Thursday, April 7, 2011

Tractor disaster! Driving in circles...

Oh, I was so happy!

It was my first time in this wonderful country named America and I LOVED every single moment of it!

Of course it was not only pleasure, you got to earn your way around (no matter where you go) and so I was “helping” my uncle and aunt baling hay for their horses.

Note the “helping”…


Feeding time at our farm








As you might know by reading Tractor Disaster (if you haven't yet, please do!) I was not the natural that I would have liked to be, but I had some more experience driving tractor back home in Holland and my uncle thought I was ready for the real work!

My aunt and uncle had a field a couple of miles away from the farm and it needed to "be done". Making hay bales is simple, first you cut the grass (usually done by a pro, my uncle, otherwise you have too much grass left standing in the field), you wait a couple of days or hours depending on the weather, you rake the grass (throw it around a bit so more air can get underneath and it will dry better) and then you make little dunes (rows of grass piled together so you can pick it up easily) where you can drive over with a tractor and baler and make hay bales!

And yes all of this gets done with a tractor and a piece of equipment and it really is, lots of fun… if you do it right…

My task for the day was making dunes (rows) of grass, so my uncle could come later in the day and start to bale the hay and we would load it up and bring it back to the farm. My uncle dropped me off in the morning, showed how everything worked and I started driving around the field.


Manure hauling on the fields








It was beautiful weather and I saw deer, flowers, birds and grass, grass and grass! I and was fantastic! The field was a bit rolling so I didn’t get the feeling I was doing the same thing the whole time, every hill brought something “new”… And the rows of grass were perfect and I really thought my uncle would be so happy to have these perfect rows so he would be done in a swiffy and have perfect grass bales!

Yep, perfect it was…
I don’t remember how many hours later, my uncle comes with the big tractor and baler and stops in the field.

HE JUMPS OUT AND COMES WAIVING HIS HANDS AND SCREAMING FROM THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS, RUNNING TOWARDS ME!!!

“Hmm, what is he doing…” I thought…
So, I stop. Turn off my tractor and get off…

“What do you think you are doing???” “Hmmmm, making nice perfect rows, so you can bale your hay???” (I am miss smarty pants) “YES”, he yells. “The rows are great but look at that tractor?!?” So I turn around and look at the tractor… and I don’t see anything wrong with it…“Just LOOK AT IT!” my uncle insists… And then I see it… The tire is flat… And not only is the tire flat, the rim is bent… And not just a little bent, NO COMPLETELY BENT…

"Euhmmmmmmmm…. how does that happen???” I ask him with a face as red as a lobster…

Did I tell you my uncle is a fantastic guy?


Harvesting grain and straw for our cows







He took a couple of (deep, very, very deep) breaths and explained to me that, THAT happens when you drive around for several HOURS with a flat tire…

Then I had to explain to him why I did not notice…
Well, I really didn’t know. Like I said, the field was not completely flat and I was just focusing so much on making these prefect rows and enjoying the nature and wildlife I just hadn’t figure out why I was leaning to the right like… A LOT!!! Not even when I switched from going round in right circles to making left circles…

My uncle had to get a whole new rim, and yes tire too, and I felt really, really bad. My uncle did let me “help” some more with the hay bales, but I didn’t drive too much tractor anymore those months.

And yes it is Friday so let's hop! Farm Friend Friday.... See the button (Yes i did it!) and the Social Parade (button will follow!!!)

….

33 comments:

Clint said...

Such a cute little story. I love it because it sounds so much like some of the stuff I did. Ha. Except my dad wouldn't have been as understanding as your uncle.

Great post!

Rae said...

Funny story. Good thing your uncle had such a fantastic attitude.
I didn't destroy a tire when I was on the farm, but I did my fair share of damaging other things. I miss my days on the farm, but I don't miss the hard work of baling hay.

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Thanks for stopping by the Ruth Blog. As far as blog awards I just put mine on my sidebar.

Unknown said...

Oops, but at least your rows were straight!

