OCTOBER : THE BEST MONTH !!!

Hi everyone !

I have lots of news so I better get started. First, we found out a week ago that Brandon, our neighbor boy, has been taken out of his auto mechanics classes. His grandmother 'got tired' of taking him to the high school in Mountain City everyday, He can ride the bus in the morning , but his classes are over at noon and she didn't want to drive the 60 minute round trip to pick him up everyday. It may have more to do with the cost of gas. So, basically his life learning is over. one more statistic. It's sad.

But since Brandon has so much free time he has been hunting. Yes, and he shot his first deer last weekend. He was very excited and proud and scared when he came to ask for Dudley's help. That's what folks do around here, depend on their neighbors for things like that. The next night he went hunting again, and shot a coyote. so maybe he will be able to put food on the table at least even if he will struggle for a living.

There are two less raccoons here on the farm. the trap is out tonight and may stay out until we are convinced that we have gotten all the little thieves. The swans are happy that they have food now, Dudley is happy that he doesn't have to clean out the feeder, and fill it everyday, and I am happy because I can sleep thru the night without hearing then tearing up the feeder. I hate to kill any animal, especially when you don't plan on eating it, but we had to make choices, hopefully we won't have this problem again.

We are getting ready for winter here. We split more wood this weekend and are weedeating the fence line etc. The garden has been mowed over and the birdfeeders filled. We ended up with 6 butternut squash from the garden, not a good year overall. Thank goodness for grocery stores or we would starve ! But, then we have Brandon !

I still love my days at the school. I love the kids and the teacher has given me alot of responsibility. I have a group of low achievers that I work with and of course help with the general running of the classroom. 25 little ones is a full time job, they are never quiet, still or calm for any length of time. I tie shoe laces, wipe noses, button, zip and band aide all day! I make them say please, thank you , I'm sorry, and excuse me. Strange words to most of them, But the world needs alittle more civility don't you think? We have a field trip coming up to a corn maze..Can you imagine them getting lost in a corn maze, remember Allison ? I thought we would never get out ! Yes, life is simple in Kindergarten, but really the issues a five year old has in Kindergarten are the same as the ones we face throughout our lives, jealousy, anger, frustration, insecurity, relationship problems and incontinence !

Well, guys, I love you and hope you have a great week! Enjoy the Fall weather ! Sandi