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Stacking hay while the sun shines
Aug. 15th, 2010 08:43 pmFirst load of hay for the winter arrived today. Unlike the very mixed quality stuff we got last year, this was just what I like. All grass, no alfalfa. Well cured, tightly baled, heavy bales. Lower price than what others are asking, and spot on accurate count of bales delivered.
This is just what we were used to getting from our long time supplier who retired last year. And at least partly no surprise, since this hay came from his successor in the business, who bought his equipment (and I suspect at least some of his leases on fields) last summer. It would seem that this new supplier took some lessons from our former guy, and he says he can supply our needs this year.
That's good, because the supplier we turned to last year, though he sounded good, delivered very poor quality hay, full of foreign matter such as thistles, corn cobs, and even chunks of wood large enough to use for firewood. His price was 35% higher, and worst of all, every load he delivered was overcounted. We finally demanded a refund for all the bales we'd been shorted, which apparently didn't set well with him as he didn't call back to try to get our business this year. He did, however, pay up for the shortfall, which I consider to be an admission of guilt or at least irresponsible behavior.
So we spent a good part of the day stacking hay, in addition to the usual chores. Then we took apart the sliding glass doors from the living room to the yard. They've been getting sluggish and heavy to open, so much so that the handle on the inside broke and had to be replaced.
Conclusion, after taking it all apart, was that the rollers on the bottom of the sliding part needed lubrication. I used a spray silicone on them, with excellent results. No idea how long it will last, but the door is much easier to operate now. We also cleaned the glass, which was getting pretty gross with dog noseprints and such.
The sky cleared up early in the day, and the air dried out. There has been a pleasant, cool breeze from the north much of the day, making it much easier to work in the barn with the hay. On the whole, a day to make up for much of the last week, I think. And I even remembered to wear gloves (I hate gloves) for handling the hay, which means my hands aren't sore. First time in years that I've unloaded a wagonload without getting a rash and blisters from it.
This is just what we were used to getting from our long time supplier who retired last year. And at least partly no surprise, since this hay came from his successor in the business, who bought his equipment (and I suspect at least some of his leases on fields) last summer. It would seem that this new supplier took some lessons from our former guy, and he says he can supply our needs this year.
That's good, because the supplier we turned to last year, though he sounded good, delivered very poor quality hay, full of foreign matter such as thistles, corn cobs, and even chunks of wood large enough to use for firewood. His price was 35% higher, and worst of all, every load he delivered was overcounted. We finally demanded a refund for all the bales we'd been shorted, which apparently didn't set well with him as he didn't call back to try to get our business this year. He did, however, pay up for the shortfall, which I consider to be an admission of guilt or at least irresponsible behavior.
So we spent a good part of the day stacking hay, in addition to the usual chores. Then we took apart the sliding glass doors from the living room to the yard. They've been getting sluggish and heavy to open, so much so that the handle on the inside broke and had to be replaced.
Conclusion, after taking it all apart, was that the rollers on the bottom of the sliding part needed lubrication. I used a spray silicone on them, with excellent results. No idea how long it will last, but the door is much easier to operate now. We also cleaned the glass, which was getting pretty gross with dog noseprints and such.
The sky cleared up early in the day, and the air dried out. There has been a pleasant, cool breeze from the north much of the day, making it much easier to work in the barn with the hay. On the whole, a day to make up for much of the last week, I think. And I even remembered to wear gloves (I hate gloves) for handling the hay, which means my hands aren't sore. First time in years that I've unloaded a wagonload without getting a rash and blisters from it.
