Plow Day

just almost the very last furrow

We’ve been wondering if it was ever going to get dry enough. Which, after years of drought is a wonder that no one complains about. Still. Middle of April and we hadn’t plowed. The dogwoods are not out yet so it is not time to plant the hard corn, but it is a little late for potatoes. Not that potatoes don’t just sit there and stare at you for a couple of weeks when you plant them early, and can be some in danger of rot or mice or, if they do decide to grow, frost damage. Still. It felt behind.

nearly the whole field

I had not thought we’d get it all plowed so quickly. Not that it is that large. But last year, while we did it all in a day, we started in the morning and finished in the evening, giving the horse a large break in the middle and I remember him being tuckered from the effort.

This year I’d recruited my younger daughter to ride the horse every day she could, slowly increasing the distance, and she’s been doing that, oh, probably about a month, maybe more. He did so well and I am so proud of him and of her. He is so big that just hauling his large self around is taxing (our plowing doesn’t require much of a pull) and a month of walking the hills and when I’d stop to let him blow at the end of a row, he’d be shaking the lines saying he was ready to go.

Donkey, by the way, was not winded at all.

blowing

While daughter was getting him in shape, younger son also decided he was a good horse rider. So he rode some today and also took his turn as assistant plowman. The girls took the opportunity to weed out the strawberry bed. And everyone played in the creek of course. Including, after we were all done, the horse.


Meantime the dog found the cool of a deep furrow

and one of the cats kept a running commentary from the cool of the road.

It was an exceedingly pleasant and productive day. We were well pleased with it and ourselves.

all photos for this day taken by elder son.