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?

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 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.  ​

Today my baby is officially a teenager.  

​Last year I asked Walker a few questions on his birthday and I loved the answers so much, I decided to do it again this year.  ​

Summer is under way and there is a whole new set of activities awaiting us.  There are summer sports, 4-H meetings, summer camp, jackpot shows, Bible school, holiday parades and activities, county fairs, etc.  

​Most of these activities would not be possible if it wasn't for the unsung hero...

​The all-important volunteer.

The person who gives up their time, their vacation days, and many times, money from their own pocket, just so we can show up and have fun.

This quote is hanging on our wall and it is one I am always reminding the boys of.

​We all often get run down and tired and just want to get it over with, but kids tend to wear down faster and have more difficulty seeing the finish line.

The final event of every B.E.S.T. season is the awards banquet.  

​The banquet is a fun time for everyone to get together, enjoy a good meal, and actually look and smell decent. 

​To be honest...we don't recognize half the people when they are all cleaned up.

This is a picture of all the B.E.S.T. participants that attended the banquet.

​That is a lot of kids...and a lot of the kids weren't there this weekend.

This is the Knox County crew.

​I know...we are in Morrow County...but sometimes they put us in with the Knox County crew because we show at the Knox County Fair.

​We just go with the flow...

The main event of the evening is the award recognitions.  

Not everyone that attends the banquet is eligible for an award.  

​However, they give away tons of door prizes and all participants that are present at the banquet are entered into a drawing for a one year lease of an Eby trailer.  

Those that attended all 15 B.E.S.T. shows this season were presented with a show pass good for a free entry at one of next year's shows.  

Isaac received a belt buckle for accumulating the most points for the season in the Miniature division. 

Each show, they are given a certain number of points for how they placed in the ring.  These points accumulate throughout the season and the top 2 points winners are awarded a belt buckle.

We knew going into the weekend what awards the boys would receive...except for one.

​Each year they have a photography contest.  You can enter a picture in three different categories and then they are judged by each age division.  They also have an adult division that parents can participate in.  A first, second, and third place winner are selected from each age division. 

​The photography winners are presented with a canvas print of their winning picture.  ​

As soon as we walked in, Walker's eyes turned to the photography awards.

​There in the back is his picture....

And it is the biggest one...so he knew he won 1st place.

He was so excited! 

​I think he was more excited about winning the photography contest for the junior division than he has ever been about winning a buckle.  

Walker has never had any direction or training in photography. 

​At the Ohio Beef Expo, he begged and pleaded and whined until I let him use my camera.

​I stood right by his side and watched him like a hawk!

​Nobody messes with my camera!

​I knew he really wanted to submit some photos for the contest, so I indulged him for about 5 minutes.

​He took an amazing picture!

That is me on the end!

​Yep...I won first place in the adult division.

​I had a really hard time getting a picture.  The rules state there are not supposed to be any edits or enhancements to the photos.  In this digital age of photography, that is a really hard thing to do.

​I have a lot of pictures I love, but I have cropped, lightened, sharpened, etc. to get the picture just the way I like it.  That meant I couldn't use any of those pictures. 

​I am probably my toughest critic, so it took a long time for me to take a picture that I was happy with. 

​I have never won an award for photography, so I was almost as excited as Walker.  

The hardest part has been finding the perfect place to hang the pictures in our house.

​I am trying to convince everyone to let me take my picture to work to liven up the boring white walls of my office.

This is the picture that Isaac submitted for the contest.  He didn't win anything and is pretty disappointed.  

​He took this with his phone one afternoon as a storm was starting to roll in.

​I love this picture so much, I think I am going to have it printed on a canvas for him to hang in his room.

Yesterday afternoon Isaac was busy learning to use his camera (my old camera).  He is bound and determined to take better pictures and win the photography contest next year.

​We always love attending the B.E.S.T. banquet and this year was no exception.  The Ohio Cattlemen's Association has created a wonderful program, and along with their many sponsors and supporters, they have put a lot of smiles on faces.   

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