by cheri block
You may recall our purchase of a new John Deere tractor last year.
She has performed splendidly, enabling the Judge to drag tree branches all over the property. Her warranty is still fresh; her paint still vibrant; her engine strong and loud.
Last week, while grading a hillside for his new olive orchard, the Judge noticed a light on the dashboard blink on. Uh oh.
She must be hauled all the way to the dealership for a check of this pesky light. Rainbow Tractor is in a small town situated at the top of the famed Napa Valley, heart of California’s wine region.
“You have to be kidding,” I said, when the Judge suggested I come along for the ride.
“I’m not kidding, Cheri, ” the Judge answered.
We left at 5:30 am, hauling our heavy load through Bay Area rush hour traffic, but soon the beauty of the land and the smell of grapevines replaced the morning snarl of cars and the attitudes of the people who drive them.
We pulled into Rainbow Tractor at 7 am after a 2.5 hour drive.
The land was just waking up, so I walked across Highway 29 to snap a picture.
Calistoga, California
But there was work to do, namely, unloading the tractor and leaving her for the day to be repaired.
Backing off the trailer on Highway 29
I sat on the side of the road, cradling my camera in my arms and wondering what to have for breakfast in town.
“Cheri, I know I seduced you to come with me by telling you that we could browse the stores and maybe go wine tasting while we wait for the tractor to be repaired, but I heard from Al at the hardware store, that Bob has an auger he will loan me, so I’d like to drive up to Kelseyville, visit Bob, take him out to lunch, and pick up the auger. Do you think we can do this?” the Judge suggested.
” Sure we can,” I said, patting grape jelly on my English muffin.
Off we drove, still hauling the noisy trailer up the windy mountain, through Middletown and on to Clear Lake, but not before the Judge had to pull over and conduct a conference call, of all ungodly things. Always prepared for these distractions, I pulled out my latest text on William the Conqueror.
Call finished, the Ford 250 swung into gear. The trailer creaked and off we went to meet Bob. At this point, something must be said about Bob.
An old hardware store guy's keys.
He is 80 years old and owned the local hardware store for many years. He’s Scotch and gruff on the outside. He’s a generous man with those he trusts. He is short on words and long on kindness. He and the Judge have solved many of our plumbing and electrical problems throughout the years. He trusts the Judge.
His wife died several years ago. He’s been very lonely, so he moved far away to their house up in Kelseyville.
Everywhere you look on his property, a project looms.
Despite failing joints and the usual aches and pains that accompany an 80-year-old, Bob gets up every day with a project in mind.
Here are a few of his projects:
The hay field must be plowed for next year's seeding.
Fences need repair.
Antique tractors need restoration.
And then there’s the auger.
Bob and the Judge and the Auger.
More Auger.
Ironically, we had lunch at the hardware store in Kelseyville where some enterprising person realized that hardware junkies–like Bob and the Judge–would love to chew the fat.
It was getting late, so down the mountain we hurried to Rainbow Tractor where, I am pleased to report, our tractor sat, her light repaired.
We had time to browse the shops and stop for a terrific glass of wine in the wine country.
And the Judge bought me dinner at a sweet restaurant in Calistoga.
Our conversation consisted of William the Conqueror, Bob, Rainbow Tractor, and the late hour.
I find it interesting that men can possess endless love for wives and children and yet have a vast capacity to love their stuff, like fly rods, cars, tractors and an assortment of hardware items. I must confess that I, too, have experienced that love and pure joy when in the company of my stuff. For the Judge it may be the tractor, for another man it might be a Winchester 1894 (pre-1964 vintage), radio controlled airplances and even a special crescent wrench inherited from a father. And who would forget the dog-I love our dog…
One caveat, as stated in the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s tractor.
Oh my did this post ever resonate with me! As my transmogrification from urbanite to reluctant ruralite proceeds I found myself casting a critical eye over that fence in the picture to assess what was wrong and the level of effort required to fix it. Plus we are currently building a garage for a yet to be identified farm vehicle. I was thinking jeep but now I think a tractor would be much more fulfilling. And I so want a keychain like that. What’s happening to me??
We’ll look forward to a snapshot of that yet unidentified vehicle.
We also have a four-wheel drive John Deere Gator, a ranch truck (Ford 250) and enough tools to open our own hardware store. Each month when the bill arrives from that store (Bob’s old store), I cringe.
Never saw such a bunch of keys on a chain since I stopped working in young offenders rehabilitation facilities. Hope the guy does not fall off a bridge.
Will you be driving the tractor to Montreal?
If the Judge could have his way he would drive a tractor all the way to Montreal. But we would have to stop at every Canadian barn we saw…
I enjoyed every inch of this journey, Cheri, and would have shared the enthusiasm for the augur, whatever it is.
I loved the house in the field of flowers. I’m glad you crossed the highway for it this time, but be careful, now, won’t you!
The judge’s paint is still vibrant and his engine strong and loud, clearly.
An auger is a twirly thing of steel that digs post holes. It can be fitted to the tractor and dig lots of holes without manual labor.
I given the same warning as I crossed the highway!
This invention doesn’t augur well for the futures of those who make their living from manually digging post holes.
Is your hubby sexy from the front too, Cheri?
And what have you done to that house and flowers? Something good and eerie there ..
what a wonderful way to spend the day!
thanks for sharing. i have a great fondness for hardware stores myself. they should build a lunch counter in every one of ‘em
I agree–I’ve always wanted to open a combination hardware store/bookshop.
You could come up with some pretty clever names for that store…
It certainly was a stroke of genius. I’ve never seen a restaurant in a hardware store. It was packed!
Can I borrow the auger when you’re done? I’m looking for oil.
It would be expensive to ship abroad. Should you find oil in Austria, it may change OPEC forever, not to mention your life.
Have you seen James Dean in Giant?
Of course I have. And there are oil fields in Austria already.
Sounded like a perfectly delightful Rasmussen day, only you would not have gotten away with such short conversation with Dr.
Advice! Did Bob move up there for good?
He spends most of his time up there now, but comes down occasionally to conduct business.
Is there a short conversation with Dr. Advice?
Philippe,
When I started to write this post, I spelled auger augur.
Very nice play on words, sir.