viajando05

David basically retired from the Navy into a relaxed, full-time job. With a glint in his eye, he now refers to himself as a farmer. He has a bevy of new friends in government agencies around north central Texas in county and farm bureau offices. He knows all the back roads and country diners. He has quickly learned that you want to stay on the good side of Wanda, Paula, and Bernice, the women who run things out of these county offices.

The Crops

Last year down 8 inches of rain; this year up. The fields are flooded. The wheat crop at the Blum farm failed (total loss). Received insurance. Corn production was mediocre at Parker, and received proceeds and insurance. Continue to deal with Devon Energy to have the pad removed (for the mythical 12-15 wells they were going to put in there.) October rains are delaying spring planting. The upside of all this is that David continues to be managed by Texas women in ever so many farm bureaus, county farm services offices, and of course, here at home.

But a farmer's day is never done. David is beginning a five-year plan to do some conservation work on one of the farms. He has had a decrepit old farmhouse torn down on another one and has appeared in court recently to have a county road running through one of the properties declared closed. All in a day's work.

On his bookshelf

He is currently reading Harry Turtledove's alternative history. Don't get me started. He is still plugging away at Mao (year 2), and waiting in the wings is the new Mitch Ryan and a number of things on my Kindle if I ever put it down. He also has the history of the Texas Rangers in his stack.