6-30-14

Ok the year is half over. Wow where has the time gone. 

Spent the day with Leanna and Thomas. Very exciting

6-29-14

Leanna brian and Thomas arrived at about one this morning. Was good to see them bit needed to get to bed 

Went to church. It was good. Took a nap much needed by all. Brian headed home to work bit left Leanna me Thomas here. 

So went to church tonight. Then I had Thomas outside. He likes being out with the cat and grandpa. Then later we saw a deer come toward the yard but Elijah ran her away

Did you see the colors in the sky this evening. Awesome. 

6-28-14

Pretty slow day. Rested some and visited with friends. 

It rained this afternoon. Now we are having a good old fashion thunder storm. Lots of lightening and thunder and rain. This hard rain may wash out the beans that were just planted will have to see. 

Remember Sunday is coming 

6-27-14

Happy anniversary brian and Leanna

Chipped more mulch for my trees. Then I mowed

Had supper with aunt Margaret Mariam david and Suzzann herold.

Lots of stories told   Good food and good times 

6-26-14

Ok worked hard today. Decided that I needed some wood chips so I started up my chipper and got some chips. I will do the same tomorrow. 

This evening I drove to Tulsa to see Thomas leanna and brian. They are going on a short vacation to celebrate their anniversary. It is tomorrow but they were going thru Tulsa so I met them for dinner and to see Thomas. 

So happy anniversary leanna and brian. 

6-25-14

Spent the morning at the lot. The big catapiler finished this morning. All the trees are down. Now I just have to haul them away

Then I went to my brothers house and helped him fix fence. 

6-24-14

47 years ago my brother and judy got married so I took them an anniversary cake and some ice cream to celebrate. Really I was celebrating that they were home. First day home he had a cow get out. So he is fixing fence

Today the bulldozer guy came back a finished pulling all the trees on the lot in town. We are taking the stumps out to Jerry's place to stop erosion. Sure makes the lot look better. 

It looks like it will be last of July when they did for the basement. 

Leanna took Thomas to vote today. She wanted him to start young realizing the importance of voting. Go to her Facebook to see pictures 

6-23-14

Wow busy day. I needed to cut a couple of trees from the windbreak before jerry planted beans. The cut the wheat on Saturday and lanted beans today. Doesn't always happen that way but this year it did

Anyway I was pretty tired and was thinking a nap and the baswmt guy called to say he would be here in 30 minutes   So I went down to the lot and watche as he pulled the trees up roots and all. Trying to get the lot cleaned off so they can did a basement on it 

So he quit and I came home and jerry was planting soy beans. So I rode with him for a while. They can cover a lot of ground with a 60 planter. 

6-22-14

Church was good today. Then I came home to take a nap. Then it was off to check cows for my brother. Everything seems to be going good up there. The dog misses people so I spent time petting her and reassuring her

This evening we had vbs program. The kids did a great job. It is fun watching young people enjoy life 

6-21-14

Ok got up with a mission. Was outside getting ready to cut a tree down by 8. Jerry is going to be planting soy beans on the wheat ground on Monday. So I needed to cut a tree down that was dying. The county extension office said that I would loose all of my Austrian pine trees within 5 years. He said I could slow that down if I cut the trees down as soon as the Beatle bug showed it's ugly head. Well it was time so I worked on the tree but took some time to ride The combine with roger to finish cutting the wheat.  I needed the break. 

Tree is down. Wheat is cut. Full day. 

Then I checked on the cows. Really I go up there to pet the dog. She misses my brother a lot so I spend time with her

Thanks for the prayers for mike and melissa. The moving truck delivered their household items on Friday. Now they have to store and unpack

Remember Sunday is coming

They baled the straw from the wheat for feed this winter for cattle   field is done wheat is cut. Monday with be soy bean planting day 

6-20-14

Vacation bible school is over. We had a good group and also a good group of leaders. Mona and Stacey thanks for all the planning to make this happen

Got home from vbs and roger was just starting to cut wheat. 

I spent the afternoon mowing and checking cows. Then I ride the combine with roger. We finished his field and started on my field. We got about half done and then it was too tough to combine. So will finish tomorrow 

6-19-14

Vacation bible school was good. I was in charge of outdoor activities   No one got hurt. 

Went to the farm. Mowed lawn for my brother. No cow problems

Thanks sharon the Thomas loves the blanket 

6-18-14

Was very nervous about vacation bible school. I was nicodemus and was nervous about doing the character so it would honor God. I hope I did ok. Anyway it seemed to go good. Then I worked in the activities section. We bobbed for apples. After vbs I took the remaining apples to aunt Betty so she could fix them either in a pie or as apple butter

Then I went to the farm to check cows. 

