Then Yesterday After 24 Hours...

Grass is growing despite the fact, 'it' must know I have lawn mower issues, so up to the house to do my job, House Serf in Charge of Everything. I check the pool, needs work. I unlock the back door and inspect the house, opening doors and rigging my computer and other toys-for mental and physical health breaks. I go out and check my epoxy. It held. Seems the epoxy was keeping it nominally attached but stretched when pulling on the handle, no doubt normal use would separate the two pieces. Probably wouldn't have to be as careful but as the grass wasn't ready to be cut, I slathered on another big layer of epoxy. 

Today would the B&S be ready to mow? Well, it did still stretch after the second layer but it also seemed a bit stronger. In an unexpected and seldom experienced flash of insight, AH HA! Having collected into a bucket in the initial clean~up of the Little House, just 1 of many collections into buckets/boxes/piles- were bungee cords!!!

Why not? Was I going to become a social outcast should a professional lawn mower/welder come along and see the blue bungee cord as I was whipping around the yard mowing? An even better question would be DID I GIVE A CRAP? Nope~Never~Not in a Million Years. But the most important question? BETWEEN THE EPOXY AND BUNGEE CORD WOULD I BE ABLE TO MOW WITHOUT CONSTANTLY PUTTING THE HANDLE END BACK INTO THE BRACKET???? No time like the present for to see. I pulled the cord.

 4 hours later, with a freshly coiffed lawn, a clean pool and some tools soaking in a vinegar bath--4 feet of water in the basement, filling up everything underwater including ammo boxes full of TOOLS creates RUST, I packed up to go home. Hopped into Dad's car, which I've been driving since he left us, stuck the key in and turned it~~ THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. Excuse me~I suspect several hours of SAILOR SPEAK is about to occur.............. 

And Now a Brief Message from our...

OK, just joking. Sort of. My Jr. John Deere has been elevated to 'no longer can do that tomorrow' status. And since I haven't updated or frankly even BEGUN that absorbing tale, I'll just explain why the alteration in status.

While the step by step toward repair of the Jr John Deere is progressing- it went on life support last October-I have been mowing the lawn with a Briggs & Stratton. Which no doubt has also not been serviced in the last 5 years. My Father was diligent about such things but the last few years it obviously was not done. I've been using the B&S and for the 3rd summer its hanging in there. Well, OK, its running. Fine...

It cuts the grass.....

 

Two of the covers on the engine have dropped off, I STILL HAVE THEM.

And that nifty little safety guard over where the grass blows out, its with the other 2 covers resting nicely in the Little House. Yea yea yea, covers are there for a reason, like maybe safety? But honestly the grass blows out much nicer without that little raise-able piece and I no longer have to take care driving around things. Somehow I was always getting stuck and having to pull it back, no doubt its why it fell off. Now I can make nice close runs right next to everything from trees to wheelbarrows.

Anyway, last week when I mowed the grass and went to refill the gas tank, as I turned the corner to the Little House where the gas can was, it seemed to be a bit difficult to steer. So when I released the bar and it stopped I inspected to see if anything was strange. Any guesses? Took me a moment also. The Briggs & Stratton is a sleek, classy, all black, mean machine, so had to look closely. Ahhhhh.....

My eagle eye detected the problem, METAL STRESS. The left side of the U shaped steering mechanism, otherwise known as the HANDLE broke. Now if I were able to weld and IF I hadn't already bartered away the welder in exchange for moving heavy items and a week keeping my dog-I could weld it. Moving past the obviously impossible, I reviewed my options. Jr John Deere-yea yea should have put more work on that already. Duct Tape? Used the last of it on the 1968 Pool Filter {upcoming post}. Then I landed on the answer. EPOXY. I still had some left from the above mentioned filter so I would epoxy it together. But that took 24 hours to cure and I was half way through the lawn. So, in my best 'if car won't go into reverse always park the car so you can pull forward' method.....I wrestled it back into the bracket and went on mowing. Initially I had to hold the lever down while I 1-armed it back in place a half dozen times. But then I realized it was popping out when I pulled it backwards. Piece of cake, I won't pull it backwards That worked pretty well but sharp turns and at times careful backing still would make it flip out of the bracket. But I got the yard finished. And without once yelling at the mower or threatening it with the sledgehammer. Cool. Before I left that night I epoxied it right good! Next time?

Long Stressful Week

Where to start? Last post I was gearing up to tackle the Junior John Deere and......summer. So over the weekend I called the gentlemen who assisted with the first load of metal. He volunteered to take items to the dump/landfill and would 'get' the Senior John Deere for metal. He stopped by Monday, we set up a time of 0900 Wednesday morning.

All points covered and plans rolling? The story of my life is 'if you think you have everything covered, OBVIOUSLY you have overlooked something'. Ya see, 2 weeks prior when he took the first load he mentioned his 'girlfriend' was looking for a rental as her lease expired 1 June. At that point the evening of the first metal day, our doorbell rang. Gentleman and girlfriend. Asked to look at the property, I handed over a key, they came back later, she handed me back the key, "it is a beautiful place", and left. No problem, guess renting issue was closed.

Now on Monday, after appointment for Wednesday is set, while I'm up 'working' at the house, my Mom calls. Says the gentleman and girlfriend stopped by and 'she' wishes to speak about renting. I come home, they come by, we talk.

Ya know, I have been stressed and alone the last 2+ years with everything from lawn/landscape, pool-an unending source of humor for OTHERS as I'm still at the bottom point of the learning curve {adventures will follow}, clearing, sorting, cleaning, organizing.......bet you get the BIG PICTURE. This summer I was just this side of anxiety attacks over how I would do all the lawn care and daily maintenance of the pool with no potential buyer in sight. THINKING, the rental would assist with those 2 specific tasks as well as people occupying therefore maintaining house the rental seemed the solution. She wanted short term, we offered excellent monthly terms. But although I didn't have a specific reason for the feeling, renting to her didn't seem to be alleviating my stress. Too many 'tells' during our conversation, in which the gentleman seemed to be signing up for all the work while she seemed to want the house completely empty of all our property. Out, not set aside, worked around or even gradually removed.

Well, between Monday at 1600 and Thursday at 1400 she demanded and fussed her way from--yes, I can rent you to NO, you won't be renting. I really must thank them both as my gut told me at the git go something wasn't according to Hoyle. And I would really enjoy thanking them both for Self Destructing in under 3 days. And the Senior John Deere is gone. And despite the gentleman being 3 hours late for the Wednesday appointment, arriving with 'she' and not announcing their arrival and steamrolling the 'dump' evolution on Wednesday that stuff is gone.

Oh, and the stress I was feeling Sunday over me~myself~I handling lawn/pool again all summer-buyer? sale? Who knows!-On Thursday at 1400 when I informed the parties of 'its off!'- it felt great. Now that is stress I can live with and frankly.....although I still don't know how I will manage....compared to the stress of those 72- hours. NO COMPARISON.

So now I'll be back about the Senior John Deere, Junior John Deere, Pool Stupidity 101 and the continuing struggle of all my Dad left my Mom and therefore ME to juggle. I just know I can hear him chuckling in my ear. But I also know he is still watching and directing the show.

Right now I have to go buy a battery for the Jr. John Deere, pick up parts to repair leaks in 2 places on the 43 year old pool filter, and mow the yard. I did get the unit to work and recirculate so that was a major win yesterday.

{Yea, Yea, Dad I'M WORKING ON THINGS}