June 30, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Meetings.

I am not in love with meetings. But today I spent all day in meetings. Fortunately, the meetings were short. This current real estate market is making us all anxious. Many buyers and sellers who are in their thirties have always lived with affluence, so everything that crosses their path which is not exactly to their liking causes a lot of hostility. It is actually interesting to observe, except for the agent who is required to bring bad news to the seller. The first meeting today was with Wes and Brenda, the big bosses in the Company. The three of us who Manage our office had some suggestions for the job of saving money. Certainly at this time, saving money is a requirement in order to stay in business. Our suggestions were well received. Then our LLC investment group in the office is managed by four agents and me, and we meet for lunch regularly. The LLC Managers are having trouble finding good investments for the group, so some decisions were made for the future of the group. Next came an hours meeting with Betty. Finally, tea time in Bethesda finally arrived, and at last, I get to talk to the agents. In addition, of course, I talked on the phone.

We are very fortunate. Our office is in Bethesda, and we work a lot in DC. Right now, with the cost of gas so high, everyone wants to move into town, so our agents are doing well and our numbers are high. Of course, the volume does not match the last few years, but we are doing very well. Our goal for the year is one Billion Dollars, which will be the sixth year the agents have exceeded the Billion Dollar mark. Today, every transaction is difficult. The Sellers and Buyers are in different books, let alone on the same page. Very often, the sellers want to shoot the messenger, but the agents are very skillful in giving the seller all the facts and figures, and try to keep themselves positive and enthusiastic. Today is the best Real Estate market we have today, and we have learned to deal with it. But it is not easy for the agents, or the bosses. The Managers in the office just keep on cheering.

June 29, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Rich and Famous

Kate and Mary Frances know I write this small web log. Not so long ago at the farm, one of them asked me if, because I blog, was I rich and famous? Of course I responded to them that I was neither rich nor famous, that the only thing I every wanted to do was to pay my bills and to do a good job of whatever I was doing in order to pay my bills. Then the discussion evolved about the rich. Every one at the table decided that being rich would be fine, except if being rich meant you would always be worried about the money being lost in the stock market or stolen. But being rich was certainly OK with the group at the lunch table. Not so for the famous. No one wanted to be famous. Even the girls, who are 8 and 11, could see that being famous is a big nuisance.. They mentioned dining out in the restaurant and being asked for your signature, or having your picture taken while going to a movie. No one at the table had any interest in being famous, and for good reason. All your life is public. So now the girls wanted to know if the two always go together, in other words, are all famous people rich? We all said " no". Lots of folks are famous but not rich, and certainly not all rich people are famous. But we all decided , the favorite position to be would be rich but not famous.

I have very little regard for those folks who crave the limelight. Just do a good job and make your contribution to what ever your talents allow you to do, and the world will acknowledge your worth. I may be naive or stupid, but the same is true for political positions at any level. If the able people take turns at running any organization, all will be well. My position as a Manager is not better or harder than being an agent. It is just different. When I was asked in 1987 to take the position, my thought was, " well, If I do not take the job, who will be the Manager? ". As an agent in the office, I waned someone in charge who would be sure to keep the drawers full of forms, so I said yes to the job. The same is true for running the Trade organizations and Associations. Not for the glory or the prestige, but just to take your turn. At work, the agents and the Managers are often thought of as humble people. This is not accurate. We do not brag but we are proud. But we are certainly not famous. Now even if we were rich we would continue our hard work on behalf of our Buyers and Sellers. Maybe!!.

June 27, 2008. Bethesda, Md. Standards.

In my youth, I belonged two different groups which.it turned out in my life, became important to my thinking on establishing high standards. These groups were voluntary and were open to anyone who wanted to join. In other words, no screening of the people prior to joining. Yet both groups showed high standards both in performance and dress. So I learned to observe in my youth, that the high standards of performance were not in the individuals in the group, but in the mind and dreams of the leaders of the group. In other words, if I belonged to another Girl Guide troop or another Songster Brigade, neither would be as good as the two I belonged to, because the leaders made the difference, not me. Now I know I contributed to the total success, but I observed early in my life the effect of leadership and performance.

My Girl Guide Troop in Vancouver was extraordinary, led by June Wiseman. We were affiliated with the Salvation Army Citadel in down town Vancouver, but most of the Guides were not associated with the same church. The group was large, almost 90 girls, at a time when most groups were 20 or so, this was unusual. I met my friend Beverley in Guides, and we have been friends ever since. The standards of the group were very high in every department. We must have had the most badges per girl than any other guide in the province. We had these badges all up and down our arms. We gave marching demonstrations, taught to us by a former military man, who I think we almost drove him batty. And we learned to swing clubs combined with the marching. In competitions between guide companies, we were always required to divide into two groups, because if we put our best girls all one one team, we won every contest. No probles, we still came in first and second in every Field Day contest. So there was something different about this group of girls, and I early on figured out that what was the difference was June Wiseman.

