Jul 12

Right of Passage

John deere For sons of farmers in the Midwest this, “Right of Passage”, occures by the age of ten. Surburban, “Soccer Fathers” usually experience the thrill by age thirty. For me it happened two days ago. After investing in a Garden Tractor, not a Lawn Tractor, I was presented with my first John Deere hat.

I mention the type of tractor because the tractor type determines the “pride of ownership” glow you get with the purchase.
A lawn tractor, the smallest of the Deeres, is used exclusively to mow grass and then only if the area is realitively flat. A garden tractor, the mama bear of the Deeres, will mow flats, banks, and can be outfitted to till, grade, and plow. The papa bear Deeres, of course, are for professional use and are the backbone of most commercial farms.

So when I take delivery and officially put my hat on for the first time, I will have the “Garden Glow”, certainly much brighter that a “Soccer Father” would expect, but I can only dream of the euphoric feeling which comes from the purchase of one’s first John Deere Combine.

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Jul 08

Road Food – Is food better on the road?

AbesHotdogI have a rule for road trips: no eating from chain restaurants. During a recent road trip celebrating my daughter’s 30th birthday, I ate gas station green chilies in New Mexico, steer burgers 30 miles from anywhere in Oklahoma, chicken fried steak in a restaurant which I thought served Greek but the sign actually said Creek.

Another culinary masterpiece was consumed at Abe’s Grill in Corinth, MS. The only two employees are Abe, who is in his late 70’s and his 55-year-old son. As you can see, Abe caters to the locals. I had Abe’s “special” hot dogs and famous fries. Both tasty, but with loads of grease. If this meal had been served in New Martinsville, would it have tasted as good?

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Jul 08

Recycling gone awry

Jungle jim

“In spring time a man’s fancy turns to love”, or the attic or the garage. Or the possibility that some of one’s possessions have outlived their usefulness. After my youngest child graduated from college my thoughts turned to, well, her Jungle Jim. That neglected collection of wood, plastic, Christmas decorations, and most importantly: memories.

The first thought was everything goes but the memories. Recognizing the importance of recycling, another use needed to be found. My first idea was a two- story out house. Since we have indoor plumbing and the engineering would be beyond me, that idea was quickly forgotten. After a visit to the garage,( remember spring and the garage), I realized some of my work tools needed a new home. The areas first two story storage shed would be built.

It started out very simply with four walls, a roof, a door, and a warning from my neighbor Ken Block, that basic construction doesn’t equal a finished project. Well he was right. One weekend turned into two weeks. I now have two doors, three windows, a deck (requested by my daughter Dana), solar lights, and a bottle tree. My wife then added landscaping and decorations. Now what do I have? Another neighbor calls it my, “Man Cave”, I call it a clean garage!
shed comp

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