Rain Blessing!

We got rain!  Right at three inches at the barn.  GOD is faithful to meet our needs!


The way the rain fell could not have been scripted better.  Of course we would have taken it any way.  It seems just as there was an accumulation and run off was beginning, it would stop raining.  Now I am not saying creeks didn't run because they did, but it was wonderful, wonderful rain.


I had a talk recently with a young farmer who had a dismal look for the year.  I told him, this could turn around in a heartbeat.  He asked do you really think so?  I told him if we got a rain to plant on and then a couple of timely rains, we could make a crop.  Maybe not a bumper crop but a good crop.


I have to admit, the pep talk was probably for me as much as it was for him.


My precious little Momma hasn't had a very good last few days.  It seems as though her little mind  has problems, especially staying on track and for some reason her hearing has been terrible.  She asked me to put new batteries in the clock because it barely chimes if it does at all. (It chimes every hour).  Last night we were doctoring eyes and she told me she hadn't heard any thunder during all this weather.  Of course thunder was crackling all about us.  As expected her back has been bothering her during this weather, but she is a trooper.


She did walk into the kitchen yesterday to do something and when she came out she had a stew going.  I heard her in the pantry during this time and heard several cans falling.  I was surprised she didn't get a toe.


We cooked out last evening, steaks, peppers and sausage, while I baked sweet potatoes in the oven.  We finished our meal with some Bush baked beans.  It was scrumptious.


We were kind of lost with the voice having concluded last week.  We bounced channel to channel watching Two Broke Girls and American Ninja Warriors. 


We have a family conflict going right now.  It is between Jason and me.  There is a person who is probably Jason's best friend who at one point in time Pepa and him had an agreement.  Pepa was notorious for this.  He had deals with Jason as well.


Where the problems began was after Pepa's death in 2011.  All the rules began changing, the borders of the side deals became blurred.  I finally told this friend of Jason's and Jason that all deals were off.  Whatever agreement Pepa and them had, died with Pepa.


Since then they approached us about leasing Memama's tractor for a week.  They kept it for over three and never owned up to their terms they agreed to.  Jason's friend said this was an offset.  To this I say baloney.  He and Memama have nothing to "offset".


I had told Jason in the latter part of 2012, I didn't care if he farmed with Memama or with his friend, but I wanted him to decide which side of the fence he wanted to be on and to stay there.  He chose his friend.


About a week ago, Jason texted me asking if he could borrow a listing bar with bed packers that Memama has.  I asked specifically what he was going to run with it.  He said the south Gray and at his house.  I told him fine.


This last Friday, I was making a big circle to see if anyone was planting dryland yet.  (Most of the irrigated is already planted).  When I was west of town, what should I see but Memama's listing bar with bed packers running on Jason's friend.  I texted Jason and told him I believed we had a problem.  I received no response.  Later, I drove down to CPS  and asked Jason to step outside where we could talk.  He said he received no text. ??  I let him read the text I had sent him, and he got mad.


I'm not sure if he was mad because of what I said or that he got caught.


My whole deal is that over the years, there was a lot of give and take between these two and Pepa.  I feel sure it shifted from one side to the other, especially near the end for Pepa.  Early on it was Pepa's equipment being used.  Tractors being used.  Storing equipment in the barn for them.  Allowing them to work on their stuff in the barn.


However, any of that is done and over with.


The situation with Memama is another thing entirely.  I feel that Jason is intent on shoving his friend down Memama and my throat, and I find this very disrespectful of her.  I could care less if they are disrespecting me.  I didn't take this job on to win a popularity contest.  I took this job on to look out for Memama's interest, and that  is what I am going to do.


In hind sight, this entire situation is probably my fault.  I should have remembered which side of the fence Jason chose and just told him no.


I'm not sure where we go from here, but I am sure where we don't go.


And I would really like to see from Freddy and Pepa's vantage points.


It shouldn't be this hard to do this job.


Oh well.  It happens. 


FATHER, YOU are good.  Thank YOU for YOUR rain blessing.  I ask YOUR blessings on Memama as she has struggled lately.

I'm tarred!

Wow, to be coming off a weekend I am exhausted.


Congratulations to Dillon for graduating from Roscoe Collegiate High School and from Western Texas College.


One more graduation coming up June 6.  Riley Roo.


Saturday was a lazy day, although I woke early.  Memama cooked breakfast.  I watched some television.  Indy 500 qualifying.  Ran some errands and finished my night watching the NASCAR Allstar race.


After the race was over (at 10 something) I went into the kitchen and began prepping the pieces for Sunday lunch.  I peeled, I cut, I diced.  Some stuff went into pots and was covered with water, Other things went into baggies and the fridge.  At 12:42 I texted Pat and told her all the pieces were done.


