Sunny and cool this weekend. Called Mr. Lehde and waited most of Saturday morning for him to come look at the lawn tractor. He came about 11:00 and seemed to have fixed the blade problem and also tightened up the brake to make it functional. We paid him $40. It seemed like a good deal, but later the blade would not engage when we tried to mow later in the afternoon. (it was working fine when he was here). Dad called him back Sunday morning, but he was not yet there when I left about 3:00 pm.

Dad and I ate Bar-B-Q from Big Daddy's accompanied by pickles, olives, and beer Saturday evening and watched NCAA baseball games and then the Astros game. I drove over to the Green Door around 9:00 pm just to see if they had any band playing, but it was pretty quiet. Mostly the regular crowd, I imagine.

Delayed Saturday by having to replace the 2" wood bit that Dad couldn't remember where he put, we got Dad's hitchin' post fence up and together, although it needs shoring up and probably some screws in it to firm it up. I hope ya' think it looks okay. Those were the heaviest cedar posts I've ever dealt with. Wore me out working with them. Thank goodness it was so cool and windy Sunday morning while I was playing Daniel Boone.

The orchard and yard have grown pretty high; the yard can still be mowed with the lawn tractor, but it might take the big tractor to mow the orchard. I sprayed Killzall on fence foliage and yard bushes in the yard next to the orchard. Also sprayed around some edging areas at the Rancho house. Bought a new weedeater (on sale for $29 @ ACE - old electric trimmer fell apart and gas one didn't start) and trimmed around porches and trees at the Rancho house.

Dad and I also trimmed trees in the backyard with the cordless electric trim saw (wish I'd had the electric chainsaw when I's workin' with those cedar posts). Worked pretty good and got a lot of branches that were hanging from the oak tree in front of the back porch.

Finally got a chance to walk the fence between the Back 40 and Central Pasture Sunday afternoon after I recovered from building the hitchin' rail. I think it's okay for the most part. It was not the most rigorous inspection of all time. The terrain is pretty more suited for Rocky Mountain Goats than cows. There is a place about 40-50 yards back to the left of where the fence meets up with the right of way where a tree has fallen down on the fence. Needs a chain saw to clean it up.

Cows in the "Back 40" pasture.

... and that's the news from the Rancho.