OK, I feel better now...

Gus came up to help with the garlic. We made a deal. I have an old Gravely tractor with a bush hog on the front. He wants it, and I don't use it. So, my dear old Gravely tractor that I've had since '64 is in Florida living with Gus. It was "old iron" when I got it. Well, it won't jerk me around anymore, and Gus will mow out some of his trails. He's hopeful it will help put a dent in the tick population on his walking trails. He also wants to clear the trails making it easier to spot the rattle mouth copper tails Gus has encountered more often than he would like.

We did get it running for about 30 seconds, and it quit. First time it's been run for 3 years. So, I started by rebuilding the carb, if you can call a 2-pound hunk of cast iron a true carb. I took the Magneto apart, cleaned, sanded the points...still no luck.

So, Gus took it home not running. He had to go. I told him the points weren't set right, and the plug could need replacing. It knew if it weren't running it would be less likely to make a trip to Florida. Took the old Gravely years to get over moving to Ga. from WV Burned a piston first spring here, and I had to rebuild the motor. It was running fine last year They'll get along fine, those two, Gus is laid back and has to cogitate problems between naps,

I still have the old electric start Gravely with the little red sulky behind it for mowing that is newer that was made by the defunct (sadly) Studebaker company.

I HATE to work on ancient technology in a hurry up fashion...that's why we're called shade tree mechanics...work on it for a while, in the shade, cuss and discuss, drink a beer or two, go to town as a diversion, come home with some carb cleaner and WD40...sooner or later you'll wear the SOB down and it will run. Gravely tractors don't like to be hurried!  They decide when they go to work, and when they do you better hang on, because they don't play...all muscle.

The whole time I was trying to figure out somewhere he might take it that anyone would have any idea what it is and how to work on it. The days of real machines, and the mechanics who worked on them have gone the way of steam trains, Dodo birds, etc. 

Gus found and old feller with a barn full of Gravely L model tractors and implements in Quincy Fla. 10 miles from his house. He fixed in short order and Gus has a new friend.

The garlic is in the shed drying. It looks good. Smaller than I would like, but lots of it. had some huge softball sized Elephant garlic. Cuban Purple looks better than ever, Inchelium Red a little off as far as size. All the others right where they should be. I left the Silver White in for a few day, but we got a "rainstorm" this afternoon, so I'll have to watch I don't get any mildew on the wrappers. The last of the green garlic going out today, then plowing and planting buckwheat and field peas for the off season.

It'll be dry garlic in two weeks, folks, come get you some... I'll cheat you right! "Oh, the farmer is the man that feeds us all"...unless you get your groceries at the supermarket.

 I heard about a woman that said to a farmer, "Who needs farmers, I get my groceries at the Wall Mark".

Thanks to Gus and Bob Brown for the help...it made a tough job much easier. It was almost fun this year!

Now to deal with the pig weed in the big garden. Cukes and corn soon, big green 'maters on the vines, sweet tater and watermelon vines crawling...Arish taters bout ready to dig. pulled the last of the beets, about a bushel...them is so good...Ain't summer fun!