More Birds.

       Today I was working between an abandoned farm site and a low area filled with cattails. The buildings have all been buried so what is left is a nice grove of trees. This offered a recording site with marsh, grassland and mature trees. The air was filled with bird song from all directions. It was a good place to activate the Merlin Bird App and see who was singing.

    This is the list of birds on the recording: Grackle, Goldfinch,  Meadowlark, Mourning Dove, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Savannah Sparrow, House Wren, Sedge Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, and Song Sparrow.  There are nesting boxes, suitable for House Wrens, in the trees so that may account for their presence.

    Prior to the acquisition of the Merlin App I was clueless regarding the wide variety of birds present. Dad was interested in birds and I gained and interest from him. This marvelous app has expanded my knowledge base and gives me much pleasure.

Takk for alt,

Al

"Yellow Warblers are small, evenly proportioned songbirds with medium-length tails and rounded heads. For a warbler, the straight, thin bill is relatively large."  All About Birds

Hawk Sighting!

       The hawk most often seen here is the Red Tailed Hawk.  Seeing a Northern Harrier, aka, Marsh Hawk, today brought back memories from boyhood. These hawks are ground nesters and are seldom seen perched in trees or on poles. The one seen today was acting according to kind, flying low over a pasture searching for mice.

    Our farm had some lowland that tended to be too wet in the spring to work. Dad planted rye there. Rye, like winter wheat, is bi-annual, planted in the fall it sprouts, goes dormant over winter, and grows the next spring and summer.  During harvest of that rye field a hawk nest was spotted and the harvesters managed to avoid it. There were two fledgling hawks in the nest. The nest was moved into a wooden box for protection and the hawk successfully raised her young.

   Perhaps you've heard the old saying "he goes to bed with the chickens", i.e., he goes to bed early as chickens are wont to do.  Chickens on our farm would be heading to the coop in late afternoon and be inside long before dark. There's a flock of free range chickens at the house across the street. Strangely they do not retire early and are busily scratching for food long after sunset. Why are they so untypical? 

Takk for alt,

Al

"Parts of Europe and Asia have several kinds of harriers, but North America has only one. Harriers are very distinctive hawks, long-winged and long-tailed, usually seen quartering low over the ground in open country. At close range, the face of our Northern Harrier looks rather like that of an owl; like an owl (and unlike most other hawks) it may rely on its keen hearing to help it locate prey as it courses low over the fields."  Audubon Society 

Lethal Cold!

      Temperatures have been trending cold since a brief hot spell a few weeks ago. The temperature at night is about 50 degrees and daytimes 60s. Consequently, insects have been slow to hatch. The effect of low insect numbers has been difficulty for birds which feed on them. A neighbor said that many of her Purple Martens had died, likely from malnutrition. They feed on the wing on a feast of flying insects, which have been absent.

    Early hatch pheasant chicks would also be vulnerable. Critical to their early diet are insects that provide the protein they need. The sight of pheasant hens with roosters at this date might suggest the hens are re-nesting.  Each subsequent nest attempt by a hen has fewer eggs.

    Crops are also showing the effects of the cold. The corn and soybeans are barely growing. Corn fields show a yellow cast as the corn responds to the cold.

   Todays bird chorus included; Canada Goose, Blue Winged Teal, American Goldfinch, Sedge Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Pheasant, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Marsh Wren,  and Western Meadowlark.  A mallard hen was spotted with a large clutch of ducklings newly hatched.

Takk for alt,

Al

"Are Common Yellowthroats rare?  Abundant and well-known, the Common Yellowthroat has succeeded by being a nonconformist. As the only one of our warblers that will nest in open marshes, it is found in practically every reed-bed and patch of cattails from coast to coast." Audubon Society 

Nothing written!

    The first years it was sheep but for the last several years its been cattle. While cutting cedars this morning I looked up and saw cattle in my pasture.  This property was purchased in1992(?) and Steve and I agreed  verbally on the use of the pasture then.  He may graze it from spring until the beginning of July. It works for both of us. It saves his pastures for later summer. For me, there's rent money and early summer grazing is on the invasive grasses which are first to mature. The native, late summer grasses, are just emerging when the stock are removed and I'm interested in the restoration of that grass. This is land that has never been plowed so native grasses lurk in the soil awaiting proper conditions to emerge.

