We are still getting rain, every day but one this last week. We have only lived here since March of 2003, so still learning what is normal for the weather. We are told that is has been dry here for several years and that this is not normal but no one is complaining. They are forecasting more rain for this next week also.

Shawn is back to driving full time again. He is gone before I get up in the morning so he can get back at an earlier time. I try not to have much that I have to have him help with when he gets home. I get the animals taken care of and whatever else I can do done so that he can get done what he needs to do. With the rain we are getting, we aren't doing much outside beyond what has to be done.

I had meetings every day with the business facilitator or suppliers for my store. It looks like I will be done with the facilitator the end of this week. I still have some suppliers to find and work with. We are looking at opening about the5th of July. I am looking forward to getting in the building and getting started cleaning, painting and setting up.

Since we couldn't get outside Saturday, we went to LaGrande to run errands. It is about an hour away and we go about once a month. Being a larger town with more to offer for groceries and a Wal-Mart, it pays to go once in a while. We also have lunch when were there for something different. It takes most of the day by the time we are done. Sunday we had a small break from the rain so got the wheel line straightened out and new gas put in so it is ready to go.

We have three different irrigation systems here right now. One is the wheel line which is on the lower part of the hay field. Since we live on a hill and the irrigation ditch is across the top of our property, everything is gravity flow. Because of the gravity flow, the sprinklers hardly run when the wheel line is at the top of the field so we have gated pipe across the top of the field. Gated pipe is PVC pipe with gates placed in it every few feet. We open these gates to irrigate the field. It is similar to flooding which is what we do in the pastures. We are working with the local Soil & Water Conservation office to find better ways to water the pastures and part of the hay field so that we get better use of our water. By next year, we hope to have something different at least in the pastures and the alfalfa.

We are going to try to get some fencing done this next week as long as we get some breaks in the rain. If not, we will be happy to have the rain while it is here, because I am sure it will be missed once it stops!

Location: Lostine, Wallowa County, Oregon

Business: Cattle, crops

Secret weapon: An ag-friendly community with great mentors

Open a tack and feed store

Start a cattle herd

Repair and rejuvenate newly purchased ranch

Adopt a child (Not necessarily in that order)

We are still getting rain, every day but one this last week. We have only lived here since March of 2003, so still learning what is normal for the weather. We are told that is has been dry here for several years and that this is not normal but no one is complaining. They are forecasting more rain for this next week also.