The Heat of August In New Orleans

JK Schwehm

Yesterday I drove to Wal-Mart. The heat is bad here now. I went in and walked around and really forgot what I went for. So as not to let on, I did what any respectable old guy would do. I walked around each and every isle looking at things. I was sure if I saw it I would then remember. I covered everywhere some places twice. I gave up and drove home right past the Post Office when I remembered that was where I was going in the first place.

Perils of Katrina:Snake in the Bookcase

I had a small tin shed damaged by the storm. I just put the tin roof back on after Katrina and did not really clean it out. I had several things from my law office in it. The book cases became a home for mice and I just let it sit until I could gather the courage and time to remove the destroyed items. I am trying to salvage two of the file cabinets but most everything was destroyed by rain and critters. Today I began to remove the books to a burn pile and discovered a large mother snake curled up in a void. She did not move which is why I could go inside and get the camera for this picture. She was large, about 5 feet I estimate and I am not sure the type but assume she is a king snake? I have several in the yard I let roam around as before them I had too many mice. Plus I am told poisonous snakes keep away from king snakes. So I hope they keep the mice and cotton mouths away. I finally after pleading with her to move so I could remove the books had to get a stick and push her off. She laziely slithered down the back and tried to come back out the front until I encouraged her to keep away from my feet with the stick. I'll have to keep an eye out for her as I sill have more to remove from that old shed.

The Old Cub Cadet

As I continue to clear away debris still standing in my back yard from Katrina I pull out old things that once were used and liked. About 15 years ago my son and I were able to get an old Cub Cadet running. He rebuilt it, cleaned it, added a few new things and it ran for  a few years. I parked it next to a shed in the back yard. The shed was hit by several trees. The wind blew most of the tin off. All I did initially was put the roof tin back on and throw away some items in it but not all the stuff that was stored there. Now that stuff is a real mess and I need to remove it and burn it.
I was able to pull out the Cub Cadet after sawing up and pulling away big tree limbs and lots of vines. Vines and roots grew all in the cutting deck. Apparently I let it all the way down when I parked it. Rust seems to have eaten a lot of things but I was able to fill the tires with some air, grease the axels and pull it to a spot I can work on it again. It has a good old Kohler engine and Delco starter with a Sears battery. Soon as I can drain the gas, clean the carburetor, check the plug I may see if it starts. Not to cut grass but to ride around the yard. I’ll report back if I get it running again. It reminds me of the History TV Show about pickers. I have found all sorts of things covered in debris I could not get to after the storm.


 I found this article on the web so I may be able to restore it.

In 2008, Mr. Will solidified his garden tractor expert reputation by releasing a book Garden Tractors: Deere, Cub Cadet, and All the Rest. It’s full of great photos (new and old, like the one at the top that I love) that outline the garden tractor’s history and brands.
Cub Cadet articles from the Farm Collector Archives
The Tough International Harvester Cub Cadet Garden Tractor by Oscar H. Will III from the April 2004 issue
Cub Cadet Garden Tractor Restoration by Oscar H. Will III from the May 2004 issue
Cub Cadet Garden Tractor Restoration (Part II) by Oscar H. Will III from the June 2004 issue

Garden Tractors: Deere, Cub Cadet, and All the Rest by Oscar H. Will III (2008, $25, available from Farm Collector books)
Original Farmall Cub and Cub Cadet by Kenneth Updike (2004, $37.95, available from Farm Collector books)

Katrina Trash Sculpture

  I have been working on clearing my back yard of fallen trees left from the storm.  As I remove the leaners and hangers, brush and debris I recover things covered over for years. My old pirogue was crushed, motor boat got a hole that a small tree grew in. So I took the mess and trash and made a ‘Katrina Trash Sculpture’. I placed it in front of the propane tank, removing one eyesore for another. What to do with the tings that once meant something but were removed from thought and action by the storm. Just throwing them away belittles the trauma caused by the very strong winds. Winds that changed so many lives and the way we live now. No more pirogue, motorboat, and odds and ends. I did find the old volley ball net and it survived, I was surprised. Made of nylon and in a torn plastic bag covered in twigs and leaves. It now hangs  between two  new small growing trees, a testament that life goes on.

Part of the pirogue crushed by fallen tree and the volleyball net. Now I have to get back to work.

Cutting trees in Pearl River

yes I am still cutting trees that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina in my back yard. My daughter and son-in-law helped one day but for 2 weeks I have managed to cut 8 trees so far. if the chain saws would work better I could get more done. Of that time I spent 4 days getting the saws to work. Sharpening chains, cleaning up the engine area, trying to get the kinks out. Both had pull start problems. The Craftsman finally Incredi Pull gave out after I cleaned the plug, cleaned it up sharpened the blade, etc. i pulled and broke went the Incredi Pull device. A small piece of black plastic fell out but I gave up for now as one saw worked. I went with it and cut 5 trees before I went broke too.
The tops were cracked and rotted, began to fall off, big chunks too. The Red headed Woodpeckers loved it but it was dangerous as one big chuck fell in the bed of my pick up one windy night. I wold come home to find big branches all over the yard, roof, and just lucky no real damage occurred yet. I still need to remove more.

Lumberjack Song - Monty Python

I have been still cutting down damaged trees from the storm. I do not think I can get to all of them before time is out. February is the best month to do it and so far I have reclaim about a third of my back yard. Felling is easy the cutting to manageable pieces and stacking them for burning takes all the time.

The good news is it is great exercise. And yes when the tree falls you hear the sound.

Save The Marsh, Eat Nutria : New Orleans Fig Street Studio

Save The Marsh, Eat Nutria : New Orleans Fig Street Studio