Living With LostinVA

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

Have any of you guys seen "Living with Ed (Begley)" on the Green Channel? I think I need to do a reality show with LostinVA.

She just announced that she doesn't want to use a regular lawnmower (nice self-propelled gas one). She wants to buy a reel mower to mow our half acre, because the gas one is bad for the environment. I honestly would like a ride-on mower, so I could drink a beer and mow the lawn. Now that's the American way.

I think she's semi-crazy, but hey, it she does the mowing, she can use whatever she wants.

[rug]

1. As long as she pedals her bike to make toast she can do whatever she wants.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. From now on, she's going to work for her breakfast, damn it

[Marrah_G]

3. As long as she isn't asking you to do it.... you should smile and bring her some cold ice tea!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

6. She's a freak, actually

She drinks hot tea even when it's like 100 degrees out.

[Marrah_G]

7. Hey- so do I !

Oh wait...yeah, I am a freak too.

Still she will probably want ice after mowing a half acre by hand.

[LostinVA]

42. And a backrub

[CreekDog]

34. hey that causes cancer now

:eyes:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

36. Only if it's too hot

She dumps a shit load of milk in it, so it should be safe.

[flvegan]

4. A remake of "Kate & Allie"

I love it.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

10. Yeah, pretty much, except dirtier

[CreekDog]

38. With a plot twist

albeit a popular one

:P

[amerikat]

5. Here is a good compromise for you two.

[LynneSin]

8. Are you sure you're not a freeper

because seriously - you are a freeper

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. I am not a freeper

I've never teabagged anyone.

[Deep13]

9. The real drawback with reel mowers...

...is they need to be sharpened. That requires a special machine that no one has.

[Gormy Cuss]

14. Yep. If there isn't someone nearby who'll sharpen them it's another skill to acquire.

There are sharpening kits out there. I was willing to buy one and learn to use it but we needed a power mower because we were mowing stands of weeds more than grass and the reel mower just couldn't cut it (pun intended.)

[Deep13]

16. If you are aware of a sharpening kit for these things...

...I would love to know about it. The only ones I have found were for the straight edges of power mowers. Reel mowers have long, curved blades that must remain in contact with what amounts to an anvil just behind the main wheels. That takes more than skill.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. Here's a link. I had a Great States brand mower.

http://www.reelmowers.info/index.htm

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. So they don't work if you have a weed-filled lawn?

Our yard is pretty much just dirt and leaves. We're not planting grass until the fall, because it's low down on our priorities. The house was an estate sale and sat vacant for a couple years before we moved in.

[Gormy Cuss]

23. They don't work on a field of weeds. Typical lawn weeds like dandelion weren't the problem.

We have massive weeds related to thistle and the like. The reel mower couldn't handle that. It did just fine on the weedy lawn.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

24. Okay, our weeds are more like dandelions and onion grass

[LostinVA]

43. Nope -- you can do them by hand, and you only need to do it every two-three years

And, the local hardware store five minutes away sharpens the blades.

[Deep13]

99. Cool!

My own reel mover is pretty bad. Maybe I should take a trip out there to get it done!

[jobycom]

12. Get an electric mower. No fumes, just a little electricity. And they are quiet

so you can mow late at night and not wake up the neighbors, which is good for nude moonlight mowing. Not that I've done that, that anyone knows.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. The fucking house doesn't have outside outlets, and we'd need a REALLY long power cord

Our property is very long and narrow.

[jobycom]

15. They charge. You don't need a cord.

Just plug them in and leave them a few hours, then start mowing.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

18. Ah, I didn't know that

I figured it'd be like our chainsaw and have to be plugged in.

[jobycom]

20. Some are, but some are cordless.

http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/Product-Details.aspx?ProductID=16345

There are probably others, that's just the one I have. Or my ex has, since my second floor apartment lawn is maintenance free.

[Deep13]

17. + 1

[LostinVA]

46. Not green

[Deep13]

95. Electric motors are far more efficient than gas engines.

It would cause significantly less pollution than gasoline.

