You know how I simply adored the mild winter we had? Well I'm still not complaining about that...but a few things did occur to me as potential downfalls of said winter.
1) Lack of snow means a lack of precipitation in the ground, which could either mean a super rainy spring or a fire-hazard dry summer.
2) Didn't get cold enough to kill annoyances like bugs that normally perish in the winter.
3) Have to start mowing sooner.
Like now.
Monday night I came home and knew I could wait no longer on the yard. I knew that partly because small wildlife could get lost in the grass and partly because the neighbors mowed on Sunday. I love my neighbors and they keep a beautiful home...but it's hard to keep up with them sometimes. (And of course it's all about keeping up with the Jones's yard.)
So while I sacked out on the couch Sunday afternoon, I may or may not have sent loving glares into the next yard with each swipe of their mower. And then on Monday, I got out my own mower...make that mowers...and prepared for the battle of Bekah vs. yard.
Starting the mower each season is always a challenge. (Read: impossibility.) I make sure it has gas in it (which it usually does because I'm the bad girl who doesn't drain the thing each fall). I check the oil (which means opening the oil lid and closing it again...but I can truthfully say it's been checked). And then I begin the battle. The yanking of the stupid pull-start string so it can sputter at me much as a two year old would stick his tongue out at his mother.
Twenty or thirty times.
By that time I reek of gas, oil, and sweat, and my prayer life has increased immensely.
I distinctly remembered that at the end of last fall, my own mower was giving me fits, so I'd resorted to using Dad's mower, which he leaves here for when he pops in to mow. He doesn't like my mower. (And I'm not fond of his.) I started with his mower, figuring I'd have the best luck. I poured the precious bit of stale gas left in the can into his mower and pulled. And pulled. And pulled. (Etc.)
In desperation I got out my mower. Started on the second try. Lovely. Except....
...No idea how much gas was in it or how far it would get me. And mower gas was NOT in this week's budget.
Holding the self-propeller bar down, I flew around the yard at the mercy of the mower, willing it to finish the yard before running dry. I reminded the Lord of the feeding of the 5000...of the water into wine...of the coin in the fish's mouth...of all provision miracles I worried He may have forgotten.
And wouldn't you know...that mower finished the entire yard.
After finishing that part, I went into the garage to get the shears to trim around the flowers. Can't find 'em. They're buried somewhere in a mess of moving boxes. So I went outside and yanked the grass out with my hands. I'm sure that was attractive to watch from a distance.
Don't you wish you lived in my neighborhood? (You can! I know of a great home for sale. But I digress...)
And that is how this week the score became Bekah: 1, Yard: 0.
1) Lack of snow means a lack of precipitation in the ground, which could either mean a super rainy spring or a fire-hazard dry summer.
2) Didn't get cold enough to kill annoyances like bugs that normally perish in the winter.
3) Have to start mowing sooner.
Like now.
Monday night I came home and knew I could wait no longer on the yard. I knew that partly because small wildlife could get lost in the grass and partly because the neighbors mowed on Sunday. I love my neighbors and they keep a beautiful home...but it's hard to keep up with them sometimes. (And of course it's all about keeping up with the Jones's yard.)
So while I sacked out on the couch Sunday afternoon, I may or may not have sent loving glares into the next yard with each swipe of their mower. And then on Monday, I got out my own mower...make that mowers...and prepared for the battle of Bekah vs. yard.
Starting the mower each season is always a challenge. (Read: impossibility.) I make sure it has gas in it (which it usually does because I'm the bad girl who doesn't drain the thing each fall). I check the oil (which means opening the oil lid and closing it again...but I can truthfully say it's been checked). And then I begin the battle. The yanking of the stupid pull-start string so it can sputter at me much as a two year old would stick his tongue out at his mother.
Twenty or thirty times.
By that time I reek of gas, oil, and sweat, and my prayer life has increased immensely.
I distinctly remembered that at the end of last fall, my own mower was giving me fits, so I'd resorted to using Dad's mower, which he leaves here for when he pops in to mow. He doesn't like my mower. (And I'm not fond of his.) I started with his mower, figuring I'd have the best luck. I poured the precious bit of stale gas left in the can into his mower and pulled. And pulled. And pulled. (Etc.)
In desperation I got out my mower. Started on the second try. Lovely. Except....
...No idea how much gas was in it or how far it would get me. And mower gas was NOT in this week's budget.
Holding the self-propeller bar down, I flew around the yard at the mercy of the mower, willing it to finish the yard before running dry. I reminded the Lord of the feeding of the 5000...of the water into wine...of the coin in the fish's mouth...of all provision miracles I worried He may have forgotten.
And wouldn't you know...that mower finished the entire yard.
After finishing that part, I went into the garage to get the shears to trim around the flowers. Can't find 'em. They're buried somewhere in a mess of moving boxes. So I went outside and yanked the grass out with my hands. I'm sure that was attractive to watch from a distance.
Don't you wish you lived in my neighborhood? (You can! I know of a great home for sale. But I digress...)
And that is how this week the score became Bekah: 1, Yard: 0.
5 comments:
To add to the list of things the mild winter didn't do, my doctor says that because we didn't have an extended period of cold, there was an increase in people getting sick. Apparently, we need at least 10 days of near zero weather to kill illness "bugs" too.
Really! I had not considered that. Interesting! I will increase my hand sanitizer use. :)
This is nice, but I want more Bekah videos... You look great on video camera... have seen the baptism and the "30 days later" video... just can't get enough! We learn more about you... nuances, subleties... from video. The written word pales...
Ohhhhh you are such a glutton for punishment, Chris!
Nuances like THIS GIRL IS CRAZY!?!!!??!
PS - and speaking of pale...I sure am. I need a TAN.
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