TOMATO PATCH

Last year (2025), I was unable to till up our tomato patch due to weakness from the chemotherapy treatments received, however this year, I was able to do so, thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

I didn't do any sequence pixs of tilling up the tomato patch, but added 40 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer along with a couple years of crushed up egg shells.  I tilled the soil two different times, however we have been in a serious drought this Spring and recently received a few light rain shower; Praise our Lord!

Pix above archived from Yard Projects 2022 page.

I planted about thirty (30) tomato plants with five of them larger 2 or 3 gallon size plants and the rest much, much smaller.  We had about 3 days of near frost temperatures, but missed the bullet and didn't loose any plants due to the cold weather and/or frost.

I will post some pixs taken on 04-28-2026 of our tomato patch.  

The tomatoes have to be watered every day except those few days of the light/misting rain and are really growing fast.  The larger plants have blooms and a few small tomatoes as of yesterday.

Another view of the tomato patch.

TOMATO PATCH AFTER MUCH NEEDED RAIN

Above pix taken on 05-02-2026 after a couple days off and on of a much needed rain.  The rain was a slow drizzle at times which the ground soaked up without any run off.  The larger plants have small tomatoes on them and looking forward to a good ole Mater Samish!  Grin if you must!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 05-03-2026.

LAWN TRACTOR MAINTENANCE

Last month or so, I did a complete service on our John Deere X300 lawn tractor replacing the plugs and oil filter.  I cleaned the air filter, sharpened the blades and lubricated areas needing it.  I later cycled about two quarts of John Deere hydrostatic transmission fluid in the tyranny: removing about one quart at a time and filled it back up since to completely drain the transmission, you would have to take it loose from the frame and turn it upside down.  John Deere doesn't recommend doing any thing to the transmission; guess they want it to fail in order to sell you another one.  As I stated on a John Deere short story, this is the worst lawn tractor I have owned.

Pix archived from John Deere X300 short story page.

YARD SWING MAINTENANCE

I finally got around to re-staining our yard swing which was stored in my basement woodworking shop since last winter.  I had stain left over from a couple years ago that was still good.

Pix archived from 2024.

HUSQVARNA CHAIN SAW MAINTENANCE

Our neighbors Steve and Connie Marsh was needing a couple crepe myrtle trees removed from under the power line and our Grandson Xander McKnight Gonzales and myself set about to get it done.  I started out using a battery powered reciprocating saw and the battery(s) gave out and got the husqvarna farm model 55 chain saw which had not been used in several years or more.  It cut ok and did get the chain into the dirt while cutting the stump down very close to the ground. 

After finishing the project, I removed the top cover and replaced the spark plug and blew out the air filter.  The chain was replaced with a sharpened chain and placed back in storage for another use.

POWER WASHED TWO VEHICLES

Our two vehicles were power washed, whereas the Buck was at the repair facility for a week or two in the weather needing a wash badly and when I got the vehicle home, that was an immediate project to get done.  The ole Ford Range truck was power washed also.

PENDING PROJECTS 

I have at least one pending project destined to complete around July being to re-stain our wheelchair ramp and the deck.  I will order 5 gallons of oil based stain and use a roller on the wheelchair ramp and spray gun and pressure tank for the deck.

I plan to spray for ants and terminates in the very near future.

I also need to service our generator and weed trimmer.  Our leaf blower needs service as well and might have to take it to a local shop since I haven't been able to get it running yet, but haven't given up yet either.

Web page created by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 04-29-2026.

FIRST TOMATO HARVESTED

My bride and myself enjoyed a good ole "Mater Samich" on 06-07-2026 and was outstanding.  NOTE:  There were two smaller tomatoes that had end blossom rot and could not use them.  I have some stuff to spray on the plants to help prevent it.  However, we had a lot of rain recently and that is no doubt the reason for the end blossom rot.

Some of the plants are six (6) feet tall with lots of tomatoes and blooms.

Looks like a good ole Club Sandwich in the very near future!

Web page updated by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 06-09-2026.

NOTE:  As of 08-23-2026, our tomato plants have about dried up due to the drought and tomatoes on the vine about the size of a ping pong ball!

CLEARING ROAD RIGHT OF WAY IN FRONT OF HOME

The town of Wadesboro, NC use to come around every year or two and bush hog the overhanging tree limbs from the road, however, they have not done so in about a decade, or it seems that long.  The overhanging tree limbs were impeding trucks making deliveries to our home and low enough in place to hit the roof of our vehicles.

