August, 2016

       The end of summer is drawing near, I’m not sure where the time has gone. This letter is long over-due and I have had several reminders from subscribers, I apologize.

      A new granddaughter, Emma, was born to Galen & Rachel on August 23^rd! She has a nice amount of darker hair, darker complexioned than big sister Rebecca, who is blue-eyed and has blond curly hair. Rebecca is 18 months and she isn’t too sure about this new baby as of yet. She will touch her, and smile to her, but hold her - - - the other day Rachel wanted a picture of Rebecca holding Emma. We sat her on the rocker, Rachel got the camera ready and I tried to lay Emma on Rebecca’s lap. She pushed her away with both hands and I didn’t get her on! She had a big stuffed dog, we put the dog between them, that was okay. Then I tried putting Emma on the chair in front of her, that little foot came out and shoved her away.  I saw they did get a picture later with Galen’s help. One of these days she will probably like her too well. That makes #14 grandchild for us, 6 girls and 8 boys.

       All the moving changes have taken place, we are basically settled in, altho I don’t have everything unpacked yet. I finally got my sewing machine out of the box on Saturday and the things placed in drawers, but haven’t used it yet. There is a stack of mending to work at. Also some other things I’m not sure where I want to put yet. Slowly but surely I keep working at it.

                                                                                                                                                December 2016

     Season’ Greetings to all our email friends. I find it hard to believe it is December, with such a beautiful fall it doesn’t    seem like winter time. By the sound of the weather predictions for next week, winter will be here without a doubt. We have  nothing to complain about, I sure don’t look forward to the cold though.

        Baby Tonya Danae Musser was born to our son Mark & Mabel Ann on Tuesday November 29^th. She weighed 6 lbs. 10  oz. and was 19” long, a cute, tiny package. That makes 15 grandchildren for us, 7 girls and 8 boys, the girls are catching  up! I am glad they live close by so I can see her oftener.

      We have again had some changes in employees, it takes time to get everyone trained, but things are going better by    now.  Nathan, Joseph, Kiel, Doug and William are the cheese maker’s, Harold is in shipping, Stacy in retail and office,  Dwayne does wholesale. Rae Ann, Nicole & Kaitlyn are the cheese cutting girls. Jeff is mostly in the office as general  manager and Junior’s assistant, he also helps out on the floor as necessities arise. Doug also takes care of the aging rooms,  Russ works 2 days a week. Jay Alan still faithfully hauls milk and does maintenance. The newest employee is Chris, who will  be manager of the cheese cutting, orders, shipping, the general flow of things. She will be taking over most of my duties so  I can cut back to part time. There is a lot to learn, but she is doing well.

      The orders have been rolling out of here, we have never sold this much cheese before, we are happy to be able to do so. It keeps everyone stepping in the cutting, packaging and shipping departments. And now we are in the gift box season, we have already sold a nice amount and Christmas is still 3 weeks away. The FedEx drivers will be keeping busy in the next couple of weeks.

        Rufus was very busy with demos and food shows the last few months. He was in Fairfield, Coralville, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City this week. In 2 weeks he will be in Chicago for 4 days and that will wrap it up for 2016. He is ready for a break but will be ready to get back on the road again in a few weeks.

        Junior took off early yesterday to work at getting things ready for winter on the farm. This will be his first winter at this place, he may need to do more to get ready. The children sure like living there. Jessica’s kitties are Mittens & Boots, Cupcake & Cookie. Junior found the last 2 in the cornfield, rather wild, but the one was a Calico and he chased it till he caught it. The children and Crystal are getting them tamed. Austin, 22 months, is a chubby blue-eyed blond, full of energy and a winning grin. He gets so excited when we come, he hardly knows how to act. And Jeremy is the big boy around there, Daddy’s helper. He takes his time to things, seeming almost slow, but the wheels are turning in his head. Jessica on the other hand is quick, impulsive.