Tonight I had a deacons meeting the church. 

6-17-14

Ok you caught me. Yes those were money changers in the church. Yep just like In the bible. But these ladies were counting the pennies the kids brought for our mission project. They have decided that the money should go to orphans in Uganda. So it is a contest to see whether the girls or boys being the most pennies. Monday the boys won. Today the girls won. 

So bible school is going very good. 

This afternoon I went to the farm to check the cows. None of them were in the hayloft so I am happy. 

6-16-17

Today was the first day of vacation bible school. I think the kids and teachers had fun. 

Melissa mike and Hayden made it to Oklahoma this afternoon. Mike retired from the Air Force. It has been a struggle getting everything coordinated but theyade it. Now they have to wait for their household items to arrive. No definite date. Both mike and melissa already have jobs. A lot of prayers answered just to get them back to Oklahoma. 

Counters of the money at vacation bible school 

6-15-14

Happy Father's Day. Thanks Thomas for spending the day with grandpa. 

6-14-14

Flag day is upon us. Leanna Thomas and I did not get around as fast as we wanted so we made to to breakfast at 10. The Methodist church was haveong breakfast to show off their new building. It really looks nice. It will help them to have outreach in the community. Then we went to parsons to get a couple of items. Then Thomas needed to come home to take a nap. Well he slept right through the parade. So by the time we made it into altamont the parade was over and some of the vendors were closing up shop 

That didn't stop us from visiting each vendor. Then it was time to go pick up brian. Since brian had to paint at the bank last night he took the bus to coffeyville. It was fun to listen to Thomas as he realized that his daddy weas there. Lots of squealing and laughing as he talked to his daddy in the back seat. 

While in coffeyville we had supper. Then we came home. Thomas was having trouble sleeping. But he is finally sleeping

I have been sitting on the front porch listening to the concert downtown altamont. It is plenty loud. I am sure if you are there it is very loud 

The farmers have started cutting wheat. The race is on to get the wheat in before the next set of rain. 

Remember Sunday is coming

6-13-14

Slow day. Thomas and I let leanna sleep late. Then we had brunch. Then I headed up to the farm to take care of the cows. No problems. Easy to take care of them. 

This evening Leanna Thomas and I went to eat in parsons. 

We have to be ready for flag day festivities tomorrow. Altamont has activities starting at 8 and ending at 11:30 tomorrow night. Ok I will not be one at the 11:30 closing 

Just enjoyed having Thomas here. 

6-12-14

Ok so leanna got here at 11:00 and the sages at 1:00. Then we went to bed.  It was late when the sages got up   In fact I had already fixed breakfast for leanna and I. They weren't hungry. Then at one we went to eat and they wanted to see big Brutus. Joe loved big Brutus. He was very impressed by the thought process behind the idea of getting Brutus set up and operational. They left to go on to Springfield and leanna Thomas and I returned to altamont. 

So pretty slow day. 

Melissa and mike have a truck coming to pick up their household items. The house is packed but no driver or truck was available.  So now a truck is to be at the house in the morning and they leave in the afternoon. Pray for relaxation and also proper timing 

6-11-14

WSo today was supposed to be hot and no rain so I decided to mow. I woke up this morning with many body parts hurting from yesterday's episode but decided that the mowing needed to get done as it was projected to rain tonight. So I went to the rent house and mowed   Then went to my brothers and mowed. No cows out.  Hum hamburger is gone 

Then I mowed here at the house. Leanna called to say she was going to come up tonight. Also the sages were going to come but they would be late and driving their motor home. The want to go to see big Brutus on their way to Springfield. 

So,I went to church and hurried home in anticipation of getting to see leanna and Thomas. Received a call that they had stopped in Tulsa to eat with the sages and their grandson so it was late when leanna and Thomas arrived. It will be after midnight when the sages arrive

This is a picture of thomas

6-10-14

This morning I met roger and jerry to pick up the limbs at the downtown lot. Oh so much easier with a skit steer loader and grappler. Machine did all the work. Then we took the limbs to the city dump to burn. Done by noon

Then the real fun began. I had received a call from my brothers neighbor that the cow was out again and he was tired of having to watch our cows. So I went up there to check on the cow that was out. No cow was out.  I counted the necessary number and all cows were accounted for.  So I went to neighbor. He told me which one was out this morning. I told him I was going to get them in and take her (hamburger) to the market. He said he would help me load her. So I went back to the farm and leisurely drove the cows into the lot. Hamburger went into a smaller lot and then with one other cow went into a very small lot. Easy greasy nothing to the herding cows. So I had her separated and no problems. Then the neighbor come over to help me load her into the stock trailer. Had some troubles getting the trailer into a wet lot and such but truck and trailer in position. 

