I have had pets all of my life.  As a child, we usually had at least one dog.  I had a parakeet that I got at the local G.C. Murphy store, and Mum got the cage with her S&H Green Stamp books.  How many of you remember those days?

I loved taking care of animals.

This week I had an opportunity to visit the county fair.  To some of you, that may not sound like much of a big deal.  For those of you reading from elsewhere in the world, there are many states in the United States, and counties within those states that host an annual fair.  In this neck of the woods, the fair is one of the biggest events of the year.  

It is HUGE.

It has been a flurry of activity with the weather as it has been.  Warm and dry.  I love spending time outside.  This past week there has certainly been much to do, and keeping the grass mowed has been a chore.  First, the push-mower gets a workout mowing all around the house, and trimming the grass around the trees.  Then, I ride the big mower around the yard, getting time to sit and take it my surroundings as I steer around the two-plus acre plot.

Although the weather has been a bit unpredictable, overall the temperatures have been warm and welcoming.  After a bit of a cool, wet spring, the end of the season has allowed things to dry out a bit.  The grass is growing, the trees are green, and the underbrush in the woods surrounding the house has grown up and become a bustle of activity with squirrels, rabbits, and chipmunks (to the delight of the barn cats). 

I have spent most of the past few days in the dirt.  Literally.  For me, working in the dirt is a labor of love.

Today I made a journey to Gravel Run Farms near Saegertown, Pennsylvania. I have been purchasing eggs from them for a few months now. I love fresh eggs.  The yolks are bright yellow, and the shells a variety of tan, white, and pale green.   The farm is owned and operated by Jasen and Kelly Diley.  They graciously allowed me a visit to meet the “girls”.

Last night, the rains came.  Not a steady rain, but sporadic bursts… sometimes noisy, enhanced by thunder and lightening, sometimes quietly dropping from the sky.  After a long stretch of dry, sunny weather, the rain is welcome.  I am not thrilled that it will allow the grass to spring back to life, but I am thrilled for the garden.

Yesterday was a day full of tasks.  Most of them were a bit time-consuming.  One item on my list was mowing the lawn.

Mowing our two to three acre lawn is a therapy of sorts… a three-hour therapy session.  The session started with the trusty Toro push mower.  I pushed the old red mower around the house, getting into the nooks and crannies that evade the bigger riding mower.  When I was satisfied I had allowed myself enough room around the house, trees, and other lawn obstacles, it was time to fire up the Husky.