Updating you......

Geesh! sorry it's been so long between posts but, in my defense things have just been nuts around here!  I can't seem to keep up with everything; the house, garden, animals, CSA flyer's and info for our members, projects and yes not even the blog.*sigh*  I guess my age is beginning to catch up with me and we've been doing lots of running helter skelter too!

Last week Cortney left for a Young Adults Retreat( YAR) for 9 days, she's due back tomorrow. The group went to Glacier National Park and it sounds as if they are having a blast! In the meantime I'm struggling to keep up with all the chores, garden, yard and cooking for Mike and myself. It's a good thing I've cut way......... back on what I'm eating because most evenings I'm just to pooped to cook a meal( especially when it's well into the mid to high 90'sF), so instead we've been having sandwiches, or fruit smoothies or yes, even popcorn!, LOL! 

We've had a few interesting changes and happenings as well; first is that Mike is not working outside the farm at this time. The construction company he worked for turned out to be crooks and they refused to pay overtime hours and believe me it's the law in MT to pay time+ half for any hours over 40 a week, in a pay schedule. He was not the only one to quit, in fact the entire crew, minus the manager's nephew, quit for several reasons. Lack of OT being paid, the fact that the manager is running the company into bankruptcy and being threatened and bullied on a daily basis with the fact that if they didn't do this or that there wouldn't be a paycheck for them. We have filed a complaint with the State of MT Labor and Industry Division and hope that they file legal action against this company. After totalling all the OT hours up the company owes Mike for 138 hours @ time and a half, so it's a considerable amount of $$ and we could certainly use it. There were other mistakes and hours that were changed( by the manager) on his time sheet that we are disputing as well. Our worry is that the state gets things rolling before the company goes under and claims bankruptcy, if this happens we'll be out the monies owed, unless we take legal action and then it will only be paid back at pennies on the dollar. It's to bad the manager wouldn't listen to advice given her, because this company had the potential of really making some $$. Now they are facing complaints filed for wages and several leans and lawsuits for past due accounts. I'm just glad Mike is home and not having to deal with that stress any longer. He's already got plenty of work lined up and has spread the word among  our farmer friends that he's home and available to work if they need a hand. :o)  Mike working at home is only possible because we are debt free.
           Now having said last above statement, today Mike was going to a job( he's building a pole building for a friend) and his truck quit, then he noticed smoke coming from under the hood,it was on fire!  PTL!!!! he had a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, but wiring and hose were melted and no sure of the extent of the damage, but..... it could have been so much worse, if he'd not had the fire extinguisher, he could have lost the entire truck, all of his tools and all the lumber he'd picked up for our friend. Praying that the damage was minimal and just glad Mike wasn't injured.  This of course is a set back, but we'll manage like we always do! :o)

Well it's time to get milking done and evening chores done, then BBQ up some hamburgers and trimmings for supper.    I'd also like to acknowledge all of our new followers, thank you for reading along with our life, we enjoy comments, even if right now I don't comment back much due to lack of time, we do enjoy reading your comments :o)