Yesterday was clean-up day at Holy Cross.  So Mary-Kate and I went to the school to help.  (if you don't you have to pay extra in tuition).  While we were there we helped clean out lockers.

 I guess Mary-Kate doesn't think this is one of those times when I should have brought my camera.  Mrs. Scheuermann doesn't seem to mind though.

 Every room gets emptied and thoroughly cleaned.  It doesn't look like it will all be ready in time for the opening bell but you never know.

 Mrs. Colllins and her daughter look like they are just glad to be done with their part and to be going home. 

 When we got home then the real fun began.  We had to peel tomatoes and get them all canned before they went bad.  (or someone else brought more to be done.)

 Here is the result of all out hard work.  Twenty quarts of tomatoes.  I truly hope that we get more to do because I am almost out of tomatoes in the pantry. 

As you can see by these pictures of the top of my desk, my days this past week have been spent completing the paperwork for Jason's financial aid for school. 

Many phone calls went back and forth between Vernon and Cobleskill and our accountants.  Then I would work hard at my desk filling out forms.

Finally Friday I drove to Cobleskill to file it all and it was all worthwhile.  Jason was awarded full financial aid and he only has to take out a small student loan.  He even has a grant for books and supplies. 

Thursday we went to Empire Farm Days to check out all the great new machinery that is on the market for farmers.  Not to buy mind you since we have no money to buy with.  So here is glimpse of what farmers do when they are surrounded by all that cool machinery.

They stand there and look.

They look at trucks with their dumps up.  (don't ask me why)

They use lots of superlatives to describe the features of tractors, like "sweet" and "cool".

They look at old machinery that has been resored.  Not to do the work on their farms, mind you, but just to have and to look at.

They look at parts of machinery and discuss the relative merits of V8 engines over V10 engines, and Fords versus Dodges.  (Dodges are better)

They get into machinery and check it out from the inside out, dreaming about driving it.  Fortunately they aren't allowed to drive it there at the show.

They talk about it with everyone and anyone who will.

Then they go home and all the way there they discuss it.  That is what farmers do when they go to Empire Farm Days.  Until next year when we get to go again.  Maybe you will be home and get to go then.

Today Matthew went out to take a picture of Jason's sunflowers in full bloom.  Even though the sky is overcast and they day is gloomy they seem to brighten it up. 

The flowers do even follow the sun through its path in the sky each day. 

Jason even cuts some of the flowers once in awhile and brings them for the table.  They seem to make the sunshine come into the house when we bring them indoors.

Last weekend it was off again to the most beautiful part of the state of New York.  We packed the car the evening before and went to bed with visions of Bald Mountain and Nicks Lake dancing in our brains.  Then very early the next morning we woke up and piled into the car and truck and off we drove into the wild blue yonder on our Adirondack adventure.  First stop, Bald Mountain. 

Everyone climbed the mountain and Mary-Kate was proud to shave 15minutes off her time for going up.  We were so early that the mist hadn't burned off fully from the top of the mountain yet.  What a lovely sight waited for us at the summit.  The whole Fulton Chain of lakes lay below us like a diamond necklace. 

The forest was wearing her loveliest just for us that day.  The air was pure and untarnished by the fumes of humanity. 

Even Matthew was inclined to take a moment to sit quietly and enjoy the silence and beauty that lay all around him.  That is a rare treat for all of us.

The patriarch rested his old bones and enjoyed himself for a change.  We were the only ones on the mountain for quite awhile, for a change. 

Ian and Jason indulged in a little brotherly repartee.  It's good for this old mother's heart to see her son's enjoying themselves and each other.

Then stop for the requisite group photo and then on down the mountain for the next part of our little adventure.

Kayacking on Nicks Lake.  Is it any wonder that power boats are forbidden on this little piece of heaven.  Of course my men provided enough noise to shatter anyones peace and quiet.  But it was all in fun and no one else seemed to mind since all there were having their own brand of fun also.

They had to canoe and kayack out to the rock in the middle (sort of ) of the lake and then go swimming off the rock.  It's not very deep out there.  Even daddy got out of the canoe and ventured into the water.

Jason and Alex enjoy a little of the sunshine.  Everyone came back a little toasted from their day on the water.

This is what I'm talking about.  It doesn't get any better than this.

Ian took his role of big brother and director of fun very seriously all day, seeing to it that everyone had fun and was safe at the same time.  (not an easy task)

Ian, Melissa, and Jason out in the two man kayack and the one man.  They spent a lot of time out there.  Jason likes the water as much as I do, I think.

A little racing going on out there.  Just some friendly competition.  Even mom got into the fun.  I could have stayed out on the water all day long but I had to let someone else use the kayack once in awhile.

Jason really enjoyed himself out there on the water.  I wonder if he was just getting in all the fun he could before he has to leave for school in a few weeks.

Then it was time to pack up and leave for home.  Everyone was tired and sunburned.  But all agreed that they had had a good day and would do it again.

A couple of weekends ago your dad and I decided to run away from home.  So we packed up the car and took off for the Adirondacks.  As you can see by the picture we went to North Pole, New York.  That's where S. Claus does his thing. 

Then on to High Falls Gorge.  What a beautiful sight.  Over 700ft of water falls.  Not 700 ft high but 700 ft of falls.  We walked along the falls and listened to our hearts delight to sound of the power of the water. 

What an awsome sight is the result of water and what it does to the landscape. 

After enjoying the falls and the water we jumped into the car and drove the short distance to Little Whitface Mountain and paid our fare to ride the gondola to the top.  Yes, that's right , I rode the gondola to the top of Little White Face Mountain.  I was all right until the gondola stopped part way up for no apparant reason.  That kind of made me nervous.

What a reward we received when we got to the top.  Such beauty!!!!

Then back to the falls.  My whole family knows that I can't resist the sound of running water. (not the kind where kids leave the faucet running)  What splendor has God placed right in our back yard. 

Jason's sunflowers are in bloom and they are beautiful.  In the spring he asked his dad for three acres of pasture across the creek.  First he plowed and disced the field to prepare it for planting.  He bought the seed with his own money and did all the work in his own time after work in the evening.

We were all curious to see what it would be like to have a whole field of sunflowers growing and blooming all at once.  I was especially excited because the field is visable from the deck of our pool and that is one of my favorite views on our farm.  I like to sit in the late afternoon and evening and watch the deer and turkeys come out to feed.

I have not been disappointed.  The deer still come out and feed in the evening even since the flowers have gotten tall. 

It was dry early on in the season and the plants were slow in coming but after it started to rain in July then they sprouted fast and they grew tall.

They have been spotty because we used a grain drill because we don't have a corn planter which is what we need because of the size of the seed.  But the field is lovely to behold anyway.

In the late afternoon and early evening we like to go out and walk in the field.  The plants are now taller than Jason is.  They are fully headed out and in bloom.  The neighbors go out there too and have taken several pictures of their daughters in the flowers.  It is a happy sight to see those sunflowers following the sun on it's daily trip across the sky.