                                                                                                                                                               August 2017

       Summer greetings to our Friends near and far. It’s hard to believe it is August already, how time seems to fly by. Weather-wise we are enjoying such pleasant temperatures compared to most of July. I wish it would stay this way for the rest of the summer. But we are very dry, haven’t mowed yard for weeks, the pastures are dried up to the point the farmers are feeding some hay. It will definitely affect corn yields, some worse than others. But it seems like it is just a pocket, not very far north, not very far south, it looks altogether different. I’m not sure how far east and west it is, farther than the other way. At least not everyone is so dry.

       The latest news is granddaughter Janita Rose, arrived on July 30^th to daughter Jane Marie & Randall, weighing 7 lbs. 12 oz. She has a nice amount of dark hair, but it will turn lighter like the rest, I think. This is their 2^nd girl, it makes a happy sister. She makes our 17^th grandchild.

    On Saturday August 5^th, they had some misfortune. Curvin, 20 mo. old, was in the haymow with his siblings, they hiked him along up on bales and he fell down, apparently landing on his leg.

                                                                                                                                            November 2017

Season’s greetings to all our e-mail friends. It’s hard to believe we are nearing the end of another year. How time seems to go so fast, I guess that means we are busy and happy. Life is good, we are thankful for the blessings we have.

      Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day. Daughters Jane Marie & Rose and their families came, it is very seldom they are both here at once, it makes it a special occasion. Randall’s (Jane Marie) arrived here Wednesday evening with their seven children. They live in Withee, WI, are dairy farmers. Dennis’ (Rose) came by noon Thursday with their three, they also live in Withee. Dennis does some cash cropping, mostly he is away installing electric in new chicken barns with his crew of 6, sometimes installing equipment, also. Wednesday Rose picked him up at the job, about 2 hours south of them, they came part way and got a motel. They both leave for home Sunday again. Randall’s are sleeping here, Dennis’ at Mark’s.

    Yesterday (Thanksgiving) we went to church. Randall is a minister, he had the main sermon. I had 4 little boys with me, they did well. David & Daniel – almost 5, Randall Jr. 3½, and Curvin – 2 on the 28^th. Wasn’t sure, thought we could have a circus but they are well-trained . Leon Earl – 9 sat with the boys his age, Sheila sat with Junior’s wife Crystal and dau. Jessica, a treat that probably didn’t happen before. Baby Janita – almost 4 mo. went with her Mom, of course.

We had a family gathering on my side, my parents, 9 of us siblings and our children. There were approx. 109 people in all, with 6 missing. We rented the Lodge in the Lacey Keosauqua State Park, it was a beautiful day, the children could be outside in the afternoon. It is a nice place to have it, also inexpensive. Everyone brought food, the menu was ham balls, roast beef with a sauce (pulled like pulled pork) cheese potatoes, baked corn, green beans with a white sauce, make your own salad bar, pie and ice cream. Five people brought 3 pies each, there was pumpkin, oatmeal, apple and one cherry pie. There were some pies left over, but the meat was just barely enough.

                                                                                                                                                March 2018

     Good morning and Easter greetings! The sun is shining, it’s 56 degrees, at least for now. There is rain in the forecast for later this morning and falling temperatures. We’ll enjoy the sunshine while it is here!  This week has been cloudy and rainy, the sunshine is welcome again.

       The cheesemakers have been very busy the last few months, this is the time of the year when the cows are milking more, it is keeping them stepping, making an average of 14 batches a week, that means double shifting. Nathan, Joseph, Stephen, Roy, Trevor, Jordan & Aaron keep that field covered.  They are doing a good job in keeping things on track.

     The orders were slow which is typical for this time of the year. The ladies were having a hard time getting enough hours in. Taylor, Judy, Katie & Julie are in that department. The orders are picking up, they will get hours in now, may have to do some overtime. A new cheese cutter has been a great help to them, taking out some arm muscle labor. The cutter has a cylinder, they press the foot peddle and a wire goes across the 40# block, another arm comes down and cuts it into loaves. It is lots faster and easier. We are also having one worked at for cutting the loaves into retail pieces. It will enable them to do more in a day.