   What struck me, as I watched the cattle, this morning is the tradition. Steve never asks me if he can use the pasture nor when he should remove the stock. That was decided over thirty years ago. It's up to me to tell him if the arrangement is over.  Sometime after he's removed the cattle he'll ask me how much rent I want.

  Last year, or the year before, the cattle got out of the pasture. They walked a half a mile north to a road, a mile west on that road, at the corner then they turned south for a mile, at that corner they turned east for a half a mile,  and turned north a quarter of a mile. When Steve found them they were waiting for him to open the gate to his pasture so they could enter. Cattle are smart. 

  Today's bird recording was taken about ten miles from yesterday's.  Recorded were; Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Pheasant, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged Blackbird, and Orchard Oriole. Sighted but not recorded were a Red Headed Woodpecker and a Brown Thrasher.

Takk for alt,

Al

Sedge Wren

Serenade!

      While out in a grassland this morning two pelicans flew overhead. Pelicans flying always make me glad. They always fly in circles alternating between flapping their wings and soaring. Their path forward is like a corkscrew.  Such large birds seeming to glide so effortlessly is a charming sight. After several loops these two settled down on Lake Joanne. There are abundant fish in that water on which they can feed.

    The pelicans weren't captured on my Merlin recording but a rich serenade of other birds were. With the melodies floating in the air I stopped my activity and began recording. This is what I heard; Song Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Pheasant, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Brown-headed Cowbird and Yellow Warbler.  The grass was fringed with a ring of trees by the lake and those trees held many of the birds. 

Takk for alt,

Al

Pelicans are plentiful in the area now. Adults weigh up to fourteen pounds.

Little House

       Memorial Day morning is a good time to drive.  Leaving the OFH at 8:00 a.m., it was possible to traverse the metro area at posted speeds, no slow and go. It seemed there were as many patrol cars on the road as other traffic. Four hours of driving brought us back to The Little House. Josh said he's cooking steak for me, which is a nice 'welcome back'. 

    The recent rains have put a bit of water in the pond across the road.  There is no sign of the geese who were nesting near it. Did they successfully lead goslings to the big slough west of town?  My corn is just emerging, the miracle of germination continues.

Takk for alt,

Al  

1962

Framework matters!

     The person who frames the world as a dangerous, bad place will inhabit a very different world than one who is essentially optimistic. The attitude with which we approach life significantly alters the world we create. Framework  matters!

   It is also true in small things. When I framed this interlude at the OFH as a vacation, it set up a week of positive experiences. This has been a good vacation. Deliberately planning to have time with  persons important to me has worked well. It's a significant gift to have many persons to whom to relate. Sadly many elderly persons, am I elderly?, are lonely and isolated. Moving to the OFH has been one factor in helping me avoid isolation.  Yes, I'm truly blessed.

Takk for alt,

Al

My nephew and his wife are on a river trip in Europe that began in Budapest. This picture of the government building in Budapest was taken in 2008, when Joanne and visited.

Explanation

     The other reader, reading in yesterdays blog about a 'remote microphone', asked for an explanation. It's a mic that is not physically connected to the hearing aids but transmits directly to them. With some previous aids I had one. Riding in the backseat of a car while the front seat passenger held it I was able to hear front seat speech clearly. In a noisy restaurant my dinner companion can clip it to his tie and I will easily hear his speech.

    The audiologist said it also works to transmit the sound from a TV. The current device I have for transmitting that sound has one serious drawback. When it is connected the TV cannot be muted, consequently I seldom use it. Watching athletics on TV, I always mute the sound because I find the announcers more annoying than helpful.

Takk for alt,

Al

Ed, modeling the Marine Corps cap I brought him.

V.A. again

      It's less than a ten minute drive from the OFH to the V.A. Medical Center. Today's visit was for an audiology test and consultation. The upshot of which is that new aids are on order. With the latest Phonak technology there's improvement in sound in noisy settings. Here's hoping because noisy restaurants with patrons speaking with outside voices are a trial for me. These new aides are on order and will be available July 8, at my next appointment.

    Lisa suggested I ask about a remote microphone for the aids. A previous iteration of aids had a remote and it was very handy. The audiologist said "Sure, I can order them for you."  Wow! Thanks, Lisa, because it would not have occurred to me to ask.

   All of my interactions with the V.A. have been positive and I'm grateful.

Takk for alt,

Al

Choices!

