It’s a cool, cloudy morning here on the Knolltop. We might get some rain…we might not.

Yesterday afternoon we had three of the four kids at the supper table which is a rare occurrence these days. As we sat and enjoyed BBQ meatballs, baked potatoes, steamed vegetables and bread, the boys talked about the Haunted Barn that the FFA is putting together for the elementary kids to walk through this evening prior to the last football game of the year. Then they asked, “What are you making for the bake sale mom?” SURPRISE!

I quickly replied while searching the empty corridors of my memory of this bake sale, “What bake sale? You didn’t tell me about any bake sale…did you? Please tell me you didn’t tell me so I can console myself that I’m not really losing my mind yet!”

JW and Luke looked at each other and kind of grinned and then flashed their sweet smiles at me and said, “Well, maybe we forgot to tell you that the FFA is going to have a bake sale during the football game….but you will bake some stuff…right?” And then one of them said, “I don’t care what you make, just as long as you out do Mrs. _____”

So, now you know what I’m doing today…as soon as I get my column written that should’ve been done yesterday!

Good Morning from the Knolltop. It’s clear, cool with a little breeze blowing in. It’s going to be another pretty fall day here in southern Michigan.

I went to SArah’s game last night with my BFF Sue and they won! Both the 7th and the 8th grade teams beat Camden and they were pretty close games. They seem to be really improving, I’m anxious for AAU Volleyball to start again next spring so Sarah can improve even more and play more games. But until then we have one more football game, for the varsity and then we have a couple of weeks off until basketball practice begins and Sarah will be the only one coming home after school. Luke will have practice, Jake will be the manager for Luke’s team, so he will stay also and then JW will have practice after Luke’s team gets done. I never thought I’d have to go back to cooking for small groups even though I have a house full!

As Sue and I were visiting last night I told her I was praying that God would lead us to another van after the deer herd of Southern Michigan attacked my best mode of transportation. She suggested I start praying for the van like I did the treadmill. I said, “Duh!” That’s exactly how I should be praying, for a free van! Only I need it sooner than a year and a half….well…at least I think I need it sooner than that. Maybe I don’t.

At any rate, I’m going to start praying for a free van and see how God answers. Feel free to pray along with me….when you stop laughing at my silly request. But when God answers….watch out!

Good Morning from a cool Knolltop! I thought I would share some more pictures, now that I’m getting into this new picture program.
Last week when Sarah and I ventured north to the Great Lakes International Draft Horse Show, plowing was the first thing we saw, and right before this farmer started plowing he was on his cell phone. I tried to capture it, but was too late.

As we walked through the barns we were most impressed with the displays, I mean the horses were nice too, but the displays were so great. We both think we need those curtain things that go around a stall at our cow shows so we could put all of our junk in there and no one would see our mess! They are becoming more and more popular at the dairy shows, but we don’t have one…..YET! This exhibitor was all the way from Texas and they had a great display.

Then we came along these two wall hangings. Oh my goodness! I was so excited to see what someone had done with all of their ribbons! I’ve seen it done before and I’ve always thought it would be a great idea. In fact, if someone who enjoyed quilting ever wanted to go into a business….they could so this kind of custom quilting with a farm’s show ribbons!

I’m on my way to run some errands and then back home for laundry, dinner and Sarah has a volleyball game!

It’s another cool, clear morning here on the Knolltop. The kids have a two hour delay, so it’s pretty calm around here right now.

Yesterday we had parent-teacher conferences and while I won’t tell you all the stuff the teachers said about my kids I will tell you how times have changed.

This year we’ve hired several new teachers and I think my kids have every one of them. So we got to meet all the new educators and see what they were like. Of course, they didn’t know us, so when we walked in I would hold out my hand and say, “I’m Melissa Hart, JW’s mom” and then Bobby would say, “I’m Bobby Hart, JW’s dad” and then one of us would say, “And yes, we’re married to each other…..and we’re also the parents of Luke, Sarah and Jake.”

I never thought I would have to say that, but in this day and age, I feel compelled to explain that I’m married to one man and we have four children….together! How strange is that?

Last night Sarah’s volleyball team beat Hillsdale Academy in a thriller. It was a great game…as great as 7th grade volleyball can get.

Good cool morning from the Knolltop. It’s clear and cool here in Southern Michigan.

It was a busy weekend on the farm. I had three of the kids with me in the pasture picking up old boards from broken fences that had been repaired. We had a great fire and of course we roasted marshmallows. Can you have a fire without marshmallows? I didn’t think so.

Then we watched a little bit of the MSU-OSU game but had no problem tearing ourselves away from the TV to go to the barn when OSU was up 21-0 in the first quarter. I didn’t even want to listen on the radio in the barn. But at least we lost to a good team….not like Michigan losing to Toledo last week…..in the big house! I loved it.