Now jump ahead to Toronto in 1953. My Father was transferred to Toronto, and on arrival I was sent to Music Camp at Jackson's Point, a Salvation Army Camp on Lake Simcoe. I sang a lot, so I signed up for the singing program. Now I knew no one at the camp, neither campers or staff, but Salvation Army folks are a friendly group and welcomed me. a fifteen year old, into the fold. The leaders of the singing classes at camp was Eric Sharp. At the end of camp, he called my Mother to invite us to join the Danforth Corps and the Danforth Songster Brigade. We all joined. Even as a kid, Eric's desire for excellence was apparent, and fortunately, his ability to get people to sing in the way he wanted them to sing was astonishing. I am not just dreaming about the excellence. We have records of the group, and they were good. His demands on dress, attendance, decorum and of course,hours of practice led to a wonderful singing group. So this group of volunteers, not screened for excellence in the ability of singing, ended up to be singing far and wide, singing every Sunday morning and evening in our home church, and giving concerts both home and abroad. Now again, I was not the reason for the group's excellence, Eric Sharp was, because of his dream and his standards. He would have us go over the same phrase twenty times, until we got it right, or at least until he wanted it to sound.

Over the years, these examples stuck with me, and the idea that high standards in the leader results in excellent performance from the group members. I still believe it.

June 26, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Standards.

When I was an agent, in the same office ,there were always agents who did their business in a way that I thought sleazy. They were not really unethical but certainly came very close to unethical. One agent routinely put the key box backwards on the door, so agents could not access the new listing. He always blamed the seller but we fellow agents knew better. Then he would be caught, and the Broker would make him turn the key box around to the proper position. In the meantime, only he could get in to show the house to his own clients. I call that cheating. Even today, whole companies routinely show their own listings to their own listings prior to putting that listing in the computer. I call that cheating too. Our role as agents is to expose that new listing to the whole world of Realtors and buyers, so the Seller can get the most money for their home in the shortest time, not to allow the agent and the agent's company agents sell to their own listings before any other agent and buyer are aware the house is for sale. It is not only cheating. It is also stupid. The selling public soon catches on, and the reputation precedes the cheating agent. I used to get upset with this behavior, but I don't anymore, and this is why.

The Bethesda Gateway office of Long and Foster has been the number one office in the Company for the past seventeen years. Our standards for agents behaviour are very high. They do their business properly. Because of that we are thriving. Those sleazy agents are out of the business and those companies who regularly take advantage of other agents and their sellers are never at the top. Now if they only did their business in a proper manner, they would be a threat to us, but as they are, we shake our heads and continue to increase our market share. Business life is so much better for your future if you manage your reputation today. My first year as a Manager in 1987, I was forced to fire two agents for ethical violations. They were angry and surprised. "Every one does it" said they. "Not on my watch" said I. From then on, agents wanted to join us, and here we are today.

The real question has to do with the setting of standards. Why do those other Managers put up with or tolerate sleazy behavior? Of course, it is for the money. The agent who turned around the lock box was the number one agent in D.C.so he brought in a lot of money to the company. But it is short sighted to tolerate it, because other agents will not join the office with the sleaze bag. It is short sighted glory for long distance disaster. It is very interesting to observe in the business world.

June 24, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Staff Lunch

Are there any Secretaries left in this world? In the olden days, Secretaries Day was celebrated every April, where the boss took the staff members out for lunch, I suppose to show the staff their appreciation. I have been a manager since 1987, and for some reason, I always forgot the celebration, until I would be reminded by Regina and Carol E. We started to celebrate the day in June, because, by then the restaurants were not so full and of course I always forget in April. Of course, the name changed too. The celebration in April is now Staff Appreciation Day, but we still always celebrate in June. Today was the day we all went out for lunch. In 1988, the first year we held our event, we were a staff of 3 and me. Yesterday, when we dined at Bice, we were a group of 17. But not a Secretary in the group.

One year we were having such a good time, I suggested that celebrating twice a year was a good idea. Of course everyone agreed, so we celebrate together for my Birthday in December, and then again in June. Regina always chooses the restaurant and she likes to go to very nice places. Today we ate in a private dining room, with three tables, so the conversation was easy and lively. Our last event was at Morton's, and before that, I can not remember. But the staff members remember and are grateful. High standards are very easy to talk about but very difficult to implement over time. Fortunately, once the pride of accomplishments in set in the group, it seems to carry everyone in the group along. No question, our staff members now do a very good job, and for that I am grateful.

June 24, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Problem Solving

Did you notice that whenever you solve one problem another problem comes along, caused by the solution from the first problem. It almost always happens. Just before we left for Texas, our computer died. Ken hooked up the laptop so we could function for those two days prior to departure, then dealt with the old computer on our return. The computer store could fix our computer, but the cost of repair is almost equal to the cost of a new computer, so of course we bought a new computer. It took a week for the computer to arrive, and when Ken set up the new machine, the old stand was too small, so today he had to go and buy a new fancy computer stand that is exactly the same as the one at the ranch at the Top House. So now we have every thing in place and we can function. Now we will take the old stand to the farm, where at some time in the future we will connect to the Internet. For the moment, all our problems have been solved.

Our friends Fred and Phyllis came to dinner tonight. We have very interesting conversations and we always enjoy their company. They leave for Switzerland on Monday, the 30Th of June, and return September 1st. They have spent summers in a small town in the mountains for many years and they love it. Freddy especially is in love with Switzerland. They rent the same flat in a private home, so they leave clothes there. They also own a motorcycle , so when the weather is good, they head out on the bike. Phyllis suffers from car sickness, but not so on the bike, which is interesting. I would think the reverse. They are excited to spend the summer in the clean cool mountain air. We visited them there one summer and enjoyed the beautiful towns and mountains. This summer, they have no company coming to visit. The past few summers, their children came to visit, but not this year. Now Fred is always sure the sky is falling, so the three of us try to set him straight. Sometimes we do and sometimes we don't, but our discussions are always lively. We are also always coming and going, which for now works very well. We leave for Nova Scotia next Wednesday ourselves.

