July 12, 2008 

 n my way back home this morning, I noted alot of woodstoves which had smoke coming out the chimneys. I got worried. On my travels I heard that there had been freezing and snow in the 'not so much higher' elevations. My worries were laid to rest when I got home after work at 6 pm tonight and my garden was 100% perfect. The squash, pumpkins and such would be the most vulnerable, but they look very happy and some of them are even starting to flower. 

I did note that someone had snacked on my strawberries by the porch. Not just the strawberries themselves, but the plants as well. At first I blamed a deer which had indeed eaten the lower branch leaves off my best apple tree a few days ago, because I spied 'Crystal' in her stall. Then minutes later when I went to check on everyone, I heard a "suspicious" goat voice where it should not be and noted the darling milk goat was not where I had last seen her a minute and a half before. Darling 'Crystal' managed to get the very bottom rail out of the tractor-gate and both she and I are lucky she had not made it as far as the garden, just the house and back up to the barns. She came to me when I called her name and then I opened up the rest of the gate to pop her back in the barnyard corral. 

I am having the Avocado soup for dinner again as it is quick and easy to make and just sound of it appealed to my taste buds. It was an easy quick fix dinner while I am still collimating and stapling the magazine together. I have determined I will be hiring one of the local self advocates looking for a job on the next printing in September. I have met many of them through my job and I feel that they will do an excellent job and give them employment, where it is difficult to find work for themselves here in this town. Too many people do not give these people a chance. I have two people in mind, one of which I have known 5 years and she is very responsible. This bit of '20 minutes of time I have here' and this 'almost two hour block there' are just not cutting it to get these magazines done. That will free up more time for me, keep things on track and help someone out as well.