I am ready for this year to be over.

I got back on the tractor Wednesday. Probably marginal as to whether or not is was dry enough, especially where there is some cover that prevents the sun and wind from drying it out. Of course since I am mouldboarding if I can get traction the big plow will turn the soil over.

I had already streaked all of the terraces on the Wastella farm. Making at least a round and on most two rounds. I had done this when things were wet before and the terrace tops dried out. I had decided to go back down the chalk hill and fill in between the terraces, plowing it solid. It had been a number of years since this had been done, but with this soils tendency to blow I felt it would be a good move.

Last February we were breaking this place when Pepa died, running the tractor and ripper around the clock. Pepa died on a Friday night and I didn't run any more days so the night guy moved into my shift. On the Sunday of Pepa's visitation we had a hellacious wind come in, blowing sand on the "less" than half of this farm we hadn't plowed. We fought the sand the rest of the year. Craziest part was we should have been through plowing by the time the wind came, so it was Pepa's fault.

As if he cares.

As I was topping the hill on Wednesday, I decided to mouldboard one more terrace. It is kind of a transition terrace from the chalk light soil to the deeper better rich deep soil. I was probably an hour a way from completion when I began getting warning lights. The temperature gauge was sweeping. I put the tractor nose into the wind and it began slowing and eventually cooling the water temperature down. I got out of the tractor and discovered a shredded serpentine fan belt.

Knowing Jason was at a basketball tournament, I called him and caught him almost perfect to go by John Deere at Colorado City to get the belt.

After the tractor cooled down I began idling toward my pickup. I was probably thirty yards away when the temperature began edging to the red. Almost immediately the tractor was engulfed with a steam shower.

Dang the luck. I had blown a radiator hose.

Oh well. That is where my day will start. I have all the parts. Now to install them.

Quick notes.

Yesterday would have been Freddy and Linda's 38th wedding anniversary.

Yesterday was Jake and Lindsey's 4th. Happy, Happy!

Pat and I have been working on some tax stuff for Memama. The only one who came out ahead was the accountant looking at it. Pretty much the way we expected it. We may make some additional acquisitions but after the new year.

And Pat, Hag and the boys went to Steph's yesterday to have their Christmas. Pat will stay to help Steph, JR and Chloe pick out the new baby this next week!

Gotta a busy day. Probably start it with stopping by Memama's. Wade, Judy and Robbie were due in last evening. Wade and Judy are on their way to Holly's for their McLeod Christmas and will drop Robbie off until Sunday.

Memama has been pretty blue, so we are hoping a dose of Robbie will give her a jump start!

Then I need to run by the bank at C-City and do some year end stuff.

And of course, the tractor waits . . . . . .. ... . . . ...

Have a day!

Oh LORD. What do YOU have in store for me this coming year?