Everything about the picture below is pretty much perfect.
Perfect lawn. Perfect stone retaining wall. And perfectly clear that someone other than me is driving the tractor!
Funny as that may be, it’s not exactly true. Until recently, I lived on about an acre of semi-rural property and I mowed it with a lawn tractor very similar (in appearance) to the one shown above and, truth-be-told, I actually liked doing the job.
I enjoyed riding around the yard while mowing. It gave me a chance to get a close-up look at every tree, bush, planter, fence, gate, light, drive, walk… you get the idea. It was my weekly (or so) chance to give the property a once-over. I never thought I’d feel nostalgic about it, but I do.
Since this is a quality mower, this lucky (possibly overdressed) hand will be able to let go of the shifter. A pleasure I was frequently robbed of.
What I don’t feel nostalgic about is the mechanical problems I faced with my supposedly high-quality (brand omitted because I think some stuff from this big store in the mall is good) tractor. From the time my tractor was about a year old there was a constant problem with the transmission staying in gear.
No matter how often I fixed it, I usually had to hold the shifter with my hand to keep it right. That left one hand for the steering wheel. And, much to my deepest chagrin, no hands to hold my drink.
(we’ll steer carefully clear of stereotypes and just stick with generic terms for the beverage)
Now I Stalk The Big Mower Section at Home Depot
So all of this has had a lasting impact on my psychological make-up. I’m sure to never purchase another of the crafty brand I previously owned and I now have an issue with increased heart rate and beads of perspiration when I’m in the presence of the real lawn equipment parked teasingly just inside the door of Home Depot, a place I visit quite frequently. Just look at what I have to walk past just to buy a little bit of Bondo (yes, I use bondo – on wood, not on cars):
John Deere, Cub Cadet, Toro, these are serious brands for serious lawns and Home Depot has a huge selection of them at great prices.
I don’t have to only deal with this cut-radius envy when I visit the store. It’s also an issue for me when I’m online. The THD Tractor Site has even more choices, but there, as in the actual store, I often suffer from short attention spans because there is just so much cool stuff at Home Depot – virtual or otherwise!
In fact, I plan to head there within a day or two to get the lumber for a trellis (or pergola?) I’m building soon. More on that to come! You can keep up with all kinds of indoor and outdoor fun by subscribing to Remodeling Guy via email!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I absolutely know what you mean. There is John Deere dealer right next door to a cafe I take my family to for weekend breakfasts sometimes.
My wife has trouble dragging me away, especially when I’m sitting there like a little kid on an X700. I think the staff are glad when she does get me out of there.
Those mowers in Home Depot do really grab your attention this time of year! I’d need a red one!