Goings on

We had great houseguests this past week-end! They were a missionary family from Afghanistan. They have spent 12 years in Afghanistan. They were out of the country for 4 years when the Taliban had control of the government. Their children are 14, 13 and 10, polite, get along well and can entertain themselves with no problem and whatever is available - especially the kittens. It was quite interesting to visit with them and learn some about the Afghan people and the country. They had questions about our area and were interested in learning and having their children learn about different areas. They came Saturday afternoon and left Monday morning to go to Goessel, Ks. for a family reunion (her mom's family is there) via Dodge City. They were going to visit the Boot Hill area. Sunday morning they shared a little in Church and had the whole Sunday School time to talk and answer questions. The church then had a carry-in dinner so more people could just visit with them. Sunday afternoon they stayed in Leoti where the kids went swimming (courtesy of some of Paige's swimming suits) and the parents visited the museum.

We were hoping for some rain courtesy of hurricane Dolly. Here at the place we only got .18" - disappointing. Further north where we have some farm ground and grass it rained about an inch and the pastures in Lane county all got at least an inch. Of course we would have liked more, but that amount soaks in and doesn't run off.

The Wichita County Fair started yesterday. Paige and Lane each entered something and did well. Bob and I helped with the church youth game booth in the evening and then Bob ran the train for a couple of hours. I took tickets. For those of you who don't know, Wichita County has its own carnival rides and quite a few organizations put up game booths (fish pond, dunking booth and ones where you throw something and try to get it in a hole or knock something down and win a prize). Tickets for all rides and games are 25 cents each and each ride or game takes only one ticket. A lot of people come to the carnival. Of course there are several food booths. Many people in the community help run the rides and booths - all volunteer. It was hot when we started at 6:00pm (about 100 degrees) but turned into a beautiful evening. We were certainly ready to head home and to bed when we were through.

Our sweet corn is ready, and I am trying to put some in the freezer. It is good! I am looking forward to Colorado peaches. They are supposed to be delicious this year. Colorado peaches are always good.

cooler weather?

Hey-the high today was 89-can you imagine that?? We've had at least a week of 102-106-been pretty tough on the crops and Bob and Ann/////

Busy, busy

Well, I will try a quick blog. Bob's wounds are healing, but I am leary about taking out stitches. When we were in the emergency room for Bob to get his head stitched up, the doctor took out the stitches where he had had the cancer spot taken off of his ear. He keeps asking if the stitches can come out of his head wound; so I took one out last night but am not sure I should have.

I have nephew getting married in Manhattan Saturday afternoon the 2nd; so we will miss the last day of the fair and the alumni reunion for Bob. Those of you who are coming on Friday, we will have to see Friday evening. I have misplaced or thrown away the paper on which I wrote down the motel we are staying at Sat. night; so I need to get with it and start hunting or calling to find where we are staying.

I am trying to be busy cleaning house, washing windows and getting things looking good by Saturday afternoon. Our hired man mowed the two south yards and around the other buildings yesterday. (yea!) A missionary couple and their children who have been in Afghanistan for about 3 years and who our church helps support are staying overnight with us on Saturday. We are really looking forward to meeting them and having them come to our church.

All the details of painting the utility room and kitchen are done. Bedrooms get attention next. I also have several bears I need to get made. I have been spending time goofing off and had better get with it.

The orphan kittens are doing well. We gave one to our hired man; so have three. They certainly know what it means when I come out the door with a dish in my hand. The bucket calf is growing but will not drink water on his own - he has to be taken and fed. I am still feeding him milk replacer but that is coming to an end soon. We certainly seem to find things to keep us busy.

