Green Shakers Is The Place To Be (NOT)

Farmer H got his tractor fixed. The blue one, anyway. I'm not sure what's wrong with the green one. Nor why we need TWO tractors, especially to sit here for a year or so, not working. Anyhoo... Farmer H had a buddy make him (or find him) a part that's not really made for the tractor, but works. He saved quite a bit of money on it, so there's that.

He had The Pony outside with him a few days ago, holding stuff and moving parts and assisting with putting the tractor back together. I can feel Farmer H's pain at the very thought... The Pony himself trotted out without complaint, though he remarked later that it was dirty work that soiled his dainty hands and porcelain skin up to the elbows. At least his lungs didn't collapse from the fresh air.

When I came home from town on Saturday, there was Farmer H, perched atop his New Holland, mowing along the sides of the gravel road. Jack, Juno, and Copper Jack were romping around the tractor, barking their fool heads off in the 88-degree heat, having a grand old time.

Farmer H reminded me of Oliver Wendell Douglas (Eddie Albert) on Green Acres. You know, the one with the song that started with

"Green Acres is the place to be. Farm livin' is the life for me..."

Except Farmer H wasn't wearing a three-piece suit while bouncing on his tractor seat.

Anyhoo... the three dogs took off towards the Mansion, taking a shortcut through the BARn field as T-Hoe proceeded to the driveway. As I lined up the front wheels to pull into the garage, I saw Jack running across the back yard by himself, without his partner in crime, Copper Jack. I supposed Copper Jack had given up and gone back to Farmer H and the tractor excitement. He's been walking like his back hurts again.

Anyhoo... The Pony came out to carry in groceries. As he was reaching into T-Hoe's rear, he said,

"Jack came running across the back yard and up to the fish pond. I thought he was getting a drink, but he ran up and jumped right in the middle of it!"

"No wonder he stinks sometimes! That water is so green!"

Let the record show that the fake fish pond is about two feet wide and four feet long. Maybe three feet deep. Over Jack's head, anyway. So I guess he flopped in and paddled to the end with the pump part and climbed out. Right now the fake fish pond is full of little frogs and tadpoles. And Jack, I suppose.

Anyhoo... I saw Jack's wet footprints come in the garage door, and exit the people door. He sometimes waits for me by T-Hoe's front bumper, but not this day. He was on the side porch, standing in Juno's spot. She was nowhere to be seen. As I promised Jack a special treat in the house, he

SHOOK ALL THAT GREEN WATER INTO MY FACE AND ONTO MY TOWN SHIRT!

Ain't THAT a fine how-do-you-do?

I didn't hold it against him, though. The Pony said he saw Juno running back towards the BARn (TRAITOR!), so little Jack got the treats all to himself. It was leftover hash round potato thingies from Casey's that Farmer H had left from mid-week.

My town shirt was green, but it will still need a washing now before the next set of wearings!