Free - but oh! such a cost!

For the last several years I have really been into free stuff. I've lately been on the lookout for a beat up tractor or parts to fix my current tractor with a price tag of cheap or nothing. I don't need a tractor to cut my grass, so spending money on a tractor or parts wasn't justified. Well, about two weeks ago someone on my local Jeep forum posted up a free lawn tractor. The tractor was not running and needed a bit of work. I am close friends with the person getting rid of the tractor so I replied to the post, texted, and followed up with a phone call to ensure I was first in line (I know, how much of a line can there be for a beat up, non-running tractor?).

So after borrowing a truck and hitching up the trailer, Jack and I made a quick run up the highway to pick up the tractor. I spent the drive wondering what might possibly be wrong with the tractor. Could be anything! I didn't know if I would be able to fix the tractor but I did know that I was tired of push mowing the backyard in the 100 degree heat. So at worst I would be out the cost of the gas required to pick the tractor up and return it to the Mapleshade Garage - also known as the Causey Home for Unwanted Tractors and Wayward Jeeps. Turns out the tractor needed a fuel pump (had a spare in the shop!), a tune up, a brake adjustment, and the tracking down and repair of a wire in the operator safety system. All done and the tractor is now running.

Yes, the free tractor is a JD. A John Deere. For those that may not know my tractor allegiances I used to run this bumper sticker on my truck.
I've been known to get in lengthy arguments over the attributes of John Deere tractors vs. other makes. When people say "Nothing Runs Like a Deere" I've saucily replied with a witty "Yeah, no other tractor runs like a Deere - because the others actually run!" (Don't try to figure out tractor brand wars, there is no logic or intelligence involved).


For years I was anti-Deere. Hated them and the people that claimed their superiority. Only recently have I discovered that the source of my JD distaste (and that of Harley Davidson motorcycles as well) is that many of the owners of these machines latch on to the image of the brand rather than compare the product with others. People have the idea that a John Deere is the pinnacle of lawn tractor ownership. Just because it's green and yellow it must be the best. Not always the case as there are several brands that do quite well when compared to the 'ol JDs.


I have since mellowed out and can appreciate many different machines for the capability they have rather than the company that supplies the tractor. Which I suppose is all for the best as I think I might have sold my soul - I now rock this bumper sticker!

The Art of Flight

SR71 Blackbird

You've seen the roadside signs that state "Speed Limit Enforced by Aircraft"? This is what the police use...if they catch you speeding they fly down on top of your car and reach out to knock on your window to tell you to pull over.

Crosley built a plane. (Yes, the same company that built those tiny cars in the fifties).

I think the cars were bigger!

I like orange. I like biplanes. Therefore I am a sucker for this aircraft!

I'm thinking of dropping one of these Merlin engines into the truck.

Radial engines are absolutely beautiful.

Classy

Cleaning out the Camera

A small selection of random shots.

Daddy Points

Today was a busy day! Jack and Daddy went to get measured for our tuxedos. That's right, these two good looking guys are going to be strutting our stuff at Brent and Shannah's upcoming wedding! Of course, Daddy left the camera in the car so no preview pics.

The two of us continued on to lunch with Mommy, Brent, and Paw-Paw. After lunch Daddy and Jack went in search of a playground. Locust Shade Park fit the bill. We explored the dock and shoreline at the pond, played on a shiny new playground that had, among other neato things, a rock climbing wall. Then we explored the amphitheater and hiked a bit more before seeking the coolness of the car. Again, Daddy left the camera in the car.

Next stop was another playground. Jackson did a nice job of playing nicely with two other kids, one of which was a girl who was fiercely defending "her" playground against newcomers. I was about to knock this little tyrant off the play set, so I'm very proud of my boy for restraining himself as well. The camera? Yep, left in the car.

Next stop on the make-it-up-as-we-go adventure was the Stafford Target to say hello to Miss Kristie. Of course we had to spend almost an hour looking at all of the toys and all of the movies and nothing that Daddy wanted to look at. Jax finally settled on an Imaginext toy that "looks like a spider". Luckily it was on clearance!

After Target we wandered through a Petsmart. Jack loves looking at the cats there for adoption. Too bad Daddy is allergic...there were some pretty cool cats needing homes. Daddy almost brought home a hermit crab but decided to do some research first. Hermit crabs aren't exactly cuddly pets but they are low maintenance. Where was the camera? Surely you can guess!

You Must Whip It

I heard Devo has an upcoming album but I didn't expect the comeback tour to start in my living room!

Doors? We don't need no steenkin' doors

One of my current projects is to get the old truck ready enough for the trip to Camp Heep this year. Camp Heep is an annual wheeling trip for NovaJeepers. To reach this goal I have a list of to-do items twenty feet long! One item on the list was to replace the jouncy bench seat with something more suitable for creeping along rocky trails. I picked up a pair of bucket seats out of a Celica AllTrac that were past their prime for the car, but still full of life for a 37 year old pile of rust truck. After a little (alright, a LOT) of experimenting with mounting locations and methods I drilled a few holes and turned a few bolts. I now have a perfectly positioned chair that won't send the top of my head into a high speed collision with the roof at the smallest road imperfection.