Good evening everyone !

Another wonderful day here on the farm, since it did not rain today, I decided to mow the fields. We have to mow often because the grass gets so high I can almost not get through it on my John Deere. I figure another month of mowing and weed-eating and then that will be all until April.

I am including a picture of the beautiful Northern Hibiscus that blooms in August. Every year these huge, dinner-plate size fuchsia flowers show off. They always remind me of NANA because she planted them years ago, and I'm so glad she did. When we had the remodeling done on the house, I dug each one of them up to protect them from the construction. Then I placed them in and around the house and even by the old barn and ponds. They are quite spectacular and can be seen from the road.

Dudley has completed his cooking course, and has out done himself !! He came home with left overs of the main courses that he will fix next weekend for us. There was Sea Bass with butternut squash gnoche and sauteed Swiss chard, Kobi flank steak with tempera vegetables and risotto, A pork chop stuffed with prosciutto, sage and swiss cheese, served over stone ground grits and molasses collards. and last but not least, Roasted Herbed Pheasant with whipped potatoes and sweet apple cranberry relish. I think we need to start a B&B don't you ? anyway, next Sunday evening will be fun with our friends at the resort as Dudley will cook for us.

The bear is back ! The grapes have been decimated by him, large bites taken out of our ripening butternut squash and the apple tree plundered. And then to add insult to injury...he leaves a big 'calling card' claiming the garden as his own. Nana and Papa used white twinkle lights around the garden to keep animals out, we may have to resort to that . Then we would really look the part, Christmas lights up all year round. We'd fit right in around here.

Cudos to Allison, Tom, Brian, and Desiree....Keep up the good work. your hard work now will pay off later-- we promice. LOVE YOU MUCH!!! Sandi