     "We all make choices" is a somewhat a favorite saying of mine. It's true of me too. Choosing to exercise my WNBA League Pass to watch basketball games is good entertainment. The downside is less time for reading, but "we all make choices!"  😀

    Today was my annual appointment with my primary care physician at the VA.  He was a youngish nurse practitioner and we really 'hit it off'.'  When I asked if I could get a handicapped parking pass he looked up the requirements   "Do you use a wheelchair or walker?" "Do you need help getting in or out of a car?" "Do you get short of breath when you walk 200 feet?"  As the list went on we both got the giggles as it was clear I wasn't getting the pass. 

   Leaving the VA at a brisk pace a walker overtook and passed  me. Following him into the parking lot I say him enter a vehicle with a Handicapped Parking Pass. Hmmm?

Takk for alt,

Al

Today

" Let the rain kiss you

Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain."  Langston Hughes

    Rain makes me glad until I have to be in it. A significant childhood memory is the summers we waited in vain for rain. Now, from the perspective of a place sheltered from rain, I like stand and watch it fall. The report of rain in South Dakota cheers me. It comes at a good time for the corn I've planted. Growth of the grass in the pasture was slow but now will accelerate. The native grasses in my fields will put this moisture to good use. "The rain falls on the just and the unjust" Jesus said. Which ever I am. I am thankful for the rain.

Takk for alt,

Al

A deer shed, (antler) I found in the field while the tractor tire was under repair.

Etc.

     Today is window washing day at the OFH. It's the first time I've been present for the event. Two guys washed my six windows and sliding glass doors in ten minutes. The windows reverse so the outsides can be washed from the inside. When I was washing windows under Joanne's supervision I always lobbied to leave one small corner unwashed so, a 'before and after' was visible. Want to guess on Joanne's take on this idea?

   Tom came over to continue instructing this neophyte in the intricacies of playing cribbage. There was an historic first. Yes, for the first time ever, I won. Perhaps there is hope for me. Go fish is more my speed in cards.

  The kind man next door to The Little House read its rain gauge. He reports 1.5", which with the previous rain approaches a total of 2.5". Very beneficial and probably no harm done from the previous dry spell. Crops, trees. pastures and grasslands are all happy.

Takk for alt,

Al

Our group at a winery on Santorini, Greece, 2023.

Veteran's Group

   Vacationing as I am in the OFH allowed me to attend the veteran's group which meets twice monthly. There were eight today and we missed the NASA  scientist and one other. There are now two other Marines. Their Corps experiences were very different from mine. Theresa was an officer who worked in supply. Chuck was assigned to the Marine Air Wing. This is the one group at the OFH I try to attend.

Takk for alt,

Al

The company standing in formation in front of the barracks on Okinawa, 1961. I'm in the back row, second from the left.

Missing Joanne!

     A common reality of grieving are the sudden bursts of emotion, those triggers, that suddenly flood with feeling. Gradually, over time, the strength of them fades from powerful grief, to something more like wistfulness. Attendance at "our" church always offers up those memories because it was so much of our shared experiences.

   Joanne decided we'd join Grace University Lutheran Church when she heard the choir sing. Singing in that choir was very fulfilling for her. With her back pain with standing she sang regularly while sitting on the low wall next to the alto section. She and Steve Self, the choir director, bonded into a mutual admiration society. About year after Joanne's death Steve left for another congregation. 

    Sometime after Joanne's death, Rene` Clausen retired as Concordia College's Choir Director and joined Grace Lutheran. He, and his wife, are regulars in the congregation's choir. Today, the choir sang one of René's compositions. While the regular choir director accompanied the choir on the organ, Rene` directed. His participation in the choir would have been deeply meaningful to Joanne. 

   In her honor I've befriended Rene` and most Sunday's we exchange a brief conversation. He's warm, personable and a mutual introvert.  Joanne would be surprised and pleased by this relationship. It makes me sad that this is another thing that she's missing.

Takk for alt,

Al

Steve Self rehearsing the choir.

Ignorant

      After watching a WNBA game on TV (Indiana trounced Chicago and, with the players they signed in the off season and new coach, they will likely be contenders. Caitlin Clark's team.) I stumbled on the Preakness. It's a lot of falderal for a few minutes of running. Ignorant of the details of such racing I'll read about in the paper tomorrow to understand what I saw.  There is so much in this world of which I know so little. Each time I read a history book I'm reminded of my general ignorance. 

