• Thursday-What'sUP August 1 - 07:33 pm

Melanie Hakala Rossi was on hand at a farm in Lake Linden, snapping some shots of the herd of cattle there, as they enjoyed their dinner. In the summer, farmers still supplement their feed with hay, but just don't have to give them quite as much when the pasture is green with grass for them to eat. This group seems to be enjoying the hay and barely even noticed Melanie there taking photos, except for the one she asked to smile for a close-up. ;->

This is the time of year when the farmers are busy restocking their hay supply for the upcoming winter months, too and Melanie was able to capture some pictures of the process of baling hay. The first baling photo is the type of baler that produces the small "square" bales (actually rectangle, but called square...) and the next baling photo is the type of baler that bales the big round ones. They each have their virtues and it's mostly a matter of preference for each particular farmer, on which baler they prefer.

Melanie's last photo made me chuckle....showing how far technology has taken us. In the days we were farming and baling hay, I'd have never imagined that one day you'd be able to sit on a bale in the middle of the field and make a phone call. We've come a long way, baby!

I wished I could be the dog.

Nice pix...looks like someone was moowing the lawn.

I just love the farms. The pictures are great! That is the life, everyone should experience at one time or another if they can!

I love the pics!!! Green Acres is the place to beeeee!

I've never been fortunate enough to live on a farm but have had several relatives who did. I always loved the sights and sounds of farm-living.
Thanks, Melanie, for a glimpse.

Had a friend that every summer would come to coffee and announce that the government was outlawing the round bales-"because the animals weren't getting a square meal". Bet he's told that one in Heaven several times.

LOL!, Richard.:>

These 6 pictures reflect my life growing up. The farm life, life can't get any better!

Nice photos! Down here in the cornbelt, cattle operations are getting scarce. The banks farm managers prefer grain to cattle. The big round bales are preferred by the remaining cattlemen since there is less labor involved. Good square bales command a premium price for the horse market.
The high Canadian cirrus clouds in the first two photos portend the coming Winter!

Home, home on the farm.
In Georgia, the farm has sweet charm.
Where my mother's so neat.
Makes such good things to eat.
In Georgia, the farm has sweet charm.

Shemp Howard

(to the tune of the last part of "Home on the Range")

This can apply to Keweenaw farms, too.

Can't believe I forgot this ~ we had a cow, "Bess", back in the '40s so we could have fresh milk/butter. I loved watching 'her' chew hay. I was too young to milk 'her' but I watched.;>
We lived in the suburbs of Nashville where it was allowed. And oh yeah, we also raised chickens.

I saw a documentary on PBS last night called "Eating Alabama", about a young couple who tried to eat only locally grown food from farms in Alabama. It wasn't as easy as they had planned; it was hard to find someone who would sell them only enough wheat for them to make some bread, for one. The documentary pointed out that beginning at the time of the narrator's Grandfather, lots of small farmers had quit farming.

Sights and sounds Shirley?

I noticed how you conspicuously didn't mention the smells.

Down here, my wife's family are hog farmers. They call it the "smell of money".

Sights and sounds Shirley?

I noticed how you conspicuously didn't mention the smells.

Down here, my wife's family are hog farmers. They call it the "smell of money".

Giggle! I was just trying to be nice, D.A.;) Some of my relatives raised hogs so I hear you!
Never liked 'hog-killing' time ~ talk about 'smell'!:p

Been there, done that. The good old days. Boy, did those scratches on the arms sting when you got in the sauna.

WOW! I don't know where my mind was, but when I saw the first picture and its caption, the thought that crossed my mind was, "Somebody's having steak for dinner". Then, as I scrolled down, I saw the bigger picture. LOL!

Kathyl: I saw that same documentary. Very interesting and attention-grabbing.