Velvet Bucks

I suppose by now the buckaroos have shed their velvet.  Naturally, If I got off of my lazy keester and sat in a deer stand with a bow I could verify that personally.

Same location, almost the same time, two different deer...

 

 

Friday Music

After years of attempts to lure the California Honeydrops to the Door Community Auditorium; last Saturday this group knocked the ball out of the park with two incredible sets and a lengthy encore featuring their hand-clapping, hip-shaking brand of jazz, funk and retro-soul in a high-energy celebration of performance art.  Just like a New Orleans club without having to take the trip.

From humble beginnings in the Oakland subway the group was founded by frontman Lech Wierzynski and drummer Benjamin Malament.  The band's name was inspired by the 1930s jug band, The Tennessee Chocolate Drops.

The band doesn't follow a set list; rather taking improvisational inspiration from requests shouted from the audience letting the music lead them on a one-of-a-kind experience for each performance.  The band now features an octet of talented musicians  that really put a performance together on the fly without skipping a beat.

This was singularly one of the best concerts we've enjoyed at the cozy and intimate venue of Gibraltar High School.

One word - FUN!

Vroom!

Behold: The Fastest Car in The World That You’ve Never Heard Of

This is an extreme example of the "throttle" response EV drivers get. 

The video of the test run on a track in Germany is remarkable....

Who Dines On Acorns?

Just about everyone.  Squirrels, turkey and deer come to mind. 

If you take a moment to scan the forest floor beneath the oak trees you will find evidence of the critters dining on the acorns from above...

 

Autumn Pollinators

I haven't spied a monarch butterfly in awhile.

From our walk there were bumblebees and viceroy butterflies in abundance. 

 

Bean Counter

President Trump's recent proposal to prop-up the troubled economy of his pal, Argentina President Javier Milei, with a $20 billion aid package his raised the hackles of Democrats and Republicans in farm states as farmers struggle under the burden of the president's on-again, off-again, tariff policies.  

China hasn't purchased a single soybean from the United States since May of 2025.  And following Treasury Secretary Scott Bissent's announcement of the aid package for Argentina the Chinese flipped us the bird and purchased 2.66 million tons of Argentinian soybeans after Argentina waived their grain export taxes.  

Naturally, American farmers who voted for Trump and elected Republican officials who represent them are becoming grumpy. 

In case you're wondering what this means in dollars and cents, a year ago China had already placed orders for 40% of our soybean exports.  This year; not a single shipment.  Not a single, solitary bean.  And because China retaliated for Trump's tariffs with tariffs on soybeans, US exports of the crop are already down 51% and $3.4 billion from 2024. 

I suppose I have to wonder if this is more about propping-up a Trump ally or a mercurial trade policy directed by executive order?  Your guess is as good as mine. 

Meanwhile, American soybean growers are struggling with balancing their checkbooks while White House trade policy has jacked-up the price of fertilizer (most of which comes from Canada), increased the cost of farm machinery and pretty much vaporized a significant segment of our agricultural export market.

What next?  The administration has already floated a plan to have US taxpayers bailout domestic farmers with billions upon billions of dollars for soybeans they cannot sell.   

Of course, we've been to this rodeo before; so I can predictably tell you how it likely plays-out.  Don't believe me?  Type: soybeans in the search box in the upper left corner of the blog homepage and you'll be privy to a walk down memory lane of Trump 1.0 agriculture policy.

Maybe some day we should have a discussion of old-school, Soviet-style, centralized economic planning.  Meanwhile, If you honestly believe any of this makes sense I'm all ears.....

Zen And The Art Of Tractor Maintenance

Before

And after

That was after one of the four principle high pressure hydraulic lines to the loader burst

With all due respect to author Robert Pirsig and a book I read my freshman year of college I knew this was gonna happen.  I could see the fissures forming.  Almost a hose per year lately.

The upshot is that this was a big one; consequently, all four of the longest lines have been rebuilt and I reinstalled them a couple of days ago.  

The smaller connectors look pretty good yet and are easy peasy to get replaced at O'Reilly Auto Parts.  The longer lines with the 90 degree connections left the O'Reilly guys stumped.  Fortunately, Schartner Implement is still in business and Kevin got my lines rebuilt in short order. 

Took about a gallon of hydraulic fluid to refill the reservoir. 

Never a dull moment around here.....