June 24, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Anniversary.

Everything is in place for our anniversary celebration. Now if everyone does their part, all will be well. Of course, nothing ever goes exactly as you expect or planned, but no matter what, we will have a good time. Next week we go up to Nova Scotia to get the cottage ready for the season and to check on all the vendors and musicians. And then we just have to sit back and enjoy the friends and relatives. We invited those folks who had been important to us through the years, so as I look through the confirmed list of the guests, happy memories flood back. I will enjoy seeing these good folks.

Our friends Don and Doreen are coming. They married the same year as us, and had three children, all girls. While Ken was in Medical school and of course had no money, they were having and raising children. During the hockey season, Ken and I went to their home to see Hockey Night in Canada every Saturday night. At that time, only the second and third periods were televised, so over we went to watch the second period. In between periods, Ken had a shower. Now they lived in a modern apartment, while we lived over a hardware store. Our bathroom had only an old fashioned tub. Ken liked to shower, and they graciously allowed Ken to shower in their bathroom, every Saturday night during hockey season. Now I call them good friends indeed. Now of course, their three girls are married and have children of their own, and all still live in the Toronto area.

Joyce and Tom will be coming too. Joyce was a very good swimmer, and she and I swam once a week at the WCTU, the Women's Christian Temperance Union. They had a great little swimming pool, and also a residence for single women. We took and passed our Bronze and Gold Medallions, and also the Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Certificate. Now the best part was after the class. We showered in a shower room with 15 shower heads, and we turned them all, going full speed, with very hot water. And we soaked in the hot steamy room. Finally, the little old lady would come to tell us to turn off the water. as we had been in there for half an hour. Of course, she could not come into the shower, and we could not not hear her. Eventually, we came out, then both of us headed out in different directions, me to Danforth Songster proctice, and Joyce to Ealscourt Songster practice. This was winter, and we stayed so long in the shower that on the way to Danforth, my hair froze. It was a funny time. But I still remember that warmth and all that hot water coming at you from all directions. Happy memories.

June 22, 2008. Chevy Chase Md. Bedford Springs.

It is my favorite place to sit. A breeze always blows. The birds come very close to me and perch on the wires near the house. The activity at the barn at the opposite end of the field is a great source of entertainment. And best of all, I can sit in one of the four rocking chairs and drink my tea. This favorite spot is on the porch at the side of the farm house. It is a perfectly splendid place to sit.

The Bedford Springs Inn first opened in the early 1800's, to provide an opportunity to "take the waters", as they used to do in olden times. Over the years it expanded and expanded, but then it got old. Twenty years ago it closed. Now, after a renovation that took over $100 Million, it is open for business. Friends stayed for a weekend to golf and use the spa, and were shocked that we had not seen the renovation, as the farm is only 30 minutes away. Saturday, Ken and I drove up to check it out. It is beautiful and well worth a visit. After walking all around the grounds and the building, we ate lunch in the Crystal Dining room, a little under-dressed as we were coming from the farm. It would be a great place for a Family event. Perhaps Ken and I will have our 60Th Anniversary there!! It is a lovely spot.

June 19, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Beach Party.

At work, we are easily amused. This afternoon we held our annual Beach Party, given by all the agents on the first floor, and held outside the office on the parking lot. Every year things change. The children and grand children are always invited. This year was especially festive. Sarah Toppings was the auctioneer. The winning bid would be able to throw the balls to hit a target to dunk a Manager or Regina in the Dunk Tank. The bidding was lively and spirited and believe it or not, we raised almost $1400. for Bethesda Cares, a local charity we support through the year. Ned was the first to be dunked, wearing his dress shirt, tie, good pants and socks. He looked ridiculous. I was next, but I wore shorts and a T shirt for my dunking. But Regina made the most money. Her dunking raised over seven hundred dollars for Bethesda Cares. The children took turns being dunked and throwing the balls. I would never have thought how much fun this dunking tank was for the kids.

Of course we had lots of good food.. hot dogs and hamburgers, fried chicken, watermelon, potato salad,pickles, chips and Frito's. Margaritas, beer, sodas, water, and lemonade to drink. Everyone wore clothes for the beach. It was all totally ridiculous, but lots of fun. And we raised $1400. for the homeless shelter.

Mario, Chris and Regina did the bulk of the organizing but everyone pitched in to help with the set up and clean up. It was a good time enjoyed by all, held out on the parking lot, pretending we were at the beach. It does not take much to amuse us!!. And Sarah Toppins has the makings of another career.

June 18, 2008. Checy Chase, Md. Timing.

I have been waiting for almost ten years and now it has happened. I have light colored streaks in my hair. As I aged, my hair turned darker, becoming a light brown or ash color rather than the blond of my youth. The darker color was not pleasing to me, so I began to have streaks of light color applied to my hair every six months or so. I did not like having it done. It was too costly and time consuming. One day, while having my hair cut, I was asked by my hair cutter, when I was going to come in to have my hair highlighted. I told her that, as I was aging and probably will begin to get grey hair, I was no longer streaking my hair, but would let my hair get light naturally. Of course, she was not impressed with my theory, and informed me in no uncertain terms, that as I had ash colored hair, I would always have to lighten my hair artificially. Well I did not like this response, but I said nothing and did nothing but wait.

