An Oregon Fall

Golden Snow

 I hesitate to mention the hedge work, but it plays a part in my reaction to last week’s statement that: “ . . . as good Oregonians, we don’t let it (rain) bother us.  We just move ahead.”  Maybe I’m not such a “good Oregonian”.  I did let it bother me, or at least it became the “last straw” in a series of frustrating events. 

The four hundred feet of hedge around the four-plex is to be trimmed twice each year, April and October.  Four weeks ago I started the job thinking I could do it in three or four days.  The two electric hedge trimmers I own and have used for four or five years, died on me the first day. 

My neighbor across the street said I could use his fathers gas fired hedge trimmer.  He would need to have his father bring it in from the farm and would do that within the next two weeks.  I chose to borrow my son-in-law’s gas fired hedge trimmer instead, thinking I could get it the same day.  It; however, wasn’t available until the next day.  Oh well.

Everybody told me I would enjoy the gas-fired trimmer more than the electric trimmer because it would cut the larger sticks better.  I must admit that it did trim faster.  The extra ten-pound weight on the end of my arms and the stopping to fill the gas tank, the climbing down the ladder to restart it whenever it stopped and the trying to keep it from flooding out-weighed the faster trimming to say nothing about it seriously breaking down twice.  I patched it a couple of times, but the last time required parts, which would take two weeks to get.  There is much more I could write about my decision to go and buy a new electric trimmer but I’m trying to keep this short.  Suffice it to say I was almost at my wits end.  This happened on the only dry morning we have had in a couple of weeks. 

After arriving home with my new trimmer and setting up the electric cords, the tarp and the ladder, I climbed up and started to cut the hedge.  It was working beautifully.  Five minutes later I felt a drop of rain.  I kept trimming.  Then I felt several drops of rain.  I decided I needed to get my gear in the basement before everything got wet.  It was too late; we were having a downpour.  Good Oregonian or not, I did let it bother me.

The forecast for tomorrow is cloudy but dry.  I’ll start early.

Our Stake Conference today was broadcast from Salt Lake and dealt with new procedures for helping the youth be prepared for serving missions at age eighteen.

Three weeks of solid rain has put a definite stop to our beautiful fall colors.  I have kept a record of the beauty of our Oregon Fall leaves.  Hope you enjoy them.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bye for now.

Norma and Gary