The rains continue, David Letterman has left the building and other bits and pieces!

We continue to be blessed with rain.  Monday night we had another 1.2 inches.  We had been able to get in the field for a few hours, finishing the curved rows at the section.  Tuesday morning these beds were standing water.


The forecast is for  more rain through the weekend.  Some weather men say accumulations of 4 to 6 inches.  Personally I believe this forecast is more for the eastern portion of the Big Country.


I've always tried to be thankful for the rain in any situation (even after having my house flood twice).  I just can't imagine anyone complaining about rain in Texas.  I can remember jokes about a farmer trying to enter into heaven's pearly gates and GOD telling him, "I could never please you.  It was always too hot or too cold, it was too dry or too wet, it was too windy or you wanted a breeze."  To a large degree this is true, and lately I have heard television interviews with farmers who are predicting gloom and doom.  "With all this rain we can't get our wheat out", or "with all this rain the wheat is going to sprout in the heads" and finally "with all this rain our wheat will probably get rust".


Of course some cotton farmers are heard saying "it is too wet to plant".


I am thankful that we are wet enough that we are now seeing runoff which is much needed in area lakes. 


Hey.  I think GOD is doing just fine!


We had the 4850 tractor in the shop the end of last week.  We had broken a remote hydraulic box linkage.  While we were moving the tractor around I noticed an issue with the right front wheel.  Turns out we needed to install kingpins and kingpin bearings.  We finished this tractor Monday, did some adjustments Tuesday and it is now backed to the big sandfighter.


You know, we are almost through with all of our heavy tractor work.  We will use the 8310 to finish bedding (we lack about 200 acres), then we will plant with this tractor because it has guidance.


The 4850 probably won't see any work other than sandfighters until the winter.  The 4440 is hooked to the shredder and will mow around the barn and the ditches on the farms.  The 4430 is hooked to the box blade and will reside at the house where I will smooth the driveway every now and again.  The 4430 will probably drag the small tandem across the 3 acres in the horse paddocks.


Hopefully they are all ready, or as ready as we can make them.


Currently we have the planter in the middle of the barn.  We are checking bearings, chains, sprockets, cleaning seed chutes, When the planter comes out of the barn it will go directly onto the tractor.


On a quick note, several farmers who have irrigation have planted some cotton.  Monday a week ago Don Martin planted the half circle on the Vernon Smith farm.  The cotton is up and coming, although I am sure it wasn't prepared for the 50 degrees we have this morning.


Sure gives a guy the itch!


I watched David Letterman's final show last night.  It was fun.  Lots of flashbacks over the 33 years.  I've really enjoyed the shows leading up to it.  Without a doubt Bill Murray is certifiable.


And now another piece of my youth is gone.  Next thing you know I am going to be old.


On Monday we had an appointment for Memama at FSA in Abilene.  On our way we stopped by Dr. Eaker's and had blood drawn for her INR.  We drove to Chili's and I ordered one of her favorites, the Honey Chipotle chicken crispers, fries and corn on the cobb.  We talked about the meeting we were going to, so I was trying to keep her focused.  I kept asking her, "How did we come up with the numbers on your farm budget?"  Her reply initially was, "Lordy, I don't know!"


We had an in depth conversation about things and I asked her again, "How did you come up with the numbers on your farm budget?"  Her reply became, "We discussed it and Pat wrote it down."


Everything went well in the meeting and on Tuesday I met with the FSA rep and did a chattel lien inspection.  He said we should be hearing from him in a couple of days.  Fingers are crossed.


Some serious issues;  Linda Cardwell (Ronnie's wife) has begun chemo therapy which will be followed by radiation.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.  Courtney (Asebedo) Freeman (Colby's wife)'s Dad was visiting and they realized he was having some coordination and speech issues.  They carried him to the ER where they discovered a blood clot in the right front portion of his brain.  Surgery was done, he is now out of ICU and doing well.


Keep these individuals and their families on your prayer list


I guess with that I had better get started.  Have a day!


FATHER, YOU are good.  Thank YOU for all the blessing YOU pour down on us!  FATHER , we lift Linda for YOUR gifts of healing, we lift Linda and Ron and Amy for YOUR gifts of strength and comfort to weather this storm.  FATHER, we lift Courtney's Dad for YOUR continued gifts of healing, we lift his family for YOUR gifts of strength and comfort.  FATHER thank YOU for blessing Memama, we ask that you continue to do so.  Thank YOU for JESUS and the hope and promise we have in him.