Emma has been thoroughly enjoying her new mountain top. She paces and patrols it and it has become her new lookout post. The problem is, she is digging out holes in the side and it is causing it to wash. We are expecting more rain, and are concerned about the house site washing more. After deliberating the best solution, Roy bought 3 bales of straw for it and we got up early today and spread it on the hill. We also measured (and re-measured) the exact spot for the house. We have to consider how far back and how close to the front edge it is. We are trying to get the stakes in so the footers can be dug. Our first layout didn’t leave enough room for a push mower to get by, so we moved it forward 3 feet. Now we are wondering if the porch will be too close to the driveway.

Lightening struck our second Mulberry tree yesterday. The first was cut down by the power company, so now we have none. Roy was out raking the house site to get ready for the straw (in the rain, trying to beat the storm). When it hit, he felt it and thinks an offshoot of the lighting struck him. He said he felt tingling all over and it sounded like a shotgun went off by his ear (his ear is still hurting).  He decided it would be a good time to quit for the day. Today he cut it down and pulled it all to the burn pile.