Taking the weekend off. First time in about three weeks. I am so looking forward to it.

BUT, I sure need to do some yard work. I had a yard girl but recent developments have done away with that. Makes me sad for her as she always looked forward to the money. Usually an evening at Prime Time.

The exercise will be good for me. But, I need a new weed eater. My old one still runs well, but has a broken throttle trigger and a fuel line that is leaking. Problem is, the fuel line is a really odd size and is routed through a housing and domestic tubing with the right inside diameter is too large outside diameter to go through the housing. I talked with a repairman and he told me he has never been able to buy the fuel line, he usually takes the fuel line from a weed eater that shells the engine.

Oh well, I am really wanting a new Ryobi and would love to have the pole chainsaw attachment as well. They got some really nifty attachments. Blowers, hedge trimmers, roto tillers, edger. I bet a guy could spend close to a thousand dollars if he bought all the attachments.

I am mentally and emotionally spent from dealing with oil and gas. Every time I think it is done, new issues come up.

My latest project has been what they call subsequent acreage, or interests that Memama owns a portion of the oil and mineral rights while not owning the surface. I believe I finished that project yesterday and she has thirteen tracts the lawyer is looking into. I expect eight or nine will prove true.

I have made some observations about the oil and gas opportunities.

A few months ago, no one was thinking about oil and gas. How that changed with a phone call. I can remember taking the initial phone call while plowing, and during the course of the conversation I began jotting down notes in the dust inside the tractor cab. This past week I could still see a few of those notes that have not been wiped clean.

Let's say that I too had visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. Oh, the possibilities! But let me add that I have no acreage, my farm having been foreclosed on and sold on the Court House steps in 2004 in the aftermath of the family business.

My task has been to look out for Memama's interest.

People say that when an individual comes into a windfall one of two things happens. Either they become very generous or they become obsessively greedy.

My observation is that the people who expected the most from their good fortune have more issues and disappointment than those who expected less.

I will admit, I recommended and made a deal on a new plow for Memama's farm planning on using some of the revenues from the oil and gas. Other discussions have taken place involving upgrading the big farm tractor and replacing the multi-pickup farm fleet with a new, heavier work truck. I have been in no hurry, wanting to be sure it came down the way I thought it would before taking any additional plunge.

Two major factors in the discussions have been "need" and "tax planning".

I sure don't want to give Uncle Sam more than his due.

In a meeting yesterday with our oil consultant, I was settling Memama's account with him and he informed me that his work was done. He will not be involved in the subsequent acreage negotiations. In one sense this is agreeable with me and in another it irritates me. I guess I will reserve judgement until I have need to call him and either he comes on the line and talks me through my problem or doesn't take my call.

To say the very least, this whole experience has been educational. Many people jumped in early for as little as $50 an acre while others still hold out wanting $750 an acre. Lots of information and terms to be learned and waded through. But we are all smarter for it.

We weren't on either end of this spectrum dollar wise. We took our time (almost two months before signing letters of intent), we hired someone who knew more than we did about the business and the process, and I am very satisfied with the results to this point.

Only GOD knows where it will go from here. All in his time, all in his way.

We are blessed, and my sweet little Momma deserves it.

My sources say the rush is over. Most of the independents have spent their lease monies, while the larger oil companies and their shell companies feel the market has over priced itself and are pulling out. Their will be some continued action, companies filling in holes, subsequent acreages and interests, looking for heirs, but the big rush big money is probably over.

The market has been set.

The lease companies will begin assessing their acquisitions and begin trading acres to complete blocks. Then in another six to twelve months they will be back for one last flurry of leasing.

So as our consultant told the story, "The bird is in hand, while the fairy tale is still being written".

I have loved that analogy. The sure thing is the lease bonus while the fairy tale is whether the prospects are developed and produce.

Hopefully after another meeting with our attorney, I can get back to farming.

My brain needs to just ride around on a tractor for a while.

