A fall day ...

Looks good outside. Some of the fields are too wet to work. DH sold some seed wheat to a neighbor. So I asked (being greedy and all, ya know ...) "When will he pay you?"

"Oh, I dunno. When we get around him a bill."

Someone among us sounds Dutchy ;-)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...

DH is talking to his cousin and a wind-mill salesman about wind turbines. Our cow pasture might be a good place for such. Take a big chunk out of the electric bill.

We'll see what the man has to say.

The wheat hay

... yielded about 44 big squares, or 44,000 pounds, or 22 tons off 33 acres.

That was a little light, but, there was no expense for seed, lime or fertilizer. Just paying the neighbors for custom baling.

Saturday the guys finished disking then seeded soybeans there.

Note to self ...

Wheat hay:

Pro: Volunteer wheat is already greening up on last year's wheat ground. If we made hay there for the beef cows ... 1. It could free up some of the better hay to sell. 2. Field work on those acres is already done, would save on time and fuel. 3. Would save on seed and fertilizer cost of planned crop.

Con: 1. Will it grow enough to mow and bale? 2. Will the cows eat it (they are not too awful picky ...) 3. What if there is some weird fungus or something that's dangerous for the the cows? 4. Input costs of mowing, raking and baling, twine and labor (We use the smaller tractors for hay, though)

What about wheat pasture ... h'mmm ...

Year's end ...

Here's a great old song on the order of Auld Lang Syne, but the tune's more singable:

words and music Traditional

"The Parting Glass"

Of all the money that ere I had, I spent it in good company
.And of all the harm that ere I've done, alas was done to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit,
to memory now I cannot recall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades that ere I had,
they're sorry for my going away,
And of all the sweethearts that ere I had ,
they wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot
that I should rise while you should not,
I will gently rise and I'll softly call,
"Goodnight and joy be with you all!"

It's sung in a minor key (I think) You can search on the lyrics for more information. Anyway ... the real year-end of sorrow comes when we have to do our year-end tax prep.

We're Scrooged

Our state has been "fixing" the property tax mess for the past couple of years. First, our the value of our house was marked up unrealistically. Apparently, many others' homes were also over-priced. After great wailing and gnashing of teeth, the state adjusted the system again and provided tax relief! To home owners! Yay!

Well, the money had to come from somewhere.

They re-assessed farmland -- bare, unimproved farmland -- and raised the taxes on our ground.

So, we are still paying a staggering (to us) amount in property tax, but not on the house. On the ground instead.

The best part, though, is that bills were delayed ... the first installment was due Dec. 1 and the second is due in mid-January.

Just in time for Christmas.