Summer and I went up to the LaGrange House today and rode two mowers and got most of it done, excluding, of course, areas around the actual house where roofing materials were laid out.

But . . . it wasn’t quite that simple. The old medium rider started but the big, fairly new one did not. BECAUSE ANOTHER BLASTED MOUSE FAMILY HAD INVADED THE ENGINE AND REALLY PACKED “STUFF” BETWEEN THE STARTER GEARS.

However, the roofer used his power tool to get the screws out of the cover and I grabbed the gunk and then used a small screwdriver to work it out from where it was STUCK in the gear teeth. Summer rode the one that started right off for an hour until we got the mouse home operational as  mower, and then we switched. We mowed and mowed and mowed and then we put them in the garage. I think I am going to hang bags of mothballs around them.

We took slices of bread, but forgot our peanut butter. Alas. However, we were pleased that the Verizon ipad hot spot worked while we set around on the back porch, cooling off and experimenting with our electron gear.

And, then when we detoured on the way back to drive by the bison ranch, we only saw some brown blobs on the horizon and Summer kept dying in her handheld game. But I ran into Scott’s and got some manager’s special beef prices.

All in all, it worked out to be a good day. (No gas was spilled in the trunk.) Woooo-Hoooooo.

When I pulled into the driveway yesterday afternoon, the grass was incredibly long – skinny and weak, but long. It had just been mowed a few days ago . . . and here we were with a last gasp mower and this derelict-appearing yard. So, I roused Cameron to see if we could manage one last beyond the call of duty action for said gasping mower. Unfortunately, when I tested it out, I immediately hit a grass-submerged rock  by a tree . . . and that was not good. Oh, not good at all. But it restarted, vibrating to beat the band and clanking loud enough to cause passing drivers to turn and stare.

Calling on 50+ years of experience, I told Cameron, “I’ve got this one.”

I got my hands in a position to minimize the teeth-jarring vibration and started off at a fast clip, knowing my time was borrowed. It didn’t cut evenly and I had to go over several areas . . . and it almost died several times. However, it drew on some inner strength and the motor revved up on its own.

Then, as I was chasing down errant tufts of grass, it ran out of gas.  Done.

I have yet to turn the mower on its side and look at the blade; when it first happened, I was of the opinion that what I didn’t know would help me persevere and when it was over, I couldn’t bear to see it at the time.

So, I will probably bring the Lawn-Boy mower down to Kendallville, or get another mower I have here fixed. That will definitely be the time when I tell Cameron, “You’ve got it, now.” These mowers are much heavier than the little red 20″ cutter that gave its all. I’ll say this: Briggs & Stratton, you guys make great engines.

I do have an electric mower, but that one with its 18″ cutting width and trailing cord is a psychological challenge – better suited for  little teeny tiny lawns – the ones that take four passes and you’re done.

Now, for today’s possible news. I may just get up the nerve to mount the old Wheel Horse and try to tame the re-growing grass at the LaGrange House. But that’s only possible.