We mostly only have ranches around us and not farms, so I don't get to see a lot of planting, except for a farm along Hwy 77 just north of Thackerville that we drive past on our way to Texas. I noticed this year that they have something green in one field, and it looks like a legume-type cover crop. That's the first time I have noticed something there at this time of the year that isn't very young winter wheat plants. They also have a big, long, high tunnel I've never noticed while driving by before. It is pretty far back from the road, so may be it has been there and I didn't notice it, but I still think it is new. They've had a great farm with a carefully planned rotation of succession crops grown in a fairly regimented schedule ever since we moved here and they seem to be successful. This fall, though, it looks like they are shaking things up a bit. Change is good. I just don't like planting into stubble in my garden, even if all I do is cut off something right at ground level very closely so you cannot see the stubble unless you are very close to it. This spring and summer I interplanted succession crops while dying/dead winter/spring plants still were standing in the rows. It was okay, but I was really eager for the new plants to hurry up and grow and cover up the spent plants that had preceded them. When I pulled out the tomato plants last week and this week, I used loping shears to cut off the above-ground portion of the plants and left the roots in the ground to decompose over the winter. I haven't always done that in the past but I am trying to leave more plant matter in the ground to rot in place instead of pulling it out, dragging it to the compost pile, waiting for it to decompose and then lugging it back to the garden to put on the beds. I did pull up three tomato plants before I started cutting them off at ground level. One of those three had nemattodes, which was shocking. I've never had nematodes on anything in my garden here. Then I had to pull a few surrounding plants to see if there was a widespread nematode infestation and there wasn't. It was only the one plant. I grew it from seed, so the nematodes didn't come in on a purchased tomato plant. The few I purchased in February for really early tomatoes were completely on the other side of the garden. I'm wondering if I transplanted something from the back garden to the front last year and brought nematodes from the sandy soil out back to the clay soil out front. I may never figure it out. The nematodes might have come in with soil in 6-packs of purchased annual flowers, but if so, why this year and not the previous 15? I've always been happy because the one thing we don't have here is nematodes. I'm hoping this one plant is a fluke, If I find more, I guess I'll start planting Elbon rye as a winter cover crop even though I like clover (and the butterflies' beloved henbit) more.

Boy,am I relieved.This morning at 6:15,I saw Daddy at the box,thought he just might be feeding Mom.I didn't want to check that early in case Mom might be laying another egg.Just now when I came home,I decided to check the box.Dad was in a nearby tree and when I opened the box,there was Mom sitting there all crouched down,nice and cozy.she never even moved.Needless to say,I closed the box quickly and left her alone.I was very relieved and excited.I have no idea if there are more than 3 eggs or not,just happy they are ok.Also on the way back to the house,I walked by a box that has been mounted on the side of the garage for a few years and has always gone unoccupied.My husband mentioned the other day that he saw a bird sticking his head out ,but was unsure what it was.As I walked by,I gently tapped and out came a white breasted nuthatch.How exciting,that is a first for me.Very cool.This box is difficult to open,so I will just have to leave it alone and enjoy.Glad to share some good news.....Jane

Well, as I've told you, I have 5. Never thought I'd see the day, but if you are a softie and you love cats, it happens. Unfortunately, there are so many poor little cats that need us! Each of my 5 is a rescue that I love dearly. I can't imagine not having any one of them. I downsized to a smaller 1400 sq. ft. house with a small yard, but when I did, my main priority was putting up a cat fence, so my cats could still be outside, but be safe and not roam. (Except that I bring them in after midnight, bc I'm afraid of owls) I love it. I can completely empathize with you, bc once you fall in love with them, it's very hard to let go. The key now is to not put yourself in that position again. Any more kittens falling out of the sky into your lap must immediately go to rescue! The vet bills are to be considered. You've already had experience with that, so you know. One of mine fell a year ago and hurt her spine, causing paralysis in her back legs. For 2 months, I had to do physical therapy with her, carry her to the litterbox, give her meds, clean up all the mess from the diarrhea the meds caused, keep her confined so she could heal, and take her back and forth to the vet, but, I tell ya, the day her little tail twitched, starting the road to almost full recovery, was a very happy day for me. The vet bills were over $2,000. Luckily, I had it at the time. I don't vaccinate my cats. I know that I'm running a risk, but since I was a kid, I've had cats and never vaccinated any of them and they've all been fine. From what I've read, vaccinations aren't always considered safe or necessary. As far as the cats all getting along, don't even worry about it; it will happen. Time, love and patience work miracles. I've integrated cats, dogs, and even potbellied pigs -- all with great success. Generally, let them see each other for awhile w/o interacting and while you are loving and holding them so the other can see that this a new, loved member of the family, then supervised visits, all taking as much time as needed. My animals cost me a lot of money, a lot of time and my heart breaks hard when I lose one of them, but in return, their companionship and unconditional love is amazing. My husband let me down, and my friends can let me down, but my animals never do. I can't imagine life without them. I'd rather be considered a crazy cat lady by some narrow-minded person any day than be a cold, hard-hearted person who thinks they know enough about others to judge.

Many children's machines were little hand cranks. I have one that was sold by Montgomery Wards and the little Singers were very popular. I have many machines in my studio (30?), six in our bedroom and about a dozen throughout our main floor. Most of the machines in the studio are display heads and they are on shelves. I don't own beside or end tables--I own treadle sewing machines. 8^) You can see some very out of date pictures of my studio at the link below. Annie Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's studio