Good cool morning from the Knolltop. It’s clear and cool here in Southern Michigan.

It was a busy weekend on the farm. I had three of the kids with me in the pasture picking up old boards from broken fences that had been repaired. We had a great fire and of course we roasted marshmallows. Can you have a fire without marshmallows? I didn’t think so.

Then we watched a little bit of the MSU-OSU game but had no problem tearing ourselves away from the TV to go to the barn when OSU was up 21-0 in the first quarter. I didn’t even want to listen on the radio in the barn. But at least we lost to a good team….not like Michigan losing to Toledo last week…..in the big house! I loved it.

Today is parent-teacher conferences so we’ll so see what our kids have really been up to in school. And I think we’ll sort through some clothes to give away to the Goodwill. I can hear the sounds of overjoyed children in the background over the thought of cleaning and sorting! YIPPEE!

Good Morning from a cool, cloudy and still dark Knolltop!

It’s been confirmed, JW did hit another deer and now my van has a bigger dent in it. You know, most people would be embarrassed to drive that van around the way it is…but not me. Today, Sarah and I will head north to the MSU Pavilion for the Great Lakes International Draft Horse show in that van. I’ve never been one who was impressed with cars. Tractors? Yes. Cars? No. So I’ll probably be the only one driving it until we get it fixed.

Okay, now for the update about the Jerseys that Threecollie, from Northview Diary in New York asked for yesterday. They are getting along just fine, although they like to play around when going to their stalls. The Holsteins head straight for their spot…they know a manger full of food awaits them…the Jerseys like to wander by their stalls, maybe peek in, take a step in the right direction and then duck back out to see what everyone else is doing. Most mornings, I can find humor in this game but on the mornings when I’m tired, I’m not interested in playing.

They are testing pretty well, but we’ve got some Holsteins that have a higher test…Holly being one of them! So, as it goes, they are now well adjusted and cooperative.

Since I was on a dead run all day yesterday and I didn’t get my column written, that task awaits me! And then we’re off to the big show!

By the way, Luke’s team beat Sand Creek last night…..in a very good game and Luke scored a touch down and then turned around and made the extra points!

It was a busy day for sure yesterday and promises to be more of the same today here on the Knolltop. It’s kind of overcast, still and cool, like 48 out this morning. But from Pyrovu’s post it sounds like I’m living in the promised land!

Honestly, I don’t think I would be too happy waking up to all that snow in October! We don’t have the storm windows up (yes, this old house still has storm windows) and the barn is far from winterized! You guys in Montana can keep your snow! I’ll keep looking over the pretty leaves turning here in southern Michigan.

Yesterday I traveled up to my parents house to pick up some hay and the time I was dreading of having to drive an hour and a half was actually so nice because I had time to think while I enjoyed the beautiful fall colors….it was like my very own color tour!

I just got off the phone and it seems my van is a deer magnet! JW just called to tell me they hit another deer on the way to school…..EVERYONE IS OKAY! It’s just another dent in the side of the van. This has never happened to me before! So, unless he’s pulling my leg…….I don’t know….we’ll see. I have to go pick it up to take it to the body shop this morning, so I’ll know more then.

I’d better go, this day is not starting well. Actually it sounds like I need more prayer time!

Good Morning from a cool, clear and sun not peeking through Knolltop!

It promises to be a busy day here, I’ve got to get an estimate on my van, then head north again to get the hay and hope the truck doesn’t give me anymore problems. I guess I should look at those problems as learning experiences….I actually feel more confident now knowing what to do if it over heats!

Then back home to cook dinner, chores and Sarah has a volleyball game tonight.

Okay, now we have a new feature on this blog….I just realized it’s available…it’s my follower option. I’m not sure how it works, but I can list people who follow this blog on the left hand side. I only found it because Erin, a fellow blogger and mom in Montana registered as a follower. So I added that option to the blog. I think if you click on “follow” you can register as a follower and put your picture in. I still haven’t figured out how to get Erin’s picture there….but I’m working on it. So if you want other people to see you’re smiling face on my blog…then register!

Okay, it’s time for breakfast and then I’ll start my sprint through the day!

It’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon here on the Knolltop!

I got slightly side tracked this morning on my way to blogsville. First I got a call from Trent to be on Rural Route and of course I said yes, who wouldn’t?

Then I got a call from my dad saying he had baled some fourth cutting that was a little wet and needed to be fed up….of course I said, Yes, I’ll be there this morning to get it!

Then on my way to my parents, the truck overheated and I had to play mechanic and of course I said, Yes, I’ll open the radiator and pour in some anti-freeze all the while getting step by step instructions from my husband.

The real victory is, I got the hood open on the truck, found the radiator cap, opened it up, didn’t get burned, poured in the antifreeze, closed the hood and went back home to safety! I hate being alone when my vehicle breaks down. Now there’s a story I’ll have to share sometime….broken down on I-96 at midnight….alone!

