Grassmaster, my advice is to put the turf tires back on and fill them with fluid. This will give you the weight at the ground that you need and won't tear up your lawn. If you're tilling or doing something that requires more traction than usual, put the chains on the turfs. When you need traction for snow plowing or blowing, most guys will tell you that chains on turf tires work better than ag tires because you get more surface contact. The only time I would use ag tires is for farm use where the tractor spends most of the time in the dirt/mud. For filling the tires, check out a product called Rimguard, it is as heavy as calcium chloride, but is not damaging to the environment if it leaks and it will not corrode your rims. Also, you don't need tubes with Rimguard. With your 24 x 12 x 12 tires, you could get about 80-100 lbs extra weight per tire. I've done this and it works great.

A country road with so many irises. Sigh. You paint a lovely picture! What a shame you have to move them. Maybe you could consider cutting down some trees? I have several pines that are getting so large as to become a real problem. I have trimmed the hell out of them but my saw only reaches so high. The pair I have in back are getting so big that all the grass under the sloping grade had died and erosion is starting to occur. At least one of them has to go. Even Lilly of the valley has a hard time back there its so damn dark. I also have another pine in front that is small enough for me to cut down myself. It is making my formerly sunny spot dappled shade; also un-cool! I own a condo (with my own limited gardens just outside) so I can only request the trees be removed. I I am hoping the lawn service we employ can do it without too much expense for the association. If you own than you can darn well do as you please. Lucky you If I were you, I would consider cutting down the smaller trees that are giving you to much shade. Just a few less trees might make the difference. Also do a real trimming job on the trees you are going to keep. I would chop all the lower branches I could reach. Got a handy young man to do it for you? I would not try to cut down trees that are too big and by to big I would say that any tree you could not drag into the woods once chopped is to big to cut down. A professional should do that. That can be dangerous exsp. around electrical wires. Also you might giving away some to your friends. I think it would make a very thoughtful gift. I wish I had to many.

aww I'm sorry your contractor is an a$$. I agree with others to a) have a lawyer look over your contract, and b) stand your ground - HE works for YOU - you're the employer - and as long as you let him push you around, he will. Our GC has been pretty good but when times like these came up (charges we didn't feel we were responsible for) we spoke up immediately - and he backed down. On another note, I don't really understand why any electrician can't do a job because there's a ceiling in place. Electricians do wiring with all the walls up all the time - it's just cutting holes in the plaster (for the lights) and fishing wires. Since the walls are down, it's all the more easier. It's not AS easy as if the ceiling was down, but it's not a dealbreaker by any means. (My DH did the wiring for our entire house during this reno - just yesterday he was fishing wire from the basement to the foyer b/c the alarm company forgot to run one for the siren - duh.) Anyway if this electrician is your GC's guy, then tell GC to either find another one or to tell this guy to stop being lazy. I'd request a meeting between you and the electrician and the GC to have them explain to you why taking down the ceiling is necessary. Because based on what you've told us (no crazy weird wiring going on) I don't get why he can't do it.

Mole update! Moles 2, back garden 0 lol 1. Pack of 8 sulfur flares. 2. used poison pellets in hole and covered - moles tossed out all the pellets onto the top of their dirt hill - don't think they ate any. More tunnels and more holes. Stomped tunnels, not sure it help discourage moles, but made us feel better! 3. Bought another packet of gas flares and set them today. Game continued.............