Better roll with the punches on the farm

On the farm, some things you just cannot fight. Some might describe it as a lesson in the natural order of things, a lesson in humility, or simply a reminder that as humans we are unable to control absolutely everything. I like it. It creates a mandate for flexibility and the proverbial backup plan (or plans), as the plural is more often the case.

Fortunately, I headed out early this morning and could complete a large amount of the field-mowing tasks before the right front tire went flat, again. It’s the same tire as last week and just as flat — that would be not a little, but like a pancake.

I jacked up the tractor, with the front-end loader — a cool trick I learned only a couple of years ago. Oh, well better late than never. Once the lugs were off and the tire a free agent, with considerable effort I hoisted the tire into the back of the car and rushed to the tractor-tire-fixit-place. Sad for me, the specialist in tractor tires was away on a road call; I would have to leave the tire and move on to another project.

A stop by the hardware store to pick up supplies for band-aid surgery to the lawnmower and a repair venture on a friend’s chair, and I was headed back home.

The lawnmower is an interesting problem involving a short pin that stabilizes the driver’s seat. The pin fell out and I wasn’t too worried. After all, it wasn’t part of the engine or the mower deck.

Then it started backfiring and cutting off.

At first I thought I was out of gas, then I figured it out. Now that the seat could not be stabilized, pressure could not be maintained on the gizmo that sends a signal to the engine to keep running. I have mowed the entire yard, and it’s a big one, sitting in just the right position, slightly forward and definitely starboard.

Yesterday was most embarrassing. There were painters here and I know they thought I was an absolute idiot for operating the mower with such a sick-sounding engine.

I had sought pro help and was informed that I could not replace the pin, but would have to replace the entire seat frame instead. I did not even ask “how much.” I simply said thank you and left.

The service man was a savvy fellow and suggested I drill out the hole and fix it with a bolt. I have the bolt and picked up the proper drill bit. I’ll be back in the mowing business by evening.

Anyway, the painters were back today to power-wash the roof. They are great guys. After they fixed the leak in the hose and figured out that the tip needed to run the additive through the hose was nonexistent, it began to rain. Waiting for the rain to stop, they now sit enjoying the afternoon on the side porch.

As for me, I am onto plan G. Until next week, be well.

Nelson is former director of the Musuem of Culpeper History. Her column appears each Thursday.

Do you know these people?

If anyone has information about the people listed below, please contact Zann Nelson at 547-2395, email or write her at: The Star-Exponent, 471 James Madison Hwy., Culpeper, VA 22701.

» Elizabeth (Lizzie) Seals Hill: Rapidan/Buena, lived there in the 1880s
» Ike Hill: Rapidan/Madison, 1880s
» James Seals: Mitchells/Buena, early 1900s
» James Price: Mitchells/Buena…1900s