Well, we continue to slog on in search of summer. We are continually plagued by heavy unexpected showers and plain old rain. You need three dry days to bale hay and it's just not happening. First cutting should be all done by the first part of June at the latest and I know some farmers who still have first cutting to do.We have done some second cutting hay but it really should have had another day to dry.

The dampness isn't helping the corn or beans either. They need heat to use up the moisture. There are lots of aphids on the soybeans. We are lucky that we have lots of their natural predators- lady bugs.

The cattle are enjoying the constant pasture regrowth and scarcity of flies. So I guess there are pros and cons.

Mary and Jim were in a really big 15K race. They both finished with excellent times. They ran with a group from the beef industry and got nifty running shirts featuring beef.

Things are quiet in town with one big exception. One of our diner regulars had a story he'd rather not have to tell. He woke up early one morning to find a burglar in his house. Fortunately, the intruder fled without a physical confrontation. The police have still not located him. We don't expect this sort of thing in rural America and are poorly prepared to deal with it. Most of us are from a mind set that remembers when there was no need to lock up.

Other than that things are quiet.