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Topic starter
03/05/2023 9:40 pm
HE CHANGING OF THE GUARD. FINALLY!
First a confession. For those who know me really well, this will not be any revelation to them, but to those that DON'T know me well, I'm likely to appear strange. Why? Well this is were the confession comes in. Here it is:
During the summer I record the dates and number of times I mow my lawn on my garage wall. Every mowing all summer long. I've done this since 1981. But wait, it gets better. I also record the inches of snow that piles up on my driveway all winter long. Yup, since 1981. Why? If I said I don't know, that would be the truth, but then I do know. It's fun!
TODAY, May 3, 2023 was my first mowing for the year! A NEW RECORD BABY! I know, what do I mean by a new record? Well the facts are that since 1981, this is the latest I've mowed my lawn in the spring season. My average FIRST lawn mowing every year is between April 15th and April 20th. EVERY YEAR! But not this year, as we had the longest winter one could imagine. I lived through it and I question, seriously, how.
With the snow shoveling totals on my garage wall, this past winter it's over 100 inches! Yes, you read that right, over 100 inches! I'd pretty much conceded that the OVER SIX FOOT WALL of snow that circled my house and yard was going to be here for Independence Day in July. And I'm not exaggerating about the wall of snow being over six feet high. I was living in a frozen fortress that got more depressing every day I had to look at it.
The month of April delivered us below average temperatures, more snow for the first two weeks and then rain, and more rain with morning temps still below freezing (32 degrees) and highs not even getting to the 40's. Cloudy and chilly, you can read that as miserable!
For the last three days we've had wind. Not just a breeze, but constant gusts all day up to 50 miles per hour! I'm okay with 50 miles per hour for a nice drive in my car, but NOT outside when it takes my breath away and makes it feel at least 10 degrees colder than it is.
TODAY, a miracle was realized, it was finally "no jacket" weather and with all the rain, the lawn needed a (now overdue) first mowing. It's the little things in life that are exciting. They are known as simple pleasures, and mowing my lawn is one of them. Seriously, I like mowing the lawn. I've been doing it since I was 12 years old, when in the summer of 1964, my Dad declared the yard was my responsibility. Oddly enough, I didn't have a problem with that, as I for some reason always admired a yard that at least cut their grass on a timely basis. If fact, at that young age, I even made sure that some of the neighbors grass was mowed, as I mowed it.
Now shoveling 2, 3, 6, 10, a foot of snow almost every morning/day this past winter, I love mowing even more! I finished mowing and then declared it SUMMER when I fixed my "famous" Root Beer Floats for me and my princess and enjoyed them while sitting our deck. Simple pleasures!
GOOD BYE winter...please don't be in any hurry to return any time soon.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
03/05/2023 11:15 pm
Aww, nothing...nothing..beats an A&W root beer float !!!
Got one ready for me George ? I'll be there to collect the grass clippings and I'll treat for IHop pancakes this weekend.
Steve
Topic starter
04/05/2023 9:17 am
Aww, nothing...nothing..beats an A&W root beer float !!!
Got one ready for me George ? I'll be there to collect the grass clippings and I'll treat for IHop pancakes this weekend.
Steve
I'm available all day Saturday! Come on over! Bring your model car's with you, so we can share in each others collections. 
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Steve Jacobs reacted
04/05/2023 10:41 am
Well George I sat in a depressed state reading about your winter and grateful I rarely see snow after we moved from the midwest to the south. Then after all that pain I see a happy ending with a root bear float...one of life's real treasures. Glad you can finally see your grass and have the pleasure of mowing it.
Steve Jacobs reacted
Topic starter
04/05/2023 12:34 pm
Well George I sat in a depressed state reading about your winter and grateful I rarely see snow after we moved from the midwest to the south. Then after all that pain I see a happy ending with a root bear float...one of life's real treasures. Glad you can finally see your grass and have the pleasure of mowing it.
I keep asking myself why I've never been smart enough to get out of Minnesota. The answers, sadly, are many, so I just have keep spring/summer on an on-going Bucket List each year. And know Bob, that I applaud you for being smarter than me.
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Steve Jacobs reacted
04/05/2023 1:15 pm
George, I am with you on the lawn cutting. I have 4 kids and none of them have cut the grass. I know probably a mistake, but I figured when they move out, which 2 have now, it is not a hard job to master or learn. I would not let them take my satisfaction away of cutting the lawn and looking back at how nice it looks. Living in the south, I basically cut all year long at different intervals. Tomorrow I will get out there and cut before next weeks rains that are coming. I could have a splitting headache when I started, but by the time I'm finished the headache is gone and I have a smile on my face. I cut approximately 2 acres riding a Cub Cadet and I could not be happier. Yes it sounds strange, but....
Steve Jacobs and George Schire reacted
04/05/2023 9:44 pm
Wait, I thought I'd volunteered / been selected for grass cutting.... it's hardly ever done here in SoCal due to lack of rain.. Am I hired or not... I need the exercise.
Steve 'Toro' J.
04/05/2023 11:03 pm
Those floats look GREAT! If I drive up to your place and mow your lawn…..
wait a minute… I have a lawn, a great self propelled mower and I can make a root beer float myself.
can’t wait for Saturday.
David Vandermeer
Corinth, Texas
05/05/2023 2:03 am
Congratulations George! It seems mother nature keep you fit and active year-round, whether you're mowing or shoveling.
George Schire reacted
05/05/2023 3:44 am
excellent post George, I'm a bit of a stats keeper too. Although mine is mostly around expenses, income etc. Always remember 50 odd years ago, probably the smartest (and unfortunately one of the nastiest) men I've met, lived by "the figures". He pretty much single handedly created one of Australia's most successful and enduring reparatory theatre companys
George Schire reacted