Becky visits

We finally got together and Becky came to see the farm and visit Maw Maw. This was another work weekend for me. With all the rain I had to get work done between showers. But I got the yard of the old home mowed despite the wet grass. I discovered a problem with the old John Deere that I believe I solved by clearing the vent on the gas cap. The next day I got the tiller tank and carb sorted out. No more leaks. I also bought some conibear traps to go after groundhogs. After setting the game cameras we saw a armadillo at Irene's house. I set a trap and caught a groundhog. I got the bush hog work done between rains and even managed to clear a path around the old barn. Friday morning just before we left, I was going to mow in the garden a bit and discovered a flat on the old mower. I put in a new tube. Hope that gets it done.

The old peach tree at the barn was doing its best to produce fruit. Persistent old tree.

Boys at MawMaw's

 Earlier this week Max came up and helped with the mowing and various projects. Then I had to run home to get his vaccine and do physical therapy. Then David and I returned to collect Gramee. After a very warm morning of mowing, David and I trued up the rifle and he shot another Groundhog that was burrowing under Bo's house and the old shed. He has gotten quite tall.

A variety of tasks

 Max came with us to Cullman. The prior two days had been very rainy so everything was soaked. We spent the first morning working on the diesel carrier. I got the second set of wheels on it so we could roll it over to the tractor. A small improvement but a useful one. Then we got the battery saw and trimmed the overhanging branches on the field behind the house. That will make mowing a little less trouble and will permit me to put herbicide on the growth at the edge. Then we discovered the rototiller had a leak from the gas line. We got that fixed fairly easily I relocated the zero turn to the barn since it continues to drip oil. The bottom seal will require replacement at the end of summer. I put the new mower and the tiller in the workshop. I also registered the Toro mower and requested the side discharge attachment that we needed. Today we will spray some weeds and perhaps get some mowing done on the field across from the lake.

Repairs for another farm tool

The time was coming. I put up with the discomfort for more than a year. But after two frustrating weeks of discomfort, I made the decision to proceed. I engaged the help of Dr. Appell and had the hip replaced. What seems like a serious surgery was made to sound fairly routine. Post operatively, I was in a bit of pain. The whole recovery process is taking a little longer than I had hoped. At the one week mark, I can walk without the walker fairly well. The operative site is still sore and overnight the joint aches a good bit. But from here forward I suppose I can expect to steadily improve, which wouldn't be the case if I had done nothing.

5/31/21: Day by day I get a little better but I am guarding against overdoing it

6/3/21: I've given up the walker for now. Still being ultra careful when walking.

 6/4/21: Doing twice the distance this morning felt uncomfortable. I got up feeling much more well.

6/9/21: Still getting better.  

6/13/21: Improved sleep and comfort.

Finding something to do...

I jumped right in and did some bush hogging and it is a good thing I did. Weather came roaring in and dropped rain leaving everything wet. 

I never connected with the folks selling their rotary mowers so I bought a new one. But the 284 was very weak. I asked Preston to look at it with me. He dropped down Saturday morning and we found the problem. The plugs had become fouled. Probably needs a new set but we cleaned them and it is running strongly now. 

Bev and I pruned the Camelia bushes at the front of the house. They could have been shaped but we agreed that leaving them alone looked fine. So they are shorter and will get another 1/3rd taken off later. 

I brought the Murray mower home where I will redo the spindle and muffler so I can mow while I'm down and out with the surgery.

 My spraying with the cone sprayers didn't do as good a job as it should. I'll be switching back to the fan sprayers.

 

Some frosty days in Cullman.

 

The weather here in Cullman has taken a dip. Last night it got down to 38 with an expected low of 33 tonight. It makes for some uncomfortable work days. The John Deere mower we got last year has had a rash of eating belts. I just installed a Kevlar belt 101" we bought at Tractor Supply. I've mown grass all down the road with the covers open so I can see if any damage is occurring but so far all is good. Another couple of tries and I'll get it done.

The Troybilt rims are being outrageously difficult to pull off. 

Pesticide/Herbicide Inventory

1. Fusilade - grass killer
2. WEEdestroy  - 2,4 - D
3. Atrazine - herbicide used in corn
4. Herbimax -surfactant
5. Grazon PD  - broadleaf killer
6. Diquat - for the pond
7. Carbaryl XL is a pesticide
8. Dursban TC for termites
9. Copper sulfate - dissolved in water and sprayed on to kill algae.

The hole implement was in the way so with some difficulty we removed it and piled it with the big disc behind the barn. I took the antique Bush Hog out of the truck and placed it in the barn. Later on David and I will put it on the Farmall Cub and mow grass.

Update: I finally got the wheels off with great difficulty. Gary helped me put the tires on. So we can till the garden for Maw Maw tomorrow. I made good use of the time and sprayed the lake and parts of the field with herbicide. Then I put the bush hog to work and cut some parts of the field for the best aesthetic. Then the wind laid so I was able to spray around the upper fields with the new sprayer arrangements I made. Then we had a spot of supper and hung in the hammocks for a time. 

Update: upon inspection of the covers for the pulleys, I see some wear inside them that may have created some sharp edges. When I return we will smooth them out before replacing on the mower. For now we can see if the belt breaks like the others.

Perpetual motion...

 Another working week in Cullman, We drove over to Tuscaloosa to visit Becky, Jan, and Oakie with the addition of Owen and Paula. It was a pleasant visit. Then up to Cullman Via 20/59. There I accomplished a few things on my list. The whole of the pastures needed mowing. I was able to get that done over the first 2 days. I put a tube in the John Deere mower, painted most of the rusty spots on the shop roof, I got the hole auger up out of the dirt, attached it to the 284 and got some holes dug for the hammocks. I swapped the new brake cylinder on the 284 and now have functioning brakes on it. We mixed a lot of herbicide and set up the sprayer in the 6 wheeler. I moved the old zero turn up to the shop and discovered an oil leak from the bottom seal. That's another project for me. I tried to improve the ditch around the barn but the ground was very soggy. Finally Thursday morning I changed the engine oil and hydraulic oil in the 284 tractor. The waste oil was far too much to pour up so it wound up in the 55 gallon barrell.