Sunday was a dreary and chilly day. We did our chores in the morning and relaxed a bit. We moved out our old washing machine and hooked up a different one. Mary thinks the old one died from doing our barn clothes. It would probably help if we did a better job of cleaning our pockets. There was an amazing assortment of coins and bolts and nuts and even a small jack knife in the innards of the old washer. We have taken a vow to make certain our pockets are empty. The way the economy is going, they will be empty anyway.

Mary had to work until 2PM. We decided that all three of us would go to Mass in a nearby city at 5PM. This is a special Mass for this region to allow those who have had to work etc. a chance to go late.

Before going to church, we had an important duty. As I mentioned earlier, a neighboring farmer had died late last week as a result of a farm accident. His calling hours were scheduled from 3 until 6 on Sunday.

We got there about three twenty and had to park way down the street. The line ended by the NAPA store. We happened to be in line with a husband and wife that have alpacas. Mary has had a Christmas sweater from their store but had never met them. She was wearing it and was glad to have waiting in line. It is apparenty quite warm. I had also sold them a manure spreader that was a bit too small for our cattle. Apparently, it works quite well for the more dainty alpacas.

We have been going to calling hours at this funeral home for years. This is only the second time that we can recall the viewing line this long. What a wonderful tribute to the deceased and his family. We are glad that we live in small town America where basic values and traditions like these remain intact.The weather was quite chilly and damp but the mist hold off until we were inside. The line wound all around the various rooms of the funeral home in a serpentine fashion. It was odd when we saw people who had been considerably ahead in line now standing along side.

We offerred our condolences. A son-in-law had made up a unique green and yellow handout with details of the deceased's life and lots of pictures of him on his green tractors. It was six thirty by the time we left. The line was almost as long as when we got there. So we missed Mass but hope that God didn't mind since the 5th Beatitude is "Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted."

The weather wasn't much better on Monday. I went with a friend to the equipment dealer to look at our square baler. After lunch, the buyers came and we loaded the six Angus and sent them off to their new home.

I was supposed to go to a County Fire meeting tonight but it was postponed a week. It feels good to have an unexpected night off.