Last Wednesday we began spraying.  We aren't defoliating per se, we are prepping.  We are putting a light dose of chemical to dry and drop leaves and to dry and crack bolls. 

I had looked early last week with our consultant from Crop Production Services, Justin, and told him what I wanted to do and he gave me his recommendation.  So we began a staggered spraying regiment.  We sprayed two hundred acres Wednesday, the we waited until Monday and sprayed another three hundred thirteen.  We will probably wait until the end of the week to spray any more.  The only exception might be where we are considering planting wheat.

Basically we are spraying about what we could strip until the next patch is ready.  Of course all this is contingent on having a frost follow the light spray rate.  They are predicting 36 degrees for Wednesday night and if the wind would lay and if it is a clear night we could get what the farmer ordered.

We have been working on our pickup rig at the barn.  Last year we removed the header from one of the old 484 strippers and used it to pick up around the modules and behind the module trucks.  This year we are adding a suction hose and tube, which should require less physical labor to get cotton into the machine.

Outside of that, everything is ready although we still have the stripper in the barn and the header is still off of it.  I see no sense in putting it outside where it could get rained on and possibly shorten bearing life.

Since I last blogged, Brad, Merrit's estranged husband, was arrested for drunk driving.  This was DWI arrest number 11 (which goes with 19 public intoxication's).  Brad had finished a stint in TDCJ in early 2011 (I think that is right) for his last felony DWI conviction.  It now appears that he is fixing to become a guest of the state of Texas again.

What is ironic is that Merrit had been telling CPS and anyone else that Brad was continuing to drink.  The CPS caseworker had ignored this and refused to test him for alcohol.  In fact, Brad would sign his own attendance card for AA.

Crazy thing is, that since Brad's last incarceration he told me "It does not bother me to be locked up!"  I guess that is a good thing bubba!

Merrit is routinely tested for drugs by CPS and all of her tests have come back good.

I am extremely frustrated with Merrit.  She got a job and worked two days out of three weeks.  Not because they didn't need her but because she didn't want to work.  She told me that she would rather go to day labor and get paid the same day she performs the work.

What she seems to miss is the fact that she is not showing the stability and consistency that CPS is looking for, by her getting a job and working regularly.  Her living situation is much the same.  She has moved twelve times (to the best of my knowledge) since July.

She called me asking me if I could help her with a traffic ticket that is due the 8th.  I told her that last month when I paid San Angelo municipal court $800+ dollars, that she was square with them for everything.

I finished by telling her she had five days to generate the funds she needed, that I was not going to reward her for sitting on her ass.

Sometimes I think she has a grasp of what she needs to do to get Noble back, while other times it is almost like she has no clue!

We are continuing to petition CPS and Noble's guardian and attorney ad litem to move him closer.  They said they were reluctant to remove him from what is now familiar surroundings.  Our information  is that Brad's sister has sold her home and is looking for an apartment or a rent house, so there goes his familiar surroundings.

While this is my first dealings with CPS or FPS, and MHMR, I find I am not impressed by any of them, or the people.  What tax payers are receiving for the tax dollars is a joke.

I guess I will go vote today.  I am voting for water for West Texas. I wish I could vote in the school bond election in Abilene.  I support it, as I have supported all the school bond elections over the years (in fact I strongly supported the single high school concept).

Dr. Burn's has put his winning streak on the line.  He has never had a bond election fail, although this is about double the size of his largest previous bond election.  He has made every effort to push the bond through by making polling places available at nearly every school sometime during the early voting period.

My money says that this bond is what the AISD  needs to do, but it also says that if the bond election is successful, Dr. Burns and his dog and pony show will be moving on down the road.

Well, I had better get.  Have a day!

FATHER, help me to be patient and reassured that YOUR plan is unfolding as YOU intend.  Thank YOU for all the blessings you bestow upon me and mine.  Thank YOU for the hope and promise we have in Jesus!