I did catch a favorable wind yesterday afternoon and sprayed the final strip at Wastella. For several days I had lacked a swath four hundred feet wide and almost a mile long. The neighbor to the North has winter wheat and with my spraying Roundup the prevalent South and Southwest winds, I had gotten as close as I dared. Finally, after lunch yesterday the winds had moved to the west and eventually from the North Northwest.

We mixed three-quarters of a tank and I made quick work of the remaining acreage. In fact I had some chemical left over and went by Pepa's sisters farm and sprayed where several cotton trailers had been overturned (My farm help and I had righted all the trailers earlier in the week), an area previously inaccessible to the spray rig.

I still have nearly eighty gallons of chemical mix left, and will probably spray it out in the ostrich pens at Memama's when I have the right wind.

Next up is pressure washing the spray rig.

We found a blown fuse on the big tractor air conditioner, so that was a stoke of luck.

The Big DCIII field cultivator was supposed to be field ready. It wasn't even close. We have been working on it, leveling the mainframe, and trying to level the wings. I have been reading the operator's manual and obviously it was written by an engineer who must have run a train at an amusement park.

We did everything they said yesterday for final prep before going to the field, but during the night I woke, realizing they were very correct in leveling the plow, but not with it plowing. I am afraid we will have to undo lots that we did.

If weather permits, I plan on beginning to plow on Monday at the section.

I say if weather permits because they have had rain and or thunderstorms in our forecast since Tuesday and just keep sliding it. Last night they said Monday rain chance and show heavy clouds, lightning and raindrops.

Next project after the plowing is to change the row widths on the new planter. It came set at 36" spacing. We have always adhered to 40" row spacing (all the way back to Gon Gon) although the more modern trend is to go to 30" spacing.

For the first time in several weeks I feel like I am catching up to things.

Whew, and that is a good feeling. I want to get caught up and stay on the leading edge.

With one day devoted to Memama's Abilene appointments each week, usually a day per week (at least) devoted to the attorney's office, that leaves me kind of handicapped with a three day work week making it very probably and necessary to work the weekends.

I do appreciate the fact that I have some help at the farm. Not the smartest, not the most experienced farm hand, but young and strong and willing. Plus he needs the job right now. My biggest hope is that he can finally get on his feet and not have to borrow money from me this week. So far he is in to me for $140. He asked me to hold $70 out yesterday but I was explaining that the cash loan is from my pocket, not Memama's. I told him to think it through, if he wants to pay $50 or $70, and to bring me cash money back.

He has mowed and weed eated around the barn. He brought his new weed eater, a Stihl model that features a 72cc engine. That is larger than my first motorcycle engine! We are to a point where we may re-mow everything with the riding mower, just to clean it up again. Larger areas have seen the shredder, confined areas the weed eater.

We have been trying to get Pepa's old DR Trimmer running. Memama's new DR Trimmer, last seen behind the tire shop, has still not come home.

Somewhere we are going to begin clearing fence rows and stacking firewood. I haven't quite figured out how I am going to do that. Part will be by chain saw, part will be with an excavator, but hopefully all of it will be cut to fireplace length and stacked in cords. Only the smallest limbs will be burned. I may pay my man his regular wage and retain ownership of all the wood, or we might go to half pay and every other cord is his to sell, we provide the chain saw and the gas.

Rian has always said we need to load a big trailer with mesquite fire wood and sent it to Lubbock he says it will go for about $220/cord, maybe more. Half cords $150.

Wow.

Well, I have typed away most of my morning. Better get.

Have a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for the weekend. Rest me quickly and rest me well. Thank YOU for YOUR many blessings and for the opportunities YOU present us with. Help us to take advantage of them. Help us to make good choices. Forgive us when we fall short.

I am having one of those weeks where I feel like I am being sucked dry from every direction.

So far Monday was the tame-est day of my week.

Tuesday was at the lawyers from 9:30 until 5:36 dealing with a cluster of problems with the oil and gas leases. Tuesday was the final day for the oil company to complete their obligations or they would be in breech.

