It's hard to believe that today is May 2nd. The weather has continued dry. Yesterday and today were mid 80's which is rare for here this early.

We had a new lowline heifer calf this week. She has the same dam and sire as the one that won in Denver this year. We hope she has a great future.

We also have what appears to be the world's longest imminently freshening Belted Galloway. This cow was preg checked a month ago and the thought was soon. She's bagged up good and shows a big calf on her side. Talk about how a watched pot never boils. All this waiting hasn't hurt her appetite.

We have heard from the new owners of our last two cattle deliveries. They both report that the cattle are staying home and doing well. That is certainly good news.


I have started Spring tillage. I also bought a used chisel plow at an auction yesterday. It will double our speed in plowing. The auctioneer and the auction host are good friends of mine. They have had a spring equipment auction for five or six years. It's a great opportunity to visit with friends and see all kinds of farm equipment bought and sold. It is definitely part of Norman Rockwell's America. Nothing plastic or artificial here.


Mary got back safely from France and Spain and had a wonderful trip. She walked 102 miles in 7 days along the Camino del Santiago pilgrim's path. That's like walking from here to Binghamton in a week. Then she visited with Eileen in Aix en Provence for a few days and enjoyed the south of France.

Eileen flew off to Dublin for the weekend on Ryanair. As I have mentioned before, Europe is pretty small by jet plane. She toured Jameson's Irish whisky distillery which should have made a memorable 21st birthday. I went to Wanda's bar down the hill from college on foot when I was 18 which was the legal age then.

Jim has his exams this week and we'll meet up next Saturday in Omaha and head home.

I finally have the upper hand on my cold. I truly didn't think I was ever going to shake it. A lot of folks around town have had similar symptoms. None of us can remember such a severe or long lasting Spring cold.

Things are pretty quiet around town. We haven't had a chance to dissect the oil spill at the diner. It sounds like the government is working hard to solve this problem. I hope they know more about oil wells than most other problems that they tackle. The fire department has been quite busy. We were saddened today to hear of the death of a former across the street farm neighbor.

Today was pancake breakfast Sunday at the American Legion. They have really good food and real, not chemical, maple syrup. They have already attracted their first election candidate for the year. A woman running for national office stopped by. As I said, the food is really good which must be why these politicians come by. It can't be to meet the locals since they scrupulously avoid any contact of that type.

The closest we ever got to conversation with these folks was a few years ago. A fellow running for State Assembly sat next to us. All we ever got out of him was " pass the syrup" not even please pass the syrup. We notice he has gotten elected and gone on to greater thongs in Albany where he joined with the rest of his colleagues in being unable to agree on a budget.

It is really hard to understand how all these candidates are going to be champions of the people when they don't even talk to the people. It must just be that their handlers tell them there is good food at the Legion and show up but do not under any circumstances talk to the locals..