Friday, August 10 - We Bite The Bullet

After mowing with the walk-behind mower yesterday, and cutting maybe half an acre of grass, Barry and I decided to join the rest of the world and get a riding mower. It makes sense, particularly with these hot days (high temps have not been below 90 since we moved here). We can use the exercise of a traditional mower, but we can't afford the heatstroke or heart attack that could result from mowing all 3 acres by hand.

So we went to Wal-Mart. The one we had looked at yesterday, a 38" mower, had sold, but the Wal-Mart in Harrodsburg had three left, so we high-tailed it up US 127 to the oldest city in KY. When we got there, we found that the price was about $150 more than in Danville, and that we could get a 42" mower in Danville for $10 less than the 38" in Harrodsburg, so we got it.

Problem -- it doesn't fit in my truck. No problem -- the gal who manages the department is delivering it (on her own) tomorrow morning. Then we'll finally be able to mow properly.

This drought is having an effect. Fields and lawns which were green when we moved here are now brown. I bought a water pump attachment for my power drill, to take advantage of the cistern out back. This place has only had city water for 2 years, and prior to that the cistern provided all the water one could use. So by engineering an irrigation system based on my drill, we'll have plenty of water for plants, without paying for it. The electricity should be negligible, as water costs more than electricity around here.

Tomorrow, we're going into Danville to buy some fish. Not for the aquarium, but for the pond. Sterile carp -- they'll eat the algae and keep the pond clean without reproducing and taking over; bass -- only $.80 each so we'll get maybe a dozen or so, good eating. We have to take pails and plastic bags for them to survive the drive back to Butchertown.

After that's done, we're heading to Paducah for the weekend. Rick (Barry's son) has lined up loads of ribs for us, and he's giving us his grill. We'll pick up some boxes we had left there back in April when we first came down here looking for property. Then we'll be able to grill AND do barbecue (it's a noun down here, not a verb). "Barbecue" is any form of slow-cooked meat, often 24 hours or more (check out "Gone with the Wind for references to barbecue). "Grill" is to cook it over an open flame.

OK, dinner calls again. It's only about 96 out but the humidity is down, so it's not unbearable. Early to bed tonight, lots to do tomorrow.