Bearing, bales and a little irony

Enough time has went by to now look back on 4th July working holiday.  We have licked our wounds long enough and can now share the experience.

All I can say is we should learn NOT to make plans on New Leaf Farm – gets us every time!

 First there was this: All systems ago!

Baler greased, oiled and ready to roll up some hay.

 

Things went smoothly for awhile. Then the world BEARING came into our vocabulary.

 



Will not bore you with details, but behind this gear is a bearing and it is broke.

 

Without this bearing, no bales can be made. In fact this broken bearing started the hay around it on fire.  Quick thinking Mr. O extinguished it with his always present, always available, (you guessed it) human male anatomy part. This is true - really.  How can one make up something like THIS?

So bad baler bearing at 7pm on July 3 – change of plans.

Out come tools

 

No luck. Shaft will not budge. Cannot get to the bearing to replace it.

Now enter Craig's List. 

Believe it or not we found the exact same model baler for sale within 30 miles. Well maintained, fairly priced and field READY.  So on Friday, July 5th, we are back in the haying business.

Way behind “the plan”, but back in the game.

It was bliss! We were rockin', rollin' and makin' hay.  And then as quickly as things were looking up – it changed.



One of the front tires broke off the tractor.

No. Craig's List was not the answer to this break down.  Mr. O assured me the solution was simple: Get the tractor to house and weld the %&*!* thing.  But how to get it up the hill?

Semi-wrecker to the rescue (apparently they can go off road - through the woods and through the stream to retrieve broken tractors)



 



Now, do you want to hear some irony?

Best as we can decider – our superman to the rescue and tow truck driver is the great grandson to the once owner of New Leaf Farm.

Would this previous owner, who we are sure toiled to squeak a livelihood from these beautiful hills, be proud?

Yes – for sure. But proud of WHO?

Those who continue to look over the grass and woods? Still trying to squeak an income from the steep terrain?

Or his offspring, smart enough to find another means of livelihood - one who drove off in an air conditioned cab and not having to do this before getting out a welder?

Balancing act before the welder comes out.

 

All let you all answer that question.