Friday, July 13, 2007

Sweet Sweet Summer Smell....Fresh Mown Hay

From the minute the 4020 fires up...
the smell of diesel begins to filter through the air
The work begins
Mowing is the first step and that is when it happens
the sweet, sweet smell of summer hay fills the air.

The baler starts the rhythm of click-clack, click-clack over and over again, until that rhythm is interrupted by the snap of the needles tying two knots in the twine around each bale and then steel blades slide together to cut the hay and string
Out pops a bale of hay.... and the click-clack starts again
The bales get stacked under the barn.
When you cut the strings, even months from now,
you get a whiff of the sweet sweet smell of summer.

6 comments:

Shelia said...

This is so cool! I've always wondered exactly how that thing makes a bale! I didn't know it even tied the string though. Great subject Ju!

Anonymous said...

Amen the the GOOD smell! Nothing like it.

Judy said...

Great story! And totally different pictures than mine even tho the same subject....very good Ju Ju!

AmyWhit said...

You did a great job documenting the whole process. I can smell it all the way over here. It is a sweet smell of summer. I liked this subject. And Ms. Jan wondered how you photograph a smell. Can't you smell everyone's contributions?!

Wendy said...

Great picture story, and not only did you capture the smell of summer but the food of winter and money maker for alot of farmers in the south! great job!

jamie said...

Good pics!!! I like the 2nd one!!! You should have gotten a shot of it raining, seeings how when Dad cuts hay it always seems to rain!! Never good for hay! I too like that smell!! I remember driving the truck when I was way too young to drive.