I asked the adjacent land owner Donnie Dial if I could cut back the overhanging tree limbs and undergrowth, whereas he gave me verbal permission to do so.

PICTURE BEFORE WORK BEGAN

If I am not mistaken, we started work on this project on August 8, 2026.  he briars and undergrowth was so thick, it would be hard to get your hand into the maze of briars.  There were a couple China Berry trees that were very tall and briars and vines had taken over the trees and leaning badly toward to street/road.

WORK BEGINS 08-08-2026

Our Grandson Xander Gonzales did a tremendous amount of work using a bush axe, hedge trimmers, hard tined rake, hand pruners, weed trimmer and other tools to cut away at the undergrowth.  I used mainly a reciprocating battery powered saw to cut the larger saplings and small trees.  I used a Husqvarna model 55 chainsaw for the larger stuff until it died on me.  I took it to the repair shop and ordered a Stihl MS 251 chainsaw which was a horrible mistake for performance.  Click  on the hyperlink for the full story!

PICTORIAL ESSAY

It took several days to clear the upper portion and still have to cut back the overhanging limbs.

We started making a dent in the undergrowth and the light bulb finally came on that I need to get a bush cutter blade for the Stihl FS7--RC weed trimmer.  I purchased the brush cutter blade locally, however they didn't have all the necessary attachments for the blade and as of 08-23-2026, I have not received the parts they ordered.  After a couple days, I went on line and ordered a kit for the brush blade and received it on the 20th and it made some fast work cutting the heavy briars and samplings down.

I also ordered a Husqvarna Rancher 460 chainsaw from Tractor Supply in Midland, NC and they delivered it on 08-20-2026 and it was a breeze to start and a dream to use!

Making some serious headway.  I need to cut the China Berry tree that is down into firewood length pieces for our outside fire pit for our upcoming "winy" roast for the Grandkids.

Our Lord willing of course, the above downed tree will be cut into firewood lengths on 08-24-2026, early morning.

This area is looking so much better.  I should be able to cut back some of the smaller trees that are overhanging onto the road from ground level.

My friend and fellow Christian Houston Goodwin is bringing his wood splitter over tomorrow and should have plenty of firewood for the "winy" roast fire pit come colder weather. 

Xander goes back to school on the 24th and we should finish up within a few more days.

Web page updated on 08-23-2026 by Bill aka Mickey Porter.

PROJECT CONTINUES

Above pix taken on 08-25-2026.

Most of the trees removed cut into firewood lengths headed for the wood splitter.

Houston Goodwin's wood splitter doing the job.!  

Just about finished with this project on 08-26-2026.

MORE FIREWOOD FOR "WINY" ROAST 08-29-2026

Xander and myself still have some firewood to splint and that will wrap this project up!  My cousin Buddy Bowers stated I need to get a lot of wieners, grin if you must!

Web page updated on 08-26-2026 and 08-30-2026 by Bill aka Mickey Porter.

REPLACED SIDE BY SIDE FREEZER/REFRIGERATOR 08-28-2026

Our Amana side by side freezer/refrigerator ice maker was going on the blink; e.g., working intermittently, therefore decided to purchase another side by side unit since this freezer/refrigerator was probably thirty (30) years old, just a guesstimate and had given excellent service over the decades.

I went to Martin's Furniture on the morning of 08-27-2026 and purchased a Frigidaire model about the same size as the old unit which was 67 1/2 inches tall, 34 inches deep and 36 inches wide and checked the opening and had about 1/2 inch to spare in the height.

However, when they delivered the unit, it was about one (1) inch too tall for the opening and had to do some demolition on the upper cabinets which were stick built and took some effort to get them removed.

You can see the area above and to the rear of the unit that has the cabinets removed.  My tilt on the camera angle was bad.

The unit in place.  I have to adjust the height of the refrigerator door which is a little low.

I kept a few pieces of the pine paneling and the hardware, since I tend to be a "pack rat" at times!  Grin if you must! 

Web page updated on 08-28-2026 by Bill aka Mickey Porter.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE

If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please take this moment to accept him by Faith into your Life, whereby Salvation will be attained.   

Ephesians 2:8 - 2:9 8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Open this link about faith in the King James Bible.