Yard work

I met friends for a good bye pedicure last night at six. We arrived in the parking lot at the same time. They called my name several times before I responded as I was so tuned out and tired from a hard physical day in the yard. My blisters popped today as I continue to help. If I am out there with the boys a lot more gets done.

I picked a lovely fun sparkly bright green color. I thought it reminded me of my green garden. The color made me smile. I spent an hour sitting in the massage chair with the rollers running up and down my back. The Asian woman wanted to know if I wanted the sea salt rub for an extra five dollars. No question, I wanted the works. Soak, Leg massage, Sea salt rub, paraffin wax, moisturizer, and of course the removal of excess cutical skin and rough callouses. Ahhh, it felt lovely and such wonderful company. I am hopeful we can still get together later after we move. I needed that pampering last night.

This morning, I uncovered all the sprinkler heads to make sure they are located and wouldn't get lopped off with enthusiastic digging. I also pulled all the clumps of weeds from around my permanent plants so there would be no mistaking the plants for the weeds. I am leaving much of the root digging out to the boys. The new replacement hoe is working great and has held up well this time.

To give the teens credit, the front yard looks great and ready for bark. At least the weeds are either gone or buried. My boys did not help. Trevor's help was to sneak and turn the sprinklers on while the others were hard at work. Trevor did play the good host and make ice blended lemonade every day and serving everyone, several times. I have gone through two gallons of lemon flavoring and three cans of frozen lemonade. Today he woke up with a stomach ache. Probably from too much sour acid.

Riley hides out in the house playing computer games. He claims he is not supposed to work in the dirt. He is probably right. It is pretty messy work digging in the soil and being exposed to parasites and germs. It is those simple germs that can make immune suppressed people really sick. I hate playing into his phobias, but why take the chance. This is real dirt digging, not just mowing the lawn.

At lunch yesterday the teens took two hours and played chess and computer games with Riley, until I rousted them back to work. All I can say is I am glad I am paying for the job and not by the hour. It is definitely getting done under my watchful eye, but it does take the watchful eye to get it done. I am pleased with our progress.

I am off to buy yard debris bags at the store as we have filled our weed garbage already and I filled a neighbor's bin. She is on vacation so I figured she would not be needing it this week.

Riley is getting picked up for a play date today. We will see how long the friends want to keep him. He is packed for the weekend just in case the opportunity presents itself. One of their small children, age six, had a serious infection recently that landed him in the hospital. A lot depends on if he stays healthy on his antibiotics, whether the play date will last longer than a day. That and whether Riley can behave, be helpful with the little ones, and not irritate.

Trevor was supposed to be at conditioning camp but the sour stomach is keeping him in bed this morning. He told me he threw up his breakfast the first day of camp. He ate a hot dog for breakfast and up it came after hard exercise. The coach thought the ketchup was blood and made him check in with the infirmary, but he was quickly back at work. The kids run the bleachers, up and down, and the track. I am hopeful this camp helps get him in shape for the next camp. It would be nice if he made a good first impression with his new coaches.

Trevor will be staying with a friend of mine the first week of his new camp. I like the idea of my girlfriend getting him to camp. She knows how to roust him from bed and motivate work out of him. That first week will be critical to keep him going.

I had better get back out to the yard as I can hear the kids playing again.