Father’s Day was celebrated here on Saturday. My Dad gets up on Saturdays, otherwise bedridden. Saturday’s weather was extremely fortunate. Unlike during my last attempt at a BBQ, it was clear and calm - all day!
I made plans for my Dad and Mom to come over to enjoy a campfire for the day. I planned on cooking over the fire, and just enjoying the day.
On Friday, my eldest son called and asked if I was going to be around for the weekend. He and youngest son came out Saturday and stayed the night.
Was a great day! The two boys, well mostly the eldest, burned up the majority of the pile of fallen wood I’ve been accumulating. We had smokies, campfire pies, and roasted marshmallows.
Mom and Dad left at dusk, while the three of us remained up into the dark of night. Eldest son went to bed first. He had a big day cleaning up the woodpile. A Father’s Day gift.
About 30 minutes passed my son and I going inside, while watching a movie, a thunderstorm hit. Suddenly, lots of wind, rain, and hail! Oh my goodness. With the south wind the hail was smashing into the picture windows and making a huge racket. It was so loud that eldest son was woken up and came up from downstairs to see what was going on.
The hail was around grape sized. My eldest started to open the door to grab a couple of pieces of the icy chunks, when two blasted the door’s window. Nope. That changed his mind. Getting clobbered would hurt.
The storm lasted about 15 minutes. In the light of the next day, the rain gauge showed 1/2 inch of rain fell during that 15 minutes. The daylight also revealed a few trees had blown over. Two right by the house. Sigh. The woodpile is going to get filled up again. lol.
Thankfully, no damages to house or vehicles. And the dogs are well protected in their metal clad doghouse.
My F925 mower developed a leak in the hydrostatic drive. On the Friday before Father’s Day, my grass cutting was cut short as fluid was flowing pass the seal on the swashplate shaft/assemble.
Monday, I picked up a replacement seal and started the process of replacing it. What a pain! That struggle lead into the next day. The major problem, the original seal has a metal backing which is all that is exposed when the C clip and washer is removed. Unlike the replacement which is just rubber. With the metal covering, I could not pry out the old seal. Of course, I am working in a congested space under the seat, and having to contort into uncomfortable positions to gain access and reach it.
I ended up drilling a small hole into the metal surface. Screwed in a wood screw. And with a pry bar attempted to remove the seal. Nope. It did rip the metal apart though. So, with continued prying, one hand holding a small screwdriver into the tare, and the other hand utilizing a pry bar to push the screwdriver out, I managed to slowly rip apart the metal cover. Oh my poor back! What an unergonomic placement of the hydraulic motor/pump. LOL!
Eventually, with over half of the metal removed, I got enough purchase on the actual rubber seal and internal retaining spring, that the seal did pry out. It’s a tight fit! Which then brought about the next problem. How do I get the new seal in? Haha.
Well, it fit easily on to the shaft, and slid up to the pump body. I used a 3/4 inch closed end wrench to fit over the shaft and onto the seal. Then with prying against a metal piece of the PTO engaging switch assemble, I could pry the seal into its recess.
I haven’t got to test the repair as last night there was more rain. An inch and a half fell. The grass is too wet. Oh well, maybe this afternoon. I sure hope the leak is fixed.
Grass, tress, windows, a roof leak, and so on. It’s busy around here!
Two of my Aunts died, one on Friday and one on Saturday. Mom and her remaining sister, as well as myself, will attend the memorials. One of the memorials is 1800 km away, where my aunt (Mom’s SIL) lived in a care home. We are making plans for the road trip. We will also visit with my Mom’s remaining brother (husband of the aunt) and the kids. Haven’t seen them for quite a while.
That uncle is not doing well, and lives in the same care home. He has dementia, and is/thinks he is living back when he was young. Believes he is back on the farm of 50-60 years ago.
Hope you all have a great day!
D
Feelings are fleeting. Be better, not bitter. Love the person, forgive the sin.
