new mower

I went out this morning and looked at the mower I had been researching. The local dealer had one in stock. Everything seemed to fit well and I bought it to replace my old Cub Cadet. I made a couple passes across the yard when I got it home. I still have to get accustomed to the steering, but that will come soon enough. It mows very well and is faster and more maneuverable that the tractor was. 
 

Finally got to go fishing again

I finally got a weekend off, so Heather and I went to Cave Run for some fishing. The lake is most of the way down to winter pool, so there is a lot more timber exposed.

The sun made some pretty dramatic shadows coming over the hills.

We didn't really have the lake to ourselves in spite of what it looks like. We were # 7 in the parking lot at arrival and about 20 or so in the lot when we left.

The fall color is past peak, but still a beautiful day to be out. We didn't catch anything, though.
 

Last scheduled concrete party for this year

 The last section of the Warner's back patio planned for this year is finished. I forgot my camera, so I had to get this picture from Heather.

Heather's truck getting some paint

The weather is getting cooler rapidly, so we needed to get the paint put on Heather's truck while it is still warm enough to dry it.

I stripped it down and we got the windows and trim taped off. It only took a couple hours to get the fender and door done.

It's not a professional job, but it looks much better than it did before. It will help protect it, too.
 

Drainage pipe cleared

 I went over to Cathryn & Bryan's this morning to finish clearing the drainage pipe opening. It doesn't look like much of a hole from the road.

 I uncovered the opening last week, but there was a lot of rock debris in the mouth of the pipe and I couldn't get it out with the shovel alone.

 Today, I also took the pick with me to help convince the rocks to break up and move. While they didn't break, it got them to shift and move so I could get to the edges and leverage them out.

The hole is deeper than it looked like it was, about 5 ft. to the bottom of the pipe. It should drain a lot better now.

Lake yesterday, cutting firewood today

  

Yesterday, Heather and I went to Grayson Lake for some fishing. We had a blast. I went for a swim at one of the waterfalls before we came back home. The falls were still ice cold.

Today was a working day. This limb came down at Cathryn's during one of the spring storms. Our best guess is sycamore for the wood type, but we're not really sure.

 My little workhorse was there to help pull the limb up out of the ditch it ended up in. Our plan worked very well and made it a lot easier to get it all cut up.

 Lisa and Jim got a load of firewood out of it. They still have a rack or two left to fill up.

Everything all loaded up and ready to head back home.

Back to Grayson Lake

 Heather and I went to Grayson Lake this morning. It was nice and quiet when we got there.

 We went most of the way to the south end of the lake after the fish stopped biting. It was farther down the lake than either of us had been before.

 The waterfall into Big Gimlet Creek is barely there. Rainfall has been spotty around here for a few weeks and some places are getting dry.

I had to go retrieve Heather's bobber when the line broke. It was a hot day and I didn't mind at all.