Summer is waning fast. Day after tomorrow I go to Abilene for the State Horse Show, leaving here July 26 and returning August 1. Then I go back to work pretty quickly. This summer has been great. I'd hated that we didn't vacation anywhere, and I told Laney I'd call this Ice Cream Summer, and try to make a freezer of homemade ice cream weekly. I've fallen down on that some, only making 4 freezers, but that was better than ever befroe. The season has been best because I've spent lots of time with Josey and Laney. Laney's such a good mother that I sit and marvel at it. Josey has such a little personality of her own already, and I think she knows me and recognizes me now. You can be emy heart melts when she reaches for me!

rain

The community at which I live is called Laceola - once about 80 years ago there was a post office on the corner. This morning we received 2.2 inches of rain! It fell nice and slow, over about 3 hours time, and as of noon the sun had not shone on it yet, so maybe it won't just bake right back out. Thank God.

Josey on Casey for the first time

Josey rode Casey for the first time this morning, and she seemed to enjoy it. I think if she'd have ridden any longer she'd have fallen asleep, which I can remember that her mother did a lot. The saddle they rode today had a high swell so it didn't work well, and we'll use one of the other 2 that have lower swells next time. Yesterday Josey had her 9--month doctor's appointment and got a shot. The doctor came into the exam room and told Laney that Josey is in the 95th percentile in height and weight, and said, "They must have mis-measured her head, there's no way her head is as big as what they measured." Laney told him, "I saw them measure it and I'll bet they're right, we just have big heads in our family." He masured and said, "My goodness, you are right - her head is 48 centimeters, which puts that at over the 100th percentile on our charts!" I wasn't surprised either. When Laney was born she weighed 8 lb. 6 oz, and there was another baby in the nursery with her that weight 11 1/2 pounds - and her head measurement was bigger than his!

our Corgi, Leon

This morning I had to have our Corgi, Leon, put down. We'd have had him 14 years if he'd lived to Thanksgiving. He's been great company and I will miss him terribly. He loved baths and water. When he swam in tanks it always scared me that he'd start floundering and I might drown trying to rescue him. When it got to be stormy weather, he always wanted to get in the bathtub - somehow I think he knew that was the safest place to be in a storm. He was so pretty and so soft to touch. We got him at Rose Palace at the Greater Houston QHA Thanksgiving Circuit in 1995 - when I got him in my hand, I wouldn't give him back to the Snows, I was afraid they'd sell him before I got back with the check. With Laney riding in the arena warming up and them knowing her, they trusted me to bring the check back. Of course Georgia Snow had told me I could register him, but with him being a fluff I learned I couldn't and I'm sure she knew that. I always thought he was worth every penny of the $400 I paid for him, and much more. Marcus Petri always said Leon was my first son, and Marcus said he himself was my other son.

I'm very happy to say that I have a new rug in my den. My old one was so worn and dog-chewed around the edges, I'd gotten so that I hated to have anyone come in the house! Also I didn't like Josey sitting on it. She seems to like the new one, and she stood up on it last night, leaning on me as I sat beside her. I bought it at auction on-line and got it for a good price, I thought -- at www.swicoauctions.com. My problem now is that I've been having to call to try to find election judges for all 8 of the Madisonville voting boxes for next year, and folks are quite reluctant!

wonderful summer

I love these long summer days, though I'd really appreciate some rain. I love being able to go outside at 9 p.m. and it's still light. Sunday I saw Leigh Ann's Rustyn, and he is such a cutie! Josey was jealous, which is no surprise. Last night Nathan git a call at 10 p.m to go haul some cattle so then Laney and Josey came and spent the night with me. I loved having her, but she didn't look rested this morning. We ate lunch at the spot behind the doughnut store, and had a great meal. I've bought a new rug at www.swico.com, and will go pick it up this afternoon, from Tom Gibbs -- can't wait, it'll look so much better than my ancient den rug.

June flowers

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I really love having so many flowers blooming in my yard now!