Random Friday

1.  We had a wonderful few days of cool, sweatshirt weather this week.  I teased Brett that I was going to have to fire up the wood stove.  We burrowed under blankets instead and last night we sighed sadly, as the weather has started to warm up again.  Next week, we will be back in the mid-90s.

2.  Our friend and neighbor, Marv, lost his battle with cancer a few weeks ago.  His wife is planning to move in with her father, who is 90-something and still living independently.  Marv's house, which is across the road from us, will be sold.  Patty offered us the spinning windmill from her garden, which had been a gift to her from a friend, and Brett moved it over this week.  He put it by the front gate, where we can see it spinning from the house, the road and the driveway.  It is right next to the boys' pasture but they don't mind it in the least.  I feel privileged to part of this windmill's history of being passed from friend to friend.

3.  I bought Tex a new fly mask.  The one that he has been using is short and does nothing to protect his nose from the hordes of flies that congregate there.  This morning, with a warmer day on tap, I introduced him to the new mask.  I eventually got it on, but it took me 40 minutes of work.  I didn't have time for my usual cup of coffee before hitting the road, and I was a bit late to work, but overall I'm pleased with how it went.  He is now wearing his new mask and he is okay with it; pleased with himself even - because in the end, he was a brave boy.