Good News and Lessons Learned

Fringe Benefit Farm
March 2, 2010

Last Sunday, our new cat, a Siamese named Moka, disappeared.  She went outside, and while we were visiting with some friends who came out, vanished. We weren't too worried about space aliens beaming her up, but we did have a few concerns about Eagles. They're death on cats. I don't know about the rest of the country, but the "endangered" Bald Eagle is almost as plentiful as geese around here, and there are thousands of them.  Oh, well...

On Wednesday, Kathryn was out in the garden, when she heard a meow. She looked up, and there was Moka, cowering by the highway fence. Kathryn brought her in, and said the first thing she did, was head for first the water bowl, then to the feed dish. She was pretty skinny, but has recovered nicely, and is back to being a house pet.

Yesterday we saw a mouse in the house. The other cat, Penny got a good chase in. Caught it, but didn't kill it. This morning, she was looking under the kitchen stove. I pulled out the drawer, and Penny had another good chase. Now the mouse is under the refrigerator, and Penny is watching it like an Eagle after a cat. Hopefully, she will develop her taste for wild game soon, and we won't be worried about mice in the house.

I bought a tractor last Friday. A beautiful 1955 Ferguson TO-35. I went down to Sheridan Wyoming to pick it up. Runs well, and I got a good deal on it.  The next day there was a farm auction near Hysham MT. I bought an eight foot disc to go behind "Fergie". (Kathryn named her.) 

I unloaded the tractor from the trailer, and hooked up the disc. Lifted the front wheels off the ground.  'Course all sales are final I removed the weight from the implement. It was better. Got loaded, and brought it home. The next day, I disced a fire break around the property. It works very well, and the tractor pulls as it should. It still gets light on the front end when i lift the disc for corners, but when I am able to find some wheel weights for the front of the tractor, everything will work as it ought.

Another thing I learned this morning. You can't heat soft boiled eggs in a microwave, even if you puncture them. Kinda hated to lose the eggs, but the microwave needed cleaning anyway.

It rained yesterday, and the ground is soft and sticky. Won't be able to get into the field for several days.  I had hoped to plant some grain to displace the weeds that grow here. Oh, well... It was interesting when I cut the firebreak, that some of the land is virgin prairie. Sod is really tough to cut through. I only plan to scratch the surface a little soI can get some seeds planted.  There is Sage brush on the western portion. I can disc right over it without causing much damage. I don't plan to eliminate it, as I like the aroma, and it gives the little critters a place to hide. Food for Penny... -evil laugh-.

The sun is out, and after the rain, the air is crystal clear. It normally is anyway, but right now there is no dust or anything. Montana Blue, which is what I call Azure, from horizon to horizon in all directions.  The grass is beginning to green up, and it looks like spring is on it's way. Life is good on Fringe Benefit Farm.

Agape
Lee