HOA in the background tending to the back forty.
Jackiejr, That is a lot of grass
We have only around 25,000 SF under grass, just enough to get a good workout with our push rotary mower. Get two activities done at the same time - more time for the layout!
That Ron045 comment, that I will equate to her maybe putting you down for mowing your own lawn, which, l, too, have hated since a teenager, when l should have done more of it, l found hilarious. Had to maintain relative's property from a distance, by using lawn services, teenage mowers, etc. and had them not show up, go out of business, etc. And several other problems. Pain but much less hassle and more, although not, perfect 😀 reliability when l mow my own lawn, as long as am able. I liked Scottsdale's raked, colored sand lawns when briefly living in Phoenix. Who needs grass if they are not running cattle?
@Ron H posted:What does it cost to get your yard mowed?
I pay $75.00 per acre, which includes trimming bushes and other stuff, and a couple of water bottles in Tomball Texas. I'de rather play with toys or watch Tv these days at 73. It's well worth it to me.
Ahhhh, Tomball, Tx, Where Dually trucks have they're own lane at the bank, Where folks buy a New Ford Pickup and drive over to the bob-cat-rental-store to put 'er to WORK!, Where Longhorns graze along the road (Ornamental steers now-a days.. and the Sunsets are warm and friendly. (And, well, if the Dixie Chicks are embarrassed to say they are FROM Texas.. wellll...... they might-could be removed from every radio station the next day)
Ask me how I know <salute>
@CarGuyZM10 posted:We just bought a zero turn lawnmower on Thursday. Hopefully it will cut our grass cutting time down and I can have more time for trains.
It will, but not by much. I had a Sears 42" lawn tractor, it took about an hour to do my lawn. I replaced it with a Hustler Raptor Deluxe 52" zero-turn, the time went down to about fifty minutes. Not a lot of difference and I attribute most of that to the wider cut.
My first cut for this year will (probably) be Wednesday, it is forecast to be 82º.
I use a reasonable and excellent lawn service. They cut the grass, do the weed eating, and trim all trees and bushes. I also occasionally employ an arborist to inspect my few trees. No muss, no fuss! :-)
The owner, Amy, is also a certified botanist.
I was also fortunate to have a local lawn service gentleman who did all three acres of my Bear Creek Junction property in Western North Carolina. He later worked as a reliable general caretaker of my depot home in our absence.
Howdy. After 34 years in the same house and mowing the same area with a couple Toro deck mowers I packed it in last year. I do miss it a little and I always was satisfied with the quality of the cut 
but it was time to get a new mower so my wife and I agreed that the money to buy a new unit could be used to pay someone else to do the job. There is still plenty to do on the 1 + acre lot. But the trains can be considered a little higher in the pecking order now. 
Jim K
I retired last October. I still work mornings. Next week I plan to start back at the gym in the afternoons. Pool will be open in a couple months. It’s gonna start warming up in central Illinois soon. Im not sure I really mowed today but I did even out the grass. I’d like to start shooting my bow again and maybe do some fishing. Train season will slow down to rainy afternoons for me.
Lawn mower started on the first pull after sitting all winter! 
@Ron045 posted:
My first mow of the season... That means my train season starts to decline due to involvement in outdoor chores and regular outdoor activity.
Gimme more winter... Cold, snow, rain.
Ron
Cold, rain and snow- a great Grateful Dead tune!
Ron, my train season does not diminish here. You need to live in a 55 and over active retirement community!!
Enjoy the nice weather and thanks for the BCR back then.
I have never been a "yard guy" and am glad I hired others to do this necessary work.
I've mowed my yard three times in 2021. The garden has been in for a month now.
Where I live summertime is the time for either water activities, or the train room. Winter time is usually a nicer time for outdoors activities and construction projects. Except of course that string of 10 cold days this year in February (it happens to us every 30 years it seems).
i agree with many on the tread . . . . . . HIRE A Landscaper!
those newcomers need a job.
@IRON HORSE posted:I like the garage comment because, even though you are still working on the layout, you are outside so you can justify wasting a sunny day on your trains. Besides, Ron045m, cheer up because there are plenty of rainy days ahead
Mike
"wasting a sunny day on your trains" ????? 😅🤣😂🤣😅 It's never a waste!
@Ron045 posted:That price sounds about right. I have 2 acres. That money could be a lot of potential engines and rolling stock that would instead be going to a guy riding around on a lawn mower twice a week.
I live a a neighborhood were a lot of people have a lawn service. When we first moved in I was mowing my front lawn. A lady was walking by and waved at me to stop. She came over and asked how much I charged to mow. I paused for a moment, thinking I should tell her I live here and we just moved in. But instead my reply was, "Well, this lady lets me sleep with her".
She hurried away and never spoke to me again. Even 17 years later she won't even look over when walking by.
Some people don't have a sense of humor.
Ron
You're a man after my own heart.
I was working retail and our store was being remodeled. A lady came by my counter asked what was going on.
I said," you haven't heard about our new DENTIST office?" Immediately somebody started operating a very noisy grinder inside the worksite. The lady turned white and walked away.
@Ron045 posted:
My first mow of the season... That means my train season starts to decline due to involvement in outdoor chores and regular outdoor activity.
Gimme more winter... Cold, snow, rain.
Ron
Beautiful lawn!!!
@Alan Rogers posted:Beautiful lawn!!!
It really is, and if I understood Ron’s story correctly, if you sleep with his wife, he’ll do the same for your lawn. Did I get that right? LOL!
