I sure did hate to hear the alarm clock this morning. I drove directly to the farm that baby cotton is coming up on. This would be the farm I had run the sand fighter on yesterday, streaking, or striping the field. I wanted to be sure the sand was holding before I got busy doing something else.

I returned to Pepa's field that was in planting progress when the rain came. I lack 100 acres there. But, it was way too wet. Jason and I did a little maintenance on the tractor and planter, then he began hauling wheat and I returned to fill in the stripes or streaks with the sand fighter.

I had really forgotten how much I liked to be proactive on the farm. I would rather be safe than be sorry. For those of you who aren't aware, blowing sand can cut and kill young tender crops. It is bad enough if you lose some of your crop but much worse if you blow out a neighbors.

The tractor I have driven the past two days is an older tractor that my Dad adores. I don't share his passion for this tractor. It is fifteen years old and last year he had the engine replaced, and the transmission rear-end gone through. Total bill. $50,000. It didn't matter to him that this is an old tractor. I would much rather have seen him put the money toward a newer model.

Worse thing for me, is this tractor's air conditioner has been out the last two days. Next worse thing, it has no GPS guidance system. Jason and I had a laugh today when he took me after my pickup. I told him I had hit every button in that tractor and I couldn't get the guidance to activate.

In two weeks I have crossed this particular farm four times. Once plowing it to clean it up for herbicide. Two, incorporating the herbicide. Three, to plant it. And four, running the sand fighter.

Lots of people will call me crazy with my next revelation, but there is a "coyote couple" that live in some tunnels and caves on this farm. They have lived there for years. The male is as gray as I am and the female appears to have just weaned pups. She is very lank. Over the past twenty years, I have seen many litters. Crazy thing is they know the drill and while they can't stay "under" while I plow around their house, they will come out and just watch me, only feet away. I would estimate they have to travel at least one and a half miles just to get water.

Anyhow, I have and do enjoy watching them. It sometimes amazes me how much "wildlife" is in a field.

We are hopeful we can plant tomorrow. At some point we are probably going to run rotary hoes, to help the 500 plus acres of cotton that has been planted break through the crust.

Combines have been on the move. Wheat harvest is moving at warp speed, yet you don't see any noticeable reduction in uncut fields.

I guess I will put the curse on the Boston Celtics, but I am pulling for them to beat the Lakers in game 7 of the NBA finals tonight. As much as I would love to see it, I am going to get a bath and go to bed.

Have a day! I've already had one!

FATHER, thank YOU for seeing this day to its end.