Now it has arrived. You can see very clearly the grey streaks in my hair. The human body is wonderful. Things happen to you during your life over which you have no control. All you can do is enjoy the process and be pleased with the results. It took patience on my part, but at last, I do not pay to apply those light tones in my hair. I have arrived.

June 17, 2008. Chevy Chase, Md. Home Again.

Yesterday we came home, and as usual, everything at home looks lovely. The green of the trees and bushes and grass is what is most impressive. Even a few weeks away makes you forget the look of the place. But today after work my car would not start. The computer at home has died a noble death and must be replaced. And life comes roaring back with all the bits and pieces that need attention. Although I must say it is always a pleasure to be at the office. The energy and expertise and excellence of the agents and staff is a wonder to behold and always brings pleasure to my eyes.

Today I feel sad. Starr Crouch died on Sunday, after a fall on Saturday. She was the last connection with Ken's Mother, and the last one to talk about those days of old. I know that she was elderly, 82 or so, but with her passing, the era for Ken and Parry Sound is diminished and we both feel sad. They lived in Toronto all their married life, in fact, they lived all their married life in the same home. When we lived there too, they often invited us to Sunday dinner after church, and of course we accepted, as the food was always good. It also was always the same...roast beef with potatoes and vegetables cooked in with the meat, all cooked while we were all at meeting. Such a welcome smell on arrival to the house. But no more. We will miss her. Victor, who until just a few years ago worked as a research chemist, will have a difficult time without her I know.

June 15, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas.

Bud and Mary have been very gracious to us over the years. They lived in Parry Sound,but owned a property on Otter Lake, about twenty miles from town. Mary's parents used to own almost all the land around Otter Lake but when Mary's Father was away fighting in the Second World War, the taxes went unpaid and the township claimed the property for unpaid taxes. After all was said and done, and after trying to fight the authorities when he came back home, he was given back a piece of land at the end of the lake. The grandparents lived at the lake until they died. They also divided up the remaining property amongst their children, so Bud and Mary had a lovely piece of land right on a beautiful clear lake. They had a camper trailer, and spent the summers at the lake with the children.

Now here is the nice part. They graciously invited us to join them at the lake for two weeks every year, with us staying in our tent, complete with a good fly to keep off the rain. This is the same tent Ken set up for Kate at the farm a few weeks ago. The boys were young and loved to fish so they could fish to their heart's content right off the dock. And every day we went in to see Ken's Mother to load up on her very good baking. It was a very good arrangement for us, and I hope we were not so much bother for Bud and Mary and the children. If you are interested in seeing us as we were at Otter Lake with the boys, you can see a picture of the four of us, taken by Bud, sitting on the dock, in our bathing suits, while I am washing clothes. We were quite a sight. The picture is on the wall at the farm.

Next Bud and Mary built a cottage at the lake, and when the children were out of school, sold their house in town and moved to the lake full time. Now Bud told Ken that they are going to move back to town, as keeping up that property is difficult in the winter. They have 400 yard of driveway, and even with a snow blower, it is a difficult task. I am sure they will keep the Lake property and close it for the winter then go back to the lake in the summer. It is a lovely spot and we were always grateful they shared it with us.

June 14, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Bud.

E mailed to Ken today was a picture of Ken and Bud taken while hunting north of Parry Sound. These young boys were very thin indeed, so Ken thinks it must have been taken in the Fall of 1954. Bud and Ken went to school together and he mentioned to Ken on the phone that it was very irritating for Ken and another friend who breezed through high school, while Bud had to work like the devil to keep up with the work and pass the tests. Bud and Mary married in August, 1958, just twelve days before us, so they can not come to our 50Th celebration in Nova Scotia. They are good friends and have been since we all met in 1957, Bud and Mary were both born in Parry Sound, Ontario, and except for one year away at Teacher's College for Bud , they have always lived in Parry Sound. You would think that we would not be good friends, but we are. Bud completed his undergraduate degree either by attending summer school or by taking correspondence courses. He was a teacher, and a good one, eventually ending up as an elementary school Principal, so we had interests in common. And of course, while Ken's Mother was alive, we visited Parry Sound every summer and after every Christmas. They have always been very gracious by having us stay with them. One night we drove from my sister's home just south of Owen Sound, expecting to stay at a motel at any spot available whenever we got tired. But we hadn't known that it was a holiday weekend, and we were in tourist country, so all the motels and hotels were full. We arrived in Parry Sound about midnight, and of course, stopped by Bud and Mary at the Lake. Their house was empty so we went across the road to Mary's brother's cottage to find out where Bud and Mary were that evening, to be told that they were at a wedding. So in we go and crash the party, all four of us, the boys were 9 or 10 years old, and we looked like a wreck. No mind. Bud and Mary were delighted to see us and were happy to let us bunk in with them, even though their children were fast asleep by then. They are good friends, but we do not see much of them now. They are still good friends.

The other significant observation in the picture is that the boys look very carefree. This must have been pre college, pre medical school, pre marriage pre children. Very carefree indeed.

