A month gone, just like that!

It's been a busy month, not only with the house, but with farm work, graduations and Girl Scouts. I doubt it will be much quieter for the next month, so I thought I really should stop for a few minutes to update everyone on our progress.

Quote from Charles: "Those people on Extreme Home Makeover really misrepresent how long it takes to build a house. I thought we'd be at this stage by about Day 12."
All the windows have been installed in the house, as well as the roof trim and ridge cap. We bought our windows at a Habitat for Humanity Rehome auction about three years ago, thanks in most part to the auctioneer, my cousin John Potts. Our windows used to be in the hospital in Henderson (KY)and only cost us $130 TOTAL, for about twice as many windows as we need. Each one was taken apart, cleaned and the corners resealed with silicon. And considering they've been in the barn all that time, they look like brand new.

May on the farm means it's time to bring in the hay and put out the garden. My vegetable garden was nearly doubled this year to get ready for ramped up production. The new part will take a couple of years to condition, but it's nice to look at. The weather really heated up this spring, with days already in the 80s and 90sF. Seedlings really struggle to get started, but we're getting there. I still have to put in some tomatoes, peppers, egg plant and basil. And I'd really like to be done by today! We're also receiving three new beehives from some good friends that are moving to Malaysia soon.

We did a deal with a neighbor and he cut and baled hay for us. About 5 acres of hay gives us 185 bales of about 70 pounds each (or nearly 13,000 lbs total). In return, he gets to cut a further 20 acres for his own use. It may sound a little unfair, but considering the time and fuel it takes us to cut those 5 acres, we came out winners! The only problem was his timing was off - he started baling hay at about 3pm on Saturday. So we had about 3 hours to haul in those 185 bales, get cleaned up and at Graduation by 6pm. We made it, but it was hard work!

I attended both Union County Middle and High School graduations last week. Three of my Girl Scouts - Ashley, Gretchen and Katelyn - will move up to the high school next fall, and Ashley's older sister Kristen graduated high school. I don't think I've been to a high school graduation since I graduated, and it was nice to see so many people attending.