You'll never believe what I found in my fuel tank...

[ShaunBlake]

I keep seeing this shade tree mechanic description showing up?
What the hey is that referencing?

Shade Tree Mechanic:
"A person willing to learn and perform scheduled maintenance or simple repairs on their own vehicle rather than being completely reliant on technicians who may be dishonest, careless, or ignorant."

That's actually a "polished" definition. The phrase became popular when I was a young man (hush, Skeets!) It referred to the growing proliferation of (usually) men who were adept at working on vehicles, typically at their homes, without the umbrella of a licensed business.

The phrase evokes the image of someone working in the cool shadows of a huge tree, but typically they worked in their single-car garages, and many had dedicated shops at their homes. For some it was their only source of income; for many, it was a sideline, sometimes totally removed from their vocations.

***9835; Those were the good old days! ***9834;

 

[Diydave]

Harkens back to Longfellow...

The village smithy:

UNDER a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms 5
Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can, 10
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge 15
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door; 20
They love to see the flaming forge,
And hear the bellows roar,
And watch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church, 25
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice. 30

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his hard, rough hand he wipes 35
A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,—rejoicing,—sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close; 40
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life 45
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought!

 

[skeets]

The phrase became popular when I was a young man (hush, Skeets!)
MOI???? Not me I aint sayin a word,,snicker

 

[85Hokie]

The phrase became popular when I was a young man (hush, Skeets!)
MOI???? Not me I aint sayin a word,,snicker

Skeets, who was president then? Truman??? snicker ...snicker!!!

the first pres I REMEMEBER was ol tricky dick......."I am not a crook" ......ya ya right!!!!

 

[slbard]

I am extremely happy to report that I got to run the tractor for a couple of hours this weekend and it never skipped a beat! That hasn't happened in years! I was loath to tear it down to pull the fuel tank, but now I sure am glad I did. It's running better than when I first got it seven years ago. Lovin' it!