You may have noticed the old tractor in the middle of the garden. When we were trying to sell the house some years ago, a couple of potential buyers commented how they’d have to have it towed away. I put a mental black mark next to their names because I love that tractor. If you don’t appreciate the tractor, you won’t like my house (they didn’t)
It’s a rusty 1928 Fordson. Not a rare vintage; it was common farm equipment in its day. I loved it the moment I saw it, sitting on a lawn up the road a piece. I wanted it. I knew it didn’t run and never would, but for me it was the perfect garden accessory.
Some people put flamingos in their garden. Deer. Ducks. Around Halloween, anything goes and for Christmas — well — we’ve all seen the lengths to which some people will go.
One family just up the road from here has a crèche, a wishing well, several gnomes and a lighthouse almost large enough to use as a real lighthouse, except it’s hollow plastic. I believe they also have several types of small animals tucked in between the other statuary et al. It’s a very busy garden and half the size of ours. Only careful landscaping has allowed them to fit quite so much garden bric-à-brac in so small a space.
And this stuff’s not cheap. If you’ve ever gone and priced garden statuary, a nicely done piece — cement not plastic — can cost you as much as remodeling your kitchen. Well, almost as much. Okay, about half the price.
The tractor wasn’t cheap. It was (is) a real tractor, not some phony doodad. Someone farmed using that piece of machinery. It was, in its day, a serious investment. So I don’t understand why someone would think a fake lighthouse looks cool while yearning for a bigger bogus wishing well, but find our antique tractor odd. Maybe they’d like it better if we’d bought it at Walmart?
Garry bought it for me as a tenth anniversary gift. Now that is a husband who gets his wife. He knew to whom he is married. And that’s why we are still married and likely to remain so forever (or as close to forever as we may).
As we approach our 25th anniversary — now a mere 10 weeks distant — I love my tractor more than ever. It has stood the test of time. In another 13-1/2 years, it will have its hundredth birthday. In its second life, during the past 15 years we have planted around it and vines have grown over it. It is as much a part of the garden as the earth on which it stands.
Love me, love my tractor.
Categories: #Photography, Cars and Trucks, Home, Marriage
OKAY! On your anniversary I request a pic of you on it : ))))))~
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I’m not sure I could get to it anymore. It is surrounded by thorny roses and trees and vines. But I’ll try! Just to make you happy 🙂
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Thank you , it would make a great post!
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I LOVE IT, TOO! 🙂
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I knew you would 🙂 Were we separated at birth perhaps?
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I adore that tractor!!!!
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It’s a very cool tractor. It gives the whole place character.
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I love stuff like that, being taken over by nature. It’s beautiful!
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Thank you 🙂 Obviously, so do I.
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I love the looks of that tractor, and the fact that it was an anniversary from a man who “gets it” makes it all the more priceless. More tractor pics, please — maybe a featured addition around your anniversary date!
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I think it’s cool.
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Thank you. You can come sit on it and I’ll take your picture 🙂
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Thanks
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Character. Our tractor has character.
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Yes, it really does. It’s says “US”!
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It’s an awesomely cool tractor. It would be a terrible shame to chuck it on the scrap heap.
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I totally agree. Before the garden grew in so tightly around it, I used to just sit on it and think important thoughts. Now — it’s a photo op!
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Rusty wheels and orange day lilies – an intriguing combo, Marilyn.
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Thank you. It works for me 🙂
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I love your tractor, the truck, the whole sheebang of gardens… ahem, I would go so far as to say I covet your tractor and truck. Now knowing you had to seek it out makes me love it even more… gotta love being married to a man who “gets it” is priceless. I got me one of them too. 🙂 Congratulations on the upcoming anniversary of wedded bliss.
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The past 25 years have flown by. I can’t believe we’ve been together so long. The tractor was the best anniversary present ever … proving that my husband really DOES understand. And it’s a nice durable gift, much like the marriage it celebrates. Glad to hear YOU have a good one too 🙂
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It is a perfect addition to your garden. I love the wheels!
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Thanks 🙂 Once upon a time, those wheels had a rubber outer thingie but I understand it was often removed it when were cutting grass — like on a golf course — to keep things smooth. I just love my tractor every which way.
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That is a gorgeous piece! Whether as a real, operational tractor or as a piece of the past – this “throwaway” society doesn’t realize the value of our history. Such a shame.
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I can’t imagine just throwing it away. What an awful waste!
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I know! It makes me ill. Everything is plastic, fake these days, and it is so heartbreaking. That is a gorgeous piece. And I bet if it got tuned up, it would run just like new.
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The engine is seized — replacement parts are no longer available. Or, more accurately not enough of them. It wasn’t ONLY the engine. Basically all the moving parts needed to be replaced and while we found some of the parts, finding all of them was hopeless. If we’d had a lot of money to put into it, we could have done it — gotten a machine shop to manufacture the ones we couldn’t find on eBay, but we didn’t have the resources. Or the time. We gave it a good faith effort, though.
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I remember taking a class one time from a teacher who collected tractors. Wish I could remember his name. When they weren’t fixable he cleaned them up, restored their paint, etc. and they went into his collection anyway. I thought that was SOO cool. Saving a part of our heritage.
You might consider using a clear metal sealer on it to keep it from rusting, otherwise, I think it is marvelous. Good for you for understanding it’s worth! 😉
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Good idea. Thanks 🙂
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😉
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It’s biodegradable! 🙂
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But very slowly!
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I love the look of vintage equipment as decorations for a garden or country house. Long age, we had a ranch with all kinds of old tractor parts, old cast iron stoves and cart wheels all over the place. I think that’s what sold us on buying the place in the first place. I definitely would not have sold it to someone who didn’t appreciate the look. Beautiful pictures in your post.
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I’m glad to give this old workhorse a nice retirement home. I love old equipment. I suppose not because it’s inherently beautiful, but because it represents a way of life we barely remember anymore. Thanks for appreciating it 🙂
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