END OF JULY!

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Summer is half gone and we have been having near record breaking temperatures - lows that is.  It's been down to plus 7ºor 8ºC for the last two nights. At least there hasn't been frost!

I put the "Thank You" as it seems very appropriate after the phone call I got from Dawson on Thursday morning.  He often calls just to visit but this time he had news, "My Dad was in an accident".  Then he quickly reassured me with "But he's okay". For that we are all very thankful - for seatbelts, (that are worn!) air bags and guardian angels.  Greg was on his way home from getting the mail in Milestone when his pickup and a suburban collided at an unmarked intersection just five miles from the farm.  A 911 call brought police, ambulance, first responders and a fire truck.  Neither driver was hurt, other than being shook up and with a few bruises from the air bags..  The vehicles may be "write offs" but they are replaceable.  Not so for drivers!   It is a lesson for all of us drivers, young and old, to be extra careful on country roads.  Just yesterday morning six teenagers, aged 13 to 17, died in a collision with an oil tanker.  Their car failed to stop when approaching the highway from a country road south of Lloydminister, SK.  Some people don't get a second chance.  We're so thankful that you did, Greg, as well as the 18 year old driver of the suburban from Regina.

Laurel sent me this next picture taken in Torquay  -  England that is.

The Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, meets the Torquay Academy Handball team during a visit to open the school in Torquay, Devon on July 22, 2013.  Torquay SK actually was named after that city in England.  Several of our Torquay streets have English names too, such as Devon, Torbay, Tavistock.  There is also a Torquay, Australia.  I had a pen pal from there for a few years.

I was tired of having an old barbeque sitting in front of the deck so it had to go.  Where to put it?  Well, how about out by the gate?  So if you drive by our farm you will see it sitting not far from the Howard Johnson sign beside the two old wagon wheels.  Here's a picture of the recycled item and the sign that Merle made for us years ago.  The kettle was Howard's mothers, the boot was Howard's.  Soon I'll be able to pick cherry tomatoes when I go for my morning walk!  I'll post another picture when the flowers are in full bloom.

Clare took his girls on a crop tour on Friday when they came back from hauling a load of grain to Estevan.  Here's a picture that Jodi took of Clare and Abbey in a field of durum "over east".

It was a treat to have fresh vegetables from the garden last night for supper - beets, potatoes, beans and carrots.  I'm watching the zucchini as I like to pick them when they are about three inches long.  It's hard to catch them at that stage!  Which reminds me,  I think I better go out and do some watering tonight.  On second thought, I think I'll forget the watering.  There's an 80% chance of rain tonight and besides, Sunday is a day of rest.  I'll go and watch a movie instead.

I stayed for dinner at the cafe today as I planned to go to the baby shower for Jaxon Vilcu, son of  Chantel Marcotte and Jeramy Vilcu. I thought I had saved my "fortune" but can't find it.  It said that I would be in a new relationship within the next month.  Don't hold your breath.  Randy thinks it will be a puppy but we will have to wait and see!  The dinner gang had fun teasing me anyway.  Vi just told me "Never say never!" 

 That's it until midweek.  I'm looking forward to going to Jamie's birthday party on Wed. after our accordion group plays that day in Estevan.  Jamie had a party for her friends today so she was busy helping Shauna make and decorate cupcakes.  Happy 6th Birthday, Jamie.  See you on Wednesday!