Oh, yes and I forgot to share the news that my husband has shared with everyone he talked to today….I hit a deer last night with my van. Killed the six point buck dead…..it sent Jake into hysterics and once I got him settled down for the night Bobby got him all riled up again while praying for “Maw, the deer killer and that poor little dead buck out there.” The wailing and moaning cranked up again and it took a good 5 minutes to settle the little animal activist back down! My new name is now “deer slayer.”

By the way, the van is a little crunched, but still running and will be in the repair shop before long.

Since I had a vote to start my blog off with what’s happening out my window, I will refrain from dragging my poor sorting and organizing skills into this blog and only report on the cool clear morning here on the Knolltop without saying a word about the walls that need to be repainted and the pile of stuff still sitting behind me.

Before I say another word, I have to say Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian friends….especially to Rustico, the Jersey fanatic! (Russell Gammon, Exec Sec of Jersey Canada, aka the consummate promoter of the Jersey breed and someone I’m glad I met over two years ago when I happened to pick his table to dine at when I sat down for the banquet at the Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, MI. Sitting between Russell and Trent Loos that evening made it one of the most memorable banquets I’ve attended to say the least!)

So glad Trent was brought up today, he apparently thinks my views are not normal. Duh? You finally just figured that out Trent? Last Friday on Rural Route, the three amigos, Trent, Kyle and Duane, were discussing fashion. Yes, that’s right, three men who make their home on the Great Plains who’s wardrobe consists of cowboy shirts and Wrangler jeans were acting as if they knew something about dressing their daughters. They were actually only giving their strategies on how they’ve kept their daughters modest in their clothing choices. All three are doing a great job as dads, from the sounds of it….so I have to give them that credit.

Well the conversation turned to women in t-shirts with sayings on them. They were wondering if a woman wore a t-shirt with a long saying on it, what did she really want? Was she trying to convey the message? Or was she trying to get men’s eyes focused on her chest? While they were mulling it over they thought they should have a woman’s point of view, since none of them are of the female persuasion. Their discussion then turned to what would Melissa think? Trent said my views would not be the same as the normal woman…Duane commented that Trent must be saying I wasn’t normal and Kyle warned them both, saying that I listen to the show everyday and that they would be hearing from me! Then Trent predicted that I would blog about it…and here we are….blogging!

So, what are my views according to the three Amigos? Kyle hit the nail on the head….he said that I would say that women who wear t-shirts with some message on them know exactly what they are doing and enjoy doing it. All I have to say is that all this time when I was on Rural Route, I thought Kyle never paid any attention to anything I said and I’ve been proven wrong! He was listening after all….thanks Kyle.

Here’s that winning Michigan FFA Team after garnering their hardware at the All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg. From left, Sarah Mann, KT Arndt, JW and Brittany Westendorp. I’m so glad to finally have a picture of these great kids!

It’s a cool clear morning here on the Knolltop. That reminds me…does anyone get tired of my weather reports? I just can’t start this blog without letting you know exactly what’s happening out the window that I’m looking out when I work on the computer. It’s right in front of me…I just can’t help it! But if you all are getting tired of it, I’ll start my entries with something else like….the walls still need painting here in my office/catchall room. Or how about, “My desk is still a mess here in my office where my walls need painting in my office/catchall room. Or maybe you’d like “There is still a pile of stuff sitting behind me, next to my desk that is still a mess in the office/catchall room where the walls still need painting.

Well? I think I’d better stick to the weather outside my window since the piles on the floor and the messy desk and the walls in need of paint will still be like that for the next month or so!

Okay….let’s get on with it…now that you know my surroundings are a total shambles, I have to let you know I find it so much fun when I realize how blessed I really am. Yesterday I was reading some posts of the writing group that I’m a member of. They were talking about writing and the economy and how hard it is to have a steady income from writing unless you have a regular column or other features. I sat back and thought about my own situation and marveled at how truly blessed I am to have a column appearing in several papers and the features I get to write. I can write as much or as little as I want and I’m ashamed to admit it, but I have taken that all for granted.

So, your assignment for the day is to look around your own situation and look for the blessings in your own life. It’s amazing how they start to pile up when we change our perspective!

Now, onto Pryorvu…the wonder gardener in Montana….did you see his comment yesterday? How they are still canning tomatoes and making salsa in OCTOBER???!!! For heaven’s sake, he has put us all to shame here in the Midwest where we get oodles of rain and a what I thought was a long growing season.

This is what I propose….I think Pryorvu needs to start a blog! Wouldn’t you love to see his log cabin in the hills of Montana? Wouldn’t you relish the day to day activity of a real live rancher? Wouldn’t you love to see pictures of this wonder garden? I would! That’s it Pryorvu….it’s time….get on it….start the blog! You could name it “Life in the Pryors!”

One more thing….remember Jericho, the guy I asked you to pray for? Well, God has answered that prayer! He landed a job yesterday and is very excited! So, we give Got the glory and I thank all of you for praying for him!

I took one last shot before Luke went into the ring…notice he was still clean!

Luke and Jake play a minature Connect Four game with the neighbor girl….wow…this fair stuff is exciting!