May 12, 2012
I headed out this morning to David's house and from there we headed out to the farm for a day of slave labor... little did we know! LOL It was also already getting hot when we got out there, which was mid-morning, and that didn't make me happy.... I am no longer a heat tolerant person.
So, I had also taken Benedryl before I left my house, anticipating the tree pollen to be in the medium level. Unfortunately, it also made me very sleepy, so David drove out to the farm! LOL
Got out the roto-tiller, a supposed top of the line kind of machine... I can't think of the name at this minute because I am basically brain dead after the days toil. Anyhow, I could have never handled that machine by myself for a "first time tilling" of the ground. David was getting beat up by that thing and it would easily try to drag you across the land. It was truly not a fun time, but I was so grateful that he came out to do that for me... or it wouldn't be done. It is missing, we discovered, the tine adjuster assembly, but I don't know if that would make any big difference in the handling of it.
So, moving along... David wrestled the machine around and was getting the tilling done..
While he did that stuff, I busied myself pulling up the tires that I had used as planters and digging up the plants therein. It did take me awhile as the tires had sunk a bit into the ground, but I did it and got them moved over to the fence from the front of the house where they had been. The Rhody I moved to the East fence. Refilled the tires with dirt and built up the front under the tires so they wouldn't decide to come down the slope. Actually, the last one I was going to move, David moved for me, the Benedryl had worn off so I was awake again, but my allergies were kicking in and that was a bad thing. I needed one more tire because the little plant on the right hand side of the photo didn't have a tire and the bricks just looked stupid. So David found me another tire to use under some blackberry brambles and got it out and down to the new location. It looked much better with a tire. For those who don't know... those old tires (no rims) make great planters for NON FOOD items. They insulate in the Winter and hold moisture in the Summer.
I did allow David to have a couple breaks and 1/2 hour lunch! LMAO
Next, it was time to start my retaining wall. So, we set out to the shed to get my brick things... I don't know their technical name.... so stop rolling your eyes! LOL
When he got the door open, there was a pallet standing up blocking most of the "view" inside. I am quite certain that I had purchased the blocks that have two holes and are about 8 x 6 x 4" because I wanted to use the top block on the wall as a little planter. They were no where to be found and I am very certain that I did not put that pallet where it was. Apparently, since I am not up there 24/7, someone saw fit to relieve me of the blocks (they were outside of the shed in shrink wrap on a pallet. I thought the berry brush would keep them hidden for the most part).They left the pallet inside the door. gggrrrrrrr (note: the door to the shed doesn't lock because it has shifted to much and I couldn't get a lock on it).
So, we loaded up some of the blocks that were in there, they are about 8 x 6 x 2" and I started with laying the bricks and putting in rebar to hold them in place. David continued bringing the bricks until there were no more. It didn't really go very far and now I have to buy more to finish the job.
That wall is going to be 3 levels high and the tires will only be noticeable from the street, if at all. I will have to haul some dirt out there to fill in the area between the wall and the fence and around the tires. I still have to do the wall on the East side and then decide what to do with the middle! LOL
Next on the list was to lay down some landscape fabric to discourage any grass from growing where he had just completed all that roto tilling. Up by the East fence and by the house, I will use Round-up and then "fabric" that too. So, we put the fabric down and put up the little fence I had to keep the dogs out of my "space" until I'm done with it (yeah right! LMAO)
Then, we piled back into the car and left, both moaning about tired muscles and aching this and that. It was a long, hot, 6 hours of slave labor! I am so glad I didn't have to do that battle alone.
We will each be enjoying out hot tubs at our respective houses tonight! LOL
If you scroll down to the April 29 entry, you can see how it looked before!
April 29, 2012
Headed out to the farm today, knowing full well that there would be a few hours worth of yard work to do so, I also took my other weed-eater with me.
It had grown substantially more since last week when I came up. sigh
So, it took about 4 hours, but I got the tall, still wet, grass weed-eated down, moved the pile of firewood that had fallen over to the same side as the other pile, moved the wood that was piled up by the fence to where the firewood used to be and piled up some other wood that was next to the fence to get it out of the way of the young man who mows the other side of the lawn for me.
I had planned on mowing my yard at the Portland house when I got back home, but I was just all out of energy and my lazy muscles were already letting me know they weren't happy. My back is killing me, although, it has actually been hurting the last few days. And, lastly, my allergies had kicked into full gear by the time I was covered in grass and weeds from all the weed eating.
Nope, not doing anything else today! LOL
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2011
Yard Work
First, these are the new babies across the street. Cute, huh? There are actually 4 of them but these ones seemed happy to pose long enough for me to take their picture. LOL
The part of the yard that I am planning on doing the "landscaping" of was horribly overgrown with grass and some weeds, so I took the weedeater out to cut that stuff down and give the plants a chance at feeling the sun on their faces.
The side of the yard that has grass still on it was fairly tall, but the area is so small, I don't have them mow it. While I was weed eating it down, I accidentally hit a little garter snake that was hiding in the tall grass. I thought I might have killed it, but when I went back to that side, I saw this trail... my guess is, she slithered off.
I don't really care for snakes, but since she hadn't done anything to hurt or scare me, I felt kinda bad for hurting her. Besides, I hope they eat mice!
Next, I worked my way around the "tire garden", you can see how much grass etc I cut down. It was so tall you couldn't even see some of my plants like the Lambs Ear, or the tires they are living in. Under all that green you see, is black plastic.
Tire Garden
Over by the tire garden, I came across this little fellow. He sat very still until I finished distrupting his day and waited for me to return with the camera to take his picture. Then he left. I haven't seen any frogs out there for eons! He was about the size of my palm!
Ribbit Ribbit
On the east side of the yard are some purple flowers I got from my friend, Debbie, that seem to like their new home. I forget what they are called but they are very nice.
In between those two tires of purple flowers is the Clematis that David and I uprooted from his front yard and I hauled out to the farm. It, also, seems happy in its new home and it bloomed this year!
The pear trees in the front yard are always so pretty when they are in full bloom!
David and I tackled the insertion of the stainless steel chimney pipe into the old chimney. First, had to remove the old stuff... that was a nasty dirty job!
Then, it was time to put the new stuff in. Also quite a job to accomplish mostly becase the pitch of the roof is so friggin' steep! David, bless his heart, was the one to get up on that steep roof. Now, I am waiting on a length of pipe for the inside to connect the wood stove to it all and hopefully it will all work! LOL
A couple years ago, I enclosed and put in windows on the front porch. It made a big difference in how hot/cold it got in the house since many of the storms seem to come from the south (the house faces south). So, getting tired of the "unfinished" ugly appearance of it, I decided to put shakes on that part that I constructed. I think it turned out fairly nice. I also came across this little fellow inside the front porch and returned him to the "wilds".
And, last, but never least.... the boys! They were impatiently waiting for me to get done with the designated chores and bring them back to Portland after having the beejeebers scared out of them from fireworks the night before.
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