I usually wake up around 7:15. This morning I was awakened by the double sounds of our dog, Amber, barking and the lawnmower at 6:15. Even though I’ve been awake for a while now, I’m feeling a bit grumpy and tired. My husband will take a mid-morning nap soon, if not already, in his chair in the living room.
He gets up before I do many mornings, does some morning chores and then waits for me to come down. Amber was still barking to come in. I checked on my husband, finding him out mowing again. He came in when I was just finishing up the rest of the morning chores, plus getting a crock pot of chili started for our dinner this evening.
He had finished mowing some areas he hasn’t been able to mow with the old mower. He said he hasn’t had to put the mower in reverse yet. He simply turns the ‘arms’ of the mower and it spins in place (zero-turn) and he continues on. He is enjoying his new toy. I’m glad, AND I’m most happy that he was finished before it’s due to get hot today, even though I’m feeling a bit sleep-deprived.
Last night he spent quite a while online trying to find supplies for the mower, such as oil and air filters, spark plugs, a cover for the mower, the two belts needed, etc. He had a list of what he’d found and then asked me to help him with the ordering. We used his list, then looked for less expensive places to purchase them. We saved about $200 by doing this. We got everything ordered so we’ll have what we need.
The first thing will be an oil change after the first 8 hours of mowing. Oh, he ordered some kind of gadget that keeps a running total of how long the engine has run, so we can perform the maintenance required at certain times.
We have a master log spreadsheet we’ve kept for years, documenting things we want to be able to refer to, such as “when did we buy the new mower?”. We gathered the model and serial numbers and logged them.
I’ll either do more weeding this morning or I’ll weed whack. I’m not sure which yet.
Enjoy your day!
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
The new mower was delivered about 12:30 today. The man called me and I warned him about the steep, graveled driveway. Happily, he had a really nice forklift type vehicle with a bed where the mower could sit while he came up the driveway from his truck.
We checked it out. It had enough gas in it that we could make sure it started. The man pointed out the grass height choice box, plus the starter, place where you put in gas, etc. My husband filled it up. We signed the paperwork, and the delivery guy was gone. I thanked him profusely for the great delivery and the fact he came within the 4 hour delivery period and called to tell me he was on his way to us.
As soon as he started down the driveway again, my husband was off. I went to the shop to get his hat and glasses.
He mowed quickly. The 46 inch mowing swath really speeded up the process. He said he only had the speed at 1/4 and that was plenty. He said the steering arms made for super-responsive steering, causing him to over-steer much of the time, but he said he thought he would be able to adapt to that quickly.
SO – we have a new lease on our mowing lives now. I noticed I’ll have to get out and do some weed whacking – aiming for tomorrow morning.
Filed under Gardening
Filed under metal art, scrap metal art
Good morning!
We had a ‘cold front’ come through overnight, giving us an overcast sky, and a temperature of 100 this afternoon, with a heat index of only 106. RELIEF! :0)
We’re supposed to have the new riding lawn mower delivered. I finally got a text this morning that the delivery window is 9am-1pm today. (We’re delivery #4). Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed that the delivery truck can get up our driveway.
I had fun in my art room yesterday, making another wood-burned sign –
No ripe tomatoes this morning; one tomato sucker plant doing well, two others are still alive at this point.
Monster Cat (aka Jet) is feeling her oats lately. She is trying to chew on cords, jumps up and tries to ‘snag’ my jeans if I’m walking, or my arm if I’m in my chair. I’m keeping my spray water bottles as handy as possible to discourage this.
I hope you’re doing well and are able to stay comfortable.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
Filed under Watercolors I Love
Filed under metal art, scrap metal art, sculpture
Our son sent this via our chat program recently. A beautiful double rainbow!
I downloaded “Here Be Darkness” by R. G. Ryan to my Kindle a couple of days ago. It’s a new Jake Moriarity series novel and I can’t wait to dive into it. I’m trying to decide if I want to re-read the other 6 in the series first.
I just finished “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis” by J.D. Vance. I found it down to earth, honest, and real. He is proud of his culture in the “Rust Belt” (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wisconsin) while being very straightforward about its strengths and weaknesses. I knew a bit, but now feel I understand better the challenges and feelings of the people who feel unseen and forgotten.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
In Arkansas we’re welcoming August today with a heat index this afternoon of 112. GACK! Happily, I had a productive morning outside yesterday, reprogramming our irrigation units to each run 15 minutes. We monitored the watering yesterday afternoon and all went well.
I didn’t find any ripe tomatoes, but 2 of my tomato suckers plants are still alive, so I’m a bit hopeful now. I started on one end of the house and got 5 flower planters weeded before I got too hot. They were in the shade and the ‘excessive heat warning’ didn’t start until noon. Still, with the outside work, I came in wringing wet. I showered and washed my hair for the second time yesterday before lunch. :0)
My husband took our dog, Amber, to fill up the gas cans in preparation for the new mower to be delivered some time tomorrow. We have four, so we each grabbed two from the back of the truck to take out to the shop.
I haven’t decided if I’ll work outside again this morning or take the day off. Even with working out there in the coolest part of the day – in the shade – it took me a long time to get back to a normal temperature.
I’m going to try to get up to my art room today. I’m starting to ‘wood burn’ in my dreams now, a sure sign I need to get up there and get the new piece started.
Stay cool and enjoy your day.
Filed under Thoughts on a ________
creativeartworksblog 