Hag let them know this with a roar when they suggested we re-convene on Wednesday morning.

The oil company rep left for Abilene and his computers at a high rate of speed, vowing to be back by four.

He returned, and I was afraid the shoe was going to be on the other foot. As each party signed, the oil company rep signed and notarized the original before handing over the check.

When the rep came to Hag, Hag signed and the rep asked him, "Where is your wife, we need her signature?"

Hag responded, "You know she is in Huntsville".

The rep told him, "It is customary for us to have all signatures before releasing checks".

In the end the rep gave Hag their check without Pat's signature. BUT, he would have been totally within his rites in their pissing contest to have held it.

The groups from Houston did not get their checks as they had a decimal misplaced. Only a thirty thousand dollar mistake for five parties. The oil company wired their money today.

About the only one who got a pleasant surprise was Memama, and her check included some subsequent acreages and had a hefty surprise added to it.

Thing is, there are more subsequent acreages out there for her. I don't anticipate a great windfall, but it should be substantial funds.

Wednesday was back to the farm, add in truck tires and air conditioner on the 8310 plus a visit with a neighbor about leasing his land with us..

I didn't even go out Wednesday evening.

My Thursday included Memama's hearing aid appointment, lunch at Abuello's (I introduced her to layered dip, espinache, and papas chased by a Grandeza margarita (a little one). She did the chile relleno with a beef enchilada.

Then it was to Sams to have two more tires put on her car (a belt was breaking on one), an hour and a half of shopping while they did the service, then a quick drive to Sweetwater, to the accountants, to the bank, to the body shop and to the pharmacy.

I had planned a stop in with our travel agent too but just couldn't work it in.

Then I went to the farm after five o'clock in the evening!

Got home shortly after seven and was welcomed by a mean drunk.

She wants a divorce and I am tired of fighting it. Show me where to sign!

I need some relief. I still haven't recovered from the neighborhood olympics when she limped down the street screaming for help!

Either I will be drained dry tomorrow or I will make a Friday comeback!

FATHER, deliver me!

Very productive week. Another six day work week by the way, and it may go to seven. (Just depends on my day at the house).

I am very tired and exhausted. About one hundred fifty acres more and everything will be fresh sprayed. That leaves about four hundred fifty acres that remain to be plowed once the chemical has gone to the plant roots. That will take about three or four days once I pull the trigger to begin.

The more I run the sprayer the more I find I like it. It is rough and difficult to hit the guidance lines (I will be so glad when we get our system back, not that it will be much better), but it is very effective, especially by dollar comparison.

Did I mention a kick ass stereo system?

I finally got some help at the farm. Not high quality, but a warm body. It makes a lot of difference when you can spray and someone else hauls the water and prepares the chemical loads. The stops are much quicker for mixing and loading. I may lose him this next week (let's face it, he is temporary) as he has two court dates in the next three weeks. One for probation revocation.

Another contributing factor to the good week was a much more favorable wind direction. Kept me from having spray drift on the neighbors homes, trees and winter wheat.

Actually, Thursday was the last day I sprayed any 2,4, D. We are back to a mix of glystar with adjuvant. No granular amonium sulfate either. Actually we were using the glystar with two and half gallons of energyze II to a mix but ran out of the energyze and began using a gallon of surflex. Either one will make the roundup mix a little hotter and more effective.

The worst thing the sprayer does is beat me around and make me sore and achey.

I am actually kicking around the idea of going over today just to finish this cycle and put me out of my misery.

I could have, and should have finished yesterday. The winds were pretty good, but my helper wanted to quit between two and three. We quit at two. If I had stayed with it I could have been done by six. Hindsight. It had just been a long week. If I had enough water and a vehicle at the last farm I might have stayed to finish, instead I would still have had to quit to take my helper back to his vehicle.

