The Tractor Hunt is Over

Late the other afternoon I answered my phone to hear, "I'm coming up the driveway!" "Uh, o..k...?" I replied, wondering why on earth hubby would call to tell me that.  "I'm in the new tractor" he continued with excitement.  With that I ran out the door to watch the parade, as they convoyed the new tractor home.

The hunt was officially over a few days ago, when hubby finally decided to go on and buy the new tractor and quit hunting all over the U.S. for a used one.  The local dealer kept sweetening the deal until he could no longer resist the siren song.  So now he was home with his new GREEN tractor.  It's the first green tractor ever on the farm...in fact it is the first new tractor we have ever owned. 

After a quick congratulatory hug, he grinned and said he would be in after he had rearranged a few things in the barn so he could get his tractor out of sight.  Huh?  Out of sight?  Then I started laughing.  I knew exactly what his problem was.  You see we live in RED country.  Most, if not all, of his friends drive red tractors.  Buying a green one will cause considerable teasing and ribbing from the surrounding farmers.  Especially since this green tractor was definitely a Cadillac version.

It hasn't been so long ago that all the tractor work was done with hubby sitting exposed to whatever weather was happening.  Rain, sleet, snow, wind,  or extreme heat all pounded down while he sat in his exposed seat.  We thought the move to our first cab tractor was the move to luxury.  This one, however, is as nice as his pickup truck, which is nicer than my car!

Our son was chuckling as he listed the "comfies" of the new workhorse. It not only has a cab but automatic windshield washers on the front and back.  It has heat and air conditioning with an automatic thermostat, so he doesn't have to keep regulating his comfort.  An air-ride seat keeps him floating over the bumps in the field.  The crowning touch is that it even has cruise control!  Of course, we don't have a field big enough to need it, but it is a cool option.  Hubby made sure it was equipped with a buddy seat for the grandkids to use when they ride along.  If they can stand it, that is, since it also has a cigar lighter and an ashtray.  Our son shook his head slowly, it doesn't, unfortunately, have a sun roof. 

The next day he could hardly wait to finish Sunday lunch, then he tore out to the barn.  He would be back later, he called, he had to scrape the feed barn with his new loader and tractor.  I smiled at his excitement as he went out to play with his new toy.  He returned later beaming with satisfaction at the performance of his new equipment.

He had, however, carefully parked the tractor behind the haybales and out of sight from passing farmers.