I have teased hamburger with some grain so it was easy to get her from the small lot into the barn. Again easy greasy. Nothing to working cows. 

So it was time to load her. I had double locked every gate and door. All I needed to do was remove I panel and she could walk into the trailer. 

Oh no not so easy farmer bob. Hamburger looked at me and charged me. Now I used all my matador skills and she missed me. So she turned and ran 2 steps and hit the gate going to the feed way. Broke both locks I had on the gate. But then she kept going. Right across from the gate was the stairs to go to the hay loft. I have never seen a cow in a hay loft. Now farmer bob has. Not a pretty sight

So I have an angry cow up in the hayloft. How am I going to get her down. So she tries to get down going under one of the supports. Oops she gets caught. Her head made it under the support but her hips did not. Also her left hind is extended out over thin air with an 8 foot drop. Now I know that cows kneel down from the front. I have no idea how I am going to get this cow to kneel down from the rear legs to get un stuck

The neighbor has three ideas

1. Leave her and let her get out by herself

2.  Call the fire department 

3.  Call the tv station so they can do a human interest story

I am not amused. So I go to the shop and get a ladder and saw. I am going to saw the support to release the cow. She tries to move and is now glaring at me. Like why Did you make me come up here InThe hay loft. She thinks it is all my fault

So I decided that in the present position I am not able to get on the ladder and saw the support. Besides remember what I did last time I was on a ladder. Yeh. I didn't want 2 more broken ribs

So I go back up into the hay loft this time I am able to get hamburgers attention and she bends down and her back side is released,from the support. Now she is loose in the hayloft with me. Again I have to use my matador skills as she is really upset at me. She still thinks this is all my fault. So being the nice farmer that I am I gave her some hay. She began eating the hay and quit being mad at me I think Or at least she stopped trying to butt me and sent me to heaven early. 

So I am able to get to the stairs  I go get some grain. I then try to get her to come to the stairs to eat the grain. No go. She is not stupid and is not going to fall for that old farmer trick. So I use all by bravery skills and get back in the hay loft with hamburger. I then have her eat some grain with me holding the pan of grain   How stupid is that. Now I am ok. She likes me. Yippie. So I back toward to stairs. She does not follow. But she is watching how I get up and down the stairs. So I put more grain at the very top stair and put the rest at the bottom talking to hamburger all the time in a calm voice. (Yeh right). As calm as I can be

Then the neighbor yells that she is headed to the stair and get out of the way. Well no rodeo clown has scaled the fence faster than I as hamburger headed down the stairs. Hum now she is calm and collected and saunters down the feed way right into the trailer as if nothing happened. I as quick as lighting jump over the fence and shut the trailer door before she turns around to exit again. 

Pretty easy. Now I did not take pictures of any of this because it was not funny at 1 or at 2 or at 3. But after getting her In the trailer I am able to laugh at this. The neighbor must be laughing tonight as he tells his wife about the cow InThe hay loft. Now please do not sign me up to be a rodeo clown or to be a full time farmer. 

Thanks for a good day. No one was hurt 

6-9-14

Checked cows again. Same cow out. I now call her hamburger  so I told hamburger if she keeps getting out she will make a good hamburger for someone. She looked at me as if to say " all I am doing is going on the other side of the fence. I just want to be different from the other cows". So I told her she was going to be different. She was going to be in a frying pan. She looked at me and just chewed her cud. (Just like a teenager)   If we leave this cow alone she will jump the fence to come back with the other cows. Maybe they bully her. 

So yep I found where she had jumped over a fence and fixed the fence.

Started to mow late this afternoon and got rained on. Not a very productive day.  

6-8-14

Left early this morning for OKC. Had an appointment at 10:30. Made it even though it rained hard from oolagah to OKC. 

Then had lunch with david sarah leanna Thomas Ralene. Martin and the sages. They just arrived from Tennessee so it was good to see them. 

I spent a little time with Thomas and then with david and sarah. Then I headed back to altamont. Long day but it is over. 

Received word that ishmail is better and was transferred to a different hospital. Thanks for the prayers 

6-7-14

Hey it is Saturday. We have to go to town on Saturday. So I headed to joplin. Had the top down. Hum now my forehead is sunburned. Oops

Didn't buy anything but did look. Thinking about planting more trees. Got some good ideas. Also saw something for Christmas. Didn't buy it but came home and ordered it in amazon

Then I went to the farm and checked on the cows at both places. All is well

Worked on my vacation bible school skit. Almost done. More fine tuning

Remember Sunday is coming. 