June 13, 2008. Double D Ranch. Top House.

This is such a lovely home. All day I have not left the house, rather I am being busy getting organized to move over to the lake house tomorrow, then to San Antonio on Sunday and home to the apartment on Monday. We have been here in the Top House for a full week, which I think is the first time we have been here for that length of time. We are always coming and going. With the computer access via satellite , we function very well and we have enjoyed our week here.. The Hill Country is in the midst of a drought so everything is brown. Once there was a seven year drought. No rain fell in any significant amount during that time. That was in the early 1920's. I can't imagine trying to run a ranch and farm with no rain for seven years. No wonder people moved to California.

We now have two major projects. Highway 281, that takes us from San Antonia to the Lake is the only continuous highway from Mexico to Canada. We have decided to drive the whole length of the highway. Ken has been looking up information on the Internet, but it seems that no one drives that highway anymore. But we are going to do it. The only question is when and how. We do not want to make a round trip, so we will rent a car and drop it off at the end. There are lots of problems with the endeavour, but we will figure it out one problem at a time. Maybe next year or the year after would be the best. The second project is to drive just east of the Rockies all the way up through Canada. We have drives many parts of that trip, but never at one time. This is Ken's idea, and I think it is a worthy project.

I do not know if we are just peculiar or that everyone does what we do. I am always trying to figure out what I should be doing next. Ken will indulge me sometimes, especially when the topic is travel, but I can not stop trying to figure out the future. A lot of time I am trying to figure out what I should be doing today to plan for the future, so my path will be smooth. I have always assumed that everyone does this, but when I mention this to other folks, they look at me very strangely, so perhaps it is really us that are the peculiar folks. I'm already thinking about what I am likely to be able to do in my eighties, and here I am just turned seventy. I do discipline myself sometimes by keeping myself in the present, and that works very well at work, but when we are away, I worry through the future for everyone I love. I must be daft!!

June 12, 2008. Harper, Texas. Wind farms.

We have seen the future world of energy out on the plains west of Amarillo. For the past year we have seen huge blades of metal, strapped to the back of trucks heading west on Highway 10. We've been told by friends that those huge metal objects are part of a windmill heading west to a new wind farm on the plains. Just one blade is bigger than the largest flat bed truck, so when they travel they do so with accompanying vehicles stating "over sized load". They make us look like shrimps driving beside them in our little SUV Escape. Now we have seen one of these wind farms. They are impressive, although from a distance the size is not as apparent as when driving beside them. There are many many of these monsters, and from the road, they look quite lovely in a surprising kind of way. About one hundred windmills was what I counted, stretching for miles on the plains. The plains are almost always windy, and certainly when we were there, the wind was always blowing, so I hope they are making lots and lots of electricity.

Windmills have been very important to the development to Texas. Without windmills this whole area could not support farming and ranching and family life in West Texas or the Hill Country. Dug wells could be built in East Texas, but not in the West and the Hills, so until the American adaptation of the European windmill in the late nineteenth century became common, no one could live here. Our ranch has an old fashioned windmill that pumps water into a large tank, which then drains through pipes to the cattle trough. This was the system installed in the first ranch in the very early 1900's, and it still works today. Of course, when we bought the ranch the windmill was not working and the big tank was leaking. We tried to hire someone to fix the tank, but no one was willing to do the work, as it is labor intensive and hot. But one of the three men who came to look at the job did tell Ken how to do it himself, and that was happened. Ken did the work himself, climbing into the tank, cleaning it out, them re-coating the inside and out of both the large tank and the cattle trough. Now the windmill works like a charm, so we can live as they did in 1920. except for the air-conditioned homes and the satellite Internet connection. Windmills were very important one hundred years ago, and I hope they will become very important for the next hundred year, but now to generate electricity, not only water.

June 11, 2008. Double D Ranch, Harper, Texas.

No exercise today. Not much reading either. Some days are just like that, where the whole day slips away, and then it is time for bed. No feeding the fish. No treating the cattle. What we did do was preparing for the future. First thing this morning, a gentleman came from "Inside Story" to measure the ranch house carpet. The carpet is original to the house and is ugly as sin, so in the Fall we will have this lovely blue carpet replaced with ceramic tile. The burrs stick to the carpet and then the little girls step on the burrs, which does not please their grandmother, so the ugly blue carpet must go. The carpet in the bedrooms are new just before we bought the ranch, so it is fine, but the living room, dining room, breakfast room and kitchen will be tiled. After the man measured, Ken and I went in to choose the tile in their store. Our drill is to put two tiles on the floor, then compare and decide which of the two we prefer. We both agree on the better one and leave it on the floor while sending the tile we don't like back to the rack. We continue with this process until we both are choosing the same one several times. It becomes our tile of choice. It is quite efficient and quite easily done. After we have chosen the tile and given our order to the wife of the measuring man, we leave the store, and promptly forget all about it. Now I tried to get in touch with Suzanne prior to our journey to Fredericksburg and "The Inside Story". but I couldn't reach her. Fortunately, she called to tell me that she did not care what color went on the floor of the ranch house. "Anything you and Ken choose will be fine" Said Suzanne. After all, they live in the ranch house when they are there, so she should have been given a vote, but she is unfailingly gracious.

