And the harvest continues. I have canned more green beans, more salsa and more "Rotel". Next up is Bloody May Mix. I decided to take a break from canning tonight. I probably won't do any tomorrow night either. Then I need to get back to it. I have most of my pint jars filled. I have some quart jars left so I may have to can some of the Bloody Mary Mix in quarts. Stress at work continues. Once again I feel like I just keep falling further and further behind. I try not to take work home with me. I need a break from it to unwind and relax. But I think I am going to have to start. Performance evaluations are due soon, I have had some traveling to do for work (to other offices for appointments) and have had to cover for a co-worker when she has been out. On top of all of that we are changing broker/dealers AGAIN so there is a ton of paperwork involved in that. It all feels like it is caving in again. Well, I better go get something done then.

Again, the end of a very busy week! It was Murray County Fair Week. That means we were down at the fair grounds every night for something. Lauren and Logan are in 4-H so of course we had to go to the 4-H building and see how they did. I am very proud of both of them! We had to go see how my niece Cheyenne did on her calves. She did an awesome job - reserve champion. We went for the Lumberjack show, the Looney Lutheran show, had to get a malt at the Dairy Assn. stand and a pork burger at the Pork stand and check out the wine tasting and beer garden! Saturday was the parade and of course the band was in the parade. Then right after the parade the band was part of the dedication of the county Veteran's Memorial. I was exhausted by last night when it was all over. Well, then today I got back to my canning. I canned 16 more pints of green beans, 15 pints of salsa, and 5 pints of Rotel. In a couple of days I will have a lot more produce to can as the garden is doing very well this year. We have had nice rains at just the right time and lots of moderate heat - just enough heat. Lots of vegetables for fresh eating and a lot of extra for winter consumption! Yummmmm! The bonus part of our garden is that it is also my stress relief! When I go out to the garden I pull weeds like a crazy person when I am stressed. It helps! I take all my frustrations out on those poor weeds. tomorrow it is back to the old grind. In 2 weeks I will have my 32 year anniversary there. Sometimes I am proud of the fact that I have been a long time employee. but a lot of times lately I think it is just too long. I am tired of the politics of banking and tired of the stress involved in being in the position I am in. Sometimes I just want to have a job that doesn't take so much out of me. Like being a cashier at the grocery store or the drug store. When I go home, I don't have to think about it any more. But, I guess I just have to keep thinking about the 4 year plan. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A very busy time of year! Friday we headed il to Mall of America. Laurent was nominated for an academic award at the end of the school year. It was a statewide award. The ceremony and reception for the State winners was at the Mall of America. It was very nice, but boy is that a big place!!!!!! I think I walked 10 miles! We came home the same day so we spent 3 hours on the road each way, but it was worth it to see hr get the award. Yesterday I furiously cleaned house, picked and snaped beans, and then headed down to Relay For Life at the fairgrounds. It was a very nice event. I helped with the silent auction area. We 59 items donated for the silent auction! Just amazing! Even more amazing is that in a small community like ours the whole event raised $60,000 for the American Cancer Society. There were lots of ways to give money besides the silent auction. Each of the teams had things going on in their campsites and there were games to play. . . . Just lots of fun stuff. Then today after church we headed out to the farm and picke gd sweet corn. We got it all cut off the cob and processed. In all we got 48 pints done!!!!! Whew! Now we are sitting on the patio watching the Comings game. It is looting rain outside, but it is very nice sitting out here. I need to rest and recharge tonight. Tomorrow starts fair week here in town. The busiest week of the year! Every day after work it will be off to the fairgrounds. Then Saturday is the parade and Veteran's Memorial dedication. The end of the busy week! But that means the first day of school is right around the corner! Summer is almost over. Booo