Grandpa's Farm

I feel kinda silly saying it but I have never been to a farm before, at least not a real, out-in-the-country farm!  So when Nathan suggested that we go out to Eureka, Nevada to visit Grandma and Grandpa Andersen on their farm I jumped with excitement! (*this is the Gma and Gpa that Nathan and I rented from/lived with in North Las Vegas those first few months right after we were married)  Eureka is located in central Nevada with flat land perfect for growing alfalfa (and marijuana, haha, but don't worry that guy got caught) and surrounded on all sides by mountains.

Gma and Gpa's farm has the old house and the new one.  The old house is where Dad grew up.  It has this pinkish stucco on it that Nathan remembers putting on when he was a young teenager.  The new house in only 2 years old and much bigger and nicer.

Nathan and I got there Thursday night and stayed through Saturday noonish.  We had a grand time being with Gma and Gpa, Dad, Sara, Dave (Dad's friend from work), and his son Cole.  It was relaxing and busy.  We used every ounce of day we could exploring, shooting, taking, laughing, cooking, working.  It's open skies make your cares feel like they are a million miles away.

Dad, Nathan, and Dave (Dad's friend) walking out to bale some hay

Yes, baling hay is a TWO MAN job! They are heavy!

*I elaborate this more further on in the post

Grandma has 3 dogs: Sassy, Ezzi, and Curly.  The hired hand have 4 labs.  A few weeks ago Gma and Gpa found 6 pups from one of those labs underneath a trailer.  Gpa put hay down to keep them warm.  They had recently opened their eyes when we got there.  SO CUTE!  We couldn't get enough of them.  Everyone individually made special trips multiple times a day out to check up, watch and hold the puppies. (*one peed on me...that's how you know they like you, right?)

I ran in the morning down the long stretch of back road.  It is so wide and open that it gave me the feeling that I was running in place.

I ran past farms with cows.  It was strange to get the sense that I was being watched.  I looked over and like 6 of the cows were stopped, staring at me.  I bet they don't see people running up past their little grass field very often.  They probably thought "this one's weird" 

A man came to buy Grandpa's hay.  Baling hay is nothing like in the movies where one guys picks up a bale and tosses it in the back of the truck like its nothing.  Each bale weighs 100lbs!  That and the shape make it a two man job 

My handsome hubby climbed up top the hay stack to uncover it so the buyer could see and choose what he was buying.  Fiufiu!! 

We ran into problems because the hired hands of Gpa didn't bale or stack the hay right and the bales were falling apart...part of the haystack got knocked over and poor Gpa was stressed and frustrated!

This machine is called a squeeze and can pick up 30-50 bales of hay at the same time...that is it could if the bales had been tied and stacked the correct way.  Instead the men had to load the 50 bales of hay this man was buying by hand.  The whole process took a few hours...poor Gpa, poor guys

One of the main reasons for us going down to Eureka was to shoot rabbits.  Rabbits are a huge problem for farmers.  In a year that rabbits are overabundant they can eat 10 ft into the field a night!  and for farmers that's your money.  There are farmers who will buy the ammo for shooters if only they'll come and shoot the rabbits off their land...we didn't get that lucky but good thing 22 ammo isn't super expensive.  We were all shooting 22 rifles.  I shot with a Ruger 22 with a sweet scope on it and our Browning Lever Action.  Awesome guns! Nathan shot many rabbits...I not so many.  In fact, when we were shooting out into the big fields I couldn't tell if I was hitting any of them (kinda frustrating but still way fun).  Nathan was so sweet and patient.  He took me out, just me and him in the car and we went shooting.  He gave me tips like keep looking at the rabbit after you shoot so that you can see if you dropped him or not...should have been common sense right?! Well not for this city, never having hunted before girl!  I shot 2 birds and 9 squirrels!  Go me!  This was my first time ever killing something on purpose, kinda a weird feeling but cool too.  *It helped me to know that we were helping with the rodent problem.

Here are Sara and Nathan shooting

We'd drive up to an open field and all jump out.  We would have the chance to shoot for a while and then they would stay hidden in their holes so we'd move on to the next field.

Having never been to a farm before I tried to soak it all up.  I enjoyed walks through the old tractor parts and open fields.  I jumped in the truck with Gpa a few times and listened to him tell me stories or peppered him with questions about how a farm works and when to do's and how to do's.  I loved being out there on that farm and I learned so stickin' much!  I think its good for people to get out and have these experiences.  Nathan and I have joked about having a farm someday of cows and horses and such...maybe we're not totally kidding though!  Would anyone come visit us?