Not having to think about is wonderful.

Quality is something that should be taken for granted, don't you think? This is something that where I worked was talked about 20% of the time. 'Do it right the first time.' That was posted the most about quality. But quality you never think about it until it fails. Take breathing for example. Most people don't have to think about it and just do it. But of others, may require a little help.

I have had a few failures lately that is causing me some turmoil. I have finished replacing my fence, with the help of my wife and neighbor, who redrilled the post-holes. Too a lot longer than I would have though. After each section I would come in and get a drink and relax. It was hot out there. Now that the fence is done, what do I do with the leftovers? I have another idea. You'll have to wait for that one.

Just after the fence was done, my garage door opener died. Can't just get a replacement, but change everything but the track. Switches, sensors, and all remote openers. That sucks.

I have several tools that require tuning up. Some of it requires a machine to do the work, while other just a little tweaking by hand.

With all of that in mind, I need to get ride of the gravel around this house. It sucks but keeps you from walking in the mud when it rains. Problem with that, it allows weeds to grow. Unless the ground is lightly moist the weed are next to impossible to pull.

Therefore, I have been thinking about a machine that would scrape the ground up, run the dirt/weeds/gravel over a screen of sorts which would allow the dirt to drop out and the rest would collect into a bucket or something like that. Problem, what do I get to pull this little machine? How wide to make it? How much do I need to mechanization do I need to come up with? You get the idea, don't you?

W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico