ice

 Yesterday I broke up ice in the three pasture water tanks south of the driveway with a sledge hammer.  The north tanks had been shut down a month earlier.  The ice was six inches thick, unusual for this early.  I had turned the water off about a week earlier and needed to get the tanks empty enough so that the winter's ice and snow didn't damage the water valve.  The cows go on the cornstalks today, the market herd is on the pasture eating good hay and I guess they are all as ready for winter as can be.  I would as soon do without, but my opinion in the matter is without consequence.