Yard work – Now I’ll have the farmer tan

I attacked the yard today.

It was my first time to use an edger.  Of course, it’s a little one, but it worked well.  (I only whacked my shins once.)  Now the entire backyard and front yard looks as tidy and neat as possible.  I even found my lantanas that are coming back by our front gate.  Then, I took the clippers to the trash trees lining the back fence.  I’m trying to avoid mowing while leaning at a 45 degree angle.  Unfortunately, I can only do about 15′ before my trashcan is full.  If I keep this up, I’m going to have a stronger upper body, than lower body, for the first time in my life.  My arms are still buzzing and my hands are really sore.  I did go get my padded gloves to mow.

I honestly enjoy the riding lawn mower.  Jim “let” me mow the first couple of times after we bought it because I thought it was fun.  Today was really nice because the grass wasn’t too high yet and it was dry.  When it’s high and wet, it will stop the blades, then I have to reach in and pull out the clippings.  And, yes, I do double-check to be sure I have pulled the key out of the ignition.  Being the only parent, I often feel an even heavier responsibility to keep myself in one piece.

Hello, it’s just now April.  My arms should not have turned red.  I am dreading having a farmer tan for finally taking Sarah swimming.  (Can you believe we haven’t been able to take her swimming for her first three summers?  I use to teach swimming, so we’ve been doing the early basics in our big claw-foot bathtub.)  However, there is no way I’m wearing my bathing suit and jeans while mowing.  🙂  I remember Jim coming in, after working outside, and I would instantly hand him a glass of water and say, “You’re a red-neck.”  That’s where he burned the worst.  I have the stereo-typical gardener’s straw hat, so my neck and ears are ok.

It was fun, in a sad way, to play in Jim’s workshop.  I might use something of his, but I put it back exactly where he had it.  It was one weekend last spring when he really worked on cleaning and organizing his workshop.  I’m so glad he did.  (Does anyone need Deep Woods Off?  We have a gazillion.)  Jim was a very good organizer.  He, also, kind-of decorated his workshop: a map of Texas on the freezer, turkey beards and a business card to The Old Pecan Street Café over his workspace, an oil painting of a windmill that I gave him and lots of other dead and arranged things I didn’t particularly want in the house.  I always enjoy going in there.  It’s a good place to have one-sided conversations with Jim.

When I get to heaven, he’s probably going to get me for posting the following pictures.  It was so funny and cute I had to take them.  In case you don’t know what he is doing; he is working on one of his deer feeders.