A Motley Crew

The "Old Timers" pose for a photo. Jeff, Gordan, Joe, Chris, Paul, Todd, Roger, Chet, John and Jeff

Plowing the front 40 (or 3 - whatever)

This is Chet on his"Free" tractor - the yellow IH - doing his chores.


About as close as I can get to getting his picture.

Gordan shows him how a REAL professional does it!

(Thanks for helping us get ready for the party!)

Good Eating

Chet's purchase from the fair. 1300 lbs of grade A+ beef. We also got a hog (only 1 this year!) and shared a lamb with David. This one came from a little girl who lives down the street from us. Good job to all the 4-H kids who worked so hard all year to feed us!

There have been stories in the media lately about Mother Theresa having doubts in her faith, presented with an "O no!" kind of attitude. If you read about the saints, you see that most had doubts at times - but still strived to do what is right. I find it comforting. If those who have such obvious love and personal moral strength doubt, then who am I not to?

Sassy

Sassy has been having trouble with her eye. First it was watering a lot and she was rubbing it. Then it stopped bothering her so much, but it clouded over. Chet took her to the vet who told him he couldn't see much, because there was blood in it. We gave her a topical steroid which didn't take the swelling down enough, so now she is on oral steroids. The vet says it's probably a tumor. We don't know what is causing it yet. Perhaps the vet will be able to see after the steroids treatment. We could take her to an ophthalmologist for an MRI, but most likely she will lose her eye either way. Dogs are wonderful. Even when they feel bad, they are always ready to play.

Gone Visiting

Spent the weekend visiting with Jim and Mary. Saturday we went to the Clifton Gorge for lunch and a hike.

Sunday we went for about a 4-5 mile walk in Sharon Woods and then went to the Cinti. Zoo - I haven't been there since it was all fixed up. It was a lot of fun, but after all that walking, my legs are tired!

Mom and Dad loved going around the country and visiting with their children and grandchildren. So happy were they to be with us, they would just do and do. On this visit to our home on Arcadia I had gone out and they decided to clean my house. When I returned it was sparkling. I had never seen my kitchen faucets so shiny. I was surprised, because I knew I was out of cleanser. Mom informed me that I had some left on the counter. Imagine her surprise to learn she had cleaned my whole kitchen with hand lotion!

Musings

It's funny the changes you notice. I woke up in the night because the house was too quiet - and I couldn't get back to sleep. I supposed once you get used to something, it's absence makes you think something is wrong. They tell me our new pump will make very little noise, so I'll have to get used to that.

I took the girls out for a walk this morning and took my camera (well, it's really Chet's, but I won't go into that). I think I'm going to see something I'll want to share. If you've ever walked two dogs without leashes, you know you can't go anywhere unanounced. Which is why I was so surprised that we startled a hawk in a tree stump. Though we weren't close enough to touch, we were close enough for the girls to notice. Of course, by the time I got the camera out of it's case and on, the hawk flew into a tree. He didn't go very far, so I still had hopes. As I tried to get closer, he flew away. There was a small bird following his flight path exactly. I have seen this pair before - or one very like it. I couldn't see the small bird well, so I don't know if it is a juvenile, or another type of bird. I just imagined a daddy bird showing his boy how to fly (why do I assume they were male?). I don't even know if hawks do that. I'm so glad fantasies don't have to be hampered by reality - life would be so boring then!