June 11

Pizza night last night was kind of a bust. Only about 25-30 pizzas. There was actually only a little rain between 4:30 and 9:00, but it rained pretty much the whole afternoon until then. Some did come anyway, and I think it was a good ease-into-it kind of night for Cynthia. Lots of down time is a little boring though. The time goes much faster on a 100+ pizza night, even if it goes until 10:00-10:30.

As usual, the day was spend prepping ingredients and the yard. With 3 of us for the first time this week, it went much faster than normal. We actually got a break between 1:45 and 3:30. That gave me a chance for a quick nap and a shower before evening chores at 3:30, and starting to roll out dough at 4:00.

Fridays are a late-start-day. Poured down rain most of the night, and well into the morning. Somehow got my jeans wet through my completely unattractive rain pants. What's up with that? Then, we headed into the kitchen for a jam session. Strawberry-Rhubarb, to be precise. 48 pint jars and 52 half-pint jars. Then, blessedly, done for the day. (I can now fully appreciate the concept of a "summer kitchen" because, the sun did come out this afternoon, and the air became quite warm and sultry. As the weather guys like to say in August: Hazy, Hot and Humid. Yuk.)

Went into Winona to hit the Walmart to buy (among other things) my new grandchild it's first teddy bear!!! Would have dropped by to see A&K and extol the virtues of having close-in-age cousins, but they are in Janesville at K's sister's wedding. ;-)  Congrats, Molly & Robert!

I'm staying at the farm this weekend. I have a grad party and a wedding for NEXT weekend, so I thought I'd save a few $$ in the Explorer. (My last tank got 19.5 mpg. Better than the Wrangler, but still pathetic.) Just checked into the possibility of Amtrak or Greyhound, and it's actually about the same in price as the1/2 tank of gas I'd use driving. Amtrak is a bit cheaper, but they are close.

One more picture before I leave you all: The chickens came back from their "field trip" today: