Yet Another Box Blade Question

dmccarty · Aug 2, 2001

Harv,

First of all great picture of your Mom. She is a darling! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

And I love YOUR shirt! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

From the pictures it looks like you have gotten that path as smooth as one can with a box blade. If you could get ahold of a rock rake it might clean it up some more....

Instead of trying to get a mirror finish can you add crush and run(ABC), mulch, pine straw, etc to that path? I have put down some stone, I think its a #7 stone, to use as a parking spot as well as a path and part of a patio. The stone is a granite maybe 1/4 to 1/8 inch in diameter so its pretty small but it makes a nice looking path/patio/parking area. Its not a big rock that can cause an ankle turn either. You don't want to walk on it in your bare feet though. Mulch and pine straw would allow her to use the path after rains so she would not be in the mud. And if she happened to fall, mulch and pine straw would at least have some give.

Would any of this work?

Later...
Dan McCarty

GlueGuy · Aug 2, 2001

Harv,

I would go along with what Dan suggests. Around here, a popular "topping" material is "DG" (Decomposed Granite). Comes in gray and gold. In fact, the gold is sometimes referred to as "gold dust". Packs very firmly, and makes a really smooth surface.

The GlueGuy

Harv · Aug 2, 2001

Dan, GlueGuy -

I appreciate the suggestion, and I see the wisdom in it. But, like so many things in life, there's more to it than meets the eye.

This path is purely for Mom. Everybody else is able to frolic over the existing surface with no problem. The grim reality is that we just don't know how many more walks Mom has left in her. Her doctors are leaning heavily on us to put her in a home (to which I reply, "She has a home /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif). Don't even get me started on that chapter!

So basically, being forced to think of the long term, I'm not sure the path should be anything resembling "permanent". That particular acreage is something I am trying to keep clear for easy tractorin' and eventual landscaping (maybe a lawn?). I know the stuff you are talking about could be scraped off and maybe even re-used, but we might be better off putting those dollars towards some full-time in-home care.

Actually, I forgot to mention that Mom did very well on her test walk. With a caretaker at her side, using her cane and going slow, she managed quite well and with little hesitation. My plan at the moment is to just keep working on the path a little more every time I go up. With all the advice from you TBN folk, I should get some fine box blade experience and possibly improve the surface in the process. If I have to, I'll even get off the tractor and make a final pass with a hand rake. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

dmccarty · Aug 6, 2001

Harv,

I can well understand the priority with your mother, The Home issue, and spending money. The city/town I live in usually has mulch for the taking year round. At least when I asked they had the stuff. In the fall or spring, they have a big giveaway of mulch that they picked up and processed. Just take a truck/trailer and they load you right up. I have gone at other times and loaded the mulch myself.

The county where my property resides also has some sort of mulch giveaway. They might charge a nominal fee, $5 a yard or some such. Not much

You might want to try to see if the county/town/city has such a giveaway.

Later...
Dan McCarty

Harv · Aug 6, 2001

Thanks, Dan.

I should really spend more time reading the local newspaper up at the property. Since I'm only a weekend visitor to that community, I know very little of what's going on up there and what's available. Probably be worth my while to educate myself. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

jimmoore · Aug 7, 2001

Harv, enjoyed the picture of you and mom. For such a small little lady, she sure raised a BIG STRAPPING SON.

jim

Harv · Aug 7, 2001

Jim -

With my mom at 4'10" (now reduced to 4'8"), it helped that my dad was a little over 6 feet. They made quite a couple, as you can imagine. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

At 5'10", I only look big when I'm standing next to Mom. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Harv · Jan 15, 2002

Dear TBN'ers -

The current <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=off&Number=99857&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>Attorney and Estate TAX question</A> discussion has reminded me that I wanted to thank so many of you, on behalf of my mother, for the extensive help and kind words you extended last year with respect to creating a walking path on her property.

The path was a success, and brought great pleasure to my mom for a couple of months. I am told by her caretaker that she walked it almost daily (with help), and commented on it as a new discovery every time (one of the dubious benefits of dementia). More than once I was able to explain to her that the path was actually the product of dozens of tractor owners from around the country. She didn't understand, of course, but she smiled and said, "Thank you. I like it very much." I am hereby passing those words onto you.

