WOO HOO!!! It’s great to be talkin’ to ya from the homestead. We arrived at 9:30 yesterday (Friday) morning and immediately fell into our routine chores – turn on the water, turn up the water heater, unpack, turn on the computer and run a scan, make “nectar” for the hummingbirds, wind the old clock.
Ever since I’ve known him, Mike has loved to tinker with old lawn mowers and other small engines. Last summer, when our old lawn mower died and Mike finally wrote “R-I-P” on it, I begged him to buy a brand new one. So much time and frustration goes into those old mowers, I said; let’s treat ourselves so that you can just mow. We shopped and were finally going back and forth between Home Depot and Sears, but Mike just couldn’t make up his mind. The new mowers have features he just didn't like. We finally ended up at “Lawnmower Charlie’s” at the corner of 5th and Bryden where it was love at first sight between Mike and an old gray Craftsman. Mowing last season went fine but a couple of weeks ago, after sharpening the blade, Mike noticed a problem. “What’s wrong with this thing?” he complained; “it’s not cutting right.” The blade casing, or whatever you call it, was riding right on the ground on one side. So, when we came yesterday, we tipped it over and discussed the hooks and doohickies, the rods and the springs and the pins. And of course, Mike is really hampered with his left arm in a sling and the alteration we were considering was not going to be easy. Then I noticed it – the rear tire on the affected side was flat. “Do you think that could be the problem?” I asked. Sure enough – we pumped up the tire and mowing went fine.
I don’t think Mike wanted me to blog about that, but I’ve said all along if it’s going to be interesting, you have to write about your failures as well as your successes, your foolishness as well as your wisdom. For those not born to it, country life is an experiment. And besides, the flat tire wasn't obvious.
Ever since I’ve known him, Mike has loved to tinker with old lawn mowers and other small engines. Last summer, when our old lawn mower died and Mike finally wrote “R-I-P” on it, I begged him to buy a brand new one. So much time and frustration goes into those old mowers, I said; let’s treat ourselves so that you can just mow. We shopped and were finally going back and forth between Home Depot and Sears, but Mike just couldn’t make up his mind. The new mowers have features he just didn't like. We finally ended up at “Lawnmower Charlie’s” at the corner of 5th and Bryden where it was love at first sight between Mike and an old gray Craftsman. Mowing last season went fine but a couple of weeks ago, after sharpening the blade, Mike noticed a problem. “What’s wrong with this thing?” he complained; “it’s not cutting right.” The blade casing, or whatever you call it, was riding right on the ground on one side. So, when we came yesterday, we tipped it over and discussed the hooks and doohickies, the rods and the springs and the pins. And of course, Mike is really hampered with his left arm in a sling and the alteration we were considering was not going to be easy. Then I noticed it – the rear tire on the affected side was flat. “Do you think that could be the problem?” I asked. Sure enough – we pumped up the tire and mowing went fine.
I don’t think Mike wanted me to blog about that, but I’ve said all along if it’s going to be interesting, you have to write about your failures as well as your successes, your foolishness as well as your wisdom. For those not born to it, country life is an experiment. And besides, the flat tire wasn't obvious.
6 comments:
The features dad doesn't care for on a new mower? SAFETY features.
Can't fool me! :)
...all the while, the dog sat in the tall grass sticking her tongue out at the humans. No one was certain what the dog was thinking, but the narrowing of her eyes and the awkward crouching position indicated that some trouble was about to befall them.
Response to Comment 1:
(LOL) Yes -- safety features -- pretty much. He couldn't get off while the motor was running. And also he didn't like the way the clutch operated. KW
...all the while, the dog sat in the tall grass lamenting over the trouble that had befallen her. "I sure wish I hadn't stepped on Mike's painful shoulder," she said to herself. "I'm just going to stick close to Kathy and everything will be fine -- sort of." "Quel domage!" "Que lastima!"
"Woe is me!" "How could I have been so stupid!" KW
The funniest part about your response is that the GERMAN Shorthair laments in FRENCH! Ha ha! She is so learned. :) That picture has been making me laugh all night!
Nellie's heritage may be German, but what little thinking she does is done in Engligh and she definitely finds that French & Spanish are best for mourning. German is just too gutteral for good mourning. And besides, Kathy doesn't know any German. XO
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