At least somebody is driving the tractor.
I was hoping to post about something exciting today, but I’m temporarily held up on a teeny tiny technicality, so I’ll post as soon as I can. (I’m NOT moving. I feel like I need to say that all the time now, sorry.)
Meanwhile, back at the studio project, Dave and Matt are working away.
“Hi, I’m Dave. (And I’m Matt!) We want to keep working on the studio!”
They got the water line trench dug and were ready to push the dirt back in. Dave said, “I see you have a tractor over there.” He wanted to know if he could use it. I said, sure, someone might as well use it.
He said, “You don’t use it?”
I told him I didn’t know how to drive it. He asked me if it came with the farm. I said, “No, it’s mine. I make monthly payments for it and everything. It’s not even paid for.”
Dave’s face took a quizzical turn. “You’re paying for a tractor and you don’t know how to drive it?”
I mentally browsed all my excuses and went for the meat. “My brother died on a tractor.”
We don’t need to go into the fact that my brother was 16 years older than me and died three years before I was born, which might somehow blow up my unreasonable fear of tractors due to unborn status in relation to the actual traumatic event. When you have an unreasonable fear of tractors, there’s not actually a good excuse. I could explain the whole thing about the creepy life-sized painting of my brother hanging in our house during my childhood painted from a photograph taken near the time he died, but that would just make me sound more wacko.
Meanwhile, I accompanied Dave to the tractor, told him to put the doohickey in there and then start it and handed him said doohickey to show him the special trick start.
Dave: “You mean a screwdriver?”
Me: “If that’s what you want to call it.”
For some reason, you have to stick the doohickey, or screwdriver, in there, wherever, then you start it. I’m not sure how this works and didn’t do a very good job of explaining, but after I pointed wildly and vaguely repeatedly, Dave figured it out.
And I watched him toodle on over around the side of the house thinking, I have no idea how much fuel is in there and I hope he doesn’t run out and have to leave it sitting in the front yard.
Some days I feel like less of a farmer than other days.
However, I did twist my cousin’s arm and wrangle him into the store this week and get him to help me pick out a drill. A drill of my own! My first tool!
I’m gonna take it out of the box any day now.
dee58m says:
Look out world Suzanne has a drill! I have my own Bausch Saber Saw for some time now. I don’t know what it is about having a power tool in your hands… but you are going to LOVE having it! I am sitting her thinking about all those projects you are going to dive in now that you have that drill!! 🙂
On February 1, 2012 at 2:32 am
wormlady says:
Suzanne, you’re a determined person. You’ll turn the irrational fear (I’d call it early childhood training, if it were mine) into healthy respect. Have you considered having someone convert your rollbar into a rollcage?
And my 2 cents on power tools (since I do occasionally hold one and push or squeeze or whatever it is you do to make them go when assisting with projects that were my idea in the first place): you still have to be strong and use force. Most recently I drove some screws with a power thing into HARD wood & it requires leaning with all my weight behind it to make them go in. And it goes really quickly and you have to stop at the right moment. I get a disgusted reaction when I mess up the indentation in the top of the screw from not bearing down hard enough.
On February 1, 2012 at 3:24 am
Rose H says:
I LOVE power tools! I have my very own tool kit as hubby’s things are always covered in oily hand prints from the garage. Nothing better than wielding a drill or power sander, just be sure before you use it to also invest in the tool to check for electrical wires and pipes, over here they cost about £10 and worth every penny. Go Suzanne! :shimmy:
I’m confident that as wormlady says you can turn around your fear into a healthy respect of the tractor – just look around you, see what else you’ve already conquered! :yes:
On February 1, 2012 at 4:34 am
Old Geezer says:
A power drill: number one power tool in the shop. Also hardest one to hurt yourself with. BUT TIE BACK THAT LONG HAIR WHEN USING IT! If it were to be caught in the whirling bit then you might lose a good chunk of hair and scalp before stopping it.
Thanks! I feel better.
Now have someone show you how handy self-starting wood screws and their driver bit are. They also go by the name of “dry wall screws” but they are much more handy than just dry wall. For most instances where you will be screwing things into wood they are much easier to use than is the other classic way of first drilling a pilot hole then employing the screw.
When the finished product has to look more “professional” then go ahead and drill a pilot hole, but use a special small bit known normally as a “screwmate” which combines a pilot hole with a countersink. I have worked wood for many years as a hobby (and in college as a laborer) and the self-starting wood screw has been the biggest improvement in wood working productivity that I can remember.
I hope the drill you got is variable speed — that makes it really useful.
Let us know how you make out with it.
On February 1, 2012 at 6:07 am
Diane says:
The story of your dead brother is getting more funny the more times you tell it and condense it. Sorry its early and it stuck me funny today. Its the creepy picture part in your house that would make for a great short story I think.
