As the cold sunny days are passing, we are already planning for our next growing season and hope the winter will be a mild one.
2011 was a much improved year and we all have a lot to be thankful for. Steve's been working all year at a heated frenzy to catch up from the slow winter of 2010-2011. He lost so much work because of the harsh winter that he felt 60 hours a week was necessary. Thankfully he was able to catch up and his business is expanding south (good thing with these gas prices). He also sub-contracted for a commercial construction and paint company as a crew supervisor.
The farm is doing well. This year our pond was stocked by the MO Dept of Conservation and the veggies were plentiful even though the tomatoes and cucumbers were a disappointment. The summer was too wet, then too hot. For our Thanksgiving feast we picked 3 baskets of gems that we included in the dinner: leeks, beets, lettuce, carrots, purple cauliflower and radishes. It's now December and I am still picking lettuce, beets and swiss chard. Fresh eggs too of course from the hens.
USTA Missouri Valley is still as satisfying as ever. Steve was able to travel with me to Palm Springs and has since become my "ace" volunteer. A week in the sun for pennies doesn't hurt either. This year he plans to join me in NY for the US Open!
I have also begun to work with our team of programmers, creating better, faster and mobile- friendly systems for TennisLink Leagues. Who knew? 5 years ago, I couldn't use a flash drive, now I am a subject matter expert! Ha Ha!
Derek has moved back to Kansas City after two years in San Diego CA. The struggles in such an expensive city just became too much. He's back working for the same company that Steve also worked for. He's kept up with his hunting and our Christmas Table will be centered by the roast venison. Yummy!
Willie has been working in his field this year as an electrical engineer at Sunnen Systems which build circuits for many types of machines. He is living in St Louis where he graduated from SLU and attended one year of graduate school. His girlfriend Lexie is still in law school but will gradute this spring.
The 3 cats are doing great! Blackie is slowly making friends with Patch and Rex, since she likes to come in from the cold more often that ever now, especially since she discovered the big food bowl, just inside the back door. We are still mourning the passing of Stubby, our blind but amazing cat. We think of her often and hope she rests peacefully in kitty heaven.
We are blessed in many ways and hope your blessing grow like a garden this year.
Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!
God Bless!
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