Sunday morning I woke early, took the roasts out and washed them, then seasoned them and put them in the big roaster pan and added the family secret.  Then I put it in the oven but I didn't turn it on.


I went and showered and shaved, got dressed, went to check on Memama and told her the roast was in the oven but the oven needed turned on about 9 or 9:30.  I told her I was going to church in Abilene and she told me she planned on going to church in Roscoe.


I got on the road and called Pat and Hag's house.  He answered and I informed him of the latest development with Memama wanting to go to church.


I made church in Abilene, then went to McDonald's with my friend.  Then to a movie, Mom's Night Out.  It was cute and a laugher.  Afterwards I went to Sam's to buy a new pressure washer for the barn and some cleaning detergents and a few items for the house.  Then I went back to the movie at the mall and saw Neighbors.  Now that show is hilarious.  Language is horrible, but the show is so funny.  After that I went to Lowes and bought a new edger.  (Pepa's edger disappeared along with his mower, and his new DR Trimmer).  The I met up again with my friend at Szcheuan and ate supper.


I got home about 7 and got comfy and laid down on the couch.  Memama went to bed so we doctored eyes.  I hung around to watch the Good Wife and then I headed to bed.


Memama had a good crew at lunch so she was happy.  I think we figured right at 20.  The regular customers plus Jeri and TJ, Devon and Hannah, and Jeanie.


I just finished the fifth book in the five book series THE WALK.  Now I find myself deflated, because this was the last one.


Lots of decisions to be made this week pertaining to the planting of the crop.  Do we wait or do we dust it in.  I may7 peek and see what Henry and James Parrott are doing.  They usually get a pretty good jump on things.  Henry is notorious for dusting it in about a knuckle and a half and then raining it up.


Rain in the forecast.  Please pray for a rain blessing.


I talked with Rian.  He had the boys this weekend, which meant three ball games Saturday.  Drew is through.  Holt played a makeup game Sunday and Reid plays this week.  I think Holt and his team are in the playoffs but Reid and them are out, unless he gets picked up as an all star.  Reid is playing in a summer basketball league.


Between all the hustle and bustle, Rian managed to move 5 loads of outside stuff to his new house.  He said he hopes to get the attic cleaned out, then next weekend his Mother, Makai, and Addison are going to help.  He is hoping all that is left then is his big stuff in the house.


He has to be out by the 28th and closes on the 29th.


I think he is feeling lots of pressure with the end of school stuff and the move.


Have a day!


FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings.  FATHER, YOU know our struggles, weather, jobs, money, relationships, whatever they might be and we know YOU are faithful to meet our needs.  Special blessings for Dillon on his graduation from high school and junior college, also for KK as she recovers from her illness.  YOU are good.

Happy Birthday Freddy!

Happy Birthday Freddy!  He would be 63 today.


This morning Frances, the housekeeper, came and cooked breakfast.  She and Memama and myself were sitting at the table and I reminded Memama that today was Freddy's birthday.


This kind of begins an annual funk, that will last through June, because during that time we will celebrate both Freddy and Terri's birthdays and both of their deaths.


The best part is that they are still with us through their kids, and their kids kids.


But it is still bitter sweet.  Being the spoiled people we are we want it all.  We want Freddy and Terri AND their kids and their kids kids.


I think Memama is having a blue day.  After breakfast she went to rest her back and she has not been up since.


Memama, Kyle and I went on date night last night.  We may have to find a new venue.  Pizza Hut has quit selling beer.  Talk about anti-American.  I thought Pizza and beer were a right of passage, maybe even in the bill of rights.


Our next option is probably Ma Allen's buffet.  Not that they serve beer, because they don't.  Besides, fried chicken and beer don't fit like pizza and beer.


Slats has been working n the spray coupe at the barn.  I said working but actually he is cleaning.  The yellow herbicide "drifted" all over it.  The white part has come pretty clean, but the book and the black leave a lot to be desired.  Our pressure washer has developed an issue and the cavity that should have oil, is filling with water, so either we have a main seal or some of the piston seals leaking.  We will probably take the pump off the motor and see if we can fix it but we will probably get another pressure washer too.  I am kind of putting a Sam's shopping list together in my head.


We have played pickup Chinese fire drill.  The red Z-71 Slats usually drives burned a hole in the exhaust and it was blowing directly on the aluminum transmission housing.  We began to use it as little as possible.  He got into Pepa's old brown pickup and the power steering pulley won't stay on it.  And it is a new power steering pump.  So, I put slats into my white pickup and I got Pepa's other pickup out.


I have gone twice to get an inspection sticker on Pepa's pickup and it hasn't passed.  The emergency brake is not holding.  It is kind of weird.  But now it has become a game of snookering the inspector.  And I will.  I have a a monumental plan.  


