Our retirement sale started yesterday and we were simply too busy to write the Farm News.  We had lots of customers who bought lots of stuff and by the end of the day, all 5 of us were exhausted but happy.  I wonder how many times I explained my need to retire and live on this farm without the public every day.  It has been a wonderful 32 years but now I’m ready to retire.  When you are faced with that “retirement” decision and can’t make up your mind, you’ll know when it’s the right time because it won’t be a hard decision and you just know in your heart you’ve done the right thing.  The 20% sale goes through Saturday the 20^th and then we increase the discount by 5% each week until we close on October 31.

It’s almost like a reunion these days in the shop as people come for their last visit and we talk about previous visits with friends and families.  I know I have escorted many kids into the barn to gather the eggs and then I usually let them take the eggs home.  I discovered that lots of kids only know Chicken McNuggets – not real chickens.

Connie and Mary Baker are in Columbus at the Country Living Fair.  They set up their tent today and headed to the Columbus Fish Market for dinner.  Yum!  I will really miss that great food!  On Tuesday we bundled up 83 bouquets of Sweet Annie for them to sell at the fair.  It is a top seller for us along with punchneedle kits.  If you’re attending the fair, be sure to stop at our tent and say “hi” to Connie, Mary Harwood and Mary Baker.

Our weather changed dramatically and we are under a frost warning tonight so I have been moving my plants into the house before they get shocked by such cool temps.  With the sale I have not had a chance to clean them or put them in their proper place – they are all just sitting in the middle of the floor until I can find time to take care of them.  Maybe Sunday????  The lawn will need mowing by then, too.

Moses,Toby and Dakota went home last Monday night and I told Chuck and Tonya that I feel like a grandparent must feel.  I could hardly wait for them to arrive and I really love them but I also was glad when they went home.  Sound familiar?

Remember Bailey, the golden retriever I kept for about 2 months last winter?  She went to live with a customer friend out of state and she visited us today.  Oh my goodness, does she look good!  She is spoiled and loved by her new owners and I couldn’t be happier!  What a lovely ending!  Bailey is living like a queen – as she so deserves.

Colton came home from the vet on Tuesday and was running around within the hour.  You’d never know he had just been neutered.  He really is a sweet cat and I guess he must have been destined to live here.

Remember when Rick moved the carport to the grove?  Well, now he’s preparing to set it in place and pour a cement floor.  Here’s his new toy – an auger for the tractor.  Anybody need some post holes dug?

That’s all for this week, folks!  Come to the sale – 20% off until September 22 when we start increasing the discount by 5% each week.  Remember, when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Mary