Our deepest sympathies go out to our dearest Luann Wright-Crocker on the loss of her husband Jerry Crocker this past Thursday. Jerry at the age of 73 died of a heart attack at their home in Dunellen FL.

We picked up our entries at the Hart County Fair on July 7 and my ABC's of Flowers won a first place ribbon and a blue ribbon from the Commonwealth of KY., my Bonnieville, KY Parade 2007 won a first place ribbon and in the oil catagory my American Cowboy won a third place ribbon and Jacob's Wolf won place 3 in watercolors.

Carl's John Deere Tractor in Stained Glass won a first place ribbon and a blue ribbon from the Commonwealth of KY., His Everything's coming up Roses panel won second place ribbon and his Yesteryear III won a third place ribbon. His grape etching night light won first place ribbon.

Bridget Butler of GreenThumbArticles. Com has again announced that Arlene Wright Correll of Munfordville receives their congratulations for coming in first place for most written and most original articles published the month June with 27 articles. Congratulations also go to Jonathan Yaakobi for the second place spot for most written articles with 9 articles. Ms. Butler says they currently have 71 authors writing for them internationally and welcomes new writers everyday who wants to write about organic gardening.

My latest book, "The ABC's of Wine and Beer Making" has been accepted Internationally and within the next 6 weeks can be found in places like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Ingram Book Company, Nielsen BookData in the UK and others! One can buy a hard copy or a less expensive download at www.lulu.com/kate1031

Ken and Glynis sends us this news. " Look who showed up in our back yard!! She was only about 15 feet away at any given time (and seemed 15 feet tall the whole time... really about only 8 foot). Well, we are interacting with the natives...lol. I took Baxter out for his evening "constitutional" last night about 9p.m., and he started going after something around the corner. We have a bike path that runs along the back yard, so I just figured it was someone walking another dog until I saw a large head come around the corner! I went and told Ken to look out the window (he was upstairs on the computer), and he ran and got the camera. At least it wasn't the 2yr old bear that got it's butt kicked by an adult St Bernard a few towns over a couple of weeks ago! Pretty cool, even if I was thinking, "Don't eat my new plants!" (She only munched on tree leaves and a local thing here called "fire weed"- <I know what some of you are thinking, and "No"...lol>> We're told it gets pretty flowers on it, but if this keeps up who knows if we will find out!)"

I had been asked to write an article about July 4 and it was published. True Americana is the 4th of July©

Fran Mannellino sends us this. Subject: The word Service

I became confused when I heard these terms, each of which included the word, 'service':
1. Internal Revenue 'Service'
2. U.S. Postal 'Service'
3. Telephone 'Service'
4. T.V. 'Service'
5. Civil 'Service'
6. City & County Public 'Service'
7. Customer 'Service'
8. 'Service' Stations
9. Department of Social 'services'
This is not what I thought 'service' meant. But today, I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to 'service' a few cows. BAM! It all came into perspective. I now understand what all those 'service' agencies are doing to us. I suspect you are as enlightened as I am.