6-6-16

Rained again today. I think the farmers like this.  I did notice that my lagoon has water in it. It was getting very low last time I mowed. 

Checked the cows. Yippie. They were all in. I did find one area that they had tried to cross over so I fixed that fence. 

Pick up brush at the rental house. So we'd will be having a wiener roast in the near future as a result of the piles of brush from this storm 

This evening I went to the relay for life in parsons. They had it inside the high school gym since we were supposed to get rain. Still had a good turnout. Walked a few laps with friends. Ate some food with friends and then decided I needed to go home. 

6-5-14

Hhappy birthday to Thomas. He is 3 months old today 

It rained about an inch and half. Had some wind damage so I had to use the chain saw to cut up one of the big limbs. No adverse action as a result of using the chainsaw. Just wore me out. So I am pretty tired tonight

Then I went up to my brothers and he had several limbs down. Nothing big enough to use a chain saw

But had to pick up several

Then I checked the cows. They were out again so I spent some time getting them back into the pasture and fixed fence of a couple trees that had fallen last night

6-4-14

Ok got up at 2 to check on Thomas not on manny duty anymore

Got up at 4 to check on Thomas. Not on manny duty anymore

Got up at 6 and realized that I  wasn't on manny duty

I know slow learner

So I went to the farm to check cows for my brother. Didn't make it back home and he called to say cows were in neighbors corn. So I headed back up there. Cows really wernt in corn but I spent some time fixing fence and checking cows. 

Talked to the basement guy today. He is looking at the second or third week of July to put the basement in. So now I have time to get the limbs off the lot and ready for a dozer to push the tree stumps over. Yep I have work to do. Ribs are about ready for a workout 

Talked to brad today. He didn't get much sleep last night after the surgery. He had the hic ups and couldn't sleep  keep praying that his knee will heal and that he will have patience

6-3-14

This is the last day I get to be a manny. Tomorrow leanna does not have children in the classroom so she gets to take Thomas with her to school. So no mor manny duty 

Enjoyed it while it lasted 

To brian and his brothers sang at a honor flight recognition. Leanna Thomas and I went. It was very good. There were 81 veterans going to Washington most were ww2 but a few from Korea and 3 from Vietnam   The singing group did great. It was and honor to listen to them read off each individual name which service and a little about what he did. Thanks Oklahoma for taking care of the veterans

Ok on a personal my nephew brad is a navy aviator. Today they had surgery on his knee. It was more involve than anticipated. He is grounded from flying for 5 months. But should made a full recovery. Pray that he will heal fast and that he will be patient (not a strong thompson trait) with the healing process

Also received a message from ishmail's wife. He is my pastor friend in uganda. He is not healing from the typhoid fever he had 2 weeks ago. He is paralyzed from the waist down. Also he is bleeding from the rectum so they have put him back into the hospital   she is fearful and needs our prayers as well as ishmail as he struggles with these health issues

Here is Thomas with his ou shirt on. Bob stoops has called and wants to sigh a letter of intent for the ou football team. Ok maybe not

6-2-14

Had a good day. Thomas and I went to lunch at leanna school. Then we picked up some medicine at the store  brian wanted to grill steaks so he bought the steaks and we cooked them so they would be ready when leanna came home from school

So david and sarah had a good anniversary. They had a meal with Jedi Mickey at Walt Disney. How cool is that Star Wars weekend and it is their anniversary

Mike and melissa are busy getting ready to move to Oklahoma. She found out that the mammogram in question looked very similar to the one she had taken a couple of years ago at scott Air Force base. So no problem. Another answered prayer

If you want to see some cool pictures of Tom baker at his birthday go to jerry Bolen Facebook page.  

Spent this evening getting Thomas bed ready for him. Leanna said he can sleep in it when he is 3 months old. That will be this Thursday. 3 months wow time flies. And he continues to grow. 

The bed has Noah ark animals on the bumper around the edges. Thomas really likes it. 

6-1-14

Had a good day. Went to church. Then took a nap. Then drove to OKC. This is the last week of my manny duty. May have to volunteer for extra days to spend time with Thomas

So leanna said that she might go to Ashlee and halee dance recital. So I drove to rose state auditorium to watch the girls dance. They are really good.  so I have my culture for the month. We will see

Tomorrow is a big day. 

David and sarah celebrate their wedding tomorrow. 

Mike and melissa celebrate their wedding tomorrow. Congratulations to both couples

Please pray for melissa. They are doing a second test on a spot noticed during her mammogram   So pray that it is really nothing. Mike just found out that he is still cancer free so that is an answer to prayer

Tomorrow is tom bakers birthday. He will be 95. He is still spry and wants to work around the house.