[flvegan]

22. I used to use an electric. It had zero torque, though.

If the grass was even damp, blown fuse.

If the grass was a little too high, blown fuse.

If I wore my hat backwards, blown fuse.

I'm sure the newer ones are better.

[jobycom]

25. Fuse? Where?

Never knew it had a fuse.

We've had one for six years or so. Black and Decker. It mows fine. The only problem is if you let the grass get too high, you can wear the battery down more quickly. It does get weaker just before the battery dies. Sometimes you wind up with the mower getting weaker as you finish up, and it's a contest to get the last bit down before it dies. If you lose, you get a tuft of unmowed grass on your lawn for a few hours while it recharges. Best to mow the front yard first, then risk it running out where no one can see the tufts. :)

[flvegan]

29. This wasn't a charger. Used the cord.

There was a breaker up by the handle that would trip at the slightest appearance of difficulty.

[jobycom]

30. My kid would have loved that one.

She trips her fuse at the slightest appearance of difficulty, too. "Dad, I can't mow, there were mushrooms in the grass." "What do mushrooms have to do with mowing?" "You told me to mow the grass, but I wasn't sure I was supposed to mow the mushrooms, so I put the mower away."

Stuff like that.

[Jamastiene]

89. The electric ones suck ass.

Killed one of those in one swipe in my jungle. I mean killed it. Lowe's was nice about it and I got the 6 HP mower I have now. Even IT fucking chugs and chokes when I get to the really thick triffids. Unbelievable.

[LostinVA]

45. Electric mowers aren't green

[jobycom]

50. Mine is orange, actually. And black. And Energy Star.

The amount of energy you spend charging the battery is probably less than the amount of water and gas you will waste taking a shower after mowing with a push thingie.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

54. Of course, with no outside outlet

Our option would be to charge the thing in the dining room. That's not happening.

Anyway, we have rain barrels, to counteract showering.

[jobycom]

58. You'll be like my neighbor. He has a push mower, too.

He's always borrowing our electric. :)

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

62. Well, then we'll just start up our self-propelled gas powered one

Bad for the environment, but I'm not charging a lawn mower in the dining room.

[jobycom]

69. Extension cords. nt

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

73. Yeah, but then we'll have to run it through a window (have screens) or the doors (dogs run out them)

[Beer Snob-50]

96. ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

i am unfamiliar with that activity. sounds like a lot of fun!!! hopefully nothing kicks up.

[SteppingRazor]

26. Screw that noise. I prefer to just set fire to my lawn when it gets out of hand.

Then, I plant a new one. You'll never have to mow again.

:toast:

[LynneSin]

28. You're going down this week - you and Motley

5 out of 8 scenarios for the final game has me winning.

:woohoo:

[SteppingRazor]

31. Bah. All it takes is UNC beating Villanova and I'm right back in this thing.

Bring it!! :)

[LynneSin]

33. Yes but if Connecticut wins you're out

because Motley has Uconn against UNC whereas you're MichST

[SteppingRazor]

98. I guess I like my odds. It's a home game for MichSt after all.

That might give them enough advantage to hump it over the Huskies.

[XemaSab]

27. My mom uses the weed whacker

Weed whacking the power cord is an annual ritual. :P

[Left Is Write]

32. Tell her that I am 42 years old and have never mowed a lawn in my life...

with any kind of mower.

[sasquatch]

35. You're biggest fans would be flvegan and he'd have to get cable for the LOGO network

[flvegan]

40. I have LOGO!

Woo hoo!

[crim son]

37. LMAO!

Let LostinVA do your lawn the way nature intended :P and you can come over here, drink beer and use my ride-on while me and my daughter look on... :evilgrin:

KIDDING, LostinVA!

[LostinVA]

48. I expect she'll sit on the porch and smoke and drink while I do it

[crim son]

60. That seems reasonable.

:P

[LostinVA]

67. OMFG

[Dappleganger]

39. Get a goat.

Half an acre is a LOT to mow w/a reel mower. Maybe the goat will give you some milk and a couple of kids, and faint when the mail is delivered for entertainment. You can't go wrong!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

44. The dogs would like a goat

The HOA probably not so much.

