Good morning!!!!

[RoyJackson]

Roy. I would loan you my rake.

Thanks for the offer, Ron....Michigan is a bit too far to drive.
Since a rake isn't a tool I would need often, I'll probably see if I can rent one. As this chore goes on, I may find purchasing one would be an advantage...not sure what width would work best....72" or 84"

 

[vtsnowedin]

2015-08-22, 0432

61 degree right now...high of 82 today.
Today's chores...first, our new dryer is being delivered today. That'll make the wife happy.
I'm going to get some more of that bamboo cleared out as I progress toward the White River. I'd really like a landscape rake for this job, but I haven't found a used one on CL.

That Bamboo is called knotweed and is very hard to get rid of. Take care that when your mowing it you don't actually spread it further then it already is.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/documents/japanese_knotweed_control.pdf

 

[daugen]

good morning all. 68 rising rapidly to high 80's on a clear summer day.
And I am going to spend much of it mowing, trimming.
Young helper no longer employed here, long story, but my request that he show up more on time,
always sober and not fudge his time sheets did not sit well with my helper, he decided to take more time to get a full time
job, which his parole officer is pushing him for. Hard to get a job at 20 with a felony stealing conviction on one's head.
I spent a year mentoring him, hoped it helped, think it did. He sent me a seriously thankful letter several weeks ago; he does have his
very good points...but I don't know if I have a fetal alcohol kid, whether he's playing with drugs again, I don't know but the work was not getting done
and I needed more help. So I hired my fireman friend, at twice the hourly rate, to come in weekly and do the same work. I tell him once what to do, it gets done.
The young guy, every time I had to tell him what to do, stuff left over, not on his radar. Now this is a "kid" (unmarried with one year old son) who lives in a rental home with his mother and they pile all their garbage up in bags in their rundown barn. No trash service. pretty dysfunctional...

Going to try to go slower today mowing, wear my soft collar and see if I can do the lawn without being in pain for days afterwards. Wrist band? check. Soft collar? check.
back brace? check. Hot cup of Columbian coffee made just right? check check yum

three hours of riding the mower is doable. Pushing the trim mower for an hour is doable. Weedeating for two hours after that?
I just can't do all that in one day...and why I need help. Actually if it was cooler out I could probably do it all, slowly.
I hear some of those Texas, California and Florida heat numbers and I wonder how you all work outside for this for very long.
Larro needs a propeller fan hat with a cooling misting spray....

I need to be on a boat in the Islands with a scantily clad cutie cooling me with palm fronds...
hold that thought

 

[rgamble3]

Off to breakfast with friends, then some shoping at Tractor supply. Enjoy the week-end.

Roy G.

 

[wngsprd]

Nice chilly 56 and clear...should be another nice summer day up to 85.

Got almost 4 hours of mowing done yesterday and then had a nice dinner with friends. My wife baked stuffed poblano peppers from our garden. Seems like the only thing that did well this year were the various peppers.

Went to bed too late and up too early, so hope there is a nap in my future.

 

[RoyJackson]

That Bamboo is called knotweed and is very hard to get rid of. Take care that when your mowing it you don't actually spread it further then it already is.
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/documents/japanese_knotweed_control.pdf

Thanks for the info!
It's actually a rather unusual growth pattern...the bamboo (knotweed, if that's what it is) is limited to an area a few hundred yards long by 15-25 yards wide. It has not spread any further in the 2.5 years we've been living here. It's gone in the colder month, then grows rapidly in the late Spring, early Summer.
I attribute the growth pattern to the way the soil was distributed by the flooding from Irene. All of our property has pretty sandy soil. The area of the bamboo is more sandy. I'm no expert, so that's WAG on my part.
The field is mowed regularly (2 to 4 week intervals, depending on the weather) and is a mixture of field grasses and other brush. Beyond the bamboo is more brush and ground cover...thicker since it hasn't been mowed since Irene hit Vermont.
My plan is to mow the whole plot, then work my way to the river. It will be slow going since the ground is so uneven (again, a result of washouts from the flooding) and drop offs are pretty abrupt. I want to clear the area (trail to the river), but I have no intention of rolling the tractor as part of the process.
The best time of year to do this would be late Winter. There has been too much snow on the field the last two winters to get the tractor down there.

 

[ronjhall]

Thanks for the offer, Ron....Michigan is a bit too far to drive.
Since a rake isn't a tool I would need often, I'll probably see if I can rent one. As this chore goes on, I may find purchasing one would be an advantage...not sure what width would work best....72" or 84"

But it's only 760 miles one way?
Mine is a 84" LP with gauge wheels. 84" allows full coverage of rear wheels when angled. My tractor has 60" outside tire width. Your right about not using it much. When I got the projects done it sits in the barn. Gauge wheel were the best thing I bought for it. But they cost almost as much as the rake.

 

[RoyJackson]

But it's only 760 miles one way?
Mine is a 84" LP with gauge wheels. 84" allows full coverage of rear wheels when angled. My tractor has 60" outside tire width. Your right about not using it much. When I got the projects done it sits in the barn. Gauge wheel were the best thing I bought for it. But they cost almost as much as the rake.

I know...priced a landscape rake (72") and I was astonished at the price of the gauge wheels. I mean, it's not much to them.

You ought to consider selling it, but if you're like me, you only buy implements...never sell 'em!
Actually, I did sell one...a Land Pride rotary cutter (60") when we moved to Vermont. Cost more to ship it then it was worth. No complaints though...I got a good price for it.

Your 84 inch rake would be perfect for what I'm doing, BTW.

 

[daugen]

but I have no intention of rolling the tractor as part of the process.

PLEASE don't....
no more injuries and hurt among our friends....
we all have to be really careful
and when in doubt, don't.

 

[txdon]

Good morning! 75˚heading only to 95 - 101˚ depending on which station you watch. Those temps will make this one of the coolest fish fry ever with our high record 2 years ago hitting 112˚ at 5 pm serving time. On the menu - catfish fried in peanut oil, potato salad, hushpuppies, beans and condiments and ice tea. $9. We really make little money on the food and free beer (contributions only), but that brings out the crowds for the auction. This one day will take care of expenses for another year.