Since we built our Top House, we have not bought any liquor to stock the bar. Poor Robbie always brings over his own gin and tonic when they come to dinner. But today we went to the liquor store. Now we are well stocked. It was great fun talking to the lady in the store. She seemed to know a lot about liquors. Now we are set up for the next 20 years. We were looking at some bottles of liquor in the cabinet over the refrigerator at the farm. Alan wanted a drink and I was rooting through the bottles and discovered that many of those bottles of booze have travelled from Old Spring Road to Franklin Street to the Farm with the bottles still full. Goodness, at the rate we use them up the bottles we bought today will be there for the next thirty years or more. Probably not the single malt Scotch though. That bottle seems to be popular.

It was way out of our way, but we came home via Doss. At the beginning of every road, they list the names of the folks who live down that road. It is interesting to see that most names are still German.

June 10, 2008. Harper, Texas. Changes.

There are tiny little fish in the big tank. Can it be that they came so quickly, or are these very small gold fish? Today when I was feeding the fish I saw several very very small fish, dark in color and about one half inch in length. I have yet to see the two perch at the same time. I also saw a salamander crawling out of the tank today. This week we are going to put another dozen goldfish in the cattle water tank to see what happens. This time they should stay alive.

The wheel of life is about to turn. Andrew and Christina, Kate, Mary Frances and Molly are moving. For several years, Andrew has wanted to go into his own business, but it is difficult with a family and a house. He resigned his job, thinking to get another position with another company, but the jobs offered were not to his liking, so he has decided to go into business for himself. They chose to move to Jackson, Mississippi, as they both know several friends and relatives already living there. Their move will not be easy I am sure, but with friends and relatives already there, the entree to the new city will be easier. The main question the girls asked about moving had to do the distance from the farm. It is a long way, but only a Southwest direct flight from Jackson to Baltimore. We have had the luxury of living in the same city since the birth of Kate, and I must say we have enjoyed it. Ken and I never lived in a city with relatives, and having them close to us (they live about a mile away) has been both a pleasure and a great help. We will miss them, but as Christina reminded Andrew, we are away two thirds of the time already. Now we must add another place to visit and explore.

Tonight Jan Miller is coming for dinner. She is a fellow rancher. She runs her ranch by herself. Several years ago she and her husband were travelling and hiking in Peru, and he died there. Now can you imagine what would happen? She very wisely had him cremated and carried his ashes in her handbag back to Texas. Anyway, she is a good neighbour, even though she lives five or ten miles away, and we will enjoy her company tonight.

June 10, 2008 Harper, Texas.

Junction, Texas is another one of those towns that once was important and now is not. But Coopers, the best barbecue in Texas, has a restaurant there, so this afternoon we drove to Junction to walk the main street and eat at Coopers. Ken refused to walk the main street, because almost everything has closed. Really, in the space of seven years almost all the stores on the main street have closed, except two Dollar stores. The action is out by the Interstate. In fact, the truckers stop for a meal at Coopers regularly. The trucks are always parked in the lot. The food was great, but we both ate too much. I wonder why we over eat? Mary Frances says that she has an automatic "off" switch when she gets full. Even when eating the best and most favorite dessert, she stops eating when she gets full, and she can not eat another bite. Fortunate child. Coming home we drove more back roads, and saw more deer. Coming up the hill to our home, a Vermilion Flycatcher posed at the end of a limb, just so we could admire him. Such a gaily colored bird.

All the cattle were waiting on our return for their treats, and they were so rambunctious we were forced to put their treats over the fence. They do have long horns, even though they are gentle, so we keep our distance. We like to watch them while they eat, and see the pecking order. We have 11 cattle and two calves. This evening I discovered a bird's nest up high at the top of the gable of our house. One bird is sitting on the nest. I don't know what kind of bird has taken up residence in my house. Defiantly in the swallow family. Tomorrow I will take out the binocs and watch them come and go. Where is Phyllis when I need her?

I am enjoying "Yesterday in the Texas Hill Country". Gilbert Jordon wrote a memoir about growing up outside Mason, in the first quarter of the twentieth Century. He lived on a ranch, along with the parents and nine other siblings. It is very interesting and I would recommend the book. Of the first six children, five were girls, followed by three more boys and one girl. I called David at work to tell him, but he was not pleased neither to be interrupted or nor to hear that story. His only response was to remind me that they are done with babies!! I thought it was funny, but he did not. Oops.

June 8, 2008.Harper, Texas. Weather.

The weather in Amarillo was very hot and dry and windy. Everyone told us that the 108 degree temperature was very unusual. And the extreme wind is usually over by mid May. But all told, this would not be a place I would want to live. We were told by several natives that the climate is perfect. Four seasons, very short winter and very little humidity seemed to please these good folks. Not me. Too hot, too windy, too dry. I enjoyed the place, then I will move on. Many times in our life we have been told that the horrible weather was very unusual, and that it mostly is lovely. I don't believe them. Most people do not notice the weather in their own town. Because they live there and they like it, they pay no attention to the weather, until someone from another place notices the fierce weather. It is an interesting observation of human behavior.

