Scratch that off the weekend to-do list . . .

So, I've discovered the trick to getting the lawn mowed around this little corner of heaven is to risk annoying the neighbors by getting out there early.

Not, TOO early, mind you.

8 o'clock is my own self-imposed limit.

But, we only have a very narrow window of opportunity to get this chore done before it gets too beastly hot around here.

So, if any of ye socks were annoyed by the roaring engine, you have my apologies . . . but, not my promise to abstain from said behavior again next weekend!

Summer's end yard work

Well, ye socks, it is the last official day of summer, but the heat says otherwise.

Yours truly finally broke down and bought a new lawn mower, the shiny green Briggs & Stratton pictured here.

Actually got it yesterday, and assembled it as I watched the Gators romp over Tennessee.

I guess I should have been paying more attention to the assembly process, because one of the wheels flew off after making only a couple of passes across the back yard.

I couldn't find the lug nut or one of the washers in the high grass, and really didn't feel like investing too much time hunting under the abusive sun.

No big deal, I thought, I'll just head over to "the place with the helpful hardware man." He evidently doesn't work on Sundays, because I ended up having to sort thru two aisles of potential replacement parts. Should've written down the sizes from the instruction manual instead of just carrying examples from another wheel. So, I had an unwelcome surprise when I got back home and the wheel didn't fit quite as well as the other three. But, I was determined to "get 'er done" and pushed on. Pun intended.

Anyway, three wheels or three-and-a-half, the yard looks pretty good now.

I, on the other hand, am in desperate need of a shower.

And a massage.

Or, at least an aspirin.