Things have calmed down a bit so I thought I'd write a little. Last Friday, I flew to Nashville and Eileen picked me up at the airport. She had just finished her fall semester and was heading home with the car. She won't be using the car next semester as she will be studying in Aix-en-Provence, France.

We drove to Dayton, Ohio where we met Jim. He likewise had finished his semester and caught a ten hour ride from Ames to Dayton with a friend. We picked him up and spent the night in Dayton.

Saturday was pretty much an all day ride home in dreary conditions. Thankfully, we missed the big blizzard which was occurring simultaneously just to our east. Everyone was glad to be home.

The cattle continue to be content. We had a bit of a problem today when one of our waterers froze. We got the bulls a temporary supply and we'll fix their system tomorrow.

Things have been a bit livelier at the diner as some of the regulars get in their last licks before they leaver for a warmer climate.

I've mentioned that one of the diner regulars had opened a restaurant just up the lake. He has had to close it since New York State doesn't seem to be able to get around and do the paperwork necessary for him to get a liquor license. You constantly see the smug politicians on television patting themselves on the back for creating jobs. Here is a man that actually created a bunch of jobs and now has to lay off these people because government can't do its job.

We also have a bit of a mystery. Last year I built a gravel road through our barnyard to connect the two fire lanes that are part of the farm. Kiddingly, we've called it Begley Boulevard. When we picked up our mail yesterday, there was a long skinny package. Amazingly, it contained two very official Begley Blvd. street signs ands mounting hardware. We put them up today and they certainly look very official. I have no idea who sent them but thanks whomever you may be.

Speaking of putting up, when the morning sun shines it blasts right through the diner window and hits some of the regulars right at eye level. Our complaints weren't taken too seriously so yesterday one of the regulars hung an old beach towel in the window. When I got there today, the diner owner had bought a venetian blind and the regulars were busy installing it. Of course, the sun didn't shine today. hopefully, it will shine soon so we can all luxuriate in the newly manufactured shade.

The streak has finally ended. Syracuse had enjoyed 287 consecutive days with less than one inch of snow falling at the Syracuse airport. That's 41 weeks or longer than the gestation period of a person or cow for that matter. This morning we had four inches of wet white stuff. Not really enough to plow but I put it on the tractor and took a test cruise. The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is high winds with gusts up to 60 mph. I left the plow on for the season and I'm sure to use it again.

Today also marked the first official day of UPS refusing to drive down our road. You can't blame the driver but the company no longer subscribes to the rain, sleet, hail etc. theory if in fact it ever has. FEDEX on the other hand just drives on down and delivers. We now have to be careful when ordering to request FEDEX.

The cattle continue to be nonchalant about the whole thing. We have lots of feed and that's all they care about.

The diner has perked up quite a bit with the various stories about the golfer in Florida. I have observed very little if any sympathy for him.

Mary and I will be going over to the Beef Group meeting Friday. There is still a lot to discuss and learn about DNA. We both also enjoy the camaraderie of our friends over there.

Both Eileen and Jim will be home for Christmas in a little over a week. Jim had a snow day at Iowa State today as the blizzard roared through. He said it was just like home to see all the snow. The difference is Iowa tends to be pretty flat in places without many trees. The winds can really do a job blowing the snow. Eileen is snug in Nashville remembering that she never did like snow.