From Kathryn

Hi, Mike: I missed church Sunday and missed you. I've been in overdrive, winterizing my garden, moving plants around, cleaning up after a giant tree was felled on one of my beds. We have about 6 cords of wood for NEXT winter from that tree, which is lying on the lawn right near a giant termite nest I found this week. What fun!!! Our neighborhood sits on a huge termite nest and I had a 10 year long battle with them eating my house before proper diagnosis, repairs and a protective redesign were done. By then $20,000 damage had been incurred.

Terminex finally told me how they were getting in the house after 10 years; they had known for quite a long time, but used my plight to sell me all sorts of treatments, including a carpenter ant policy in the WINTER. SO I sued the bastards and won. It took me 3 years to pull it off, with very little help from a lawyer who told me I couldn't win. Well, I did, and was paid back the $20,000 I"d spent! We farm girls are tough !

What wonderful weather we've been having for the past week or so. Great for working hard outdoors in the day and sleeping well at night. I call it "Vermont weather," as it's typical of the low humidity and temperatures of Vermont in summer. I LOVE IT.

As you probably were, I was engrossed in the Olympics for 2 weeks and am now following the Dems convention very closely. I was moved by Ted Kennedy's appearance and loved Michelle Obama's speech. Tonite I'll be watching Hillary, of course, and I hope she gives Obama a badly needed boost.

Brian and I speak of you every day and hope you are doing well. When I saw you last , a couple of Sundays ago, you looked much better than before you started your chemo. So I think it's working.

We both send much love to you and GLoria. XXXOOOKathryn