Monday, July 19, 2010

Zen Monday: #104


Well, how 'bout that? It's Zen Monday all over again, the day you experience the photo and give us your thoughts rather than me telling you what I think the photo's about. There's no competition, no right or wrong. We're here to have fun.

I look for a photo worth contemplating or, failing that, something odd or silly. And unless I absolutely must say something I stay out of the comments box to avoid influencing the discussion. Because sometimes it's a little too close to home.

36 comments:

Jilly said...

Little boys' toys!

lewi14@gmail.com said...

It looks like the building lot of 'Bob the Builder'

Mister Earl said...

Sophisticated gophers.

Under development. Come back again later.

Low-maintenance garden.

T Thompson said...

Ground breaking @ Liliputian Acres

mark said...

Looks like the graveyard of earth moving toys.

Mister Earl said...

Pasadena PIO Mystery quiz for June 16, 2134: What is this photo?

Answer: Construction of Hahamongna Soccer Fields in April 2018. The construction appears to have been the subject of some controversy.

Latino Heritage said...

To make this even more fun, the home belongs to a local contractor - really.

John Sandel said...

"Hello, Southern Exterminators? Yeah, my garden's full of Caterpillars …"

Vanda said...

Oh Deere...

dive said...

I SO want a yard like that.

Unknown said...

Monster truck rally for garden gnomes.

John Sandel said...

If bugs were organized, the APHID-CIO would rule … the leafcutters & mud-daubers would each have a bloc … earthworms would cast the votes … hmm, lessee …

Michael Coppess said...

All the John Deere wannabees lined up at the gate begging to get in.

Bellis said...

Examination ground for the certificate of competency required of back-hoe operators by the City of Pasadena.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

West of Peoria

Susan Campisi said...

Mini dump truck still life.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a big boys garden to me.

Tash said...

Every boy's dream come true!
That is just a wonderful find. I only wish I had some dirt around when my son was of dirt moving age. But we found items to move with many a JohnDeers.

Bummed that Chieftess & hubby were out-of-town! But I will catch up with them some time soon up there.

Greg Sweet said...

"I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"

John Sandel said...

"West of Peoria"

… & east, & north & south—hell, downtown Peoria looks like this. And so does most of Kankakee.

Trish said...

"the economy is so bad that even the Tonka trucks are being repossessed!"

as an aside---this would have been my childhood DREAM yard!

Speedway said...

A friend of mine was raised on a farm on the outskirts of Des Moines. Boys there start driving almost before their feet can reach the pedals, steering the tractors and old trucks through the fields to help harvest corn, wheat.

It was no surprise then, when he told me that he and his friends, then about 10-12 years old, had "fallen in love" with the heavy equipment used to shape and grade the land for the new highway that was to pass nearby.

One night, he and two buddies sneaked out to the site where they were able to climb in, start up and drive a bulldozer, a grader, and a dumptruck. No harm done -- until they got to the crane. Fiddling and exploring in its cab, the boys tripped the brake (?) on the crane itself, which fell dramatically to the ground, tipping the cab and tracks forward onto its nose. The three boys, startled and scared, regained their feet and ran as far and as fast as adrenalin could carry them.

One imagines the following Monday, when the workers came and found the grader, truck, and 'dozer had been driven in circles - and the crane on its nose, all of them with telltale little footprints around to describe the weekend's adventure. Nothing more needed to be said.

My friend, hiding a safe distance away, watched as the men talked and gesticulated among themselves. He was relieved to see that the grader graded, the truck dumped, the 'dozer shoved and pushed, while the crane had itself picked up and went on lifting.

That was over 50 years ago, and the only times my friend returns to the site is when he drives by in his truck.

Margaret said...

Soon! A home you can afford in California.

Petrea Burchard said...

Your comments are wonderful, each and every one.

When I saw this I gasped. You just don't see this every day! I didn't know if it was going to work. I had to reach my camera through the fence to get the picture.

Finding out this guy's a contractor somehow makes this all the more delightful. Thanks, Roberta.

Petrea Burchard said...

By the way, Speedway, I believe you're new here and I want to welcome you. Thanks for the great story.

Ms M said...

My brother would have loved this when he was a boy. Great photo and such good comments! Fun....

John Sandel said...

Speedway, your story gave me a juvenile sting of adrenaline. I'm 50, & I still feel guilty about the air I let from a grader's monstrous tires, one hot summer day in a midwestern state which shall remain nameless. (It was Illinois.)

This was the crowning hooliganism of a multi-mile odyssey several of us boys took on our Stingrays. I remember the great yellow machine sank to its knees like a euthanized elephant … we all leaped down and skedaddled out of that vacant lot so fast we forgot our lunches.

I wonder how the other four middle-aged culprits, ranged about the country as they are, can live with such a dastardly secret … 

There are some things you just don't tell your dad, especially now that he's 84, and has a bad ticker.

Mister Earl said...

Good story, Speedway. When I was 5 or 6, they built a high school on the big empty field at the end of our block. I remember the Caterpillar scrapers running in circles around the field for hours day after day. Their tires were so huge. I just knew them as Cats. I've always been fascinated with those scrapers.

Steve Scauzillo said...

The set of "Transformers IV?"

Anonymous said...

Who says the Pasadena building boom is over!

Shell Sherree said...

Heh heh!

Speedway said...

Thank you, Petrea. I am a recent reader, previously known as Anon (yeh, one of several!) who's finally figured out how to give myself my own Identity, and remembered my password. I'm still looking for pretty shoes to fit my box foot and somebody (maybe me!) killed the tomato plants in my Topsy Turvy.

Petrea Burchard said...

Speaking of Transformers, Anon has transformed to Speedway! Oh, sorry about those tomatoes. Maybe they wanted to be right side up?

-K- said...

I have to tip my digital hat to Mister Earl and his "Sophisticated Gophers" response.

Mister Earl said...

Thank you, K.

Petrea Burchard said...

I try not to pick favorites, but there were some gems on this post.