[BeachBaby]

47. That's too bad.

Some people up the road from me have 3 billy goats. I have yet to see anybody out there with a lawnmower. :)

[LostinVA]

49. I love goat cheese

It's only about 1/4 of an acre of "grass" (mainly crabgrass right now). The rest is woods or where the dogs play (ie basically dirt).

[Kali]

65. a sheep would be better

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

87. If we could afford it, we'd have land with some sheep

I'd love to be able to work the dogs everyday on sheep. They'd love it, too.

[LostinVA]

41. I'M the one mowing the damn lawn -- this is the reel mower I'm getting

http://www.amazon.com/Great-States-415-16-16-Inch-Standard/dp/B00002N691/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1238451379&sr=8-2

[cboy4]

52. I give it a month

:hide:

[LostinVA]

57. DTM!!!!!

:cry:

[cboy4]

59. Can I win you back by rooting for Carolina!!?

Of course, then I'll be DTM (dead to midlo) :cry:

[LostinVA]

66. Yes! I bleed Carolina Blue!!!

[taterguy]

55. Why is a noise-canceling ear muff an accessory?

How much noise do those damn things make?

[LostinVA]

56. I didn't even notice that!

They go"snick... sssssssssss.... snick"

[flvegan]

63. Not much horsepower in that thing.

[LostinVA]

68. I'll probably get all sweaty when I use it

Dripping wet.

[flvegan]

71. I see what you're doing here.

[LostinVA]

74. I'm talking about being "green"

[mwooldri]

94. I have an alternative for you. Get a goat.

Whether it's any better for the environment with all that farting going on I don't know but you do benefit from having a good burglar deterrent plus some goats milk (if you are so inclined) and a nice short lawn.

Mark.

[DeepBlueC]

103. I hope you have nothing bigger than a postage stamp to mow

That is damn hard work. You have to do it constantly. If you let it get a little too long it will overwhelm the blades and you will have to back up and go over the same spot over, and over...and over. I HTTW can look foward to drinkin' and ridin' and hell maybe some mowin' too in the fairly near future.

[InvisibleTouch]

108. I recommend this one, actually:

Scotts 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower

Wider wheel base, more stable, and can be adjusted to leave the grass longer, which is better for your lawn (won't burn as fast, needs less watering, chokes out weeds naturally). It's actually quite nice to use, as long as you're on a relatively flat surface and haven't let the grass get too long. In other words, you have to keep after it regularly, but you can also leave the clippings where they lay, which fertilizes the lawn naturally.

Enjoy! :)

[Taverner]

51. I heard she's actually three people

One in the morning, one at lunch and one at night...

:P

[cboy4]

53. This would be a sweet ride .. pick up twigs and shit

on the property!

I bet it even has AC! :bounce:

[DeepBlueC]

104. And you could put the relatives up in it too...

Rent it out as a guest cottage.

[Parche]

61. Show Called LostinFreeperville

:woohoo: :hi: :hug: :hug: :hug:



Haruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuka

[fishwax]

64. Reel mowers are great

I kind of miss mine, but I'm in an apartment now so it's unnecessary :)

[DeepBlueC]

106. REAL mowers are better

they have cup-holders.

[mwdem]

70. I watch that show, and my husband should live with Ed.

He's even put rain barrels under our spouts (only they're really fricking garbage cans!). If she's the only one mowing, let her have at it. Btw, my dad used a riding mower, drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette! Living the life, I always said.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

76. We have rainbarrels!

We call them big blue. Despite that, LostinVA refuses to allow me to paint NY Giants logos on them. She's really, really mean to me.

[mwdem]

77. At least they're real rainbarrels.

You should paint on them whatever you like! You, also, have to look at them.

[LostinVA]

78. I'm a Philadelphia Eagles fan -- she is NOT putting a Giants stencil on the barrels

[mwdem]

79. You know, I lived in and around the Philadelphia area for a long time.

You're absolutely right! Maybe you should paint them a neutral color, like kind of a teal green...

