Made the fall to do list yesterday. As with any seasonal list I make the items are grouped in have to and ought to categories with the latter being purely cosmetic as a rule. I HAVE to wean the lambs to give the ewes a break prior to re-breeding; I ought to do some weed whacking around the pond. I HAVE to come up with a plan to clean up the danged cattails that have gotten out of control. This is on the fall list since it may take me all winter to decide on a course of action and work it into the budget. So while come up with a plan is on a current list actual implementation can linger on the defer until spring back burner. I do know how NOT to attempt cattail control; a lesson recently taught by a neighbor who Im sure would have preferred not being thrust, or dunked as the case may be, into the role of instructor. An important lesson I learned from my father, albeit grudgingly in my earlier years then much more agreeably as I achieved some maturity, was to [whenever possible] benefit from the knowledge and abilities of those more capable. Now the first hurdle here is to understand your limitations. The second leap is to recognize superior skills. Then learn from the experience. Class resumed a few days ago. First lesson was embarked on by receipt of a phone call imploring me to come quick with my tractor and chain as a neighbor had put a (borrowed oh migosh!!!!!) skid steer into his pond. Upon arrival I recognized that 1) my neighbor possessed skid steer pond immersion capabilities far beyond my own, and 2) any rescue efforts from me and my tractor would be woefully inadequate. Photo #1 shows the conjoined rigs. What it doesnt show are the spin holes dug by my tires when I acquiesced to the neighbors pleas to at least try to haul him out. Time to move on to benefiting from the knowledge and abilities of those more capable whose arrival and setting up you see in photo #2. Vals Towing to the rescue; a local outfit who already knew the lay of the land so to speak having been called to this same location some years back to extract a half submerged pick-up that had failed to make it across the frozen pond that one last time. Now I could have gone home and resumed my duties as soon as the tow truck arrived but us farm neighbors like to see each other through thick and thin. Since I hadnt been any help with the thick part I felt obligated to remain through the thin and at least lend practical moral support. I offered to pass bananas and hot dogs through the cage openings (approx 4 x 4 squares) and also find a stretch of hose for a breathing tube should the machine continue its forward plunge. Im not sure just how the mechanisms work but my neighbor could not get the cage open in his nose-down position thus was trapped. So just in case he was hungry ---- Alls well that ends well and the final two pics show the extrication process and the successful finale. Now lest you tut tut at my poking fun at someones expense let me assure you I have permission to do so. Youll note Ive mentioned no names so as to protect the innocent though that descriptive is a bit on the generous side considering the perpetrator and even the audience. But again, us farm neighbors are always eager to help others learn from our mistakes so my neighbor generously agreed to pass on the caution that this IS NOT the way to remove cattails from your pond! P.S. Pay no attention to the barely discernible name on the skid steer as thats absolutely not who was driving nor were any of his employees. And ssshhhhh, dont tell!
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 11:30:03 +0000
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