8/1/23"A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he gets to know something."

 .10 of rain yesterday.  This morning it is clear, calm and 52 degrees.  Sunny to partly cloudy today with a NW breeze, a high of 72.  Clear tonight with a light NW breeze, a low of 51.  Sunshine tomorrow with a stiff WNW breeze, a high of 76, a low of 51.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with a strong SSW breeze, a high of 76, a low of 62.  Scattered thunderstorms Friday and Saturday.  A light south wind Friday with a high of  68, a low of 60.  A NNW breeze Saturday with a high of 76, a low of 56.  Sunshine Sunday with a brisk NNW breeze, a high of 79, a low of 59. Partly cloudy Monday with a SW breeze, a high of 81, a low of 63.  Scattered thunderstorms next Tuesday with a south breeze, a high of 77, a low of 63.  Possible morning showers next Wednesday with a WNW breeze, a high of 76, a low of 58. Possible showers next Thursday with a west breeze, a high of 77, a low of 59.  Partly cloudy Friday the 11th with a SW breeze, a high of 79, a low of 61. Scattered thunderstorms Saturday the 12th with a south breeze, a high of 79, a low of 61.  Maybe some showers Sunday the 13th with SW breezes, a high of 80, a low of 61.  Showers and thunderstorms to start the week of the 14th with highs in the upper seventies.

   Mondays are quiet because the nursery is closed.  The vegetable stand is self-service.  Jay starts the day filling the stand with fresh picked vegetables.  Bekah waters and does whatever is necessary to keep the plants happy.  Day off or not cows and chickens need to be cared for.

   Our farmhouse cellar is a dirt floor with rock walls.  Often a stream runs through it, a sump pump is a necessity.  Our water is very hard so there is a water softener next to the water pump.  Years ago Darel thought laying the empty water softener salt bags on the floor would give a clean place to walk.  it wasn't a good idea, water and mud overran them.  Yesterday I bagged them up in black garbage bags, hauled them upstairs, put them in the tractor bucket and took them to the dumpster.  A muddy job, I was thankful that I was able to do it.  Dripping garbage bags made a mess of the get together room floor.  It took several buckets of water to get all the mud up. I even had to wash the mud off the front step!  Then I had to wash all the clothes I had on! A neighbor who works installing foam has said he will do the north wall of the cellar.  Now he can come give me an estimate.  My electric panel is outdated.  Now the electrician can come give me the estimate to have it replaced.   They can also tell me what needs to be done to make their jobs as convenient as possible.

    Today is Violet's birthday.  Her seven year old sister Azalea feels very strongly that we need to celebrate Violet's birthday.  And the celebration has to be here at the farm because this was her happy place.  So tonight there will be a quiet family dinner with a birthday cake in Violet's honor.  We may walk down to her grave and admire the beautiful flowers growing there.  Violet would have loved this rainy weather.  Walking in puddles was her favorite thing.

    May God bless you on this day, Sally