Fire!

Grandma called and asked if DH was around ... because they had set the cows' big round bales on fire and it was sort of blowing towards the barn. And did we have any garden hoses?

As I was putting my shoes on I remembered the big fire extinguisher we have here at the house. I got it for when we are brooding baby chicks. The combination of sawdust or straw plus heat lamps can be a fire hazard. I've never had to use it, though.

I rushed out to the barn and found the big round bales at the fence line feeder burning. So the smoke and embers blew into the concrete cow lot, not right into the barn.

Grandma and Grandpa wrestled with the garden hoses. I kept thinking the volunteer fire department could put this out in about 30 seconds. Did we need the fire department?

Smoke billowed all across the cow lot and out across the wheat fields. Some was white, some was black. A weather change is on the way so it rolled along the ground. Couldn't see through it. No wonder people talk about smoke screens.

The fire extinguisher was good for about one bale. I had to rush into the calf barn to get their water hoses out because I figured Grandma wouldn't have seen them in awhile and they were too heavy for Grandpa to carry.

Out I went with all the hoses I could find. Of course most had ends missing.

Piece by piece they put together enough hose to reach the length of the row of bales.

As I came staggering out with more hoses there was DH. He'd seen the smoke from the other farm and rushed home.

Finally we got all the hoses hooked up and flames extinguished, although the hay smoldered, flared up and smoked for hours.

For lunch I suggested hot dogs over the fire but DH wanted to come up to the house for a hot lunch. Pot pie to day. All I had to do was turn on the oven and pop them in.

But, no wonder my clothes don't last long, what with the mud and soot and everythign.