February 25, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. Calves.

Twenty seven calves have been born at the farm this year. The whole side of the hill is full of black cows with their calves. Bryan is pleased and so are we. Eleven calves are ours, with two more to go, and the rest belong to Tammy and Bryan. We are all happy with our bull, who we bought two years ago, so this is his second time of siring our calves. One more year to go, and then we must buy another bull. Buying the bull was fun, but anxiety producing for Bryan. Several friends from the farm came to the auction, and Ken and I were along to pay the bill, but poor Bryan had the job of choosing our bull. Now everyone is happy, although the bull is still very lively and unpredictable. Now the bull has his own enclosure on the other side of the barn, where he will stay until some time in late April or early May, where he will be re-united with all his girlfriends. The plan is to sell the bull calves and keep the heifers so they can make more calves. The herd is improving every year. Bryan loves to come around the corner and see all those black cattle and calves. "It is a dream come true," says Bryan.

Country life is interesting. The Everett High School Band has been invited to go to New York to be a part of a concert at Avery Fisher Hall. They spend the weekend in New York and are taken to all the high spots in addition to rehearsing both alone and in the group mass bands. This is a hugh undertaking for this small school but they are going to go. The School Board will advance the funds for the trip, then the band members must raise the money to pay the School Board back. No child in the band has ever been to New York, and I suspect that they never will, so this is a once in a life-time visit. I suspect that some of the kids will love the travel while others will be wanting to get back home. The Concert Band has 125 members, which includes both the Junior and Senior High Schools, who are adjacent. Helen Jay has told us for years about the music program at Everett High School. Five years ago, a new teacher came to town who increased the whole program with more bands both large and small and added the Junior High students to the Concert Band, going from a band of 50 to it's present 125. The New York group organizing the event heard the band on TV when they were playing in a parade, so they were invited. It is quite a thrill, but the kids are scared to death. Saturday night they held a spaghetti dinner fund raiser. We sent some money, but not enough!!