I am with you about running the tractor. I can hop into any car or truck and have no fear. We have a little Farmall and I have yet learned to start it. I think I drove it once. Its a mystery only my husban knows how to start and I hate having to listen to the details of what to do. lol.
I have a drill!! Love it. Its not covered in grime or greese. I have a dremel too also. Its good for small projects. I have a few small hand tools as well. Even though my husban has a basment full but it saves me the trouble of going in search of what I need. 🙂
On February 1, 2012 at 6:57 am
Hengal says:
You’re going to LOVE your very own power tools! DH has bought me several of my own over the years (something about not being able to find his again when he needs them. Dang those irresponsible kitties) and I love them. You go girl! :shimmy:
On February 1, 2012 at 8:50 am
BrownSheep says:
If you don’t have some fencing pliers you definitely should. Most useful tool and most often tool I have.
On February 1, 2012 at 8:56 am
SarahGrace says:
Yay on the new drill! I bought one last week because the one we had wasn’t strong enough for a certain job. The one I bought is still in the box. 😀 Don’t know if dh will return it or if we will keep it. Farmer Wayne was here yesterday showing my helper and myself how to use the tractor properly to smooth out rock. He makes it looks so easy! So glad that work on your studio has begun!
On February 1, 2012 at 9:01 am
stacylee says:
My mom always had the power tools at our house. She used to paint on plywood and then cut it out using a jig saw and use a hinge and 2X4’s for stand up holiday yard decorations. We even had a dragon popping out of a cake that she put out when it was some one’s birthday! We also had a giant red heart with a face cut out that she would bring to the school for Valentine’s parties to play bean bag toss. She was and is amazing, she reminds me of you, Suzanne. I think that’s why I love your site so much!
On February 1, 2012 at 9:26 am
JerseyMom says:
A drill is the first step on your way to driving that tractor. Every journey starts with just one step….and drills and tractors are both power tools. So start with the little one and work your way up to the big one. I have the utmost confidence in you!
On February 1, 2012 at 9:35 am
mammaleigh says:
I have a few power tools, my dad would bring us girls (3 of us) out to the job sites with us to help him from about the time we could walk…yes a great dad! We learned a lot from watching and when we would make something it was always a tresure in the house. I still have a picture frame that I had made a long time ago that hangs in my parents house. I have not made anything in a very long time but loved making furniture for myself. I needed a coffee table, I made it. I dont have it anymore darn ex got it in the divorce…OH well!
You will love the freedom of knowing that you are not the “little woman”!
On February 1, 2012 at 9:42 am
TwistedStitcher says:
Suzanne, I have a drill and a miter saw and have used them both. I always feel so proud of myself every time I make something with them. Last year I built a frame for a raised bed garden. I did get home depot to cut the wood for me but I drilled it together. This year I used my miter saw and am building a rack for seed starting. It is such a.great feeling of accomplishment when I complete these projects. Good luck. Open that drill soon. You won’t be sorry.
On February 1, 2012 at 9:52 am
wildcat says:
I have my own drill, and I love using it. I don’t know why, but it makes me feel POWERFUL.
Recently I’ve gotten the itch to build some stuff for the house, like maybe a bench or a bedside table. I’m trying to talk DH into getting me a power saw. I think I want a jigsaw, so I can cut out fancy shapes.
I’m already dreaming about the cool Christmas gifts I can make, if I only had a jigsaw. :shimmy:
On February 1, 2012 at 11:29 am
angiemay says:
I love your stories. Thanks for the smile this morning 🙂
On February 1, 2012 at 11:35 am
rileysmom says:
With all that you’ve tackled and overcome, Suzanne…I think you’ll win over those power tools….and the tractor! :yes:
On February 1, 2012 at 11:44 am
MMHoney says:
Dear CITR friends…. I say the bigger the (challenges) the harder they fall. I had some blocks I needed to lay; My son probably 12. Said I have never laid blocks. My reply neither have I; but I have iced a lot of cakes. I had!! and we did ~~~~
They are still in place on my backpatio.
Have a blessed day.
On February 1, 2012 at 4:30 pm
lattelady says:
Way to go on the Drill! I have an 18v Bosch, and I use it a LOT.
Also a Dremel with many attachments which I use a great deal. Last year I made key rings using antler tips for the decoration on the rings. Used a dust mask as ONCE I developed a bacterial lung infection from inhaling antler dust. Nevermore.
Dh and I raised our kids as survivors. The boy can cook, sew, and clean house. The girl can change oil, change a tire, and use all of the power tools.
When I run across something I haven’t done before, I find someone to show me how. This spring I am going to remove a sm. dead cedar tree from my yard.
On February 2, 2012 at 8:54 am
JeannieB says:
Honey, you need to have the “boy’s” come over and give you and Morgan tractor driving lessons, after all who is going to keep that GREAT BIG yard mowed this summer?? Sounds like a Morgan job!!
On February 3, 2012 at 3:27 pm