What Was That

Why would a tractor belch black smoke and cut off?  Why would a tractor continue to smoke, white smoke, while sitting still and not running?  For no apparent reason.  No loud unusual noises.  No knocking.  No warning.  Was it trying to be lazy?  I wonder...
This happened to me today.  I grabbed my handy dandy cell phone that has service occasionally and put in a phone call to my trusty mechanic.  I asked him this, "What does it mean when a tractor belches black smoke and then shuts off?"  His response?  "Not sure"  Then my cell service dropped and I was left in the peaceful quietness of the day.  Wondering how long it would be until the tractor was engulfed in flames.  I wasn't too worried I couldn't see any flames but the continual smoking bothered me.  Perhaps it was a sudden addiction to something.  Tractors are strange things at times and have weird addictions, sudden addictions apparently.  My phone rings, vibrates actually, I answer and it is Sonny.  He wonders what is happening.  I inform him that the white smoke seems to be increasing but the flames have yet to be located.  Well, I was informed that he was racing back with water.  (I was almost a mile from the hard top road.)  Those of you know Sonny will understand what the word "race" means in this type of situation.  I am assuming here but I bet that his head wasn't far from smacking the roof of the pickup.  Rough fields and driveways don't make good race tracks. When he arrived at the scene the smoke was still rising from the air filter canister.  Without water I didn't want to remove the filters.  I was afraid I would be unable to because of the heat and what if my trying allowed oxygen to the smoldering filter?  I was afraid we would have a roaring inferno...  So, after pouring water on things we took the air filters off and one of them was over half burned.  I had used ether to start the tractor and some how the air filter must have ignited.  I have never had such an experience before and would rather not have another.  Another malfunction episode...

Vacation

Putting together a family vacation is always somewhat of a challenge.  There needs to be things for children of varying ages to do.  You don't want to do to much or parents and children will be stressed out.  Vacation turns into something that isn't vacation.  Somehow, I feel like we have hit the jackpot this year.  We are staying at a lovely cottage in Mt. Joy PA.  The Oasis Cottage.  It really has been an oasis.  Lovely rope swing on one side of the house and a sand box and play ground on the other.  The only draw back has been the distance to the attractions we have chosen to visit.  There was some grumbling about going to Roadside America.  They wanted to know what it was.  I didn't know how to explain it other than tell them they were going to love it.   When we walked through the door and they caught there first glimpse of the attractions they were thrilled.  Trains, cars, water, the list is endless.  The other thing they seemed to really enjoy was the interaction at Turkey Hill Experience.  Loads of interactive games, computer games.  The free sample of ice cream didn't hurt anything.  We are headed for Sight and Sound this afternoon for the Jonah production.  This should be a highlight as well.  I think we have had a grand week. No, parents and children were not perfect.  Unfortunately we took our home attitudes with us.  But all in all I hope your vacation will be as great as ours has been...