Well, I spent a good chunk of yesterday “laying the groundwork” as it were (ha ha!) for the Plan…
Got everything dug down 3 inches. I know, you guys, HOW am I supposed to dig a basement for my garage (or a tractor-cave) if I only go down 3 inches?!?! However, THAT was a LOT of dirt! By hand with a shovel and a wheelbarrow!
So, what I staked out above was 15 feet by 6 feet. Could have gone further, but at the far end, I’ve been “stumped” by a great-big pine tree root… Which runs (I’m assuming) to the neighbor’s 50′ tall pine tree in their back yard. Since it is WELL within crushing distance of my house, I figure I shouldn’t just go and axe it outta there. In the other direction, I’m butting up against our composter…
Which is restricting me to only 6 feet wide. I was OKAY with that, even if its a bit tight for parking 2 110s, since they’re six feet long (possibly I could still park both if I went for angle parking. But then, the “foreperson” on this job (AKA LittleTractorGal) came out to inspect. HER suggestion was to pull down the composter (she doesn’t like it anyway, due to its tendency to attract dozens of what LTBabe calls “tiny puppies”), replace it with one NOT built outta landscaping bricks, and go for 8 feet wide (2 24×36 pavers, 1 24×24). Makes the job bigger, but I’m okay with that if it gives me 8 feet to work in..
This location will soon house Cranky AND the new, un-named 110. With the blessings of LTGal (and even at her instruction) I get to spend this weekend rototilling, digging out the extra topsoil, laying down landscaping fabric, moving a yard of pea gravel from our front yard to the back, and finally, laying 24 x 30 patio pavers down. While this WILL eventually be a patio for general usage, initially it will be storage for 2 more tractors while I perform major transplant surgery to try to get at least ONE of my 3.5 JD 110s running…
We had a really good chat with the owner, it had belonged to a friend of his, but hadn’t been used for 20 years… When his friend passed away, he had taken on cleaning up the estate… We pulled the belt cover, the engine still spins but I couldn’t feel any compression. Put the battery in, turn the key, nothing… Things are a LITTLE rough on it, BUT its a hydraulic Lift [Insert chorus of singing angels here]… BUT I need another not running tractor like I need a hole in the head… BUT its a hydraulic lift! AND its totally complete (aside from the generator light glass). AND LTGal STILL says its alright… The PO said “make me an offer”. So I did… And guess what?!? 
LTGal says this is NOT a way for her to be able to get another bike… In fact, I have SO blown through parity between bikes and tractors, ONE of the tractors will have to go… In the meantime, I gotta find some place to keep ANOTHER tractor! I LIKE having that problem! Oh, and we don’t have a name yet for this tractor… No serial number for it YET, ’cause I forgot to jot it down before things got too dark… Off to bed for ME!
