Mower Washer Invention and the Man Behind It

I am honored to cyberknow (will I see this word in Webster’s Dictionary in the next few years?) a resourceful gentleman that possesses intelligence, imagination, common sense, talented hands, and an armory of power tools at his disposal.

Ken Bryden o f Vancouver, Canada is always brainstorming how to “build a better mousetrap.” He has created bubblers and filters for his water garden to assist in water clarity, built exquisite furniture from downed trees, and constructed an ingenious device that should be in every lawn jockey’s shed.

Ken has unselfishly sent instructions on how to build his contraption used to clean the freshly mown grass from the underside of the deck of your mower.

Per Ken:

1. “Build the “mower wash” wide enough to accommodate your rotary mower, with wood on either side and end to keep the mower from rolling off. It shows the hose on top of the cross piece but it is safer to have it under that cross piece. This way the sprinkler head can’t hit the blade.
2. Start the mower.
3. Turn on the water and in a minute, all the cut grass is washed from the underside of the deck.

This way the underside of the deck doesn’t get plugged and doesn’t rust out.
DON’T USE IT ON ELECTRIC MOWERS! ZAP!!”

Thank you, Ken, for sharing your invention. A clean lawnmower is an essential factor for a perfect lawn!

(I have very clever mice that have invaded my home over the long, cold winter months…how about a better mousetrap?)

shel

Chores Completed

The last few days have been windy but glorious nonetheless. I was able to mow the lawn (actually I just rearranged the oak leaves that had fallen last winter) on the west side of the house. All of the leaf dust brought on an asthma attack, but I survived.

Yesterday I planted two gallon containers of blueberry bushes. I will have to feed them well with an acidic mixture, or the bushes won't survive, much less produce. I put the bushes in the area between the Pekin tree (lilac tree) garden and my greenhouse. They should get plenty of sun there.

I planted huge bright yellow pansies and dusty miller in three containers outside. One is under the mailbox, the next is on the corner of the landing of the steps leading to the front door, and the third is in an antique wicker planter that is by the door. I also added branches from the red twig dogwood to that one just to give it some visual interest.

There are many bare spots in my yard thanks to the dogs and the moles, so I spread grass seed and covered it with potting soil to help it get a good start. This nice rain that we have today will be crucial in the root development.

I haven't gotten much done, but I do intend to work out in the yard more on Easter Sunday, after everyone goes home from our luncheon.

Oh, how I love spring, even if it means tons of work for me!

shel

Rain, Rain, Go Away AGAIN

Seems like we've had an awful lot of rain this year. I'm quite tired of it, and am ready for some sunshine and mild autumn weather.

The green tomatoes that I've brought into the house are slowly ripening, but they just don't have any flavor. Okra plants are dead, as are the zucchini, so there will be no more harvest from them.

I plan on piling lots of shredded leaves onto the garden this year (if it dries up) and adding bags of cow manure, if I can still get it. Down by the end of the driveway I have a pile of chipped wood that the power company gave me a few years back. Deep in the pile the wood has decomposed, creating a nice rich compost. On the next good day, if I don't have little Gabriel, I will wheel the compost to the garden and spread it evenly around. It should break down more over the winter and add lots of richness to my otherwise crappy garden soil. I sure wish I had a wagon to pull behind my lawnmower, as it would make the job much easier.

Max mowed the lawn last week but it sure needs it again. I look forward to a dry day because I really enjoy mowing. (I also think that I do a better job than he does because he races around like Speedy Gonzales...he's a crazy mower!)

Last year I just couldn't get in the mood to bake. I was pretty depressed for most of fall and all of winter. Now I'm ready to start baking, but I don't have the extra freezer downstairs to put the goodies into. I miss having the refrigerator/freezer set. We still have the deep freeze that came from Max's grandmother, but it is nearly full. Unfortunately it is also an energy hog. The thing must be nearly as old as I am.

I went into the koi pond the other day to try to catch the two remaining koi and I nearly froze to death. The water was so cold that my legs burned. I have to ask myself...is it worth getting pneumonia (or worse) just to save two koi that aren't even show quality? The practical side of me says to leave them out there and let nature take it's course, but the koi lover in me says 'GET IN THERE AND SAVE THEM!!!!!' I still need to get to Menard's or Lowe's and buy boards so that I can insulate and enclose the horse trough that the other two (yellow) koi are in. I am determined to keep them over the winter. I will transfer my big air stone from the pond (which has about 6" of water in it) to the tank to keep a hole open in the ice so that my koi will survive. I may even build a temporary greenhouse over the top of the tank.

I hope you all stay dry and happy. If anyone is in the mood, come on over and go fishing for koi! I'll even give you a cup of hot chocolate to warm you up after you climb out.

shel

Computer Blues & General Update

Well, I've done it again. I tried to hook up Xanado to my computer (oh, how I long to be off of dial-up) and messed up my computer. After many hours of cursing, I was able to do a system restore to go back to the day before I hooked up Xanado. I am finally able to get online. Yippee!

The Sears repair man had bad news. My lawnmower is in bad shape. The last time Max put new blades on it, he didn't put them on correctly, so the star-shaped bumpy things that rotate the blades got worn off. The shafts need to be replaced. I had to pay over $200 up front, and will have to shell out another hundred when the repair man works his magic. I really miss having a lawnmower, and am regretting purchasing this Craftsman.

The same day the Sears repair man was here, the Dick Van Dyke guy came. My extra fridge in the garage is kaput. It would cost $150 to replace the two pieces that are burnt out, but in all likelihood they would burn out again because the compressor is probably shot. A new compressor would cost $500. It's just not worth it. I'm going to try to give it away on Freecycle if Chuck doesn't want it.

On the GOOD news side........
Shannon and Rick are going to a Winery for the night and asked me to babysit Phoebe. I'm so excited I'm giggly. Their place is like a spa...I can go there, sit in the sun room and read my book, take Phoebe for a walk, and drink hot tea all night while I soak in the tub. I love going there.

Bryan has been ill but is now feeling better. Darn cold! Little Gabe is sleeping on Max's chest right now. I don't' know which one is snoring louder.

The garden is actually starting to put out. I got ONE zucchini yesterday, and picked four tomatoes the day before. If I got out later on today I will probably get a dozen more tomatoes. They are finally starting to turn. They look beautiful, but still have that grocery-store taste. I never thought that I would wish for hot weather, but the tomatoes just aren't the same without it.

Last night I repotted Erin's peace lily (the poor thing will probably die as it was rather abused when I got it) and two of my three Christmas Cactus. I set the CC's outside so that they will bloom during the holidays. By putting them outside, they are subjected to the shorter days and cool night temperatures, which is required for bud formation.

Dad had surgery for his cataract. He's doing well. I will go over there Saturday to pick up their lawn mower. My grass is long and is in dire need of a haircut.

Oops, the cell phone just made the 'you have a message' noise, so I'd better sign off. Someone may be trying to call me on my home phone, and I have only one line.

Hope you are all enjoying yourselves.

shel