Frost on the grass reminds me of a young snow the year I hid the pony in the woods for a Grand’s Christmas present. We had a slight skiff of snow one of the mornings before Christmas and the trail the truck left was duly noted by the observant Grands. I knew there would be questions and that logical answers were gonna be necessary as soon as I returned.

My close relative waswatching the tale unfold and she appeared at the door as I opened the gate. All the Grands were eyeing me in a suspicious manner and I dreaded the tidal wave I figured was coming. My close relative cleared her throat and announced hot chocolate and warm gingerbread for whoever wanted it! She saved my sanity again!

I am thrilled with the rain we have been blessed withand old Dog’s water bowl wasn’t even frozen a couple of mornings. The water in the ponds looks cleaner than it has in a couple of years, seems to me. I am gonna lay some water lines this next spring so I can be sure to provide decent drinking water for all the stock.

My friend, Ray Jackwright, bought himself a new tractor this week. He has so much money in his pockets that he has to spend some of it before the first of the year or give it to his Uncle Sam. Some of us poor boys don’t have that problem but Ray is a good feller anyway! I know about the tractor because Ray drove it to town this morning and we were allrequired to go out and look it over.

A genuine educated documented Eastern salesman could have done no better than Ray did in describing the attributes of the new machine. We were all mesmerized by the quality of the rig, the absolute best of the innards in the motor, the diamond hard paint on the finish and, of course, the comfort of the cab and seat! Ray had taken the tractor to the sign painter and had paid to have “MY CADILLAC” painted across the front. It was a sight to see!

I didn’t touch the paint, kept my hands in my pockets, because I sure didn’t want to mar the finish ofbeautiful green, the color of money! Most of us fellers just walked around and oohed and aahed over the giant, and Ray could not have been prouder! Some brave soul did kick a tire and rub his hand over the deep tread.

I grinned all the way home, seeing how happy Ray could be over a tractor was a blessing to me. I sure love to see folks living to the utmost and enjoying what they have. I knew Ray wouldn’t be going home for several hours, seeing as how he parked at the feed store just in case someone else came into town for a sack of hen scratch that he could show his new tractor.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, Christmas,just because it is Christmas, brings on many happy moments. Is it because we see them at this time of year and ignore them the rest of the time? Maybe we do miss all the fun and laughter, joy and some of the peace of this life because we are unaware of them, putting all the grief and toil in front and pushing all the good stuff to the back.

Time to pay attention and enjoy, praise God and celebrate your blessings! And when you see Ray, mention how “purty” his new tractor is!

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

Opinion, Pages 5 on 12/21/2011