Yesterday things broke. And my luck began to teeter. But an urchin wind brought my luck back.
First it was the dishwasher – broke.
Then Tima’s gate – broke.
Then I went to rake the hay – Big red Rake – broke.
Then I began to hand rake and my fork broke! – BROKE!
Then we jumped into the triple T’s car to collect the other forks at the other barn. BRAKES BROKE!
Slightly panicked with four acres of hay stranded on the wet ground and a pig running about my feet, I called around and found a gorgeous old rake attached to a wonderful antique tractor that our friends were happy for us to use. So John went over there and drove the deeply ancient tractor back.
Once he returned, it became quickly apparent, that I was not going to be able to drive this behomouth of a tracter without practise and so, time being of the essence, I gave him a lesson on raking. (I usually rake the hay). I told him exactly what the hay man had said. The fact that the instructions was practically monosyllabic helped. It was his first time but he did ok and stopped to get his second set of instructions for the next field when we saw a huge whirlwind, a fairy circle, descend into the hay field.
Do you remember that fair ride that is a big cylinder, and you are strapped to the inside of it. Then they carnies push a button and it spins really fast and the floor drops away and you are held to the walls by a centrifugal force – I need to look that up but I think I am right. It was called the gravity something. Everyone screams in terror. (For the record I never went for a ride on one because when I was in the line a boy was coming off the ride …
and he had vomit all over his face and clothes. I don’t think I need to explain how this happened. My sister and I looked at each other in horror and decided to go to the Haunted House instead. )
Anyway back to the hay field, this whirlwind, on a warm cloudfree day with no hot wind blowing suddenly descended straight down into the newly raked hayfield. It was huge. As big as the lounge. It began to rev up like a dancer warming up into a pirouette and then she was spinning so fast that it lifted row after row of hay into its force field, twirling them about in the air, knitting them into its walls, creating a spinning cylinder of hay right before our eyes. This wide funnel grew higher into the air, the revolving space defined by the flying hay. It zigzagged across the field picking a bit of hay here and a bit there. It sucked whole lines of hay up, a whirlwind snorting hay cut heroin with a hundred dollar bill like in the movies. Throwing hay out like wild hair in all directions. Giggling and twirling, manic, like an enormous spin dryer in a tutu. We watched in a kind of delighted horror as it weaved to and fro across the field and in seconds the windrows were no longer rows. Just wind.
Then the tiny tornado roared straight for the tractor, fooling with us, whipping at our clothes and pulling them up and away from our bodies like cartoon characters in a gale. We both ducked, hands over our eyes, laughing at the urchin wind. Feeling its power and pull like a live thing. Then she bored of us and danced on. We rose from our crouches to see it whip out of the field and across the top of the green truck twirling its curtain of hay, then ducking its head and winking its eye in goodbye it swooped and dropped through the barn door. Sudden silence. Gone.
Later John fixed the rake, then fixed the dishwasher. My little barn fork was waiting while they took the rampage to Johns workshop. But by then I was in bed.
Today we bale.
I hope you all have a lovely day
Your friend on the farmy.
celi
PS WordPress informs me that I have been blogging now for three years. THREE YEARS. I want to say thank you. Many of you have been with me since the beginning. Johns Mum, my sons and daughter and Di were the first persons to sign up as members and still read daily and there are many of you who have also been visiting daily for years. Almost 1,500 a day actually. How long have you been part of The Fellowship?
We are very strong now. We have our calenders, your pig, soon our photo books, and T shirts and now a Book!
With 1039 posts there are 3,534 members of the Fellowship of the Farmy as of today. We are extraordinary. Very special.
I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you all. Farming is a lonely place sometimes. But not for me. I have you. I am only here because of you. If not for you – like that tree – I would fall in the forest without a sound. You are my voice. Thank you. Thank you.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
71 responses to “Urchin Wind”
Once I saw your blog I fell in love with it instantly . My childhood farm in Germany was a lot like your farmy. Your blog brought back memories of my hard working Dad , his love for his family, his community , and his farm.
Thank you.
Yes, I too think Kate said it best. We love you, we cannot imagine life without starting (or in some cases, ending) our day with you.
I have been reading for about 2-1/2 years and read back to the beginning. I think I can say I have read every blog, though I’ve noticed forgetting things. Maybe some day when you have time–you’ll add to the cast of characters. I love refreshing my memory of all your wonderful animals.
Congratulations on three years of enriching, educating, and entertaining us and thank you for sharing your extraordinarily busy and productive life, Cecilia.
yes darling, i really must get to the cast, good call.. and you are very welcome.. c
Well, here’s hoping your luck is on the uptick!
We call those Devil Twisters here…not a nice wind those. We had a friend lose a whole dried, ready to harvest pinto bean field to a Devil Twister. Were you able to save and re windrow you hay field?
Concerned,
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Here they are called Dust Devils. One of them gave us some of our neighbors hay one year and dumped it on our deck. I cannot start my day unless I visit you and the farmy every day. I don’t remember when I found you, but it was sure a lucky day when I did. Congratulations on three years of the window you let us look thru every day. Butterfly brain…..yes…perfect description. So many wonderful warm thoughts headed your way every day……we all wrap you up in good wishes and love.
I don’t remember how I found you either, but I’m very glad I did.
You’re living the life I dream about – though now I know how hard it is – I’m not so sure any more!
Congrats on three wonderful years. Long may they continue.
XO
If there is an extreme form of weather, you can bet all your money that it will end up at the Farmy sooner or later. I feared you’d lost all the hay to Oz, so was very relieved that you still have something to bale.
I joined up here soon after the beginning and you’re still my favourite blog. No matter what happens I have to visit every day.
Dear Ceci,
Congrats! Three years has passed so quickly and I have enjoyed every read I have had on your blog. We no longer do the farmy things you do, and reading your posts brings back such a wonderful flow memories as I read about your daily adventures. Be well and happy and blog always.
I have done that exact pirouette. Chula Vista, Dance Concert 198X, the floor was slippery, too much torque, I fell. Bounced back, grinned and kicked my leg up high. I have no idea how the hay season went in Chula Vista on that day.
Happy Anniversary! I have been following the farmy for…two years? The Shush Sisters were learning to heel, the Duke of Kupa was herding guinea fowl, a large group of plonkers escaped their enclosure one evening, and Ton was getting skunked almost nightly. I wanted to know how Mary’s Cat got his name, and ended up reading the entire blog in an afternoon. The farmy has come a long way in three years! Good work, Miss C.
I am so thrilled to have been with you from the start Celi! And not only thankful for you, but for Chrissy who led me your way! 🙂 So busy these days it’s hard to find time to write much, but I’m always reading and a part of the Farmy Fellowship! xoxoxo
Your story had me holding my breath, and your p.s. made me cry all over my shirtfront. You are such a woman! Such an amazing woman. So happy to be a part of your life in this weird, amazing, digital way.
Also, very Loie Fuller with the hay. You could add lights and make a show!
I do not know if I have officially joined your site–but it is the first blog site I read every day!!!
I am a quilter and that is what mostly my blog is about–and taking photos–my line is usually flowers!!
but, I want to live on a farm sooo bad–so I live on your farm with you and all the animals and your adventures are mine, too!!
So I am living my dream through you–thank you so much for taking the time and energy to share your life with me.
hugs, di and miss gracie
( miss gracie is my ‘wild’ animal!!!!!:-))
You are a whoil of a goil! and the pigs sleep …. bless their larded souls; love your blog; never, ever miss it.