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kay's avatar

Backhoes are the greatest- especially with a good operator. Almost making shovels obsolete- almost. and you can send a little water our way in Southern Illinois as it will help our crops fill out a little better.

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Fred's avatar

We had tree roots get in our weeping bed. Had to dig it open, in February, lucky it was during an uncharacteristically mild spell. Still remember my wife watching me from the window, wondering when things would work again.

Backhoes are almost necessities on the farm. I bought my first, a 3 point attached backhoe at a farm auction. I paid way more than I wanted to, but my back hurt and I had some drain work ahead of me, that helped pry open the wallet. I found it so handy, I later bought a real backhoe. Just took my 3 point hoe to a consignment farm auction last week, hope the new owner appreciates it as much as I did. Fred

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Fred's avatar

On the bright side, it could have been the septic system. Much more urgent, much less fun

Fred

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Brent Olson's avatar

Solid point. About twenty years ago we put in a new septic system, after thirty years of coddling the one my great-grandparents put in. Best money we ever spent.

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Lee Kanten's avatar

I really like how you take setbacks as a reason to write instead of as the universe out to get you. I try to remember that.

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Brent Olson's avatar

Think about the best music ever written - Born in the USA, Crazy, basically anything Wagner wrote... Truth and beauty can be found in some very dark places.

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Brent Olson's avatar

Whenever we have some sort of catastrophe Robin often says, "Well, at least it will make a good column."

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