It has been hot and sunny here all week. A few threats of rain but only a couple of drops. Not enough to stop anyone from haying.

Everywhere you look there is either irrigation water flying or haying being done. There is every size of bale you can make somewhere in our county. Some of the ranchers prefer round bales, some small bales and still others prefer the bigger bales that are three feet by three feet.

We are done with our small two-tie bales that we put up grass hay in. Later this week we have some one coming to do the alfalfa and a small amount of grass hay in the 3x3 bales. We have a barn full of the small bales and several stacks outside to sell. We will sell some of the bigger bales but also save some for ourselves to feed out this winter. Shawn will start cutting on Tuesday so he can rake and have the hay ready when the baler arrives around the end of the week.

Haylee has been riding almost every day and is very happy to tell people that she can make Sneaky go, back up and whoa! We took one afternoon to go to the lake and paddleboat with my friend's daughter Emily who is 15. Wallowa Lake is about 20 miles from here near Joseph. We sure could tell that it is tourist season -- there were people everywhere. Joseph is a small town but comes alive in the summer when people come for vacations.

Emily and her brother Sam who is 20 were here this week to help take down part of the corral, the alleyway and headgate. They were great help and will come back to help with more clean-up projects.

Sunday we helped a neighbor work their cows and calves. They are selling out this fall so we wanted to take a look at them. We decided to buy the 10 cows. They will sell the calves in September and we will get the cows then.

We are supposed to get thundershowers this week but hopefully not enough to stop haying. Lostine has an Annual Flea Market over the 4th of July, so my sister and her family are coming and so is my mom and aunt. Mom, Aunt Mary and I are having a booth at the Flea Market selling antiques and garden stuff. I did it last year and was amazed at how well I did. We are busy getting ready!

Location: Lostine, Wallowa County, Oregon

Business: Cattle, crops

Secret weapon: An ag-friendly community with great mentors

Open a tack and feed store

Start a cattle herd

Repair and rejuvenate newly purchased ranch

Adopt a child (Not necessarily in that order)

It has been hot and sunny here all week. A few threats of rain but only a couple of drops. Not enough to stop anyone from haying.