June 6

Good morning. Cloudy with a distinct chance of rain. Stan has a bunch of hay down - he's gotten to the point where he mows even if there's a chance of rain. Figures if it isn't down, he can't chop it, so might as well take the chance. The forecasts have been goofy. They seem to change from hour to hour lately and it's getting so I don't even listen!

Aside from the weather, I've been kind of down about my physical falling apart, but, like Stan, I keep going. The roses for the new fences are mostly planted. I moved one of the last ones last night. It's a musk rose that I just found 2 years ago. It was at the corner of the garage under goldenrod and grass and wild strawberries. Just a huge mess. It's not a terribly big rose plant and it seemed not to be able to put out a complete bloom where it was - not enough sun, I think. It should be happier out in the front lawn. I think I will take some cuttings this morning, just to try and make sure I don't lose it. KJo, I have a bunch of old roses, if you're interested in them. They are really easy old things - prety much take care of themselves once established. I cut out the deadwood every spring, and clip back some of the more aggresive canes, but other than that they don't take much work. Most of them are once bloomers, but there are a few that will bloom sporadically through the summer. Roses can be almost as addictive as seeds, and I had a ready made collection out in the rock pile behind the barn when we finally bought the place.

No new calves, that I know of. Byskyt (pronounced bisquit, Melissa was being cute when she named her) one of the red holsteins, is coming home from the dry pasture this morning. She has gotten huge, and Stan wants her closer to home so he can watch her. She had twins last year and didn't have as good a year as usual - she "only' gave 20,000 pounds. I think the year before she was up around 26,000. She is just one of those nice cows who gives a bunch of milk and doesn't put up much of a fuss about it.

Mary, I've been counting blessings - keeps my mind off everything else! I had things I wanted to tell the rest of you, but my mind is saying "feed me tea - NOW!" so I guess I'll go get a dose of caffein and see if it works any better!!

Kathleen