So last weekend, I decided to see how much this old body could take. I found out not as much as it could years ago!
Saturday was my day to stay at home and work. Megan was still at the beach so I kept the puppy company (took him everywhere I went) and worked...and I mean worked all weekend.
I awoke at 7:00 and was up and moving by 7:15. I made coffee (YAY) and had a bite of breakfast. As soon as I could, I went outside and started cutting down limbs from trees that were hanging down way too low. They were causing me issues when I used the riding lawn mower. I used one of these pole blades that will let you either saw the limb or if it's small, place the limb in the crook of it and pull a rope which then cuts the limb. I went to the front yard and trimmed the lowest limbs of the purple Japanese Maple that I love so much. Then, I cut down a Mimosa tree that volunteered beside the only Pine tree in the front yard. After that, I went to the Propane tank and took down some type of tree that another Mimosa tree was going to kill eventually. The Mimosa would provide better shade eventually and it's already 8 feet tall.
Then it was time for the backyard.
The backyard had been ignored for years. I'd never cut back the Red Tips when they were bushes...and they turned into trees. My neighbor on the other side of the fence keeps them cut back on her side (and that's okay by me), but when we first moved here in 1993, there was zippo shade in the back yard. I knew I was going to have a toddler in two years wanting to play outside and we needed shade. I went to work on the red tip TREES in the back yard. The area below is a natural area and when I finished, I could see all the way through to my neighbors backyard. No privacy issue as she has two lots and I can see the garage from my yard. I found 2 tires (seem to be good...guess I'll sell them) and tractor implements (and the tractor now belongs to my brother in law, but I have the crap sitting around here).
I just kept gathering the limbs in the yard and then went into the neighbors yard and started cutting tree limbs and vines on two small trees that I later realized were basically dying from all the vines. This wore me out completely. So - I pulled the vines and trimmed the limbs, then I threw them over the fence to vacant land, and then through the gate of the fence into my property, then through the gate to the front yard and deposited them to the curb. By the time I finished all of this it was late and the sun was going down.
I put away my tools and went inside and took my shower and rested/slept the rest of the night.
Sunday, I got up early and went to the farmhouse. after picking up produce from the garden...Oh yes, we have a garden...another thing to work me into a stupor (but I love canning veggies). Mom,Dad and I worked on drywall putty (3rd coat) for Aunt Sacks Bedroom. After working on that all day, my shoulders decided they would rather live with someone else. Keep in mind, all of this work is being done on a broken ankle (4 weeks in) and I'm wearing my air cast for extra support. So - Home, dinner, rest, washed and dried clothes and readied myself for another work week.
I called the City to come get the debris on Wednesday, so Tuesday I couldn't resist going out and getting even more done on the yard. I went back to the area where the vines were killing the trees (behind my overgrown herb garden - really....my Rosemary bush is so big I can't get my arms around it). I cut the trees back drastically and had to leave the old woody vines but I'm coming back for ya Saturday. The Water Oak was bent over from the weight of the vines. I hope it will recover. Again, in the neighbors yard, throwing limbs and vines over the fence, through my fence to back yard, through the gate to front yard and to the curb.
Then, I started on the side yard. I trimmed trees and got as much of the vines as I could (saving my Clematis vine), took all that to the curb. There is at least 12 feet wide and 4 feet tall tree limbs and vines. Megan is home and while she was outside talking to me, Chaos rolled around on a dead frog, so Chaos got a bath. After I finished, I had 4 tomato plants and 3 pepper plants that I hadn't planted. I planted them all in my strawberry planter. Will be interesting to see if they live.....
Next Saturday if the weather is pretty, I will cut down the trees in the L shaped flower bed along the front and side of the house. I also have to dig up a lot of the yellow iris. They won't bloom because they are too thick. I will take them to the farmhouse and plant them. I had I also have two areas of Hosta that will have to be cut down and dug up. Oh joy! Then trim the Azaleas and hopefully ALL I'll have will be Azaleas left. Hmmm, then cut down the rest of the bushes near the propane tank....and use Roundup around the fence and do some string trimming.
And the best news of all folks... I'm on vacation starting Friday June 22nd at 5pm and I will be returning to work on July 5th at 8:30 AM. Yes - 12 days including weekends...and believe it or not...I started thinking about the Thursday and Friday after 4th of July (5th and 6th) thinking that 16 days beats 12. Now - lets not get greedy.
Here's the plan for staycation:
1) Drywall at farmhouse
2) painting at farmhouse
3) gardening at farmhouse
4) Starting to clear out things at my current house
5) setting up sales locations on Facebook and Amazon to sell anything not carrying with me.
6) Locating new cabinets for the farmhouse (know of any pretty ones that are inexpensive?)
7) Selling junk
8) Getting current home ready to put on market/sell
9) Lots of other stuff.....
And before I got back to work...spending a few days at my sisters pool. Thanks Paula!! :)
I'm tired. Bedtime.. Nite!
