Thanksgiving is over. We had a great week with both Eileen and Jim home from school. As a real bonus, my daughter Maureen and her husband and two young sons came for a few days.

We are in the fall chores season. The cattle need to be fed and watered which is pretty easy. The pigs continue to grow. They are really quite large. They have their own porcine charm. I'd hate to fall into their pen but on the other hand they seem to like us. The goats are still quite amusing. One was in heat the other day and attracted the attention of a young Lowline bull . That was interesting.

Jim and I went on two major trips over the vacation. I picked him up at the airport at midnight on Wednesday the week before Thanksgiving. By 9 the following morning we were on the way to Indiana. We had purchased a combination corn and soybean planter. We took our fifth wheel trailer. It was a long but successful trip of 1218 miles. We were home Saturday afternoon around 4.

The following Tuesday we went with our friend Verne. He had purchased a 1953 Chevrolet pickup in Connecticut almost to Rhode Island. This trip also went well and we were home Wednesday morning at 1AM after 650 miles. That will be the last of our major outings for this year.

Eileen visited with old school friends and did a great deal of the preparation necessary for a successful Thanksgiving dinner. I had purchased a turkey from a neighboring farmer earlier this fall. I was surprised that it dressed at 23 pounds. You can really taste farm raised food. You don't need all the salt etc you put on non farm food. It just tastes healthy.

Mary and Jim entered a 5k race along with 2000 others on Thanksgiving Day. Jim ran with Mary as a pacer. Mary was delighted to be 2nd in her age group.

We broke in Maureen's boys on chores. They did very well for 4 and 7. They are sure quick learners and eager workers.

I took Jim to the airport Saturday morning for a 6AM flight and he was back in Iowa by 10AM. Eileen joined Maureen and her gang to see the Boston College- Syracuse football game. The whole group had their BC Eagles outfits and were pleased that BC won since Maureen is an alumna of Boston College.

We got Eileen to the airport for a 7:15 flight to Nashville and she was in her apartment before midnight.

So for myself and Mary, it's back to empty nest and her job and my farm chores. It won't last for long as Jim and Eileen will be back in three weeks. I can't wait.