[LostinVA]

81. I don't mind them staying "Big Blue" blue, but no stencils!!!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

80. If it makes you feel any better, I'm making a worm farm out of rubbermaid containers

[mwdem]

83. That could be cool!

We have a healthy worm farm in our side flower garden. It's so much warmer here, we can do it outside. We're getting a healthier soil, and our flowers are in full bloom. Our earthworms look like snakes!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

85. We can keep it outside here for most of the year

It's still pretty cold out, but when I was working in the yard this weekend, there were a lot of earthworms.

[mwdem]

88. It's amazing what they can do to the soil.

Okay, now me and mr. mwdem need to come out to see you girls. If we finally plan a trip back to see our N.E. friends, I'll let you know.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

90. Cool

Keep us posted.

[Yavin4]

72. OMG! I Had A Manual Push Lawn mower as a Kid

Those things are torture. A good workout though. It'll strengthened your arms.

[ThomCat]

100. I had a manual push mower as a kid too.

x(

I was too small to get the leverage to use it properly, and my dad never got the blades sharpened. The day my dad moved out that dull POS went into the trash.

[DeepBlueC]

107. It'll also stretch your vocabulary

if you can go beyond the word fuck.

[mainegreen]

75. I want a giant snowblower. My wife wants to shovel. I totally understand. n/t

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

82. She does want a snowblower, though

I guess being green only goes so far.

[Yavin4]

84. A Manual Lawn Mower Is A Good Workout

Good for the arms.

[Jamastiene]

86. Wow, that's dedication.

I'm with you though. If I didn't live on the side of a mountainous hilly area, I'd be riding only I'd be swigging vodka. Damn getting the rows even. When fighting these triffids, any of them mowed down is a win.

[LostinVA]

91. I'm buying you a plane ticket so you can come do some wiring for us

If you are VERY, VERY nice to me, I'll let you use the reel mower. Just as a treat.

[Jamastiene]

92. At my old place, I did use one of those.

At the old place, we had centipede grass, dandelions, and wild onions. It was a piece of cake with a reel mower.

Where we live now is made of triffids, jungle foliage, jungle spiders, poltergeists, and Carolina Wolf Spiders. You either get snagged by thorny triffids or bitten by pissed off spiders. Either way, it's no fun. You WANT 6 HP of gas powered self propelled machine to win the battle.

If your yard is how Haruka described it, you'll do just fine.

What do you need wired? I likey electricity. Fun.

[LostinVA]

93. Carolina Wolfies are scary

We need: an outside outlet, a light fixture capped and closed, and a couple other things.

[Chan790]

97. If I can moderate the thinking-gap...

I sell lawn-mowers so I get to see what's on the horizon. If you can wait another 6 months to a year, the next major movement in lawn and garden is propane-powered engines. Cleaner than gasoline, more powerful than electric, less strenuous than manual power. We already have propane weed-whackers in stock, the propane lawnmowers shouldn't be too much farther behind.

They run on those camp-stove tanks. You'd probably need 2 tanks for a 1/2 acre. I'd say that it'll be available in a ride-on in 3 or 4 years if it catches on. You might not want a ride-on propane mower though...it'd probably use a full-sized grill tank and I figure they'd put it under the seat so you get to ride around on top of a bomb. :scared:

[Debi]

101. How do I miss these posts?

I just don't spend enough time here x(

[LostinVA]

102. I'm ordering it next Friday

$12 cheaper through Amazon then at Home Depot, and free shipping.

The flamingo should be here Monday.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

105. You ordered a flamingo and you won't let me paint a Giants logo on Big Blue?!?!?!

[Debi]

110. Flamingos show class, babe

Especially the ones that you can change their outfits for every season!

[Debi]

109. YAY!!!

:bounce:

[AwakeAtLast]

111. Offer this compromise

An electric mower. We have one and it is great! Quiet, doesn't use a lot of electricity, and fairly easy to use.

My $.02. :hi: