September goings-on

We know it's been awhile since our last update. September has been blessedly cool with some rain at times. Grass is good for September-cows and calves doing well-we weaned calves from the first-calf heifers and plan to do the mature cows soon as time permits. We are getting some cattle in the feedlot also. The milo and corn really needs warm weather to mature for harvest.(notice earlier I said that September has been blessedly cool). The feedlot pen remodeling project is going- Russell is doing about all of that while I do other things. We cut silage the 3rd of September so we have at least some of the fall harvest done.
I had a very good 6 month checkup with the urologist Tuesday. He scoped my bladder again and every thing was healed and no new growths. He didn't seem to think there was any need to continue followup scopings. ( it's not the most comfortable thing to have done-having a camera slid up you can guess where.)
Our church is ready to begin a building project to add a larger fellowship hall, classrooms and a montrously big kitchen. We have a large youth growth meeting once aweek and feed them a meal. All of us are looking forward to having more room and to be able to enlarge our mission to the youth.
Ann has been busy canning and some substituting and looking after me. We do enjoy life together.

August

We have had an interesting August so far. The first two week-ends we went to out of town weddings. One of my two nephews got married in Manhattan on the 2nd. I was glad to have him finally decide to marry his girlfriend. While in Manhattan we drove around the campus to see how it looked after the nw corner was hit by a tornado. I was expecting a lot of trees and shrubs to be gone. We were pleasantly surprised. The campus really looked good - there are so many trees and shrubs and plants of many kinds on campus! (We don't have that abundance of trees here.) We could see on a few trees where big limbs were gone and a few places where new trees had been planted, but it pretty much looked like nothing had happened. There were a few buildings that needed roof work done and some boarded up windows. The reactor building looked like it needs quite a bit done to it. I don't know what the plans are for it.

The second week-end of August we went to a wedding in Wichita. We drove to Hutchinson on Friday to stay with Jennifer, Jerry, Aubrey, Luke & Jackson. On the way we met my sister at a resaurant in Great Bend for supper. Surprise - there was another couple from Leoti eating there on their way to the same wedding. Eastern Kansas has been having rain. Western Kansas has had spotty rain - our farm not a lot. During the night in Hutchinson, we woke up to rain. When we woke up in the morning it was still raining. My first thought was, "Emily is probably thinking Oh My! Will this ever stop?" The wedding was planned for outside at Botannica. After breakfast we drove down to Winfield to see my mother. It rained on us until a few miles north of Winfield. Then back to Hutchinson. While at the Bernings we were introduced to Wii. Of course, we tried it. The grandkids were better than we were. I bowled better than I ever have at a bowling alley though. Late afternoon Sat. we headed for Wichita. When we got to Botannica, the wedding had been moved inside. It was a good thing because it rained pretty hard while the ceremony was taking place. They had prepared for a hot outside wedding though; the programs were fans that spread out to fan yourself with and they had a bottle of cold water for everyone - not needed though. After the ceremony, after everyone had gotten their food from the buffet, after most people had gotten their cake and the dance had started the electricity went off. One whole side of the rooms was glass, it was not dark outside yet and there were candles on the tables so it wasn't too bad. The bride and groom just went with the flow and visited with guests. A generator was located and the dance went on. We headed back to Hutchinson though so we could visit a while. Sunday we went to church with the Bernings - a very good sermon. After lunch we headed home taking Lane with us. He had been visiting the cousins. Was he ever glad to see his mom!

After many, many days of temps over 100, it turned cloudy in the middle of the month. The temperature dropped and it rained here, there and most everywhere in the western part of the state. We had quite a few days of temps in the 70's. Wow for August! The cooler temperature sure helped the rain to do more good. Pasture grass is growing! It really looks green for August.

Now we are looking forward to a few days in Colorado. Bob is getting his fly fishing gear ready. I have a new fishing pole to hold. I'm making a list and adding and adding of what we need to take. I'm looking forward to getting some Colorado peaches to can and make into jam and of course eat. We are also looking forward to spending time with some of Bob's family. Maybe we will have a picture of a big fish or a string of fish to show everyone (and maybe not).

What's happening!!

We shipped our last pen of cattle this morning so the feedlot is down to 7 head. It's kind of a pain to feed just 7 head so Ann thinks we ought to be thinking about taking care of that. Actually I was looking forward to not starting the feed truck for a couple of weeks. This is the time of year when our customers ordinaryily start asking if we can take some calves so I won't be suprised if our phone rings. We had a great 1.85 rain Wednesday night courtesy of Eduardo and that with the much cooler weather certainly makes for a change of attitude. The rain did'nt make it to the ranch or down to Margie's so weaning calves early is still a probability. We are begining a remodel of some feedlot pens which will take some time here and there.
Ann and I are leaving in a few minutes for Hutchison, Winfield and a friends son's wedding at Botanica Gardens in Wichita. If it's 108 degrees like last Saturday the pastor better be on his toes and get it done in hubba-hubba time. We plan to stay with Jennifer and family of course then drive to Winfield for a short visit with Ann's mother.
We're all looking forward to getting together at Rainbow Lake in a couple of weeks and enjoying the beauty of the Rockies and of course Dick and I plan to catch plenty fly fishing time.
If any of you are so inclined we will be pouring concrete next week and starting welding I hope so we do have two extra bedrooms and I can share my Cheerios in the morning.
Have a great weekend everybody....Bob

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