We have not gotten the planter out.  Only because they are predicting rain Sunday.  I am getting an itch.


A week from today Wesley and Kayla are having a reveal party.  They will  be having a party where all the guests will guess the gender of their new baby.  When the cake is cut, whatever color the inside is will indicate the sex of the baby.  I am guessing blue.


We are pretty much in agreement that Memama is not capable of making two trips to South Texas in two weeks.  Her recovery time just won't allow it..


Riley's graduation is June 6.


Well, have a weekend.


FATHER, tell Freddy Happy Birthday.

Thankful for small blessings!

We finally got some rain.  A pretty general 1.2 inches all across the board.  I believe the official weather station reported 1.3 inches.  While this is encouraging, it is only a small portion of what we need.


We were putting down our yellow herbicide when the rain interrupted us.  We lost about a day and a half, before the thirsty ground sucked the moisture down.  We started on our last field yesterday about lunch and if all goes well we will complete it and the yellows later today.


Then we will park the big field cultivator and take the dual rear tires off the tractor and ready it for the planter.


This should be a quick process, then we will get the planter from the barn and hook it up.


I had said rain or not, May 12th I was going to begin planting, whether that meant dusting it in or going to moisture and trying to get it up without more moisture.


It has been about twenty years since I have put down a yellow herbicide and to be honest I haven't missed it.  The smell, the yellow stain on clothes and skin, the drift and over spray that get on the sprayer and boom.


We are putting down the yellows to help control some weeds that are becoming resistant to RoundUp.  Mainly tumble weeds and a few scattered careless weeds.  We haven't had an issue with the tumble weeds, but many of our neighbors have and they have blown across us scattering their seeds, so we are taking preventative measures.


The are new seed varieties that may be ready next year that are 2,4,D resistant, meaning we will have an option of planting those varieties and using amine for weed control.  Of course any 2,4,D product I have ever used has had a serious drift issue.


We'll. tackle that when we get to it.


Last week on the day we were rained out of the field, Slats and I were moving an old fuel tank we had used at the farm at Plains.  It is a big rectangular 17,000 gallon capacity tank originally built for the oil field.  I had asked Slats to check it and be sure it was empty of fuel.  He removed a man hole cover and learned it was empty of fuel but the two inch valve had been open since 1982 and the floor of the tank was covered with dead rats.  This tank had been sitting for 32 years and we decided to move it.  I backed the 4850 up against it and Slats threw a chain around it.  I began idling off with it and Slats began walking to retrieve the man hole cover.  After moving the tank only a few feet, I saw Slats reverse his direction and he was stretching those long legs and stepping quickly while looking over his shoulder.  I instantly began to think rattlesnake den, but when Slats stepped up on the tractor with me he told me "When you began mobbing that tank a big bobcat started to come out from under it.  It had it's mouth full open and was screaming and I didn't know if it was a damn this tank is hurting me scream or an eat me scream!  I wasn't going to wait around to see."


When we finished moving the tank, we walked back to where it had been before and the bobcat was lying there in three pieces.  So it was the damn that hurts scream Slats heard.  The surprise was that there was a litter of baby bobs under there too.  Only one was alive.  Slats was going to take it to Casey our neighbor who was always saying he wanted a real cat, but when Slats went to get it, it too had died.


That explains a number of barn cats that have disappeared the last couple of years.


Sunday members of Memama's regular Sunday din er crew were spread from Amarillo to Austin, the only exceptions being me, Memama and Joni.  I invited Memama to go to Abilene with me to church and dinner and a movie.  She accepted and I called Joni and told her she was welcome to join us, but she declined.


I woke Memama at 6 minutes after 7 and we hit the road at 8 minutes after 8.  We made 9 o'clock church service and afterward got to see Shug and Tommy Springer.


My friend Debbie had met us when we got there and she had Memama some pictures and a fresh peach cobbler, so Memama was scoring big even before her day had really started.


After church we left and drove to Abuello's and actually walked right in and sat down.  No waiting.  They gave Memama a T-shirt and a Mother's day card when we were seated.  We ordered some layered dip and Mexican lemonades before ordering our entrees.  We were done just as it got busy and in time to make a 12:10 movie time.


Memama had told me this past week that she really missed going to movies, something she and Pepa use to do weekly.  So I decided I wanted her to see the movie God's not dead!  She seemed to enjoy it.


Afterwards I drove through Sonic and got her a diet coke and an ice cream cone.


We went and had the white Caddie washed and headed home.  We weren't gone that long but it was filled with activities!  When we got home, I gave Memama a really sweet card with a DOLLAR in it!


Within minutes of our return she was in her gown and resting her back!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR rain blessing. Thank YOU for a special Mother's Day and I ask that you bless my MOM with many more. Thank YOU father for being faithful to meet our needs.