The weather continues to have a lot of influence on our lives here at the farm this season. A week ago

we were sweltering and the end of this week is balmy. What was in between was something else. The two days of storms last Tuesday and Wednesday were amazing. We had a front row seat for some spectacular sights. We only incurred minor damage. We had some small trees and tree limbs down and a few of our crops are showing the effects of too much water. Fortunately, we found indoor space for the interns and guests who were camping and everybody was safely inside during the worst of it.

The bathroom remodel that I mentioned in my last column has been occupying a lot of time and effort.

There have been a few unexpected curve balls during the process, as there always are when you deal with repairs. The whole remodeling crew has really kept after it and the end is in sight. The room looks bright with its new paint and baseboards and the sink and the(heavy)clawfoot bathtub are back in place. There is some plumbing work that needs to done this coming week and we will able to use it after that.

The other work on the farm is also proceeding. Stan has harvested our wheat and there is lots of field weeding to do. Harvesting and processing garden crops is going full tilt now. Canning should start any day and we are still filling the freezer. Chad came over from Dancing Rabbit on several days and built us four very nice solar dehydrators. We have drying vegetables and herbs on every sunny day.

Chad also helped move some of the field work along while Stan was gone.

I forgot to mention in my last column that we have a whole bunch of new chicks and turkey poults. Cedar and Angelina are the foster parents and the new broods are doing very well. Cedar ordered older breeds that are noted for their hardiness and we hope to be able raise our own chicks in the near future.

Jo flew back from California and Ceilee picked her up in Kansas City. She spent a few days with him in Columbia before they both came up to Sandhill late last week. She has been busy helping out in various ways since she got back. She even painted our mailbox, which was beginning to look the worse for wear. Ceilee also assisted with the remodel during the weekend he was here.

After Ceilee and Jo arrived, we had our fifth annual Game Day on Saturday, July 5. This is dedicated to playing as many games as can be fitted into a day's span. Our huge collection of board games was raided and there was even a hot game of Mah Jongg. Many of our members and some Rabbits participated.

We've also had some other nice social occasions recently. Our interns and the work exchangers from Dancing Rabbit had an weekend evening out in Kirksville . Ceilee also went along. We have been to two recent get-togethers at our friend Dan's farm near Canton. A good-sized group went to a party there a couple of weeks ago and then Stan and Pi went over for a "plastering party" to help Dan with the finishing work on his straw-bale apple shed this last Saturday. They stayed for an outdoor cookout after the work was done.

We had a week's visit from one of our 2001 interns, Sylvia. She took a break from graduate school in St. Louis to spend some time with us. It was nice to have her around and she was a big help. She kept her good humor even when her tent and possessions got soaked. We also were visited the 2nd to the 4th by a couple from Michigan, Justin and Holly,with their two young children.

Michael and I did a three day fair in Hannibal July 3 to July 5 during National Tom Sawyer Days. It was a hot three days, but there were huge crowds in spite of it. We stayed with friends of the community, Ned and Jane, at their farm in Payson, IL. They and their daughter Gracie were wonderful hosts and we enjoyed spending time with them. Sandhill also set up for Dog and Gun this last weekend. Josie, Bekka, Sol and I did the honors this time.

Some comings and goings to note during the past couple of weeks. Stan is home again after his trip west inspecting organic farms. Jon drove up to Wisconsin to pick up Angelina and Zoe on the 5th and they arrived home on the 6th. Cedar, Sol, Jon, Angelina, Sklyer and Zoe then took a mini-vacation together in Columbia the 7 to the 9th. Gigi and Renay returned from their family visit in New York on the 9th(the drive back from Ottumwa after being picked up by Stan that evening was more exciting than they would have wished). Laird, Sue and Jo left Saturday evening for Michigan where they will be attending Sue's family reunion. They plan to be gone twelve days. Our intern Mike left Monday July 7 and returned to southern Missouri. We wish him luck in his future endeavors.