Marlee Learns: Let's Make Hay While The Sun Shines

As you all know, Marlee goes to visit Grandma B on her mini farm almost every week. She helps with chores with the dusting and vacuuming, but also with the outside chores. She loves the mini donkeys and the mini horses.
Marlee also enjoys spending time with her Grandfather, whom she calls "Papa".
One day Marlee and her Papa were outside picking up walnuts for their neighbor man. It was a beautiful day so they decided to take a walk in the sunshine and the fresh air.  Marlee stopped a lot and investigated rocks. They ended up walking into a field!  Well, there they were in a hay field. Marlee's Grandma B feeds her mini animals hay doesn't she?
Farmers use their big tractors and a machine called a baler to gather up all the dried special grass. See how big that bale is that Marlee is standing on?

The bales of hay that Marlee and her Papa saw today were really really big and round. Have you ever seen great big round bales of hay? Here is a picture of Marlee standing on one of them. There is another picture that she is sitting on one. Can you see the field in back of her? There are lots and lots of other bales back by the trees aren't there?
Papa told Marlee that Grandma B was going to get a big one like this. Right now she has been giving them hay that are in smaller square bales. Marlee didn't say anything, but she sure did wonder how those great big bales of hay would get to Grandma B's house.
Well, when they got home Marlee was playing with her toys in the living room and happened across a farm magazine. It showed pictures of bales of hay and tractors and other machinery that is used on farms. She could see by the pictures that farmers have to be careful to keep the bales of hay safe from the rain or they will get spoiled and moldy.
 So the farmers first cut the hay, then they let it dry in the sun. Then they rake it so it gets the bottom of the hay on the top side. Then they let it dry again. Then they use a machine called a baler to make round or square bales. So I counted three (3) big machines, right?  And do you know what? This hard work is mostly done in the summer time when it is hot. There is an old saying that lots of people use: Let's make hay while the sun shines. In other words let's get our work done as soon as possible. Farmers have to do their work while the sun is shining so the hay doesn't spoil.
Marlee knew that to keep food from spoiling you put it in the refrigerator. She is a smart little girl and knew that a bale of hay just would not fit in a refrigerator at least she didn't think so.
Then she remembered where Grandma B put the mini's hay. Grandma B has a shed where the animals go to eat hay, to stay out of the bad weather. Sometimes to lay down if they are very tired. "B" also has a barn where she stores hay.
 Did you know that horses get most of their sleep standing up? I wouldn't like to sleep standing up. Where would I put my pillow? Hmm.
Here are some pictures of Grandma B's mini donkeys. The biggest one is a new mama. Her name is Bebe. There is a picture of her new baby also. Her baby is a little girl, whose name is Whenny.
Marlee's Papa carried her outside just a few days after the baby was born.
Can you see the horse and Zoe?  Zoe is a great big dog, isn't she? The donkeys and horses get along very well together.
Grandma B gives the donkeys and horses things to eat besides hay. I think they have special feed. They need that just like we need vegetables, fruit and milk.
 Do you remember Marlee feeding the horses persimmons? They just love them. She almost always has a bucket with her when she and Grandma B go outside, just to gather persimmons. Of course, Marlee's baby doll is always along to help.