Bruises and Stepping Stones

 Before my latest calamity, I changed gears in my front yard. You might recall that I had been vigorously removing the rock that seemed to cover the entire "yard" up to the steps going inside. I had been doing this for over 6 months, longing for grass. On a whim I bought 4 stepping stones, thinking to make a landing area under the first step.

I was going to place them in a square, touching each other, in hopes that most of the dirt on shoes might decide to depart before entering the porch. I carefully started clearing the growth from that area. If I encountered grass, I carefully scooped it up and then finding a bare spot to plant it in the scraggly yard. All the weeds were slung behind me unceremoniously, this act affording me a measure of satisfaction.

While involved in this endeavor I was suddenly hit with an epiphany. This happens to me from time to time. I stopped and placed the stepping stones in a row. I liked it more than my other idea. Everyday rocks purge up from the bare areas I have weeded, so I grabbed a rake and started raking them to the stepping stones and this is what it started to look like.

Try to overlook the hose. I am a multi tasker, you know and the turtle habitat was just rinsed out on the porch, then the epiphany came and I wanted to test it .... HeWho must have liked my idea as well, since he agreed to get 8 more stepping stones and mulch for me.

I employed cardboard to kill the vegetation around the steps and under them. I ended up with 4 more steps than I needed, but since this was taken I have shoveled excess rock from the carport installation and filled in around all the steps. I will eventually fill in the entire area. In the meantime I am still pulling the weeds that seem to have a secret life underground.

I spread more grass seed and have high hopes for a healthy lawn. Then I looked at the picture and reminded HeWho that we need to water seal the little porch. Then I got to thinking that the banister and rails would look better white. I have white paint and also need to paint the shed we put siding on. But that can wait for less humid weather. 

One of my children used to call humidity "humility". Either my oldest daughter or youngest. The middle daughter was and still is a grammar freak. Her twin brother called helicopters "hockitellers". I can close my eyes and see the little scrap of a boy on the beach pointing to the sky and yelling in a booming voice "HOCKITELLERS". The mispronounciation  of children is so endearing. Everytime I hear a helicopter I think of Jeffrey. And when you stop to think about it, humidity can defintely be humiliating!!

I planted gourds by the lattice that hides the trash cans. The last few years have not yeilded any, so I was in a "plant and see" mode, not really hoping they would come up, much less produce. But here are two plants that are vigorously growing. Despite the bears attacking the garbage cans and rolling a rock onto them.

Today my nose is tender to the touch and my lips are sore. I am surprised that I don't ache all over, but other than a little stiffness in my arm and my scars on my face, you wouldn't even know about my calamity yesterday!