Slight Detour: Fall Finale

The calendar says it's gonna be fall for quite a while before winter officially begins, but we know better.

We know that within days, the most beautiful autumn color show that many of us have seen in a long time will be history.

It's so sad, especially to one who carries a camera and uses it many times a day.

It's also sad because the landscape becomes so bleak and blah that we almost need to wish for snow to brighten up our days.

For one who hates winter, that's a dreaded conundrum.

I want the pretty pictures but don't want all the trouble that comes with glorious winter scenes.

If we didn't have a farm, I'm sure my perspective would be a little different.

Yesterday, while planning to enjoy yet another gorgeous fall afternoon, sitting on our Kubota, chopping down dead grass in the hay field and stopping occasionally to pull out my cell phone to capture a momentary scene of beauty, I soon had to bunch that plan.

While making the first round on a portion of the field, I noticed that the tractor seemed somewhat lethargic.

The engine was doing just fine, but the gears seemed out of whack.

High gear barely existed and, often the tractor would slow to a full stop, seemingly locking up.

Low gear was sorta okay so I figured there was some setting on the tractor that had been changed and that the operator probably didn't know what setting that happened to be.

So, I moseyed along in low gear for a while. While climbing some gradual hills in the pasture, the tractor began to labor as if it was on its last breath.

I tried changing gears on the gear shift, but nothing worked. Then, I thought I'd just leave the field with the brush hog disengaged, and see if the tractor would perform normally down the lane.

It did not.

So, I parked it and sent a text to Bill, whom I knew was out of cell phone range. He had driven to the end of Grouse Creek Road to go on a hike.

Still, I wrote the note, trying to explain specifics about what had happened.

Then, I went to trusty You Tube, which suggested that there may be a problem with the fuel line or its filter.

Later, on his way home, Bill read the note and responded, "That's not good."

He tried his hand at the tractor and experienced the same results.

And, so our tractor, which has an essential role on the place during the winter needs some expert help.

We're keeping our fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious. We've had the tractor for nearly 17 years and it's worked like a charm all those years.

On one hand, I guess we've been very lucky; on the other, who knows how extensive and expensive this problem will be.

The tractor incident gave us both a jolt. Bill told me a story about a superstition he has with the number 13. It has something to do with purchasing $13 worth of fuel, which he did yesterday.

He mentioned one time after making a similar purchase when he hit a deer.

Superstition or not, bad luck while facing winter on a farm is certainly not on our wish list.

Guess we'll see in the next couple of days the diagnosis and the sticker shock. Hopefully, the tractor will have its power restored before the snow flies.

Seems like when this stuff happens and winter is coming on, life seems much more daunting.

For now, however, we'll be doing our best to stay positive and enjoy every last vestige of this gorgeous fall, and, of course, I'll keep taking pictures.

Happy Sunday. Enjoy the photos.

I have entitled this photo, "The Help."

As noted yesterday, they keep us smiling and sharing stories about our individual experiences with them here on the farm.

For the record: Bridie now has three nights of freedom under her harness.

I've always loved this farm right in the heart of downtown Selle.

It's the old Hart farm, and sadly this summer the house was dismantled in favor of a new structure.

Hope the barn and those outbuildings survive.

When we first moved to the place and I discovered that we had asparagus. I did some reading and learned that it needs to stay intact after going to seed.

So, I leave it alone. It certainly puts on an elegant show when the colors turn.

I picked more apples yesterday from our overloaded tree. I wish they were bigger in size for applesauce.

This year's crop has netted one batch of jelly and, on a daily basis, keeps the horses happy.

We have quite a winter supply to drop in their buckets every day.

~~~

Speaking of apples and food, the Bonner County Daily Bee had a front page article about area non-profits being "pinched by inflation."

The story features some quotes by our daughter-in-law Debbie, director of the Bonner Community Food Bank.

She notes the dramatic rise in families who now depend on the facility.

As one would expect, food banks are always in need.

So, check out the piece and donate if you can. Thanks.

https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local-news/