Signs of the end of summer are coming fast and furious. The robins that were so abundant are now few and far between. Just yesterday I saw a large flock of abour 100 of them and that means they're getting ready to move south. Summer seems so short in this neck of the woods.
With fall being just around the corner, the bucks are starting to look for places to rub off that itchy velvet. As I sat here writing this morning, a buck came into the yard while it was still dark. He started to blow at me and kept it up for about 15 minutes. Come to think of it, I can feel my neck starting to swell some too.
The big Tractor Show at Blackberry has come and gone. As I walked around looking at all of that old equipment I was having visions of myself driving a tractor around the back forty. I even considered purchasing a pair of overalls. When it was time to leave, I saw that they were selling raffle tickets on a Ford 8N, 1949 model. It had been completely restored, front to back and shined brightly.
After some serious debate, (and having to borrow 50 cents from my bride) I purchased one ticket at the large sum of $2.00. That was a lot of money to spend on a dream. The chances were slim since they'd been selling tickets for many months.
Sunday afternoon a very nice lady called me and asked when I could come and pick up my new tractor. I had won the grand prize. I called a good friend and we went to pick it up. It was only about four miles away. I mashed on the starter and it fired up just as asked. It purred like a contented cat.
After I got it tucked in nicely in the shed, I started to think, "What will I do now with the faithful horses in the barn, Jack and Topsy". They'll work for just a little hay and grain. Now I'll have to go to town all the time for "gasoline" and oil. That stuff costs a fortune.
Now I lay awake nights trying to decide what to do with the winnings on a $2.00 raffle ticket. Guess I'll sell the team of horses, but a tractor won't come running when I whistle. Or should I just sell the tractor? I could keep them both, but with money being so tight, I gotta sell one or the other.
My bride is starting to feel the effects of this newfound affluence. Now she's talking of going to the city shopping. Guess we'll have to sell the tractor, and there goes the thoughts of new overalls. Life can be so darned cruel.
Well, better get moving. There's chores to be done and chickens to milk... or something like that.
So from the land of tall tales and tall pines, I wish you well.
Ron
www.ronshepherd.com