great office space

Meet Cori Basham, editor of the Mules and More Magazine.   Cori is my IT, social networking, blogger, website, go to friend.   She’s a great gal from a great family and another friend that I’ll be indebted to for their help with my campaign for state representative.   If you’re not part of the mule family already, check out the magazine at www.mulesandmore.com

empty office chair

Cori's dad, Loren Basham

campaign treasurer

I would like to introduce you to Byron Baker. He is the treasurer for the Friends of Bruce Sassmann Campaign Committee. My most sincere thanks to Byron for his help with this campaign and my bid for State Respresentative of the 62 Legislative District.

Byron and I first met in a committee created by the Meramec Regional Planning Commission. He has always been an active member in the Linn community, in many regional projects, and on several state and national orgainizations. I am most thankful that Bryon and I crossed paths again in the Four Rivers Chapter of Quail Forever with the mutual interest of sharing a portion of our landscape with wildlife.

Byron's address is: 736 Hwy U, Linn, MO 65051. His cell is 573-680-2645

Tuesday, March27 th, 2012

Some folks know

and some are still learning

We've been trying to convert our cool season pastures to more wildlife friendly native warm season grasses.   I think the exotic cool season grasses like fescue will always be a management problem.  Today we sprayed with a herbicide that targets grasses.   Timing is critical.   We wanted to spray while the cool were actively growing and the warm season grasses were not.   The spray we used was called Select Plus.   It is not supposed to kill broadleaf plants.   If the spray works the way we hope it does, we should have an incredible bloom of wild flowers.   Diversity of flora and fauna is key to creating a healthy environment.

Sunday March 25th, 2012

Sunday, March 25, 2012.   Yesterday’s high tech group of titanium pedallers were displaced with today’s canine care givers.    The first member of the Red Oak Beagle Club arrived at 6:00 AM.    Pickup trucks, dog boxes, and beagles filled the gravel parking area around the barn.    No protein bars for this group.   Old fashioned biscuits and sausage gravy started the day.   The pictures tell it best.

Saturday March 24th, 2012

Saturday, March 24, 2012.   Spring is the beginning of variety of activities at the farm.   Today we hosted a group of back roads bike riders.    The farm was the pivotal point for several options of back road loops.   The original plan consisted of a marathon distance loop beginning and ending at the farm.   The spring rains and flooding added some detours and most of the riders exceeded the planned 26 mile distance.   The roads traveled were mostly gravel.    I was impressed at the athletic ability and the spirit of both men and women.   Most folks wouldn’t know that these back road dare devils, lock their feet into the bike pedals.   This gives the riders the advantage of pulling the petals up as well as pushing them down.   The disadvantage is, when the riders lose their balance, they can’t easily detach their feet from the petals.   Crashes, scratches, and blood are common.   Luckily, today there were no broken bones and only a little bloodshed.

Jan and I stopped by the nursing home this evening to see my mom.   She will be 92 in April and is in great physical health.   Sadly she suffers from dementia.   It’s hard to describe how I feel, ……. sad, helpless ….   I know she is well cared for ….  I don’t like to see her cry.

We finished the day, late night shopping at Walmart.

Welcome

Welcome to my Blog.   This blog is intended to give you a glimpse into my life and the things that I think are important.   Maybe it will help describe my views about all things political, philosophical, moral, ethical, social, and up till now, personal.  Regardless of the direction this blog takes us, I hope it is an adventure, exciting, and worthwhile.