Had chili dogs with Memama at three Saturday afternoon for lunch. Did our puzzle. She was getting ready to go to the grocery store. She was already dreading Pat going back to Huntsville Monday.

When I left Memama's house I was on a mission. Barber shop by four. My barber shop recently added a fifth barber. She doesn't come in until one and stays until six Tuesday thru Friday and until four to four-thirty on Saturdays. The last two Wednesdays I have arrived shorty before six to find her already gone. Yesterday was the same result. I know this is a second job for her (she goes to work at a bakery at 4:30), but if she doesn't keep strict hours she will never build a clientele. I even tried to call her an hour earlier because she told me if I am ever running late if I would call she would wait.

Wasted trip.

So then I ran by Complete Nutrition for their customer appreciation sale. Everything in the store buy one get one free. Now I have a four month supply. Their products had worked very well in the beginning but then hit a plateau at about 36 pounds. I talked with one of their wheels from Lincoln, Nebraska and decided not to do one of their kits (I had done the Charger Sleep kit before). There were some things I liked but we ended up doing the CTS 360 in combination with the Charger parts that I liked. This kit begins with a ten day body cleanse and includes a take off of Ephedra along with the metabolism enhancers.

We will see. I had been out for a couple of months.

I had planned on going to Southern Nights to see Jon Wolfe last night but instead watched a little basketball and me and the redhead slipped into bed early. Slept until after eight.

Excellent.

Got the plan going on for the coming week. Finish spraying Monday (if not today), power wash the sprayer, make some adjustments to the new DCIII plow for use later in the week.

Of course Kyle McWilliams, the service manager at Quality Equipment in Rotan, is going to have to get off his duff and figure out the heating problem with the 8310. Depending on his addressing this issue is whether or not I ever do any more business with Quality. Pepa had one very ugly experience and apparently I am fixing too.

I still contend the heating problem is the new fan clutch. I have never caught it locked up like it is supposed to when the air coming through the radiator is hot.

I am not pointing fingers, but odd things have happened in the past, new part failures, casting issues where there are casting defects in the pieces. Pepa even told the story of a truck that would run like junk after a repair. After an extended period of arguing, the shop began tearing down the engine and found a red shop rag left in the air intake. Duh, no wonder the engine wouldn't run correctly!

Monday, tire shopping for Memama's big Kenworth truck. (By telephone).

Lawyer's office at ten Tuesday morning.

Memama's ear appointment Thursday.

A probably trip to Lubbock and Wolforth.

Always something to do!

Oh, and congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Brown. They were married last evening in Lubbock. Rian performed their ceremony and also served as best man.

Have a week.

FATHER, thank YOU for a productive week. For favorable winds for spraying. Thank YOU for YOUR hand in it. Thank YOU for new opportunities and I ask that YOU help me to take advantages of them. Help me to make good choices.

My prediction of a six day work week came true, plus some.

Pepa's sister had called me, complaining about the weeds on their farm about a week ago. I had moved the tractor and plow there and began to plow, only to have the recurring heating problem with the tractor and on my very first pass I broke a shank on the plow.

I immediately went to the barn and changed plows because it was after noon on Saturday and all the implement dealers were long gone. I brought the new DCIII plow back, but it was far from field ready. And as my luck would have it, the operator's manual was not in the plow. I messed with it a while and was very pleased with the wings plowing, but very dissatisfied with the center section. Ultimately I had returned to the barn and got the spray rig and mixed a load of roundup and ammonium sulfate.

That was when I discovered the guidance system had gone on the blink, so I ran out that one load "freehand". No foam markers, no guidance, just sitting up there and gauging the distance between passes.

I finally put the Wishek offset plow on the tractor and plowed the worst areas around Melba and Garland's old hog pens and behind their barn.

John Deere was wanting to come and work on the engine heating problem with the tractor on Monday. I told them it was not a good day to mess with it because the weather was very cool and damp. They insisted. They told me they thought I was running the big tractor on the lean side. I beg to differ. I told the service manager I am not an idiot.

