Kurt,

I’m guessing you’re enjoying the cool weather. I was in the woods yesterday taking down some smallish blackjacks (oaks), cutting some firewood which I don’t need. I have a neighbor would can use it. I have enough fallen trees to for ten winters. Need some wood? It would be nice have someone along side cutting, splitting and loading.

Across the fence I watched Kasey and Justin move cattle. Nostalgic, hearing the whoops and gits in various tones of aggravation. I don’t miss it. They divided the ranch into 30+ pastures, so moving them is easy. They use ATV’s. They rotate pastures almost daily, and it is a great system. It reminds me of Henry Ford’s assembly line.

I had it seven pastures, and moving cattle required horses and a great deal of frustration—keeping them out of the timber and on the right side of the fence and so on.

While I was cutting I stirred up a ‘dillo. He stood up, raised his nose in the air, pink nose, and sniffed. As we were on neutral territory, and as I didn’t have a gun, he was safe and I didn’t have to feel either guilty or pleased with myself. A few weeks ago, though, I had a similar encounter and cut a hickory sapling and sharpened it. Too late, the critter had disappeared. 

I don’t look at the weather anymore, or the news, or the stock market. I am media averse. But, if the sun ever shines again maybe we can rendezvous. It would be nice. It would be nice if we could include Gary, but I can’t quite see how that would work. Anyway, maybe Kip’s party will work out. I hope so. 

Time to stretch and count sit-ups. Enjoy the weather.

j.