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The playground and Cottonwood Park-
now affectionately called Lake Cottonwood.

What a month it has been!  Visitors at the end of March through the beginning of April  (daughter, nieces, nephew, mother, sister in law); Parish Nursing class (passed and receive my certification); a Sweet Sixteen birthday and new driver (passed her test on the first try!); drive to and from Madison to pick my forensian (who scored a 25 of 25 in the category farrago); prom (she looked beautiful); the St Bernard was called for his breeding services ( I received quite a lesson in dog mating!) and nearly a hundred seedlings are growing rapidly in the makeshift green house.   We also had flooding, snow storms and 80 degree weather in the last month.



Yes Cathy, Toby is a BIG dog!

Visiting with my family was awesome! I love seeing the farm through the children’s eyes.  What I have come to see as routine they see with wonder and awe.  My nephew was so afraid of the dogs, and rightfully so.  Standing as tall as a three year old can he stood eyes to big nose and teeth.  By the end of the weekend Richie commanded the dogs to sit and stay and they did.  (With a few secret hand commands from me.) Rick gave us a ride in the small trailer pulled by the ATV all around the property. What a treat!

Granny, Caroline and Jr. on the trailer ride....where's Richie?

Ellie and Maddie are not only fun to have at the farm, they are a huge help. They fed the chickens and collected eggs without any help from me. One afternoon when I had to go to town I found the girls helping Uncle Rick. They prefered to stay and help with the log splitter and stacking wood.  They also help with cooking and washing dishes. All my nieces love making smoothies when they come to the farm.  Caroline’s recipe is awesome.  Along with the yogurt, banana, frozen strawberries and milk, she insisted we add chocolate ice cream….yum!

My oldest, Maggie, could only stay for a few days.  We had fun catching up and comparing nursing school stories. She will make a fine nurse. It was so hard to say good bye.

About a week after everyone had left the farm, I received an unusual call from our dog groomer.  A person had called looking for an intact male St Bernard.  The female had rejected the male picked out to mate with her and the owner had a small window of opportunity to breed his dog.  I spoke with the owner at length and decided I would meet them and “Macie”.  Macie is a beautiful dog and appears to be good with kids. However, after the rejection of the first male, the family was a little concerned about our dogs meeting.  When Macie was led out of the house, my dog Toby was happy to meet a new friend.  Macie wasn’t so sure.  After a lengthy introduction they began to sniff each other and tails began to wag. Toby demonstrated all the behaviors of a pup wanting to jump and play.  Just as his nose got to Macie’s back end Toby put his head down and began to whimper. Of course this is normal mating behavior but my dog did not know this.  He immediately looked up at me as if to say “What is this all about?  Why am I acting this way?”  Needless to say, Macie’s tail went up and … well Toby should be a proud papa at the beginning of June.  I am glad to say there are 6 families waiting to adopt Macie’s puppies. The family promised to call when the puppies were born so I can see them.



Morgan and Ande showing off their not so fancy footwear.
Heels were donned at dinner.



This was a big month for my youngest daughter.  Ande got her driver’s license and attended prom.  The weather was so nasty. The student’s wanted to have pictures taken outside near the Mississippi River. The evening of prom it was 35 degrees and wind blowing at 25 miles an hour. The river was at flood stage. After my class in La Crosse, I met Ande and her friends at the park.  We took pictures and they went on to dinner as I headed home. I chuckled to myself as I reflected back to Maggie’s prom compared to Ande’s. Boys wore tuxes, many kids rented limousines and dinner was at the most expensive restaurants.  Ande was just as dolled up as her big sister…hair, nails, dress, shoes…but her date wore a black shirt and his FFA (Future Farmer’s of America) black pants.  All the FFA kids have black pants for showing their animals.  Their transportation was a farm pick up truck.  I think I saw a stray ear tag for a cow, 3-4 Mountain Dew cans on the floor and though I would like to turn a blind eye, I am sure a saw a Copenhagen chewing tobacco tin on the dashboard.   They went to Old Country Buffet for dinner. Ande said, “Sometimes we are so hick.”

I planted all my herb seeds and a new variety of tomato.  The basil, marjoram, dill, lavender and sage are all sprouting.  Rick helped me set up my workshop as a temporary green house. We have some grow lights and a space heater to keep the temperature about 60 degrees. The smell of damp, warm soil must be the best scent of the spring…..

If spring would only arrive….