I've been hearing the cattle bawling over in the pasture by the big field, so yesterday Fred and I walked over there in between showers to check them out. They aren't as vocal as the herd that was pastured there about three years ago. These did bellow at us a bit, but weren't as interested in us as they were in keeping the flies off themselves. There is a lot of burdock in that pasture and most had thistles thickly matted into their tails so when they tried to switch the flies off they were hitting themselves with clumps of burdock. We felt sorry for them, but they didn't seem to be too uncomfortable.










Up in the field all by themselves, we saw two calves. At least, they looked smaller than the other animals, but it was hard to tell because they were deep in the grass some distance from the road. Fred got this picture with lots of zoom. I think the flies may not have been quite as bad where they were.

There was a strong wind out of the northwest and we wondered how it could be that the fellow who came to test us for a possible wind turbine site couldn't find a spot with enough wind. I don't think I've ever been at our mailbox when there wasn't wind coming from either up the road or across the flat straight at me. It's a lot like in West Danville where the wind whips down the pond and straight through the village even on the hottest day in July. We gave up on the wind turbine, but we've been hearing that the newer ones are smaller and more efficient and take less wind to operate. Seems to me the wind should be put to good use as it passes by.

I picked my first zucchini yesterday. I didn't plant many this year, but it looks as if I'll have plenty. The problem is finding them before they get too big. I always miss a few and then get a surprise when I pull back a big leaf and find a green monster hiding there. My peas are unusual this year, too. I think the vines are about seven feet tall. There are plenty of peas on them, but they lop way over the supports. I discovered some dill growing between the two rows of peas - I don't remember planting it, but maybe it was left over from last year or one seed survived the winter. The dill I planted isn't doing nearly as well as the rogue plant.

Fred has been out with his new weed whacker and it really works well. He's getting ready for his new supply of wood that should be coming any day now. We even have a maple tree that has started to turn in our back yard. It's pretty wet there and it always turns before any others, but it seems even earlier this year. I'm definitely not ready for fall yet, but I know kids and teachers are getting ready to go back to school pretty soon.

Monika's mom will be going back to Namibia in a few weeks, too. We haven't seen as much of her as we'd hoped - Monika had a few difficulties after Tangeni's birth, so things have been a bit hectic. All is well now, though, and both mom and babe are doing just fine.

I was wondering the other day about when the West Danville school closed. I went there for a couple of years when my mother taught there. I will ask Jane Larrabee - she will probably know.