This is Hazel. She is all ready for this year's mowing season. She's been washed and waxed. Her 54 inch mowing deck has been cleaned. The hoses fitted and everything that is supposed to have grease has been greased. Her oil has been changed and filters cleaned and she's full of diesel fuel. All thanks to my husband.
She and I spend many pleasurable hours together during the grass cutting season. She has a "tool holder", which is used for holding water bottles, sunscreen and any snacks that might need consumed during our mowing sessions.
You will be pleased to know that on this very first outing, she and I were able to run down a mole and grind the thing up in her newly sharped blades. (Pesky things make a mess out of our yard.) This is Hazel's second mole kill. The first one I had to drive in circles in the front yard, no less, to track the little bugger down. (I probably looked like a crazy woman!) Finally got him before he could sneak down a hole somewhere. I wonder if they make decals--moles with a red circle with a line through it. It would certainly make her look pretty tough up against the other lawn tractors in the neighborhood--even the other John Deeres. At any rate, knowing that there are many more of these little buggers roaming under our lawn, at least there is one less critter to do damage.
Looks like the early spring is going to be great for growing grass. We certainly have had enough rain in this neck of the woods. It is difficult to find a dry day to get the grass cut.
I'm looking forward to many peaceful, thought-filled hours with Hazel in the coming months.
Oh, and that is my husband's 1977 Ford pickup in the background. It is the only vehicle we ever bought new. Ole Bessie may not be as pretty as she once was, but the heater works and she's paid for. Nasty on gas mileage though. She gets to sit in her little parking spot a great deal of the time lately.
