Another busy week. A six day work week too. My Saturday was a testament to not working on the weekend. Not very productive. The big John Deere tractor is having some issue and I am not sure exactly what it is.

When I headed to the field, the big tractor was doing fine, business as normal. Midway through the first pass I began getting a warning light and a quick scan revealed a climbing water temperature. I stopped the tractor and returned the throttle to idle. The temperature began slowly dropping. When I felt it had cooled enough, I began plowing again. I was hoping a thermostat had stuck in a closed position. I went a greater distance, but eventually the temperature gauge began climbing again. I did a quick survey and the water reservoir was still full, no leaks or coolant discharge was evident. Once again, when the temperature had declined I began plowing again. It seemed that the temperature was much more stable, but I also noticed the heater was not heating up. (This would be an indication of a low coolant level or a restriction in coolant flow). I was midway between the field I wanted to go to and the farm shop. I had already moved my pickup (Hag had helped me). I decided if it was a thermostat issue I preferred to be back at the shop. I began plowing back toward the barn. Midway through, the temperature began climbing again. I had an orange light flashing, that finally turned red. As I depressed the clutch and returned the throttle to idle, the temperature gauge began dropping toward the bottom, settling in the mid range position where the engine normally operates. I resumed plowing and headed to the field at Wastella.

Once at Wastella, I began plowing and the temperature operated normally, although the heater was still barely warm. I had my concerns about killing the tractor for a late lunch, but I did.

I took about a thirty minute lunch and returned to the tractor.

When I began plowing again, the heater was hot (for which I was very thankful) and the engine temperature was normal. As I finished my first pass, the heater turned cold and the engine temperature began climbing. Not good. I began the same cycle. Cooling the big tractor down, then plowing and the temperature climbing, cooling down, plowing. It seemed that every time I would return to idle the water flow would improve, then as I began plowing, the temperature would begin building but sometimes would drop just as quickly.

I decided I would get back to my pickup and park the tractor until a warmer day. About a hundred yards from my pickup I began seeing some coolant spray on the front tires, yet the temperature was virtually normal.

I am conflicted in my diagnosis. There was steam discharging from the blow by tube and some condensation occasionally dripping. I reached down, cupping my hand to collect the drips. A quick taste was very sweet, revealing the presence of anti-freeze. (If I croak I must have swallowed some of the coolant).

Past experience with the big trucks would tell me that the steam indicates water in the crankcase. That could be the oil cooler (as simple as an o-ring), a pin hole in a liner (very serious), or possibly the water pump leaking internally (it is gear driven).

I had a conversation with Hag and he told me he had a tractor and the impeller was slipping on the shaft, not moving water through the engine. I am hopeful this is the problem I have and I also hope the water pump is leaking into the crankcase.

Call me the eternal optimist.

Dang the luck. I would love to climb on a tractor and just ride around for a couple of days!

Hag and I pulled the trigger on the oil lease deal. Tuesday we meet at Lance's office with our consultant and should have letters of intent there. The drilling company wants the intent agreements signed to bind us, and they will wire a small percentage of the amount due until they have completed their legal research. When that is finalized, the contracts will be signed and the balance of the lease bonus will be wired. (Hopefully inside ninety days).

For the last few days our consultant had been haggling with "suitors" about a firm drilling time frame. We believe this has been addressed to our satisfaction, but I am excited to see it in the intent agreement.

Last week I had called a family friend in Houston because I was concerned that he might not be aware of what was happening in Roscoe, and he and his sisters own land in a prime position in the Black Shale formation. Jason farms this family's land and I had told Jason two or three weeks ago to call this man. Jason said he was unable to make contact. I called the business this man use to operate (he sold it to his daughter and son-in-law) and they took my number and said they would get it to the man.

In just minutes, my phone range.

After casual greetings, I began sharing information and asking if they were aware of the oil lease activity around Roscoe. I told him we had hired a consultant and were dealing directly with drillers instead of land flippers, this appeared to put us in a position of including more stringent drilling requirements, while reaping a bonus of anywhere between twelve and a half times and one and a half times what others had leased for.

Immediately, I had his attention.

I faxed consult contracts to him and he promised to get his sister's signatures.

Last evening I received a call from him telling me I had signed consult contracts on the fax at the office. Then he thanked me and Hag, on his behalf as well as his sisters, for taking care of their business and looking out for them.

"Ya'll are more than friends", he said, "Ya'll are family. My Father and your grandfather, then your Dad and me, and now you and Steve. Ya'll have been looking out for our interests for a long time."

While our consultant will benefit from the contract, Hag and I will not, other than the personal acreage that Hag and Pat hold in the block. But I will admit, the thank you went very far. Made me feel good. Very personal, very sincere, very heartfelt!

Hag and I were laughing yesterday. The block we blocked and will sign letters of intents on Tuesday is so close to a million dollar deal it is scary! Multiple players, and I would say that Hag would be a mid range player while Memama is probably the smallest in the mix. Who would have thought six or eight weeks ago when I took a call, then made a call to Hag about it, this deal would snowball like it has.

If one other landlord who has been out of the country, comes on board next Friday, it will be almost a two million dollar deal.

Maybe we should do this for a living!

Thing is, if the fairy tale comes true, it could be eighteen months before the real money could flow. Those numbers are unbelievable!

Hey, we can dream!

Thursday night Memama had a fall during the night. She isn't sure why, but she really messed up her face (nose is skinned and she will end up with black eyes), one hand, and a large bruise (probably from a door knob) on her shoulder. She was complaining yesterday of being achy all over. I am thinking I will reduce her nighttime Tylenol PM by half.

After her fall I subscribed to Lifealert for Memama. Following that I talked with OnStar. Precautionary measures.

Pat is headed back to Huntsville today. She is supposed to take Betsy and Scottie back to Fort Worth. Shannon has been working on downsizing their home to fit into a two bedroom apartment at the new facility.

It had been two years since I had seen Betsy and Scottie and it has been a year since Betsy had her heart attack. It is been somber to see the health issues that they both battle. I am hopeful they will be able to function in an assisted living setting.

Congratulations to my friend's granddaughter Savanna who joined the Diva club in Girl Scouts by selling over a thousand boxes of cookies!

A very busy week awaits. Of course the tractor dilemma Monday morning. I take Memama to get her new hearing aids Monday (none too soon as he lost her last one end of the week), then I have to take her car to the GM dealer (it needs a digital upgrade for the OnStar). Tuesday is Lance's office. Wednesday we take delivery on the LifeAlert kit. Thursday Memama goes to Snyder. Friday is the LifeAlert install. By the way I selected the neck pendant for Memama.

Happy Valentines all!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for new opportunities. We pray that YOU bring them to fruition. Be with all our family that is traveling, bless them with safe passage. Bless Shannon as she deals with a difficult project. We will glorify and praise YOUR name!