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Thank you to Bill for watching the place and keeping all living creatures and plants watered, fed and happy while I took off for a couple of days to spend some time at a big horse show in Monroe, Wash.

Laurie and I drove back home yesterday afternoon after Barbara's last class AND after a nice visit with my cousin Sue and Uncle Don.

The Skelton family (matriarch was my Aunt Mary Jane) lived on a bluff overlooking the Columbia River when we were all growing up.  

Don worked as an engineer on area dam construction, while Mary Jane taught math at Columbia Basin College.

For a time, my brother Kevin lived with the Skeltons while attending CBC. 

The Skeltons also raised fruit on their farm, which has grown considerably since son Ed took it over several years ago.  In fact, the farming operation has grown enough that workers' housing has been added to the overall set-up, and now there are fruit trees aplenty. 

Sue and her sisters all live in the Seattle area near Don.  After yesterday's visit, I'd say he's doing pretty darned well for a 95-year-old longtime COUGS fan.  It was great to see him.  

Back here at the Lovestead, a pile of hay sits outside the barn door.  This afternoon someone from Harvey's crew will stack it inside.

Unlike most folks around here, we actually had 20-plus more bales of hay than last year's yield on our small field.  So, that was a pleasant surprise.  

Plus, it's good, weed-free hay, so I'll probably have to purchase only three more tons for this winter's supply. 

I'll probably do some picking and grinning today, as blueberries are ripening and my second crop of lettuce is ready to use.  I may even have a couple of cucumbers ready to eat out there in the garden.  Several stalks of corn exceed six feet in height.

It's definitely going to be a good gardening year, and, except for what the deer ate, almost everything edible on the place has outdone itself.  Now, if I can just keep up with it all. 

Twas fun to be away for a couple of days but always fun to come home.  We stopped by the Thompson cabin last night on Lakeshore Drive, and among the crowd was a most welcome face:  none other than Swiss Miss aka Laura, Willie and Debbie's exchange student from Switzerland. 

Yes, she has returned for a visit, and we're excited have her around for the next couple of weeks.  I'm sure it will go by all too fast, as this first day back home for me will too. 

So, I'd better get at it.  Happy Thursday. 

After publishing my post this morning, I went to the garden and found this beauty under the cuke vines.  Can't wait to chill it and cut into it and sample some slices.

Yum.  Love fresh garden produce!  And, because it's fenced in, I get to eat it and NOT the deer.