Gardening

It has been beautiful weather, finally. I have been getting up early and before even showering, I throw on my garden work clothes consisting of my painting pants and a thick sweatshirt. I figure I will sweat and stink while doing my good work in the garden and then come in when I get tired for my shower.

This morning I worked from 9:00 am until well after 1:00. I was lucky I came in because Trevor was supposed to be at football practice at 2:30. He always needs time to find shoes and socks and get a quick sandwich before we leave.

Turns out that despite being told there would be Saturday practices, no one was at the school. I sent Trevor hunting for the coaches but he came back saying the school was locked up. Tom was on the computer doing his football fantasy draft so I knew we couldn't check our e-mail from home. I suggested we swing by the library to use their computer. Trevor liked the idea as he could see about checking out the book he misplaced in the middle of reading it.

There was no e mail from the coach. He is not much of an e mail correspondent. I am a little bummed at the lack of communication. As a result I sent off an e mail to him saying we had gone to the school for Saturday practice only to find it closed. I asked coach to send an updated schedule. The one we have ended yesterday with first varsity game.

I also looked up a friend's number in the telephone book while we were at the library. She was listed and she has a child also playing football. She was home when I called. She had the same issue with the lack of communication. I told her I would see about getting us connected to some other parents not with freshmen who may be more in the loop. She said she would try at her end to get us in the loop. Maybe with the two of us we can get a correct and current schedule.

Our time was not wasted as Trevor and I both updated our library cards. Trevor got his book he wanted. We headed to the mall, ostensibly to buy first day of school clothes. I offered to buy lunch at the mall.

I was hungry so we ate first. Major mistake with Trevor. No motivation afterwards to go clothes shopping. He was done. He had his book and was fed. He wanted to go. It was just like that time in the spring. Boys don't go clothes shopping. I could have pulled my hair out in frustration. He is content to just go with what he has. Though in the car he said he wouldn't have minded getting jeans. Some guys on the team have said he ought to have some jeans in his wardrobe. He said he finds them uncomfortable but wouldn't mind having some. Well, if he would come shopping with me and try some on, we might be able to find a pair that is not uncomfortable. Not today, Trevor just wanted to go home. I wasn't going to battle over it. I have been fighting enough battles in the last two weeks.

Tom made the comment he thought I must be half goat from all the berries I have been cutting. The yard is beginning to appear from under all the overgrowth. He and Trevor had removed the slate from the old pool table. They got it to the top of the outside stairs before they put it down, about ten feet. I had asked them to bring it down the stairs to the back yard where I could use it as patio slabs. Tom gave me a dirty look and told me to go clip more berries. He wasn't going to lift the heavy slabs any further. Now I have to figure out how to get them into the back yard from the top of the stairs. I am tempted to rope them and lower them over the rail rather than carry them down the stairs, which I am not capable of doing as they weigh probably 200 pounds a piece. There are three panels. Tom is all for taking them to the dump, but the dump is by weight and these are really beautiful blue stone slabs. I probably couldn't afford to buy them from a landscaper. They would make great steps or a patio. I see many uses and the blackberries wouldn't be able to grow through them.

Tom's remark about my just going and cutting more berries though made me cranky, because I am getting the job done to the point where he commented on the impressive progress I have made. I figure I am saving between $700 for the goats and $1800 for the landscaper by doing it all myself. I am worth it. I can do just as good a job if not better than the hired help. I also am getting a feel for the land.

The more I clear the more I realize I have a huge yard. I had not realized the scope of the lot until I started clearing. There is much to do, but the pleasure of knowing it is all mine thrills me to the bone. I just need to tame it and get it all under control.

I have borrowed a chain saw from a friend. Tom is going to tackle the few trees we still need to cut that were too big for my hand saw. He is also going to cut the stumps down to the ground that I left. The trunks on the ground need to be cut up. If he doesn't get to the trunks on the ground I will have the boys help me and just run them through my miter box one foot at a time. They are light cotton woods which is why I found them so easy to fell.

After I do Trevor's old room, this weekend, replacing the carpet with laminate, my next project is to build a fire pit in the back yard of the new house. Once the rains start coming I can burn small fires and enjoy, while cleaning up the debris a little at a time.

I took note of the bonfire pit at the football party. The owners just used one foot retaining wall stacking bricks, eleven bricks to a level, three levels high. All I need is 33 blocks. I can easily dismantle it and move it once we have a more clear idea of where all the retaining walls and steps will be placed. The debris needs to be cleaned up. I love a pretty little fire. It is all a win. I just need to be patient and get everything cut and drying. I don't want to burn now while everything is too much tinder on the ground.

So I will cut more berries. Today they were ripe. I ate blackberries as I went along. The rains will come soon enough. I told Tom I was going to work on the yard because there will be plenty of rainy days to work in the house later. The house is looking pretty good anyway. I am feeling comfortable with all the progress. Each week I fill those garbage cans to the brim. I was able to fold up two more large boxes that had been filled with wrapping paper that I recycled on Friday. I have taken the boxes that we don't need down to the basement. Those I will tackle on one of those rainy days to come. Today I will enjoy my future beautiful big yard that gives me pleasant surprises at every turn.