A Tale of Unexpected Encounters

As a homesteader, I've learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to maintaining our property. Whether it's the garden, the animals, or just keeping the lawn and driveway clear, every task comes with its own set of surprises. However, nothing could have prepared me for the bizarre encounters I've had with my riding mower and snowblower attachment over the past few seasons.

The Great Mower Mishaps

The 50-Foot Steel Cable

This one was particularly hair-raising. Picture this: a seemingly ordinary mowing session, and suddenly, my mower starts choking and sputtering. A quick investigation revealed that I had somehow managed to run over a 50-foot steel cable hidden in the tall grass. The cable wrapped itself around the blades, causing the mower to come to a screeching halt. It took me a good hour to untangle the mess and ensure no lasting damage was done to the mower. Lesson learned: always do a thorough walk-through of the area before mowing!

The Nerf Gun

It’s amazing how easy it is to overlook something as colorful as a Nerf gun. It must have been one of those days when the kids had a battle in the yard, and the plastic toy was left behind. The mower didn't appreciate the unexpected obstacle and let me know with a series of loud clunks and sputters. Thankfully, the Nerf gun was mostly obliterated, and my blades were still intact, though slightly worse for wear.

The Garden Hose

This one was a bit of a disaster. Somehow, the garden hose got left out in the yard after a day of watering the garden. As I rode over what I thought was just another patch of grass, the mower’s blades caught the hose and promptly shredded it. The result was a tangled mess of rubber and grass that took far longer to clean up than I'd like to admit. Plus, I had to replace the hose.

The Sprinkler

In a similar vein to the garden hose, the sprinkler was another casualty of my mowing adventures. Left in the grass after a watering session, the sprinkler became an unsuspecting target. The blades made quick work of the plastic, and I was left picking up bits and pieces from all over the yard. Let’s just say, I’m a bit more vigilant about clearing the yard of watering tools now.

The Rubber Mat

What looked like a harmless piece of rubber lying in the yard turned into another mower mishap. The rubber mat got sucked under the deck and wrapped around the blades like some kind of stubborn vine. It took quite a bit of effort to remove the mat without damaging the mower further. I’ve since made it a point to keep all mats and rugs safely stored away when not in use.

The Hoodie

If there's one thing I've learned, it's that clothes and mowers don't mix. Somehow, a hoodie ended up in the yard, possibly left out after a chilly evening around the fire pit. The mower quickly gobbled it up, resulting in a tangled mess that took an eternity to clear out. Fortunately, the hoodie was the only casualty.

Snowblower Shenanigans

While my riding mower has had its fair share of run-ins with foreign objects, my snowblower attachment has also seen some action.

The Wiener Dog Draft Blocker

This incident was both amusing and slightly frustrating. One winter morning, I set out to clear the driveway with the snowblower. Everything was going smoothly until I heard a strange thumping noise. To my dismay, I discovered that the cute, stuffed animal draft blocker that usually resides at the bottom of our front door had somehow found its way outside and into the snow. The snowblower had sucked it up and jammed it into the chute, turning my peaceful snow-clearing session into a battle of extraction.

The Pickaroon

This tool, typically used for moving logs, was the last thing I expected to find buried in the snow. While clearing the driveway, the snowblower suddenly jolted to a stop. After some investigation, I found that the pickaroon had been left out after a wood-splitting session and had become lodged in the snow. The sharp tool was tough on the snowblower's blades and required a careful extraction process to avoid further damage.

The Steel Reflector Pole Driveway Marker

Here’s a lesson in keeping your markers visible. One particularly snowy day, the snowblower chugged along until it made a violent clunk and came to an abrupt halt. It turns out I had run over a steel reflector pole driveway marker that was buried under a pile of snow. The collision snapped the shear pins, and I had to replace them before I could get back to clearing the driveway. This was a reminder of just how crucial it is to keep track of where those markers are—especially in deep snow.

The 6-Foot Long Foam and Plastic Slide

Sometimes, it's not just the small objects you need to watch out for, but the larger ones too. My kids had left a 6-foot-long foam and plastic slide out during a snowfall, and it quickly disappeared under a thick blanket of white. As I made my way down the driveway with the snowblower, I heard a loud, grinding noise. To my horror, I realized the snowblower had caught the edge of the slide, shredding it and sending foam and plastic bits flying. It took some effort to remove the remnants and get the snowblower back in working order.

The Snow Shovel

As if the list wasn't long enough, I managed to run over a snow shovel with the snowblower as well. Left standing near the edge of the driveway, it fell over and got buried in the snow during a heavy storm. When the snowblower hit it, the impact was immediate and jarring. The shovel was mangled beyond repair, and the snowblower didn’t fare much better, requiring a careful inspection and some minor repairs before it was back in action.

Expect the Unexpected

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from these experiences, it’s that you never know what your kids might have left in the yard. Whether it’s a forgotten toy, a stray piece of clothing, or something entirely random, anything is fair game when it comes to the mower or snowblower. The unexpected is practically a guarantee when you have little ones running around.

These incidents have taught me some valuable lessons. First, always do a thorough check of the yard and driveway before mowing or snowblowing. It’s easy to overlook small objects, especially when they blend in with the surroundings. Second, never underestimate the power of your equipment. Even the smallest item can cause significant damage or, at the very least, a major headache.

So, fellow homesteaders, take my advice: keep an eye out for stray items, and maybe invest in a good magnet or yard rake to help clear the way before you start up your machines. Your mower and snowblower will thank you for it, and you’ll save yourself a lot of frustration in the long run.