Many months ago, a small fish, a perch, went down the pipe from the big tank to the shallow tank used by the cattle. There she stayed, hiding out in the cement blocks put there by Ken to give the gold fish a place to hide. Yes, we put 12 goldfish in the cattle trough. Unfortunately, there are no long any gold fish there. Either a raccoon ate them, or a heron, or the perch. The perch has grown and grown and seemed to have laid eggs in an area she excavated for them. But no baby perches, because we have only one perch in the cattle tank. Problem solved yesterday. In the big tank we have eight gold fish, four solid orange and four white with orange spots, plus one perch. So we trapped the perch in the cattle tank and dumped her into the big tank, hoping that the perch in the big tank is a male. Today when I fed the fish I could never see both of the perch at the same time, but at least the gold fish have not been eaten...yet. Now Ken says that the one fish was a female because she was making a hollow to lay her eggs, but no male was there to fertilize the eggs. My suggestion was that perhaps in the fish species, the males make the nest for the eggs. "No way", says Ken. " That is the ladies job in the fish world". Can this be true?

June7, 2008. Double D Ranch. Harper, Texas. David.

David Dickie, my son , is a wonderful gardener. I have been eating his tomatoes ever since we came to Texas, and I can tell you, they are delicious. He loves planting and tending and transplanting, but most of all , he loves to gather the vegetables from his garden. The little girls check his garden every day, and now have learned to gather the tomatoes and peppers and bring them into the kitchen. The landscaping in his yard is just beautiful, both front and back, and he spends many hours of his leisure time cultivating and planting in his yard. Of course, it is their yard, but Suzanne has conceded the yard to David, so I guess it is in truth, David's yard. The girls help him plant so they feel that it is really their yard, so when we go to visit, they take me on a tour of the yard, and tell me the names of the plants and when they planted them. It is really a very impressive endeavour. Suzanne speaks of David as having a green thumb, and that would be accurate, which is the same thing as I have always said about Ken. He has a green thumb. Over the years, David was required to work along side of Ken when working in the yard, but he never seemed to enjoy or learn much about the process, and when in College, he worked during the summers at a large landscape company in Maryland. But it wasn't until he bought his own home that his interest in landscaping became enjoyable. He commented to me one day, that he did not really enjoy planting with Dad, but now that he is in charge, he likes it a lot.

Now he has decided to learn something about the whole gardening business, and he is planning to get his designation as a Master Gardener. This will be done with Texas A.M. School of Agriculture, with a combination of on line courses and classes and conferences. Now I know I should not be bragging about my own son, but in this case, those tomatoes are so good I just have to share his expertise with the world. David Dickie is a very good gardener.

June 6, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Palo Duro Canyon

The trip to the Panhandle was well worth it. The "Texas" musical drama it self was worth the whole trip. The canyon is beautiful and the outdoor amphitheater is a perfect site for all the dancing and singing, telling the development of the panhandle. With the high wall of the canyon as a backdrop, the special effects were especially impressive. We both loved it. Also worth a visit was the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, just 10 miles from the Palo Duro canyon. Their dinosaur section is very impressive. The museum is a perfect size for us... not too big and very well organized by topic. We stayed all morning and even went back in the afternoon for an hour.

We hiked in the canyon yesterday morning, and I think I saw a painted bunting, but as we forgot to take our binoculars, I could not be sure. We also saw 4 mule deer, numerous rabbits, one bald eagle and two harrier hawks. Meadowlarks were everywhere, and canyon wrens. Both north and west of Amarillo and south and west of Canyon are huge farms complete with full irrigation systems. We drove in both areas and I guess I could say that the countryside drives were the most enjoyable. I have never seen such farms, where the land is perfectly flat in all directions and the sprinkler systems are huge. The water usage will become an issue sooner or later. The aquifer that provides water for everyone has not been replenishing itself since 1910, and folks are getting worried. I would love to know how they solve their problem down the road, because the large farms can not be productive with out the supply of water. The trains also are long. I'd love to see what happens to the panhandle in fifty years, but I am certainly happy to have seen it in 2008.

June 4, 2008. Amarillo, Texas. Cattle Auction.

Yesterday we went to the cattle auction, but we did not buy a thing. This cattle auction sells more cattle in a year than any auction house in the country. Yesterday they were auctioning off one thousand head of cattle. We arrived at 9:30, in time to see the cattle prior to the start of the action at 10:00, and we watched as several trailers rolled up to unload the cattle to be weighed. Ten minutes before the auction there were ten of us in the stands and I felt for sure this sale would be a bust, as two people were not buying. It was interesting to watch the good folks who were waiting. All men, all wearing straw cowboy hats and jeans and boots, like a uniform, and all carrying a cell phone. By the time the sale began, the number of buyers was up to 40, and when we left at 11:00 there was over 100. It was a very interesting sale, as most of the time I could not figure out what was happening.

Many factors led to my inability to track the sale. No list of cattle offered for sale was given to prospective buyers. This made sense as the cattle being sold had just that morning brought into the cattle yard, but it was different for me not to have a list. Then the sale moved very fast. The cattle was brought into the ring and left there for just a minute or so, and then the next cow was brought in so the sales moved very quickly. Also the prices were sometimes sold by dollars per pound and sometimes by total price, so it was difficult to tell the difference. But the most difficult thing about this auction was I could never tell who was doing the bidding. A few times I spotted the bidder, but the nod of the hand resting on their knee was the only sign to the auctioneer. Some of the men who we watched unload their cattle were also buyers, so these men in jeans and hat were there to be business. We were just there to enjoy the show, and we did.

June3, 2008. Ammarilo, Texas. Haircuts.