Today is parent-teacher conferences so we’ll so see what our kids have really been up to in school. And I think we’ll sort through some clothes to give away to the Goodwill. I can hear the sounds of overjoyed children in the background over the thought of cleaning and sorting! YIPPEE!

Good Morning from a cool, cloudy and still dark Knolltop!

It’s been confirmed, JW did hit another deer and now my van has a bigger dent in it. You know, most people would be embarrassed to drive that van around the way it is…but not me. Today, Sarah and I will head north to the MSU Pavilion for the Great Lakes International Draft Horse show in that van. I’ve never been one who was impressed with cars. Tractors? Yes. Cars? No. So I’ll probably be the only one driving it until we get it fixed.

Okay, now for the update about the Jerseys that Threecollie, from Northview Diary in New York asked for yesterday. They are getting along just fine, although they like to play around when going to their stalls. The Holsteins head straight for their spot…they know a manger full of food awaits them…the Jerseys like to wander by their stalls, maybe peek in, take a step in the right direction and then duck back out to see what everyone else is doing. Most mornings, I can find humor in this game but on the mornings when I’m tired, I’m not interested in playing.

They are testing pretty well, but we’ve got some Holsteins that have a higher test…Holly being one of them! So, as it goes, they are now well adjusted and cooperative.

Since I was on a dead run all day yesterday and I didn’t get my column written, that task awaits me! And then we’re off to the big show!

By the way, Luke’s team beat Sand Creek last night…..in a very good game and Luke scored a touch down and then turned around and made the extra points!

It was a busy day for sure yesterday and promises to be more of the same today here on the Knolltop. It’s kind of overcast, still and cool, like 48 out this morning. But from Pyrovu’s post it sounds like I’m living in the promised land!

Honestly, I don’t think I would be too happy waking up to all that snow in October! We don’t have the storm windows up (yes, this old house still has storm windows) and the barn is far from winterized! You guys in Montana can keep your snow! I’ll keep looking over the pretty leaves turning here in southern Michigan.

Yesterday I traveled up to my parents house to pick up some hay and the time I was dreading of having to drive an hour and a half was actually so nice because I had time to think while I enjoyed the beautiful fall colors….it was like my very own color tour!

I just got off the phone and it seems my van is a deer magnet! JW just called to tell me they hit another deer on the way to school…..EVERYONE IS OKAY! It’s just another dent in the side of the van. This has never happened to me before! So, unless he’s pulling my leg…….I don’t know….we’ll see. I have to go pick it up to take it to the body shop this morning, so I’ll know more then.

I’d better go, this day is not starting well. Actually it sounds like I need more prayer time!

Good Morning from a cool, clear and sun not peeking through Knolltop!

It promises to be a busy day here, I’ve got to get an estimate on my van, then head north again to get the hay and hope the truck doesn’t give me anymore problems. I guess I should look at those problems as learning experiences….I actually feel more confident now knowing what to do if it over heats!

Then back home to cook dinner, chores and Sarah has a volleyball game tonight.

Okay, now we have a new feature on this blog….I just realized it’s available…it’s my follower option. I’m not sure how it works, but I can list people who follow this blog on the left hand side. I only found it because Erin, a fellow blogger and mom in Montana registered as a follower. So I added that option to the blog. I think if you click on “follow” you can register as a follower and put your picture in. I still haven’t figured out how to get Erin’s picture there….but I’m working on it. So if you want other people to see you’re smiling face on my blog…then register!

Okay, it’s time for breakfast and then I’ll start my sprint through the day!

It’s a beautiful, sunny afternoon here on the Knolltop!

I got slightly side tracked this morning on my way to blogsville. First I got a call from Trent to be on Rural Route and of course I said yes, who wouldn’t?

Then I got a call from my dad saying he had baled some fourth cutting that was a little wet and needed to be fed up….of course I said, Yes, I’ll be there this morning to get it!

Then on my way to my parents, the truck overheated and I had to play mechanic and of course I said, Yes, I’ll open the radiator and pour in some anti-freeze all the while getting step by step instructions from my husband.

The real victory is, I got the hood open on the truck, found the radiator cap, opened it up, didn’t get burned, poured in the antifreeze, closed the hood and went back home to safety! I hate being alone when my vehicle breaks down. Now there’s a story I’ll have to share sometime….broken down on I-96 at midnight….alone!

Oh, yes and I forgot to share the news that my husband has shared with everyone he talked to today….I hit a deer last night with my van. Killed the six point buck dead…..it sent Jake into hysterics and once I got him settled down for the night Bobby got him all riled up again while praying for “Maw, the deer killer and that poor little dead buck out there.” The wailing and moaning cranked up again and it took a good 5 minutes to settle the little animal activist back down! My new name is now “deer slayer.”

By the way, the van is a little crunched, but still running and will be in the repair shop before long.