Summer is here! Pam did some “trimming,” the Gilson is running but not operational, and a trip is planned. Here are the details!
We will start with Pam’s “trimming” project. Every year there is new growth on our trees and shrubs, and sometimes this new growth overlaps onto adjoining plants. That is when Pam gets out her loppers plus shears and gets to work.
This year the lilacs, butterfly bush, and honey locust all were trimmed back to some extent. The result was a trailer load of branches to be taken to the town’s brush burning area.
The results are a neater-looking yard and easier-to-mow-around areas between and under the various plantings. This is maintenance that Pam performs every year.
In other yard news, the day lilies are beginning to bloom, adding some color around the yard.
Turning to mechanical projects, I have made progress on resurrecting the 1985 Gilson lawn tractor. It is now running, but is leaking hydraulic oil in a big way. I will have to get it up on blocks to be able to work underneath it, a task for later this summer. I am glad it is running, however!
I have begun another long-term project: building a log splitter. Why? Well, Felicity and Peter burn firewood in the winter, and there seems to be a fair amount of wood I can salvage in our area. Felicity paid about $225.00 a cord for wood (delivered) last fall (3 cords total), so if I can get some wood together for them it will save some expense in their tight budget.
For those not familiar with firewood, a “cord” is a pile of wood 4 feet wide, 4 feet tall, and 8 feet long, or 128 cubic feet of wood. Generally each piece is 16″ long, so three pieces end to end make up the 4-foot width.
The local tire shop had the bones of a splitter sitting behind their building so I stopped to ask the story behind it. I was “gifted” the splitter to “get another piece of junk off my lot.” I managed to drag it home and get the wheels to roll, a beginning.
Now I will begin to hunt up the required parts and pieces, and I think Facebook Marketplace will be my friend in this endeavor. I need a motor, control valve, hydraulic oil tank, pump, some metal for mounts, and hoses to connect everything.
I have three other events of note:
1. The neighbors are moving out to a farm house left to them by Ben’s father. We were on cordial terms with Ben, Kayla, and young Liam, but it will be much quieter when they are gone.
2. I will be going to Colorado soon to meet up with friends and ride some ATV trails. My next post will be delayed until I return home.
3. A guy says he will be here tomorrow (Sunday) to purchase my Yamaha XJ motorcycle and assorted parts and pieces. I hope he does, as I need the garage space to work on the Gilson and the log splitter. The sale of the XJ will help fund both projects.
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Penny
In Himself’s garage, stuff leaves and stuff fills the empty spaces. So it has always been.
Rock on.
Today’s Humor:
