Rita and Susan

The Husband's Mom, Rita, and his sister, Susan, had a strong resemblance to each other. I will even say they had similar personalities.

Rita came to Lester's Flat for a visit a few months before she passed away, and just a few days after Rico the goat was born. We thought Rico was a girl, and we asked her if we could name him Rita. She loved the idea...but then, well, it wouldn't do to have a boy named Rita...

So the following year, after Rita had passed (we miss you!) we had a little white female goat born here that we named Rita. It was only after she was about a year old that she turned into a redhead, like her namesake.

Then, this past year we kept 2 of the 10 kids that were born here and sold the rest. Roger Ramjet was the buckling who struggled to stay alive, and another little white female that we named after Susan Sontag, the writer. It took awhile to figure it out, but guess what? Susan the goat is now a redhead as well! So she must have really been named after Tim's sister.

No offense to the humans, but I think your goats are beautiful too! Our 2 pretty redheads get along very well even if they are not mother and daughter.

Solar eclipse

The eclipse was a big deal around here, even though we were too far north to get the full effect.

http://www.allotsego.com/new-friends-sun-and-moon/

I am linking to this article (although there are several from the newspaper where I work) because my dear friend Tara took the photo, and because it is a better version of the same one I took with my iPhone. In both photos, ignore the big sun flare, and look for the little moon slice (hers to the right, mine underneath) which is actually a slice of the sun blotted out by the moon.

The next 2 photos were of Libby and me experimenting with a hole punched through a lunch container.

All the buzz around town.

It was mighty difficult not to look up while it was going on, but I am a believer in the media reports which warned not to look with bare eyes.

Let that be a lesson to you, POTUS. Not all media is fake. Seriously? You would risk your eyesight? I just don't know what to say about that...

Cats, wildflowers, eggs

After much coaxing by Evie, the cat boys Willie and Monkey came out to meet her. This is a first for both of them, who always hide when visitors are here. They even came down on the stairs for a peek and a pet from Brian the next day. I don't imagine they will remember their bravery next time someone shows up, but it is a small bit of progress.

Where I walk the dogs across the street by the horse farm the wildflowers are coming in like crazy. It is near impossible to get a good pic with my iPhone when there is a dog on the leash. Another filly was born late yesterday according to Susan, but the little one hasn't come out to meet us just yet. Cyrus enjoys meeting the little ones nose-to-nose. Woody just barks at the strange creatures on the other side of the fence.

And, a final photo from the visiting photographer—2 of our fresh eggs for her breakfast. The composition is perfect, just like the eggs.

Up on the hill

I frequently take the boys up on the hill for a run at Don's house. He is far enough from the road and from our chickens that I don't have to worry about the dogs getting into trouble. Of course they still do...

Since B&E are still here on their visit from NJ, E&I went together today. Mr P&B (his brother) had my car so we had to try to fit the dogs in the too small back of the truck. Cyrus sat in Evie's lap for the short ride, Woody barked like he always does in the back.

Clouds made it not quite as hot, few raindrops here and there, but otherwise much fun was had by all. Until I realized that I lost the truck key out of the hole in my back pocket. Retraced my steps around Don's long trail through the woods/weeds, and found it on my second go-round. Duh! Don't put keys in holey pocket...lesson learned...

Bandit (Don's dog) on the left, Cyrus all black and hard to see on the right, Woody all white in the background waiting for me to let him in Don's house to lick the chicken-cooking bowl.

That's my boy!

Our favorite visiting photographer was here again!

A fisheyed Roger Ramjet and Johnny Cash

Thank you Sarah for taking these cool photos of the elusive goats, and the even more elusive Farmer Tim! We hope you had a little fun in your too-short visit to Lester's Flat!

The Man in Black

Farmer Tim

Rico and Jack (and Susan with no head)

Upstate visitors: family and famous

Our beautiful niece Claire was spotted photo-bombing Jeffrey Toobin. Well, actually, I used her to hide the fact that I was taking a photo of Mr. Toobin. Claire's mom Sarah, Sarah's dad Brian (The Husband's brother) and Brian's wife Eve were all up to visit from NJ. We had a lovely dinner at the Blue Mingo, otherwise known as the Spider Mingo from the last time Claire was there with her sister and was forced to sit on the deck, which had a large variety of spiders hanging from the ceiling. Claire was quite happy to be outside, under the umbrella, even though we had a bit of rain out there by the lake. No spiders. Just ducks.

Claire and Sarah headed back to NJ today, but B&E were lucky to join us at Fly Fest this afternoon, where we had the pleasure of seeing several performers, including Aztec Two Step, a group that everyone but Evie remembers from the 70s. Excellent performance.

Thanks go out to Bruce and Sue for putting on a great show every year! Hoping that this is the last Fly Fest at Cornfield Hall, but not the last Fly Fest!