The winds on Monday were not conducive to spraying on their place on Monday, so I moved the sprayer to another farm. I left a gap between a neighbor's winter wheat and where I began spraying. This was when the guidance problem with the borrowed system began. When searching for the signal to follow the sprayer would turn a full circle 260 degrees left or right until it picked up the line. Just as I finished the final tank, I began having a pressure issue. I finally parked it and asked the dealer to send his technician. Turns out there were two issues. One valve was turned the wrong direction from their shop. The other issue was two plugs were switched on the Edrive valve. Once those were swapped, the guidance began working properly.

I have tried to spray any time the wind will allow me, primarily because I have added a quart of 2,4, D with the quart of Roundup and ammonium sulfate spike I am spraying. If the winds stay below twenty miles an hour, I will spray, taking wind direction into consideration.

Needless to say I haven't covered a whole lot of of acres.

On Friday I got one tank of chemical out before the winds hit twenty-two miles and hour. That was by mid morning so I headed to Snyder to pick up plow shanks for my hoeme. (Yes, the Aunt had raised her concerns again).

About four in the evening I did my A B line and began plowing. I plowed until almost two in the morning when I finally quit and went to Memama's to get something to eat, a shower, and a brief nap.

Saturday morning I woke about seven, made me a sausage biscuit and made Memema's coffee. Just before I was leaving she came in. She had no idea I was even there.

When I left there I picked up another hundred acres of chemical, just in case the winds cooperated (I already had enough for a hundred acres in my pickup). I went to the section knowing that sixty acres would probably finish the farm. I mixed my first load and checked my portable weather station. The winds were fifteen miles per hour. I sprayed it out and mixed the next load after checking my wind level. Sixteen miles per hour, By the time I finished spraying the last mix the winds had increased to over twenty miles per hour.

So, I at lunch and went to the Aunt and Uncle's farm to get on the tractor. Eight hours later I was headed home, their entire farm plowed.

I think the most frustrating thing for me is she said she could see no evidence of where I had sprayed. I say baloney. She pushed the issue and she got what she wanted. My advice now is to be careful what you wish for.

I am taking off today. I barely woke in time for early church.. I am fixing to get a nap and possibly catch a ride with a friend going to San Angelo and check on the little man down there. I haven't seen him since he was born.

Tomorrow I am going to move the spray rig to Wastella. I have a hundred acres out there that needs to be sprayed that had remained wet for a very long time. Any time I could get to it to plow it would rain again.

After that I have a hundred ninety seven acres of volunteer wheat to spray for Memama on her farm, then I am back to the streak or space I left at the section.

I would really like to see some sun shine and warmer weather to activate the chemicals so people can see that I did spray something other than water.

I've got a couple of issues with the big tractor. Of course the heating issue, which goes without saying, then A/C didn't want to work yesterday, and during the night Friday it jumped out of gear once with the gear shift (micro switch) still in gear.

Kind of makes me wonder if I should scrap the plans for getting a new farm pickup and trade farm tractor instead.

On Thursday when Memama and I went to Abilene, we did her hearing aid stops, went to CVS and got her a rewards card, then to Sam's, then took her car to the Cadillac house and they shuttles us to Golden Corral to eat. Almost two hours later they picked us up.

As we entered the dealership I looked at a pickup sitting right on the corner. Almost what I would like, but not exactly. On our way out we stopped to look it over. $56,000. Yikes!

Early church this morning. Sunday errands.

Time for a nap!

Have a day!

FATHER, I pray for relief from the wind that I can get caught up farming.

I really need some cooperative winds. Or no wind at all! So far it has been too much from the wrong direction.

Pepa's sister is back on my case about the weeds on their farm.

I sure hate playing politics.

The dilemma continues with the heating problem on the 8310. Best news is that I have found some help on a short term basis.

The wind tomorrow is supposed to be gusty to 40. Yuk!

