Batching
I am sitting here right this minute, building up the courage to do something I never have before.
It’s not skydiving (are you nuts?).
It’s not walking on hot coals (done that!).
It’s not learning to crochet…
It’s driving the tractor and carrying a big round hay bale to a yard.
Sounds easy? I have driven tractors before – in fact, I took the old girl in question (tractors are ALWAYS girls, don’t ask me why) for a drive yesterday.
(late edit: found a pic of the tractor in question – she has lots of character and quite a few decades under her belt!)
I remembered many of her little idiosynchrasies – like the whole ‘clutch doesn’t really work’ thing. And the ‘extremely loose steering’ thing. And the ’15 goes to find reverse’ thing too. These things I can cope with.
It’s the ‘getting the forks into the right gosh-darned position so can lift the bale up off the stack, reverse with it balanced on the prongs, and make it to the feeder in the yard without ending up with a bale of hay in my lap’ thing that has me concerned. The old dear just refused to get into the correct position for the job late yesterday and I gave up – leaving 12 bulls with just a little bit of feed to do them until this morning. And now….
Well I HAVE to do it.
‘Cause I am batching.
You know – where your husband is not around? Mr Incredible has been evicted to watch the First Test (cricket) for a couple of days with his mates (I sent him off – he deserved the break!).
But I have to say that I am suddenly feeling for every single single Mum out there (read it again, it does make sense!). I can do the feeding of all the animals as well as all the peoples every morning and night (just). I can work out how to rejig the mower so it cuts properly (a minor miracle actually, as I am mechanically challenged). I can get the kids to bed, and clean up afterwards, and even manage some housework. I admit that I am not enjoying the whole ‘totally responsible for the discipline’ thing. I am a much better ‘good cop’ than I am ‘bad cop’.
I am stuffed, but I am managing.
I am however praying fervently that the water supply don’t give out while he is gone. That no animals go and injure themselves or require any kind of urgent attention while he is not here to manhandle them into place. That the television doesn’t have a conniption and need re-jigging.
These are HIS jobs.
And while I do really enjoy my little spurts of time on my own – especially if it’s with a camera…
There are really only so many jobs I can force the kids to take on, before Family Services gets involved.
(Just kidding – that drum is empty!)
So wish me luck, as I pull on my boots to kick ‘Chelsey the Chamberlain’ into action. Yes I did name the tractor – and yes I AM such a girl sometimes. I am hoping it’ll improve our relationship enough for her to coax that hay across to the hungry bulls.
Call the paramedics if you don’t hear from me in an hour, okay?
13 Comments
debby
I have every confidence in you. Once I drove our backhoe, with Tim in the bucket (don’t ask). I was so scared I thought that I might cry, but I did not. I raised him up to where he needed to be, and brought him back down when he was done.
I love the way that little calf has scampered himself behind Bay Lulic to study that tractor. I think that it is odd that I know the name of cows in Australia.
I think that I need to go to bed.
PS, that last shot of Violet is adorable.
debby´s last blog post ..This and That and Happy Thanksgiving!
Bush Babe
I think I would trust you on a tractor… and I don’t think its the SLIGHTEST bit odd that you know the name of our cow. We share a set of drinking glasses, don’t we??
🙂
BB
Bush Babe
I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!!! Only a few little dings in the side of the hay shed… but the bulls ARE FED.
🙂
BB
Bragger
How incredibly admirable for you to do that! I once sent Hubby off on a golf trip and then I put on his uniform and worked his Pepsi route for the weekend. I wasn’t as afraid of dinging anything up as I was being found out! I’m glad it turned out well for you.
Bragger´s last blog post ..Men vs Women at the Doctors Office
Gem
Ha ha BB – ours is called Fergie from about the same era by the looks!!!
Gem´s last blog post ..Triplets!!!
Leenie
Way to go!!!! BB! (hiding in my bedroom–taking a break here from 22 people in my house eating EVERYTHING!) As much as we like to think we are tough and independent women…just let the guy leave and all of a sudden we realize we kinda miss them for important stuff like feeding cattle, jiggling the tv thingy and those ((hugs)). But, so cool you conquered the tractor and fed the bulls. Love the training wheels. :o)
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Hippomanic Jen
That eucalypt photo is beautiful.
And I hope that everything goes well for you while Mr Incredible is away, too.
Catch the Kids
Lovely photo of the Gums. Hope hubby enjoys his time off and comes back ready to pick things up! You’re a brave woman!
Catch the Kids´s last blog post ..A Little Stitching Love Fest Youve Been Warned
Tara
Your description of the tractor sounds like my first car! It was ancient. Only had a 4 speed gear box. A hole in the floor where the sole owner’s heel had rested for 40 years (yes, 4. 0.). The gear box was so worn there were about 3 different options for each gear.
I LOVED it.
Tara´s last blog post ..If I can just survive this weekend…118-365
Bill
“a few little dings”????
sara perkins
congrats on moving the hay, the other option was to move the bulls??? 🙂 We all knew you could do it.
jeanie
he he he – we found an old text from me to V today where I was obviously having a challenging morning with ‘Salina – and I offered to come and lay bricks.
jeanie´s last blog post ..The long-winded saga of cars- me and McD
Kelly
Good for you! I have driven our tractor, but feeding the cows is the last thing I want to do. They get overly eager when they see food coming and it scares me a wee bit.
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