The week in review

This past week went somewhat better although something of a rocky stat on Monday. First I let a horse step on my foot and you should have seen the colors and swelling that produced then a tractor blew a rear tire and I walked in range of a falling metal ladder and got 8 stiches on the back of my head. Good news though I got a discount when they didn't have to shave the area. So Monday wasn't too great. It was Wednesday before the buffalo items all got back where they should be and we had a real nice rain of 1.20 here and 1.50 in Lane County. So the week turned out to be a blessing after all. The emergency room people and Bob and Ann are on a first name basis (of course we know them all anyway) but we have the routine down pretty well. I think that was the fourth visit this year. 3 for me and 1 for Ann. (knee, arm, and head and heart for Ann)-pretty well spread around don't you think. All's well that ends well- right. Bob

Life on the ranch

The last few days have been the pits on the cattle front with 1 bull not staying where he belongs(3 strikes and he's out) and trouble with a neighbors buffalo over in a Lane county pasture. That's what I said BUFFALO and a BEEFALO. They were in our cows Tuesday and I asked the neighbor to remove them and he informed me he would when he got ready to do so. Russel and I managed to drive them off Tuesday evening and knew they would be back. Wednesday afternoon sure enough. Not only that but we had some injured cows. so I had the sheriff's dispatcher call the neighbor and he informed her the same as he had me. Thursday morning Russell and I headed over early and I visited with the Ness county sheriff and asked him to come out and he agreed. As soon as we got there the neighbor had 2 pickups running things and soon another. They did get the big old bull out but only into an area of trees and brush where he held up. They neighbor's hired girl quickly drove up to me and said "we didn't hit your cow but Edwin ran about 6 or 7 off a cliff the day before. Western Kansas is not all flat but can you imagine doing that to your neighbor's cows. Anyway we removed our cows and got the beefalo cow to leave and put our cows back. Last word was that they were going to tranqalize the beasts and haul them to a corral. We hope they got that done. They wrecked one pickup not to mention all the tracks and spins that will be in the grass forever. The sheriff talked to the man and informed him he will at least be liable for a veterinary bill and that the sheriff would testify on our behalf in court if necessary. The girl employee said she would too. Such is the trials of life. Please pray for a peacefull and complete resolution to this tribulationl .
I do plan to finish wheat harvest this afternoon after attending a neighbor ladies funeral.
Enjoy the day all of you.

Kittens

Jackson really enjoyed the kittens when he was here. One day he was taking one of them for a ride on the tricycle showing it around.

This is the cactus on the patio. It bloomed for three weeks. The kittens have not bothered it at all. The spines (thorns or whatever) are really sharp. There was a bug impaled on one of them.

This is from when we were in Grand Junction. Bob, Cheryl, Dorie & Gary. They have a lot of beautifully blooming rose bushes in their yard.

We have four orphan kittens on our patio. Their mama was probably gotten by a coyote; so I brought them to the house to take care of them. I had them in the house about 4 days and that was it! I got tired of milky pawprints all over the floor. Out they went. They are growing and lots of fun to watch. They climb up the screen on the patio door, pounce on each other, chase each other and climb through the hole in the patio wall. Great entertainment. However - they also like to lay in the flowerpots and have killed half the plants I had on the patio. I saw one using a flower pot for a litter box.
Sorry you have to look at Jackson sideways. The paragraph about the kittens was supposed to be first. Maybe I will get this figured out sometime. I thought you might also like to see a picture of the Alstatts.

1.40 " here at home-biggest rain in 54 weeks!! Less down south-none in Lane co. and don't know about Logan Co.

It's Raining!!!!

It's raining-it's raining-it's raining- Praise the Lord!!!

This may not fall into order but we are trying to learn. we ran into green wheat today so I actually came in early(before dark). I'll try to wait until Monday to try again but that may be hard. Harvest has been somewhat better than we thought it might be. Yields have ranged form the upper 30's to the upper 70's on one field.
Tomorrow I get the cast off-yahoo!!. It's really been uncomfortable when it's so hot. Yesterday I had a dime sized skin cancer removed from an ear so ann is playing nurse caring for me. I plan to get to look at my cows tomorrow for the first time in a week. Cattle get shoved to the back during harvest-hopefully the bulls are all where they're supposed to be and the windmills have been pumping-they all have other water as well.
Ann and I wish you all a happy and safe 4th..