We had rain last night! A whole inch! Of course, the horses were out and there was thunder so midnight saw most of the family up unplugging computers or running for the house with eager horses in tow. You don't have to ask them twice to come inside if it is stormy. They just hate the lightning. Of course, everybody was sleepy and cranky today, which makes taking the first stuff over to the fair extra challenging.

The boss went over to Holloways for some straw this morning. They make real nice stuff over there; big, heavy, bales of short chopped barley straw that fluffs up just wonderfully under the show cows and keeps them nice and clean. We try to buy some every winter for the milk cows too. They just love it and lie down as soon as their stalls are bedded. Sometimes you can tell in the morning that some of them never got up all night, because they were so comfy.

I don't have much time today, because I have been requested to go over to the fairgrounds and take a look at the new cow barn there. The kids want me to offer suggestions on how they can fit the hay and straw into their area and get the signs, flowers, and decorations up. In a way I would rather stay home, but then again, it is fun to be part of all the excitement.