Playing in the Hay

These two love to explore in the hay.  I know they are looking for mice and whatever else might lurk beneath the overgrown stalks.

You know it is time to bring in the swather when you can't even find your full grown dog.

 Trying to be tricky and get a show using the rear view mirror and through the window on the shell.

Shelter Logic

I like to lay in my hammock, but I don't like the sun beating down on me, bird poop or apricot mush.  After various versions of a "summer home", this year we bought a simple carport. It is just a frame with a fitted tarp.  Things went well enough setting it up the first time and I enjoyed it for a few days.

 Then, while I was out in Vernal at my aunt's funeral, I get this photo text from Boyd.  Yep, the whole kit and kaboodle had blown over in a microburst windstorm.

 

It ripped a couple small holes, but the major damage was to the poles.  This is the part that Boyd cut out of the four damaged poles. 

 He found some pipe that fit perfectly over the diameter of the poles and he welded it together the correct length.

 I thought I would be super clever one day and I put the whole thing together again while Boyd was off farming.  I was very proud of myself as it was no small feat to do alone.  I hadn't finished for even 15 minutes when a mild wind came up and tossed the entire thing over AGAIN!  This time, I was mad.  This was not any kind of strong wind, just a very common breeze strength.

We would obviously need a better design.  So, Boyd went to work planning a way to strengthen the framework and anchor it to the ground with beefier stakes.

It involved cutting...

 Drilling holes...

 And a lot of welding.

 These stakes are 10 inches long and made of rebar.

The finished stands before painting.   Much stronger than the old plastic ones. 

 And, I hope my puppy doesn't chew these up like he can the ones that came in the box.

 He had to make 8 of these.  Of course, the ghost that lives in the old house had to get in on the fun.  One of the little rectangles with the hole went missing.  Just one!  It was no where to be found.  I am sure it will show up later, but Boyd had to cut and drill a new one.

 I am sure he is trying to show me how beat up his hands are after cutting and drilling and welding. :)

 The shelter as it sat after the last disaster.

 Boyd is cutting off the ends of the eye bolts we are using to attach bungee cords.

 Hammering the improved stakes into the improved stands.

 Our system of bungee cords and ropes to keep the frame tight and stable.

 Finished shelter during the next major wind storm pictured below.  This one even came with pea sized hail.  The shelter stayed standing!  The stakes came out of the ground about an inch in a few spots, but nothing flew away!  The storm was strong enough to be a solid test of the design!!
My husband earned his keep with this project.  Pretty sure we doubled the original cost of the shelter with the supplies needed for the upgrade, but it should be worth it!

A Drone to Find a Drone

I managed to lose a drone in the hay field.  So, Boyd called Tristin over to try to find it with his drone.  No luck!  He even got Brigham Implement to bring their drone over to find it.  Nope!  I suppose we won't find it until it gets stuck in the swather.