Farm Report

Had another drought this year and it's extended way into the fall and winter.   When we have nothing better to do we go down and watch the pond drop lower and lower.  It's getting serious.  Hasn't been anywhere near this low since it filled.  Fish are starting to get nervous.  If it drops any lower we'll have to downgrade it from pond to puddle.  If we don't get some rains this winter we may have to commit fishing with serious intent this spring.  Wouldn't want to see them go to waste.  Garden did OK.  Only really bright note is that Trish's war on the thistles is progressing well.  Happened last year, happened again this year.   We're a hoping it's not a trend.  In case it is, Trish is building a cactus garden.   She's made me haul the rock.  I swear I've hauled enough rock to build a house.  And you know rock, it ain't exactly light.  Trish continues to tend to her bluebirds.  The mealworm ranch is history.  So far we have five nesting boxes up and generally we see 1-2 broods raised from each one.  A little wren has taken a liking to our barn.  She's nested there the last two years--this year in a coffee can on the shelf.  It was a real pain not to inconvenience her.  She has a dickens of a time getting her babies to leave the barn.  They tell her, "No way Jose, it's a cold cruel world out there!"

Perot Report

Perot continues to be spoiled rotten into his old age.  Get 'em young and train   'em right is sure a good adage.  I'll know better next time.  He will not appreciate what a lucky dog he is!

Home Report

We had an another pre-Christmas snow this year, this year it was coupled with ice.  A glazed world can be so pretty and yet so damaging.  But we've had a lot worse.  The weather has been quite nice except we so desperately need   rain.  We welcomed two new arrivals:  Little Blue and Speedex.  Little Blue is doing just fine and is starting to play with his older brother, Big Blue.  And Speedex gets along just fine with Jubilee and Craftsman.  We made our yearly pilgrimage out to Colorado  last summer to visit friends and attend a music festival.  It'd been a long time.  It was different, it was nice.  Went out to visit friends in Colorado for several days.  That was nice.   A group of us have become minor  local celebrities by picking and grinning every Thursday evening at the US75.com.   We draw rave reviews from our loyal audience of one or two.  If you're ever in the neighborhood on a Thursday night, drop in and give us a listen.  Mp3s are in the works, but no contracts are pending yet.  Keeping the house from falling down around our ears seems to be a continuing battle.  Sure hope we can unload this turkey when Trish retires.  New Year's Resolution:  We will learn how to weld.   New Year's Inevitability:  Trish will now become a Great Aunt literally instead of just figuratively.   Life goes on!