Before I went to bed last night, I had decided that today I was going to mow the grass, weather permitting.
Well, I got going early (something about waking up at 6:30 to a chorus of "Hey! Hey! HEY!" wafting up the stairwell) and after eating a delicious breakfast I bounded out to the barn (I'm having a really good energy streak right now). The back door opens easier from inside, so that's why I went into through the front instead of going around to the back. It still took me a couple of good hard tries before the door opened, but I got it and started doing the pre-mow check on the lawn mower. The oil was low, but I had forgotten the right kind of oil to use, so I sprinted into the house to ask Daddy. He told me (10W-30) and I dashed back out to the barn and selected the correct oil from the wall locker by the motor home. Next I had to fill up the gas tank...grease the thing...and now we're ready. (Actually, I think I greased it first.)
Well, I started mowing. I thought the blades sounded horrid, so after doing behind the barn, I brought it up to the house and told Daddy, he came out and listened to it and said it was fine. I hopped back on and continued mowing. I got the barn yard done and had just finished one strip of the road (I never mow the same way twice here) when the engine started losing power, then surging back, then losing power again. The engine seized up and died right there on me. So...back into the house I go for the third time. Daddy was already getting up to come out; from where he was sitting he could see out the window and he had seen the stop and the smoke everywhere.
We went out, he looked, he said, "It seized up...let's go get the go-buggy and drag it away from here." We had to go get some small chains off the trailer behind the barn...and then, I had to sit on the lawn mower and steer (backwards!) while Daddy drug the things around to the old garage. Now that was a crazy ride for me. I don't have that backwards steering thing down very well at all (from what I noticed, it seemed like it was rather the same principle as backing a trailer and I can't do that decently to save my life. I can back just fine, but not with a trailer attached!)
While Daddy started taking down the engine, I strolled back to the barn, readied the string trimmer (essentially, a cross between a push mower and a weed-whacker), and got to work taking down weeds around places that you can't get with a riding lawn mower. I had gotten almost all the way through the "orchard" when it was time for lunch...
After lunch, I went back to work. I had to replace the strings someplace along there in the next hour thanks to some twiggy stuff I cleared out around the quince and whatever that other thing is out front by the driveway. I'm mightily afraid that I killed a poor wee birdie chick. I'd guess it was a robin...and it had probably fallen out of the it's nest and was under the pine out front and I just got it when I went under the overhanging branches. :( I don't like doing that sort of thing.
I saw a couple of garter/garden snakes, but thankfully, I didn't get too close to them with those whirling red strings.
I killed the engine once because I tipped the trimmer back too far and the oil flooded...something (I forget what Daddy called it; he actually came out when he heard it die--I was right behind the house). Anyway, it cranked back up and away I went again (after letting the machine cool for a couple minutes).
I got done, put the trimmer back in the barn, and as I was going in, noticed that I had forgotten to do around the barn and the junk pile. Oh well, I wasn't going to go finish that for two reasons: 1) I had a bandanna full of eggs (I watered the chickens when I noticed they were all out and gathered the eggs at the same time), and 2) I was on the verge of being overheated and dehydrated. I am trying to learn how to be a little more responsible when it comes to overheating myself (a tendency I've always had).
If I don't hear otherwise, I'm going down to the place of one of the ladies in our church this evening--to get acquainted with her set up and animals. I hope to be able to go down once a week or so and do a little work (like stable cleaning) for her and in return get to ride one of her horses. I believe she said the only one that takes a Western saddle (English is a whole 'nother animal) is named Rose. She also told me Rose follows direct reining only...which is alright. I do know how to direct rein, though it isn't second nature to me like neck-reining. Sooo....I get to relearn that. ;D
In conclusion: it feels so good to work and be hot and sweaty again! (That latter sounds rather gross, but I mean it.) I'm glad my stamina seems to be holding out...
Well, I got going early (something about waking up at 6:30 to a chorus of "Hey! Hey! HEY!" wafting up the stairwell) and after eating a delicious breakfast I bounded out to the barn (I'm having a really good energy streak right now). The back door opens easier from inside, so that's why I went into through the front instead of going around to the back. It still took me a couple of good hard tries before the door opened, but I got it and started doing the pre-mow check on the lawn mower. The oil was low, but I had forgotten the right kind of oil to use, so I sprinted into the house to ask Daddy. He told me (10W-30) and I dashed back out to the barn and selected the correct oil from the wall locker by the motor home. Next I had to fill up the gas tank...grease the thing...and now we're ready. (Actually, I think I greased it first.)
Well, I started mowing. I thought the blades sounded horrid, so after doing behind the barn, I brought it up to the house and told Daddy, he came out and listened to it and said it was fine. I hopped back on and continued mowing. I got the barn yard done and had just finished one strip of the road (I never mow the same way twice here) when the engine started losing power, then surging back, then losing power again. The engine seized up and died right there on me. So...back into the house I go for the third time. Daddy was already getting up to come out; from where he was sitting he could see out the window and he had seen the stop and the smoke everywhere.
We went out, he looked, he said, "It seized up...let's go get the go-buggy and drag it away from here." We had to go get some small chains off the trailer behind the barn...and then, I had to sit on the lawn mower and steer (backwards!) while Daddy drug the things around to the old garage. Now that was a crazy ride for me. I don't have that backwards steering thing down very well at all (from what I noticed, it seemed like it was rather the same principle as backing a trailer and I can't do that decently to save my life. I can back just fine, but not with a trailer attached!)
While Daddy started taking down the engine, I strolled back to the barn, readied the string trimmer (essentially, a cross between a push mower and a weed-whacker), and got to work taking down weeds around places that you can't get with a riding lawn mower. I had gotten almost all the way through the "orchard" when it was time for lunch...
After lunch, I went back to work. I had to replace the strings someplace along there in the next hour thanks to some twiggy stuff I cleared out around the quince and whatever that other thing is out front by the driveway. I'm mightily afraid that I killed a poor wee birdie chick. I'd guess it was a robin...and it had probably fallen out of the it's nest and was under the pine out front and I just got it when I went under the overhanging branches. :( I don't like doing that sort of thing.
I saw a couple of garter/garden snakes, but thankfully, I didn't get too close to them with those whirling red strings.
I killed the engine once because I tipped the trimmer back too far and the oil flooded...something (I forget what Daddy called it; he actually came out when he heard it die--I was right behind the house). Anyway, it cranked back up and away I went again (after letting the machine cool for a couple minutes).
I got done, put the trimmer back in the barn, and as I was going in, noticed that I had forgotten to do around the barn and the junk pile. Oh well, I wasn't going to go finish that for two reasons: 1) I had a bandanna full of eggs (I watered the chickens when I noticed they were all out and gathered the eggs at the same time), and 2) I was on the verge of being overheated and dehydrated. I am trying to learn how to be a little more responsible when it comes to overheating myself (a tendency I've always had).
If I don't hear otherwise, I'm going down to the place of one of the ladies in our church this evening--to get acquainted with her set up and animals. I hope to be able to go down once a week or so and do a little work (like stable cleaning) for her and in return get to ride one of her horses. I believe she said the only one that takes a Western saddle (English is a whole 'nother animal) is named Rose. She also told me Rose follows direct reining only...which is alright. I do know how to direct rein, though it isn't second nature to me like neck-reining. Sooo....I get to relearn that. ;D
In conclusion: it feels so good to work and be hot and sweaty again! (That latter sounds rather gross, but I mean it.) I'm glad my stamina seems to be holding out...
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