Our water is not drinkable due to bacteria. We found the reason why. There is a cottonwood tree four feet from our well. It's around 100 feet high, 4-5 feet wide, and around 50 years old. According to a tree specialist, it has "slime flux" disease, and in his words is a "monster cottonwood". The challenge is how to cut it down without spending a fortune. I know we'll have plenty of bonfire wood. Explosives were suggested, but we do need to keep the house and well intact. My 20" saw won't cut it (pun intended).

So I (Pat) bought a chain saw, because you need one on a farm to cut firewood. Everyone knows that. Chain saws are cool. Period.

There was reportedly a farm cat on our place that is hard to find. She found Hannah and led her to a litter of three kittens, maybe 2-3 years old. The girls love them! Should be less mice around in a few months.

Did you know hogs can predict storms? We were told that if we smell the hogs (from the farm over the hill) that a storm is coming. So far that's held true. Who needs weather.com ? ;)

We moved in June 2011. The carpet and wallpaper is not our taste. We have gotten to hate carpet anyway. It never comes clean, holds allergens, etc. So with help from Mom and Dad Double, and church family, we ripped it up. Found some congoleum in the bedrooms. Beautiful wood floors underneath! Unfortunately the living room floor has a patched hole, likely from the original chimney. In any case, wood floor with new paint and the place looks much better.