Monday, August 6, 2007

Ode to My Lawn Mower


Most of my friends know I have a love hate relationship with my lawnmower... For the most part it is 'hate'. I 'get to' take care of our yard ... let's just say, 'be careful what you wish for! You might just get it'!

When we first saw this ranch I fell in love with the house and yard, and promised my husband that I would take loving care of it, if we got it. Our previous ranch home did not have a lawn.. just flagstones, and a small yard.. I was in heaven when we bought this place... For ease of simplicity, let's just call the yard a 'park'. A whole lot of grass and trees. Truly a breathtaking place, if you have the time to remember to just enjoy it!

So, every week or 2, a new battle starts between me & Mr. Deere... The mower (a riding vintage model) battery has to be charged, I mow for a while, it decides to poop out.. and alas, it is finished... I on the other hand, have to figure out how to get the 5 hour mow job done with all this 'hassle'... After I mow, I rake the high traffic areas.... like the photo above - which is the middle of the back yard... I also find lots of fun stuff to run over, which is not good for the blades... The dogs bring in 'dead stuff' from the fields (body parts of animals), the kids leave toys or clothing and the pine trees drop at least a million pinecones... I've also been known to run over a hose or two....

So, when the sun beats down on me, and I have had enough of being scarred by pine tree branches, and the battle ... I long for our beautiful crisp fall days, which then evolve into dark thoughts of winter .. a long, cold, bitter season when the snow flies and the temps dip into the low digits and below zero... Yuck... Stay away Winter!!

Mr. Deere, my tempermental friend, who threatened to buck me off when I (once) tried to drive you over the cattle guard, or when I rammed your front end into a fence, or when I high centered you on a tree stump... let's not fight... Let's ride into the sunset, you and I.. with the smell of fresh cut grass wafting behind us...

Let's do the best we can to enjoy our summer together, because alas, today isn't a summer day... It feels like fall and I am not ready to say goodbye...

8 comments:

Lisa Renéa said...

andi-congrat on your blog--thanks for sharing your stories!

Hazel said...

Your story about the 'park' is funny: my in-laws have a field planted as a garden in France, and they have a ride-on mower graveyard in one of the barns! I don't envy you the job of keeping that neat!
Great blog, it looks lovely. I shall be checking in to hear your stories of the country life!

Anonymous said...

Andi, I so enjoyed reading your blog. I love the story about the gravy. I am a retired country girl living in the city. I still love my gravy and just about everything. Great job. Glinda

Pam said...

I'm smiling. I've had my share of lawn mowing moments on the "Deere". Love the "park lawns" and yes, they are lots of work! I appreciate everyone I drive by! Pam

Sandy said...

Can you bring Mr Deere over to my house for a vacation?? I can stamp while you mow. I *don't* like mowing! I even barked over sections to make the grassy areas smaller.... ***shock****

Vintage Papers said...

glad to see you have a blog now. I will be adding your link!

Karen said...

Andi, I'm really enjoying your blog already! Just love your Mr. Deere tale. I also love the Perfect Gravy story on the side. Lookin' forward to reading more of your adventures!
Karen/TiikkiStars

Dawn said...

Mr. deere how she longs to be your friend...LOL what a funny story .

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