    Meanwhile I'm having a nice vacation in the OFH!

Happy Syttende Mai!

Takk for alt,

Al

Ever seen a wombat up close?

Vacation?

     After announcing in Sinai that I was going on vacation, Kaia and I motored to the OFH today. It was raining as we left Sinai and rained off and on during the drive. So, perhaps I should think of the OFH as my vacation home?  Been busy lining up social engagements for the week. This will be a week to catch up with people.

Takk for alt,

Al

Amy and I climbed up this lighthouse on the Bay of Melbourne, Australia.

Measurable

     Well, it rained.  Both of my gauges registered .6".  It wasn't enough to show on the former pond, now mudflat. It will really help and more is predicted for the next 24 hours.  A farmer about 20 miles west of here said he got 1.2". Thunder showers are highly variable. One can hope that this is the beginning of a wetter pattern.

    During a prolonged dry spell a local church held a meeting to pray for rain. Only one man brought an umbrella to the meeting.

Takk for alt,

Al

Feeding the kangaroos in Australia. 

Choosing Optimism!

      The weather app is predicting a meaningful rain overnight. Choosing to be hopeful, today I put up the rain gauges.  The one behind the house is a bit questionable because there is not a large clearing around it. It does usually record about the same amount of rain as other gauges in town. The second gauge is on a post by the pasture. There, there are no objects of height that can effect the measurement.  Placed approximately three miles apart these gauges sometimes record a significant difference in rain.

    So, I hope to awaken tomorrow to some water in the pond.  Stay tuned.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS  In answer to a question about the disposal of the cedar trees...they are left as compost in the field. Most of them are insignificantly small.

I think grass is beautiful.

When all else fails!

      When all else fails, hunt for cedars in the grass. This serves two purposes. Obviously, clearing grassland of invasive trees is one purpose. The other advantage is that it gives Kaia an opportunity to run in the fields. Most days he flushes a rooter pheasant while getting her exercise. When I tire out, which can be rather quickly, I go to work in the shop. It's a nice escape from the persistent wind and it's comfortably cool. There's a small repair job on a tractor that occupies me in the shop.

     These hot windy days are exacerbating the drought. Some rain is in the forecast in the next couple of days. Hopefully it will come and exceed the minor amount predicted. 

Takk for alt,

Al

This is the largest cedar found today. Most of them are less than a foot tall.

Easily Entertained!

      86 degrees is good sitting weather if, in the shade with a breeze.  Sitting on the front steps gives a good view of the mud flat, which recently was a pond. The ducks and geese have gone to be replaced by, of all things, pheasants. Yes, pheasants.

    Two hens emerged from the heavy vegetation and worked their way toward the middle of the mud flat. Following them a short distance behind was a rooster.  Were they feeding on what was left after the water dissipated? Or, were they searching for water?  After some time on the mud flat they slowly made their way back into the coarse vegetation, again followed by the rooster.

   A few minutes later the rooster re-immerged strolling alongside the tall grasses. There he did his crowing call followed by wing drumming. This was repeated a time or two until he again went into the vegetation and disappeared from sight.

" If you’ve ever heard ring-necked pheasants calling during early spring, you might have been hearing their territorial behavior.

Male pheasants are quite territorial during the breeding season. They will climb up on rocks or leaf piles to crow at regular intervals.

These calls are made to defend territories, and also to attract females. "  Internet

Takk for alt,

Al

Pretty bird!

Mud Flat.

Happy Mother's Day!

     My niece and her husband looked kindly on me an included me in their gathering today. No need to even feel guilty about putting this mother of three to work on Mother's Day. Her husband is the cook, and a very good one. A good time was had by all and that includes Al. 😁

    It's one of those days weather wise. Temperatures are pushing 90 and a 25mph wind with gust to 35. Dust was blowing from many fields. Some prospects of rain this week which is desperately needed. The little pond across the street is down to a couple of puddles. Where, and how, will the geese nesting near it get their goslings to water?

Takk for alt,

Al

The pond in wetter days.

Strength Test.

      Last year I lifted a 62 lb. bag of seed corn to the top of the tractor fender. That fender is just under six feet high. So, the question was if I could still do that now that I'm a year older. A real farmer suggested that I split the bag between a couple of five gallon pails. 

     This year's bag of 80,000 kernels weighed only 52 lbs. It being lighter I skipped the suggestion of the pails and lifted the bag to the fender.  As that went well I just decided "of course I could still lift the 62 lb. bag." 😂 The purpose of the bag on the fender is to transport it to the field and the corn planter.