You can not believe what I looked like!!Bill the Barber asked me to look in the mirror, after he had finished cutting my hair. My shock must have registered for a second, before I told him my hair was all right, because he offered to trim me up a bit. I laughed and told him that after I washed my hair, it would be fine. Actually, I was hoping it would be fine. Actually, I looked a fright. Both Ken and I needed a haircut, and while driving through Vega, a town 20 miles west of Amarillo, we stopped to find a beauty salon, but what we found was a barber named Bill. His barbershop was built in 1892, and I swear it has not been changed since that time. I asked him if he could Ken's hair and he responded "You bet'cha". He said the same to the request about my hair. Ken sat down and his hair looked fine, although a little short. But for me, he gave me a different feminine look, said he. My hair was slicked to my head all over. It was an amazing look. Bill was very interesting, and gave us lots of information about Vega and Amarillo and the area. The best part was that we are both neat and tidy, and it cost ten dollars each. But I did look a sight, and still do. Anyone who has their hair cut in a dying town like Vega, done by a retired barber from New Mexico, whose barber shop could be used in a movie from the early twentieth century deserves to look a sight...and I do.

June 2, 2008. Amarillo, Texas. Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon is the grand canyon of Texas. We have seen the pictures and read the reports, but up until today, we have never seen it with our eyes. Southwest flew us up to Amarillo, and after checking into our hotel, we drove straight out to the canyon. It's a trip of about 20 miles by car. We drove the road in the canyon, stopped at the visitor center, ate an ice cream at the trading post, walked all around the amphitheater and booked out tickets to the musical Texas, then decided to return to our hotel in Amarillo and hike in the canyon on Wednesday and Thursday.

We have driven across the panhandle of Texas but we never spent any time there, so now we are checking out Amarillo, which is a city of three hundred thousand.We will stay two nights in the canyon, staying in stone cabins built by the CCC in the thirty's. Amarillo is hot and dry and windy. The down town area must have eight large buildings empty, but the growth is in the suburbs. The small town of Canyon has also become a retirement destination, with many new homes recently built. It also has a University, West Texas A.& M. We'll check it out on Wednesday morning. We stay in Amarillo for two nights before going to the canyon on Wednesday. Our trip to the panhandle will be brief, but probably adequate. I am writing this small web log in the business office of our very nice hotel. Eighty dollars a night gives you a lovely large room, complementary breakfast and snacks and cocktails for happy hour. So far, this hotel is the best thing I have seen in Amarillo. Tomorrow we will go to the cattle auction. They have more cattle auctioned off than any other place in the U.S. And we will visit the quarter horse museum and the botanical gardens. Our five days will be full, I am sure.

June 1, 2008. Canyon Lake, Texas. Fun in the Sun.

Yesterday, the last day of May was a busy day for the David Dickie Family at the lake. The two older girls, Sarah and Abigail went off the their sailing class bright and early at nine o'clock. David took them over in the boat and once again stayed to help. The twins, Allison and Samantha elected to stay home in the morning, then go over to see the action at the sailing school after lunch. Suzanne, Ken and I stayed home at the lake house. I wanted to go for a walk, so the twins agreed to walk with me, if I was willing to walk to the swings. Of course I agreed, so off we went, complete with a bottle of water and after covering every bare surface with sun screen. The girls are very good about applying sun screen before going outdoors. Actually they are much better than me. I just try to stay out of the sun. On the way to the swings we looked into the windows of the two houses for sale, and we walked around both houses. They were quite good at evaluating the houses as to their desirability. It was interesting to hear their comments about the deck being too small or this house not being on the water. I wondered whether this could be genetic? The swing set was on the grounds of the Community Center and Swimming pool. Since we last noticed, the swing set had been removed and a climber with swings and rock wall installed, so the girls played happily on the new piece of equipment. But it was hot so the girls wanted to swim. The problem was that I did not have the key, but as we started to head for home to swim in the lake, a very nice man lent us his key. Now this is a big pool and we were the only people there. Those girls love to swim and they are in the third year of swim team, which has just started up for the season so they practiced their laps and strokes, giving me a running commentary on which strokes they like best and which strokes they do best. Then they played with their shoes in the water. Finally, as their were picnic tables, Allison suggested we call Suzanne and bring us over a picnic lunch. This child is always thinking. So Ken and Suzanne came over with lunch before the four of us walked back home. The twins thought it not fair to drive home, as I would not have completed my walk. Of course, at some point I got hot, so took off my shorts to swim too. My shirt almost covered my underpants. The young boy who came later never even noticed!!

All afternoon we were on the boat watching the expertise of the new sailors The afternoon wind was gusty so lots of boats tipped, but the ability to right the boat had been well learned. Sarah twice took her little boat out past the breakwater and around the marker way out from shore and back out again. Abigail sailed all afternoon by herself in the protected harbor, and had a blast. After the class was finished, David took Ken and me back to the house, while the girls and two friends children went tubing with David and Suzanne. They had a wonderful time, eventually coming home at seven thirty, hungry and tired but happy. Fortunately, Ken had prepared the dinner. Actually, the two older girls went home with their friends for the night, after much lobbying from the girls. Suzanne was reluctant but finally agreed, so the twins and four adults got to eat all the delicious meal. And that is a story of life at the lake with David and Suzanne and their four girls. There is never a dull moment for sure.