When you have exhausted all
possibilities, remember this —
you haven’t.
~Edge Keynote~

I guess you could call it spring fever, or just a case of needing to check out for a moment; all I know is that is hits me at the beginning of May every year. I find it harder to get into the office and leave my gardens, and when I’m at the office, I’m very aware that my focus and concentration don’t quite cut it. I’m one of those people who thrive in the warm weather and don’t even consider it hot until the temps creep above the 100 degree mark, so when the weather turns warm and my garden begins to bloom there is really no better place in the world to be. Over the years we’ve put in an abundance of rose gardens, orchards, and flowering landscapes that require lots of time and attention.

I’ve found that gardening is one of the best forms of therapy. All of the deadlines, the phone calls that need to be returned and the next month’s issue just fades away as soon as I start digging or cutting. Just being outside and improving my environment are a plus as well. Mother Nature has also taken note of our gardens this year. At times the ranch is not only stocked with cattle surrounding us, but this year we’ve become home to several pairs of ducks and a small, but verbal flock of geese. We have a September bull calf sharing the small pasture that the geese prefer, and when he decides to give them the boot each evening, the resulting scenario is pretty hilarious. I should really have a video camera in hand, I guarantee it would be a YouTube sensation immediately.

This year the pheasant numbers have also increased, and they trek across our pastures daily. The parade of wildlife is pretty incredible, so you can see why my trail to the office this month has been a hard one to travel down. I’m sure as spring fades into summer, the ponds begin to dry, my blisters start getting blisters and the birds and the wildlife retreat from the heat, I too will be glad to be back in the office. Not to mention our July/August Big Bull Book is going to be hitting your mailboxes mid summer, and we’ve got some notable articles and impressive information already being written just for you.

While I may have found it arduous to pull myself into the office these past few weeks, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing staff, who put in enough work days to pull together the tremendous issue you’re holding. While not large in page numbers, it contains an enormous amount of information. You’ve heard a lot about DNA and its uses and we bring you the full story. While the state of the union is important, so is the state of the dinner plate and what it will contain in the future. This is an informative article that I’m positive will get you thinking. Then just to help you shake off the spring fever blues, we’ve added a few smiles for your trail.

Take off your hat, find some shade and relax with this month’s issue, then get ready to start checking your mail boxes this summer for this year’s very special all new 2009 Big Bull Book. If you’re planning on advertising be sure and get your ad reservation in early. For a few more days, I’m going to spend a few more hours cultivating, pushing, and shoving the dirt around my home before my computer calls.

Stop and smell the roses, enjoy the scent of the early summer mornings and take note of nature’s bounty before this summer passes us by………..Happy Trails.