Anonymous said...

oh, how sad for you. At least you were having a good time before you found out the tractor wasn't doing ok. I went out to rake once and found I had a flat. After that I was paranoid that one of the other tires would go flat on me while I was working. :-)

Larkrise garden girl said...

Wow! Sometimes it'd hard to know you have a flat tire. I had a flat tire didn't even know it I thought it was the road. You have a nice Uncle.

MadSnapper said...

yet another wonderful and heart touching story. what fun to drive that tractor, i am thinking i would have done the same thing.

Angela said...

That's why my husband doesn't let me drive our, HIS, tractor! lol He doesn't even like for me to mow the grass with the riding mower! lol

Have a Great Day!
Angela

bon bon said...

you certainly take the phrase "live and learn" to heart!

Out on the prairie said...

I hope he has recovered from this. Great story!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

The first time I drove a tractor it was in a big old wheat field and the only thing I could possibly hit was a grain truck. Yep, when Dad told me to pull in next to the truck...I hit it! Heeehehehe!!! Dad didn't find it one bit funny.

I just wanted to thank you for hoppin' my blog. I sure hope ya enjoy the ride sweetie!

God bless and have a beautiful day!!!

Patrice said...

I probably wouldn't have realized that I had a flat tire either. Have a good weekend!

Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews said...

Love the tractor pics!

I just found your blog through one of the blog hops! Have a great week!

Amanda @ www.nutritionistreviews.com

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

We get up hay each summer, twice. It's hot work. Our equipment isn't so nice as the gear in your pictures!

Kristin said...

Haha too funny!!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

That is just great....what a great uncle...the patience he had. I kept thinking I would have probably done the same thing. Fun story.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Cute story...now ;-)

Lori Skoog said...

I'll bet that did not happen again....

marcia said...

Love the story! and the pictures!
Thanks for stopping by!

happy day!

Nancy Grossi ~ Churned In Cali ~ The Wife of a Dairyman said...

Oh dear, Leontian! You always have the funniest stories:)

Unknown said...

Thank you for looking me up! Reading about your horse reminds me of a girlfriend of mine who lives in Sweden. She came here, found her CA prince and took him home with her! Welcome to the states, nothing like some tractors and Holsteins to help you adjust! :)

floweringmama said...

Yikes, your Uncle must've been a very patient man.

Toni aka irishlas said...

I'm impressed! You drive real tractors!

Can't wait to read through the rest of your posts. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Teresa said...

Great story. Your uncle sounds like a saint. I always have a bit of fear when it comes to tractors, but I'm going to try to overcome that this year. Maybe...

Donna said...

I've never had a flat tractor tire but enough in the car to know what that's like...funny story! Thanks for my giggle for the day!!

Bob Bushell said...

When the tyre is flat, there is something to get that flat, ask your uncle.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

I can smell the hay as it's being cut! Great description.
That's too funny/sad. I baled hay once upon a time too, my hubby didn't love it much. I kept running over the risers. (no I didn't see them)

Your adventures are so cute.

Alica@Happily Married to the Cows said...

Love your stories! Some of my first adventures with tractors were "interesting" too...like driving with the brakes locked on...oops!

Krissy said...

LOL That was so funny. That is something that I would do. Heck, the first time I really drove a car, I didn't know that it was almost flat even though it was pulling to one side. My mom nearly kicked my butt!

I am your newest follower from the weekend blog hops! Hopefully, you can visit us and follow back! Have a great day!

Krissy @ Mommy Miscellaneous

Louise said...

Um, er, uh oh! I'm glad that your Uncle was fairly calm about it, and, that your rows were straight.

I'm back after several days away, and I'm glad to some new entries for me to read!

nanny said...

Uh Oh!!!
Loved your story!!!

Sharon said...

Your uncle was understanding, indeed, and forgiving! Both tire and rim are BIG ticket items! Ouch! You really couldn't tell? I can see why you didn't get to drive it again for a while. :-)

Nancy said...

There's just too many things to remember! We women are not designed that way! ;) Love the story. I've been there, girlie. I totally can relate.