It's Cooler

It is still hot but it is cooler. Yesterday I saw records broken all over the country including our 103 degree record from 1874. Now if we could just get some moisture, everyone could breathe a little easier.

Farming is a hard business this year. What a gamble it turned out to be. I don't see how some of you do it. Southern Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee is so burned up it is disgusting. I don't know how you could live there and drive by those dead fields every day. Kudo's to those of you who have learned to cope and keep the faith.

I have put $900 in the Buick and the battery light still comes on during hard acceleration. It all started when I replaced the plugs and wires. We tested and tried everything and ended up putting a new $300 alternator on it and belt. It quit coming on nearly as much but still comes during hard acceleration to pass or merge. That one bugs me.

I have bigger problems though. Anyone want a running Dakota? All I want is the tires and toolbox out of it and it is yours. It used another gallon of coolant in 800 miles and I am pretty sure a head is cracked or the aluminum intake where it feeds the head. I have pretty much ruled out a blown head gasket.

It's never a good time to go truck shopping and now is really not a good time. I could switch to the Chevy but it gets 1/3 the mileage the Dakota gets and we often need a third vehicle around here. I think I want another used Dakota and LuAnn thinks I should get a new truck with zero percent interest. I really have no idea what I would buy and don't enjoy new truck shopping and haggling.

The county fair opened today and they are blessed to beat the 100 degree days. Maybe they can limp through one more fair. County fairs are having a hard time hanging on and we have chatted about that several times here. I hope the kids have a good time and learn a lot of valuable lessons while showing their animals this week.

The few weeks are really busy with IRM audits, judging commitments and everything else going on. Hopefully it will be cooler and more tolerable.

I hope you are cool today and we all get some needed moisture.

Ed