At almost 87 years old, unfortunately, her problems got worse, and my trips to the property involved less and less tractorin' so that I could spend the time with Mom. I'm glad I did, because on a rare middle-of-the-week trip I made up there by myself on November 14th, with me at her bedside, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/forumfiles/5-60413-MomAndMe.jpg>Mom</A> drew her final breath.

I chose not to share this sad ending with you before the holidays were over, but it wouldn't be right to not give thanks where thanks are due.

Thank you!

Bird · Jan 15, 2002

Harv, sure sorry to hear of the loss of your mother, but glad she enjoyed the walking path.

RobS · Jan 15, 2002

Harv, she looks like she was a great mom and you have certainly been a great son for her. How fortunate that you got to spend time with her in her final days/weeks/months. My sympathies to you and your family /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bill_in_MI · Jan 15, 2002

Harv,
My sympathies to you and your family. I'll bet we can thank your mom for your helping nature and your sense of humor. May your memories of her provide continuing comfort, joy, and peace.

paccorti · Jan 15, 2002

Harv,

So sorry to hear about your mother. This must be a very difficult time. Please accept my sincere condolances to you and your family.

Peter

MChalkley · Jan 15, 2002

Harv - I'd like to echo the sentiments of the others - a very sad loss. No matter how many times one goes through the loss of a dear one, it's just as hard. It never gets any easier. Apparently, it's not supposed to.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 15, 2002

Harv,

I’m so glad you were able to introduce your Mom to us TBN’ers… Even though we’ve never met her… I can tell she was a great lady… How?… We take one long look at her son…

A child is a reflection of their parents and you’ve done your Mom and Dad proud…

We pray for your Mom’s soul and for you and your family…

MarkV · Jan 15, 2002

Harv,

Just like you not to share your loss because of the holidays. There is no question your Mom would be proud of you.

Our thoughts are with you and your family.

MarkV

bgott · Jan 15, 2002

My condolences, Harv.

BWa · Jan 16, 2002

Harv.
My Condolences in the pasing of your mother .

Bill G.

Harv · Jan 16, 2002

<font color=blue>Just like you not to share your loss because of the holidays.</font color=blue>

Well ... it's also just possible I wasn't ready to talk about it until now, too.

Two months have now passed, so I and my family are starting to let go of the recent past and remember more of the good times from years gone bye. I guess that's how nature takes care of these things.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, condolences and good wishes. It is very much appreciated.

To bring this thread back a little more to its topic, the ownership of that walking path (along with the rest of the 42 acres) is being transferred into my name as we speak. Mom had put my name on the deed as a joint tenant, so the "real" property will bypass probate. There are other issues involved, unfortunately, so whether or not I will be able to hang onto the property indefinitely is not entirely clear at this point.

Without this property, of course, I would have no need of a tractor, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anonymous Poster · Jan 16, 2002

Harv,
Well here is how I use my rollover Gill box blade with my 4310 GST. I don't think I have heard this method used lately, it is not easy and it is slow but here it is.
First I put the toplink in the bottom hole of the three available ones at the tractor. That seems to help when pushing. Next I flipover the boxblade in the push position. Then I lengthen or shorten the top link to get some bite into the soil. Very slowly push the blade in reverse to smooth out the dips and humps. They are impossible to remove going forward because the rear wheels follow the imperfections and so does the blade.
Working this way and turning around and looking backward as you carefully adjust the blade is tiring and all that but it works. Try it for your self. I admit you cannot grade like with a dozer, but it works for me on my small projects.
Hope this helps
Greg H

jhburke · Jan 16, 2002

Harv
Sorry to hear of your mothers passing. I lost my mother 3 years ago. I well understand about dementia. Mother had it also. I would go over almost everyday. At the last she wouldn't even know me. Very, very hard to take. But like you I went over to her house on a feeling that I needed to and was there when she drew her last breath. Very thankful I followed by feelings. JIM