I did get the guidance and pressure issues fixed on the spray coupe. It no longer has to turn 360 degrees too the right to turn left. Crazy. There were two plugs reversed. (Not my fault).

I am having to pick and choose where I spray at because of neighbors houses and or winter wheat.

I hate to say it but it sure looks like another six day (at least) work week.

I saw a guy the other morning wearing a shirt covered with crosses, with camouflage pants. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. I nicknamed the man the transparent Christian.

With the camo he just blended in.

Have a day!

FATHER, I pray for relief from the winds. That I would make good choices that will make all the landlords happy.

For a week I had kept my plans for Memama's birthday quiet. I just told her that I was taking her out to eat.

My plans were to work at Roscoe all day, then clean up and take Memama to Abilene to eat, then back to Roscoe and I would just stay the night at her house.

Little did Memama know I had been in cahoots with coach and DMS. Destination was the Firehouse Bar and Grill for supper and to enjoy Jim Sadler playing. This is the regular Wednesday stop for our group. DMs had alerted all the regulars of our special guest. I had gone to Sams and bought pecan pies in lieu of cake.

Just as we exited Memama's car, Coach and Jani walked up. Memama was so surprised.

Jim Sadler sang Happy Birthday to her and after his first set he came over and gave her a hug and a birthday wish. Memama even got to see Mary with her spoons play!

Thursday morning I had a truck driver calling me about 6 in the morning, so I ate a quick breakfast and left Memama's house early.

At lunch I inquired as to what time Memama woke. Ten o'clock was her reply. I scolded her and told her it would be another 81 years before she could go out with me again!

A very fun event!

FATHER, thank You for blessing Memama with 81 years. I pray you bless her with many more happy and healthy birthdays.


It was a fun filled evening. Lots of laughs, lots of memories. Lots of pictures!

What can I say.

The 8310 stayed in the shop for a week and when I got it back it pushed all the water out. They say it was the radiator cap. I think that may have been part of it. Now they want to replace the thermostats. I say it is a faulty fan clutch. I have yet to catch it locking up correctly.

The spray coupe guidance system went bad in fifty feet from inside the barn to the diesel tank. The dealer loaned me another one.

But, the winds have been horrendous.

Memama's Birthday Prize is ready. I am taking her to the Firehouse Bar and Grill to eat and see Mary with her spoons play. Things took a turn for the better this afternoon when I got a call from Coach and he and Jani are meeting us there. I bought three pecan pies instead of cakes, and I got an 8 and a 1 candle.

Should be interesting.

I may even get her a Mexican lemonade.

Sorry I am excited.

I need some relief from these winds. I need to run the spray rig, but not with these high winds.

Have a day.

FATHER, Bless Memama as she celebrates number 81. I ask for her continued health for her.

I have been so ready to just ride around on a tractor or a spray rig.

Try as I might, it didn't happen.

I did try though. The Big tractor came out of the shop yesterday, we got it back last night. I hooked it up to it's plow this afternoon and began plowing.

AND, it began pushing water out and trying to heat. After a four digit left of the decimal repair bill beginning with a 4.

The only thing hotter than the tractor was me.

The service manager and I are going to have a talk in the morning.

The insurance adjuster called me today and offered me 16,800 on the truck that they want to total out. Of course I had it insured for 18. Can you guess what my answer will be tomorrow?

I visited with a farm neighbor tonight. It was a good visit. We exchanged lots of information.

Did some work on the Washington trip today. Go to Grandview on the Lake's website. When I talked with them they were really pushing their suites. A three bedroom suite goes for $550 per night. 3 bedrooms, three baths, full kitchen, flat screen televisions, with a view.

Right now I am trying to reserve ten of their queen doubles with or without views.

Of course we arrive on the fourteenth and their rates go to prime on the fifteenth.

Here is hoping the wind lays and stays there tomorrow.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for good days which are made better by contrasting them to bad days! Thank YOU for new opportunities. We ask that YOU help us to take advantage of them.