    With the corn planted it was time to again pursue cedars in the grass. I'm happy to report that my back is toughing up to stoop labor.  Bison are known to root cedars from the grass but I don't have any at the moment.

Takk for alt,

Al

If you have any I may borrow....

Why did the geese cross the road?

      While I was driving to the field to plant corn a goose with four tiny goslings crossed the road. Why did they cross the road? They crossed the road to get to the lake which was about twenty yards from the road. To get to the lake the goslings had to navigate heavy vegetation.  Judging from their petite size I'm guessing they had just left the nest. The gander was still in the ditch opposite the lake.

     Returning from planting corn the goose family were swimming in the lake near the shore. The trip from nest to water is a dangerous one for waterfowl that nest on the ground. The little fluff balls looked comfortable on the water.

   The corn is planted let the germination begin. Hopefully there's enough moisture in the soil, don't call it dirt, to facilitate germination.  Tire trouble is now a distant memory.

Take for alt,

Al

My less than modern corn planter.

Trouble free!

      The tire stayed up while doing the tillage prior to planting.  The plan is to plant the corn tomorrow. We'll see about best laid plans of.... This was one of those rare days when everything went according to plan. It's a reminder of how blest I am!

   Today's sighting was a Bald Eagle that flew from a tree near the road as I was passing on the tractor. It flew a distance and landed in a newly planted corn field. Such a treat to see it closely.

Takk for alt,

Al 

Hard Luck Guy?

     Hard luck guy has never been a self description.  On the contrary I consider me self richly blessed for which I'm very grateful. So when I went to the tractor today to finish plowing and found the same tire flat it made me laugh.😀  First thing was to call my close personal friend at the tire service. He said "I'll call you back. Four hours later he called me and said "Your tire's fixed."

    The report was a sharp object punctured the sidewall. So that's the fourth problem: leaky valve stem, deer antler, rusty rim, and sharp object in the sidewall.  Then my close personal friend said "I won't charge you for this one!"   It was done in time to finish plowing. 

    Red Headed woodpeckers are quite rare now. During my boyhood they were common. Today I saw one in the same trees where I saw one last year. Hopefully there are two. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al

They sure are pretty!

Snakebit or Adventure?

       Greg, my close personal friend, arrived at 8:30 as promised. Why was the tire flat? A deer antler had punctured it. By 9:15 I was tooling down the road to plow the first field. It was done in time for me to stop at The Little House for lunch. Sinai lies between the fields. So far so good.

     After lunch I began plowing the second field. About an hour into that task the tire was again flat. Frustrating as it was I chose to call it adventure. Miles from town I called my close personal friend the banker and he came and got me. Now that I have Greg's cell phone I called him, and skipped the shop, to announce my predicament. He was forty miles away but he said he'd call when he finished his current project.

    It wasn't long before another close personal friend from the same shop called to say he'd come. By 5:00 the tire was again repaired. The culprit this time  was a rusty spot in the rim that rubbed a hole in the tube. While he was working I found another shed, deer antler, in the corn field. 

   At least the tire saga gives me something to write about. 😀

Takk for alt,

Al 

The antler that pierced my tire.

Greg, my close personal friend.

The shed I found while the tire was being repaired.

80,000 free kernels!

       Eighty thousand free kernels in a 52lb bag. No, I am not going to count to make sure I wasn't short changed. State wildlife folks provide free seed for wildlife food plots. The seed is from a commercial seed company from their surplus stocks.  Cooperators, of which I am one, have to sign a form promising to use the seed for non-commercial purposes, i.e., food plots.

    This year the corn is from the DeKalb seed company. Back in the 40's and 50's my Dad was planting Dekalb, originally an Illinois Company. Today it is owned by Bayer Corp.

   Commercial seed indicates the length of growing season to maturity, e.g., 95 days. This wildlife seed gives no maturity date.  It was germination tested in 2024, so it's not old.  A bag like that would sell for over $200.00.  

   Tire saga cont.:  Farmer Ed guessed that, given a repair request couldn't be sent until Monday morning, I called at 7:10 am,  repair would happen on Tuesday. What should his prize be for a correct guess?  At least an Atta-boy! Last word was that the serviceman, my close personal friend, will arrive at 8:30 tomorrow. Perhaps I'll head out to plow at 9:30. Stay tuned.

