The great drought of 2014

They keep telling me we're in a drought.  I wish they'd tell the tractor.

Custom Wood John Deere Grill

    So after mulching the original grill I had to come up with a replacement.  After a few calls and trips to the parts store I came to the sad conclusion that a $550 dollar replacement was not an option.  So after a few hours, some scrap wood, paint, and wire screen, behold:

 The Frame

Bling baby!

    John Deere utility with Mercedes luxury.

Bush Hog

No grass too tall or grill too stout...

Field Mowing

Warm weather is here now in Northern California and the hills are starting to turn brown, as they must.   The grass has mostly stopped growing which is good because I'm not sure how many more times I'm going to be able get out the mower without the worry of sparking a fire.  The only plant left to grow now is that darned star thistle, a literal thorn in my side.

A gopher ran out across the field today while I was mowing.  He wasn't very fast and I could have easily stepped on him.  But I didn't.  I didn't have the heart.  I figure I haven't lost any trees yet so, maybe some other day.  That reminds me, one time I was helping grandpa clean out a shed and as he hefted an old carboard box around a large rat popped out and dropped to the floor.  Grandpa didn't miss a beat and slammed his foot on that poor rat, who like a cartoon, ballooned on both sides of of Grandpa's foot.  Best part was, when he lifted his foot, that dang rat ran off like nothing happened!

Anyway, that mower deck for the Deere sure is paying for itself.  I've mowed the fields three times now with it.  Even with my time included we're well ahead of hiring the mowing out.