My close relative got tired of cooking and allowed us to go out to a good steak house for dinner last night. It was a pure pleasure to sit and visit with everyone that came by, eat two loaves of that little hot bread the nice waiter brings and then eat a steak cooked to perfection, with a baked spud filled up with butter, sour cream, bacon bits and little green onions!

I got a salad because she, my close relative, ordered it for me, but it had that weak dressing, low-fat, and I just sorta messed around in it with my fork. I guess I fooled her because she didn’t give me that raisedbrow look. I did not want to take up space with rabbit food knowing what was coming!

So this morning dawned with a smile! I was still full, and a plate of scrambled eggs and ham just finished me up good. It was early and cool enough to saddle Snip and ride pastures before the sun got too high and hot. Good thing I did. Ole’ Dog hadn’t been out of the pickup or yard in a month. The three of us needed the trip and it is true, you can see things that you miss in a turn around on the place in a truck.

I fixed fence a couple of places, decided to take soil samples where the grass was so sparse and found a hornets nest I had never seen. We checked the three connected pastures and crossed the road to two more. I stayed out longer than I intended and it was plenty warm when I got back. Dog had left us at the second gate and was laid flat out on his belly on the cool cement porch at the well house when I opened the yard gate. Snip was wet and so was I, but we were pretty soft so I wasn’t surprised.

A tall glass of iced tea fixed me up pretty good so I washed up and drove to town to get a sack or two of mineral. The feed store was deserted except for the clerk and a feller in the back sweeping. Business was slow this morning. The fertilizer, lime and spraying had been grinding down with the heat and lack of moisture and few can afford to feed anything but the laying hens.

I wish I had some layers, big red hens that would produce big brown eggs. My taste buds have always allowed that brown ones taste better and I know fresh ones are wonderful. My close relative does not want chickens around, scratching up her yard and making other messes on the place. So we buy those cold storage pale things and pretend they are fine.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, this time of the year is unnecessary. I would like to eliminate it and move right on down to fall. Even the dirt is worn out and dirty. Grime had settled on all the equipment and a dew, if we are lucky enough to have one, just makes the grunge stick a little better. I am not complaining, just suggesting a little change.

Hang in there and before you know it we will be having frost!

—Bill

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.