I got an early morning text (as I was pouring my very first cup of coffee) with good news ... we’ll be “processing” again this week. That 22 lb frozen turkey is really messing up the room in the freezer - a bit too early to start thawing - major rearranging is going to have to happen. It’s a gorgeous fall day here, so those in the woods early are getting a real treat.
Tomorrow is “leaf” day. I have a firm commitment from the bro & his mower/bagger to get up the leaves & fill up the compost bin. Since I am hobbling around with this stinkin’ sciatica issue, I definitely need the help! He was also researching alternatives for me and my mower(s).
Mini-rant: I love my JD mower(s); however, WHY do they always have to make things so complicated and expensive? A “bagger” for my mower was about $3K last time I looked into it, has to be installed by the dealer AND is not something you can take off when you don’t need it. It makes the mower so wide, it would not fit in the pole barn, nor could I mow around almost all the bushes/landscaping - dad spaced all that he’s planted for a 48” deck & without the bagger attachment, the deck is 60” which is also problematic. JD claims you need this “power” attachment to shoot the leaves/grass back into the ‘bins’. Most mowers just attach a plastic chute & it works fine.
Anyway, we are NOT spending any more money for “baggers” plus my brother saw some ideas that likely would work with his mower (less than $100) & at least one of mine - we still have the 48” deck tractor-style mower in addition to the 60” zero turn so I can use either for leaves.
Yesterday, I woke up with no “brain fog” after my week of whatever bug it was that I came down with the Friday before. It was also the first day I did not experience the crushing fatigue that had me taking naps every day & going to bed at 7:30 every night. I feel like myself again. I have exercises for the sciatica that work, I just have to start doing them regularly a couple of times a day .... with the ‘bug’ going on last week, I just didn’t do them and I’m paying the price for it. This too shall pass :-)
Company coming today, so I have some work to do in the house - we had “surprise” company Thursday which really messed up the day, but that scenario had the bonus of forcing vacuuming, dusting, & bathroom cleaning so I do not have to do it today, just some “touchup” stuff.
Have a great weekend!
I usually mow (chop) the leaves to bits before bagging or I'd only get about 20 feet before I need to dump. If you are going to make just one pass, get a leaf blower and blow the leaves far enough away from obstacles to get them under the mower deck. I did have a power baggger, but it was insanely cumbersome. I have no problems with a simple air-flow bagger as long as I use high-lift blades. When I have an area where I don't want to pick up, but will need to start picking up again pretty soon, I just remove/replace the chute base, not the whole nine yards. If I were you, I'd just get a bagger for the smaller machine, and use the zero for mowing and leaving the clippings lay. I see the bag assemlbies occasionally on Craig's.
Just like the last 2 or 3 years, I vow that this will be my last season of full-time mowing... I did get a couple from town to mow the smaller place once last summer, and it cost me $275 for a pee-pee poor job. A good job for both places will certainly be more than $500 per week. Tough move to make...