If you’ve been with me from the beginning, you may remember that this account began in a farm equipment store, with the protagonists purchasing a weed whacker. This was before the sale of the property was final, but we had wanted to get started. Wait. I think “weed whacker” cannot be the official name for this tool. I’ll look it up.
Okay, apparently a “string trimmer” is what we wanted. Or “Weedwacker,” or “Weedeater.” I’ll go with one of those. “String trimmer” just sounds silly.
We purchased two, but later discovered that I actually need a battery-operated machine, as my arms aren’t long, or strong, enough to launch the gas powered one. Sometimes I like to work on something when Larry isn’t around to start the machine for me. Right? Check.
Tool count: three. Next, as verified owners of the property, came the purchase of the absolutely necessary ATV:
Obviously this guy, ten years later, has seen a few miles of rugged use. It was employed yesterday to reach a portion of the fence in the west pasture on which a branch had crashed, breaking the wooden cross piece and a strand of electric wiring — which will need, by the way, professional attention before the cows come back in another month.
Seriously, you cannot run a farm without an ATV.
A chain saw was needed for this operation. The next tool. Not sure when it came on board, but here’s Larry using, then refilling it: ( Looking cute in his new Christmas hat.)
On the bench, you’ll notice a clamp of some sort. A walk around the barn would reveal an assortment of tools, like wrenches, screw drivers, a leaf blower, air compressor, and etcetera.
There’s a riding mower, principally used for the area around the barn since we’ve hired the always cheerful and thorough Ricardo for mowing the grass around the house. There’s a rototiller, now dozing, but once key for preparing Larry’s garden. A self-propelled brush hog for wilder terrain, such as the long stretch of ditch along Llewellyn. Don’t misunderstand. This thing is propelled with a gas motor, doesn’t have some AI equipped autonomy! Requires a human person to walk behind and guide the thing.
Next you’ll see a trailer, donated by friend Gordon, which we hope is just the right size for hauling the ATV in for servicing:
And finally, the tractor. John Deere. Green. When attached to its brush hog, it’s used to mow the fields and pastures. To move dirt and haul heavy loads with the bucket. When attached to a chain, it has been known to pull the pickup out of the mud. You never know.
Last week we had to employ it to remove a recalcitrant daphne from the landscaping around the house.
No job too small.
What about tools in my domaine? The kitchen, specifically? Recipes for use with an air fryer increasingly show up on my cooking sites, but, don’t think I’ll go there. The two I like the most are the yogurt maker, and the Almond Cow. If you’re unfamiliar with the Cow, it makes quick work of almond milk (duh) and my new favorite, hazelnut milk.
And that completes the survey.
Moving on, last edition, I mentioned our plan to continue work on habitat restoration. Yesterday, a man from Advanced Land Management came to survey the oak copse. He’s apparently able to work on thinning it, removing the underbrush, and will give us an estimate when an exact plan has been determined. To that end, we spoke with a woman from Silva Saunterra, who does forest management planning. She’ll be able to visit us on the 26th, and we’ll see what she can devise.
Tomorrow, someone from Phoenix Habitat will come to discuss the plan to replace the grass between driveway and orchard with a more attractive, natural scape. In other words, something that may need weeding, but not weekly mowing.
Meanwhile, it’s been freezing! Somewhat stuck inside, I’ve been sorting through the books up in “my office” that somehow made the trip from Portland. Yeah. I won’t be rereading the ones I saved, so what is the point? Instead, I’ve become friends with the Benton County library, and just today, picked up a book I’d reserved. Lost Man’s Lane. Hope I like it! But if not, oh well.