COME GET ME

Evening view to the south

Mike will leave for a 10-day motocaching trip on Sunday (June 17), so this past week was a blur of appointments, packing, and last minute chores. Mowing at the farm was scheduled for Friday – you know, as late as possible because it will need it again as soon as he gets back – but late Thursday morning he announced that he thought we just as well go up after lunch. I shifted my mental gears, hastily prepared lunch, and off we went.

But – the lawnmower wouldn’t start. (Yes, the new Cub Cadet, which I insisted he buy so that all his problems would be solved.) Adding to the frustration, we couldn’t find the battery charger. And when we couldn’t jump start it either, Mike began to worry that the battery might not be the problem. Nevertheless, on our way back into town, we stopped at Home Depot and bought a new battery.

Cottonwood Butte

Friday morning after yoga class, Mike hopped on his XT-250 and headed off to the farm. It was a frustrating day for him. About the only good news was that he found the battery charger. He had been looking on the floor when it was actually sitting on top of other stuff in a storage area – right in plain sight. He was able to ascertain that there was nothing wrong with the old battery, but the mower still wouldn’t start. One possible problem was something called a solenoid, whatever that is.

So, he called around, and a place in Nezperce (17 miles from the farm), had one he thought would work. Once again on his XT, he headed out to Nezperce on Russell Ridge Road. Unfortunately, a big nail punctured his rear tire, so he limped on into Nezperce where for the cost of labor ($44), he and the crew at the John Deere shop patched the tire. With his new solenoid, he set out on the return journey to the farm, but before he got there, the tire was flat again.

“Come on up and bring a picnic supper,” said Mike over the phone. In other words, come get me. Well, it takes a little time to organize a picnic for a place where water (and other comforts) aren’t available, so I decided a sandwich from Subway would have to do. I swear it took me half an hour to get ready to go anyway, and when it was time, Bess hopped right into the pick-up, but Nellie just can’t now. Lifting her in took its toll on both of us.

Mike was waiting for us when we got to the farm. He had been unable to fix the mower, so he’ll just have to deal with it when he returns. We had our sandwich supper, and then we returned to town, arriving about 8:20.

Note that the grain field is ripening.

I have yet to order my staycation gift(s) because I can’t think of anything I want – that’s available, that is. A new book will come later this month, and a new Dept. 56 piece won’t be available until later in the summer. It is nice when packages arrive during staycation, so maybe I’ll just have to think harder. KW