Takk for alt,

Al

File photo of plowing.

Reporting

      Geraldine Brooks, Memorial Days,  a memoir reported on here previously, was married to Tony Horwitz. In her memoir she tells of Horwitz death just as he was to complete a book tour for Spying on the South: An Odyssey Across the American divide.  It became a New York Times bestseller.

    In 1850 Fredrick Law Olmsted, then a reporter later the landscape architect of Central Park, etc., traveled the south. His intention was to understand the southern perspective, not least attitudes toward slavery. Initially he was willing to accept slavery where it existed but against its expansion. The intransigence of slave holders and the brutality he witnessed in the South made him an abolitionist. As a journalist he recorded his travels and experiences.

    Horowitz attempted to retrace Olmsted's travels. As he does this he records his conversations with the people he meets. His purpose is twofold. To see the places Olmsted visited and described so Horwitz can see what has happened to them. Horwitz also wants to understand contemporary Southerners attitudes and opinions. He had an exceptional knack for infiltrating the habitats of those people and engaging them in conversation.

   Horwitz untimely death at 60 is very sad. Naturally a devastating loss to his family and friends. It's sad he didn't get see the book's  success. Also sad is the loss of such a creative talent.

Takk for alt.

Al

Continuing Saga!

      The tire still leaks!😔  The plow is mounted and lubed ready for plowing today. When I put the car away last night it was obvious the tire wasn't holding air. So much for plans to plow today. It's such a slow leak I considered plowing anyway once the tire was fully inflated. However, if the culprit is spot of the rim rubbing on the tube more use may make the leak bigger. One of the fields if very remote and I didn't want to risk a flat there. So plowing waits and I'll call for service Monday morning.

    In the meantime I prepared the corn planter for the season. It is such a nice day once that task was complete I just stayed in the field for awhile. The nesting boxes are hosting the annual complement of tree swallows. Activating the Merlin Bird app there were a number of birds to record. One of those birds recorded is considered rare, a Hermit Thrush. There are Brown Thrashers nesting nearby. They have a particularly beautiful song but they weren't on the recording. 

  So it goes on the Prairie.

Takk for alt,

Al

A Hermit Thrush.

Silver Lining

      About 11:00 this morning, while I was cutting cedars out of a grassland, a winter of doing sit-ups didn't adequately prepare my back for this task, my phone rang. The tire service man was about ten minutes away! Wow! Next day service. With so many tire service calls the tire repair man considers me a close personal friend. Meeting him at the shop, after exchanging pleasantries, he determined his truck was too large to enter.

    Borrowing some air hose from me, he attached it to his high capacity air compressor on the truck. Stringing the hose back to the tractor with a flat he began to inflate the tire. When the tire looked about inflated he took off the air hose. That's when he discovered that the extension on the valve stem was leaking. Problem solved!  What did the service call cost? Nothing! He said "I'm not going to charge you for this," Maybe we are friends😀

     Then, too, it was so cold and windy today I wouldn't have gone to the field anyway. Tomorrow's forecast is for little wind and warmer temperatures. Sounds like a good day for plowing.

Takk for alt,

Al

 File photo of plowing.

"The best laid plans of mice and men..."

       "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  Robert Burns. How true, how true...   Last summer was the time of tractor tire failure. A flat on the large rear tire miles from town and my brother, who usually rescues me, was indisposed. The banker rescued me. Some days later, even farther from town, and another flat. No answer on either of brother's phone numbers. Once again the banker came to my rescue.  A third time on the road miles from town another flat. This time I hitchhiked back to town. The solution: two new tubes and tires. When the repair was finished the banker drove me to the tractor.

     My corn fields are about twelve miles apart. Driving between them yesterday to chop the cornstalks I thought "Well this year I won't have to worry about flat tires."  Wrong! This is a nice evening so I planned to hook the plow to the tractor. With that done I can begin plowing immediately. However, one of the large tires on the tractor went flat while it was parked in the shop. The call to the repair shop was made as they were closing. When is repair anticipated?  "Maybe tomorrow otherwise next week because there's no service on Saturday."

    Why might it have gone flat?  A first guess was deer antlers, it has happened to me before. An exam of the tire showed no antlers. Second guess is a rough spot inside the rim rubbed a hole in the tube. Stay tuned. 

Takk for alt,

Al