The radar apps on our phones were our friend last week...

Or maybe our enemy...

But anyway, we spent a lot of time looking at the radar.

We had hay down, and had to check and see how Florence was moving and if/when we were going to get rain.  

Weather forecasts can change by the minute.

Most weather apps have the ability to zoom in so you can see exactly where the rain is falling. 

Living in the country, it can be really important to zoom in. 

You see, our neighbor 2 doors down sometimes gets half the rain that we do.  Our next door neighbor on the other side of us may get twice as much rain as we do.  

Why?

They may be neighbors, but from the edge of our field to the far edge of the neighbors field can be more than half a mile away.  

And believe me...a half a mile can make all the difference in the world.  

Last week, Daniel was looking at his radar once again.  

And he zoomed in...and then zoomed in a little farther...and a little farther.  

Do you know what he saw?

Last week the remnants of a hurricane dumped 5 1/2 inches of rain on us. 

​We can't complain because we have been relatively dry this summer.  It gave us a nice break to get some inside work done, but always in the back of our minds was how in the world we were going to get our second cutting of hay in.  

September brings cooler weather, heavy dews and foggy mornings.  Hay isn't impossible, but it becomes more difficult with each passing day.  

Full time job.

Weekend blogger.

​One computer household.

I have been busy lately...

Busy buying stuff.

School supplies, uniforms, books, pencils, pens, shoes...

All the stuff kids need for the first day of school.

Then...

They come home from the first day of school with one more item they need...

And then one more thing...

And then one last thing.

So, I have been busy at my computer ordering all these "things" on Amazon.  

Because we all know how much I love shopping in real stores.  

I fill my cart with all the "one last things" and I find I am just a few dollars short of the $25.00 minimum for free shipping (yes, I know shipping is free for Prime members...but I am too cheap to pay for a Prime membership).

But I got the greatest e-mail from Amazon recently.  It is a list of some of those inexpensive "filler" items that I can add to my cart to get to the minimum amount for free shipping.  So being the nice person that I am, I thought I would share some of my favorite "cheap" finds with you, so you don't have to stare at the computer trying to remember something you "need" to fill your cart.

The school year has started and we have the opportunity to begin fresh with new goals, work hard and achieve great things academically.  

We all want our kids to learn...that is why we send them to school.  

​If I have learned anything from farm life, it is that there is so much more to learning than just book learning.

We finally went found time to get out of town for a few days of rest and relaxation...well sort of...Daniel is still working.

I am also taking a break from the computer.

So I will make this short and leave you with a few photos from this summer.  

I am sitting here on the couch writing this post just thankful to be home.

You see...the last couple of weeks have been very full.

With both boys off to church camp and then heading straight to the county fair, we were all pretty exhausted.  Then, after leaving the Knox County Fair, we unpacked, cleaned up and re-packed for the Ohio State Fair.

By the time we moved in to the Ohio State Fair we were just in auto pilot mode.  However, we did actually get to sleep in until 6:00 a.m. a few days.

But...we pushed through and it was well worth it.

We moved out of the Knox County Fair on Thursday night. 

I think we all felt like the week flew by and it was the shortest fair week we have ever had.

I don't know why it went so quickly.  Usually, we are killing time just waiting for our release time and so sick of the fair we can't wait to get home.  This year, we just weren't ready to leave.

Don't worry...we are exhausted and glad to be home...but it just went too fast.

Maybe it was the beautiful weather...not too hot and not too cold.  Or maybe it is that our kids are growing up.  There is less parenting and more sitting and watching them do their thing.

The boys stayed busy all week, and there were days we barely saw them.  We didn't have the long stretches of just sitting and visiting with everyone.  We were all on the move.  

The boys are home from camp.

The stinky laundry is done.

The animals are moved in to the fair.

And we are ready for the week...

​Well, as ready as we will ever be.

Isaac and Walker have worked all summer for the next week and a half.  

This week is the Knox County Fair and next weekend we will move in to the Ohio State Fair.

This is it.

​Time is up.

I have been a mom for 16 years. 

​I can't believe it myself.

This past year Isaac has grown from a boy into an almost man.  He has matured and changed so much.  It has been so much fun to watch.  

Last year I asked this slightly annoyed teenage some questions....let's see if this year is any different.  ​