be happening. In past years, I've bought hay if I didn't have enough from my own fields but this year everyone else around here has been having equal trouble (well, with the rain anyway) and good hay is in scarce supply and very expensive. I've been off work since the end of March and realistically won't be going back till probably sometime in the new year. Panic was starting to creep in around the edges, if you know what I mean, but as always, the Lord finds a way.

We have some new neighbors moving in up the road from us. They bought a bare quarter of land and are starting from scratch, building a house, etc. I've gone up there several times to introduce myself, but there was never anyone around. Then, a few days ago another local resident told me these folks were looking for someone to cut and bale some grass hay growing on their land. I jumped in the truck and headed right over there.

As it turns out, these new folks are a wonderful young couple with two pre-teen children. They are Christians and seeking to live the SS lifestyle on their new place. They're vegetarians, so they won't be raising livestock, but we talked for quite awhile about what to grow and how to make use of what's already growing around here -- including the 60 acres of grass hay on the back side of their property. We have made an arrangement for Ben, my guardian angel neighbor I'm always talking about, to cut the hay and I'll bale it. The new neighbors only want a few bales to have on hand as they are thinking about getting some horses.

Even with our poor growing season, a field like theirs should yield at least one bale to the acre (approx. 1000 lb bale) so on a 1/3 basis, we should each get about 20 bales. With what I've already managed to put up or buy, that should just about be enough for winter.

I thank God for leading these people to our little corner of the world and for putting that other resident in the right place at the right time to bring me and the new folks together. Not only does it solve my hay problem, but I have a feeling these folks will become good friends and kindred spirits as well.

(edited for typo)

 

[TanksHill]

I am so happy for you Sheri. It good to hear things have fallen into place. I think having these new neighbors will be a blessing for you in many ways. I am also sure that you will have so much to offer them with their new SS journey.

Take care, g

 

[lorihadams]

That is wonderful!!!!

Maybe they would be interested in learning about goats??? Could be a good opportunity for you to get some help with them and teach them something about the goats in return. Sounds like it will be a good situation all the way around. How are you feeling?

 

[Beekissed]

That is a wonderful story! It always amazes me to see how God works......prayers answered in the most divine ways. That's my favorite thing in this world!

 

[SheriM]

That is wonderful!!!!

Maybe they would be interested in learning about goats??? Could be a good opportunity for you to get some help with them and teach them something about the goats in return. Sounds like it will be a good situation all the way around. How are you feeling?

Actually, the wife, Melissa, said she used to have some dairy goats, but had to get rid of them because of carpal tunnel. I mentioned about my goats' milk soap and she asked if the kids could come over some time for a demonstration as a school project (they home-school). I agreed quickly, since I love teaching and passing on anything I'm passionate about.

I'm starting to feel pretty good now. The first week or so after treatment is pretty rough, but things are getting better now and it's only been 8 days. Just like the first time two years ago, my white cell count always bottoms out about a week after treatment, so I've been pretty tired lately, but that's what the couch is for, isn't it?

 

[Dace]

Sheri that is great about your new neighbors and the hay! What a blessing, you must be very relieved.

Enjoy your new neighbors

 

[SheriM]

Relieved is a good word for it. I was getting so worried, but now, assuming we can get that hay up in good shape, things will be pretty well set.

 

[lupinfarm]

Oh Sheri I'd forgotten you live in Sask and so I was sitting here thinking, 'We have people moving onto a quarter piece of land here too down my road, building a house, and the like..." and then I read on and remember that a 1/4 piece of land (even a small piece) out in Sask is friggen enormous! ... We lived up by Zenon Park, Sask for a while on a 15 acre homestead...

 

[SheriM]

Here in Sask. the term "quarter" has a very specific meaning. It refers to a quarter section of land, or 160 acres. When land was being parcelled out to homesteaders way-back-when, it was divided up into "sections" that were one mile square, which worked out to 640 acres. Each section was then divided into quarters for easier identification. Each quarter is identified by its position in the section, North-East, South-East, etc.

Nowadays, lots of the land has been subdivided even further and you can buy parcels of just about any size, but in the part of Sask I live in, most of the land is still in quarters, so that's the smallest parcel you can buy without paying big dollars to legally subdivide.

We have 1 quarter here, with about 50 acres cleared and seeded to hay and another 5 or so taken up by the yard site. The rest is bush and we are working on plans to fence at least some of the bush, since that is prime browse for the goats, but fencing in the bush is hard and expensive. It's going to take us a while, but it will be worth it in the end.