In Search of a Lazy Boy

I’m not talking about my son here. That boy is NOT lazy in any way, shape or form. He has worked long after I have melted into a puddle in the shower to ease my aching muscles. It’s the reason I have a hard time with summer. The outside work takes so much more muscle and energy than the inside work in the winter.

blooming ground cover. Can you see the bee?

Can you see the bee now?

It may be Lemon Mint but it’s growing in the creosote beds so I can’t use it. Any ideas?

Quilting and sewing are easy in comparison to trying to replace lawn (if that’s what you call the close group of weeds). There was no way to grow a real lawn since there was no real dirt under it. Just thick oozing clay mud. All winter it was soggy and slippery as I did my careful squish, squish, squish dance to get to trash and recycling containers for weekly pickup. I layered cardboard in as many places as I had cardboard available from my move and anywhere I could find some used.

Looks kind of puny in there doesn’t it? Half a yard was quick.

It’s dried out a bit and that meant outside work must begin. First we rented a trailer after putting the hitch back on my car. Then we went to the landscape supply place and bought a half yard of river rock. It sure looked puny in that big trailer.

Full yard of rock. Want to help?

I had an easier time with the mulch.

I really did do some of the shoveling. Just not most of it.

After we shoveled out the first load, back we went for two yards of bark dust. I had spread out some weed block and we shoveled even faster to get that out of the trailer. Then one more trip the next morning for a full yard of rock. Can you say ow? We (I) still have to spread all that wonderfulness. It goes a little at a time as the area is prepared. I also think there is a flaw in my plan as the entire property is slopping toward the house and rock around it. My brain hurts from trying to figure out a cheap fix.

Mulch and rock behind shed. Nothing grows there.

Rock against the house, mulch to the fence

Looks better from here. Rock came last.

Up against the front of the house to keep the mud off next year.

Along the edge of the shed and around the concrete porch

Did you think I’ve just been running around on field trips and retreats? Well, I’ve done some of that and watched as my son put in two electrical plugs on the front porch where there were none. Now we can plug in Christmas lights and laptops to sit outside. He put up a flag holder out front and railing off the back porch so I don’t wobble off and started one up the terrace steps. Right now he is working on my car (something about steering linkage) and I pulled weeds, moved rock and spread more mulch. I have the easy work.

Tech Support being a mechanic aka Genius

More work to do but at least something to hold onto.

One post is in. Several more to go. The work never ends

In time for Memorial day to fly his flag.

The easy work was only so easy. I was still trying to find a direct path from my shower to an available Lazy Boy. I must admit it was more of a waddle than a walk to find it. It did not disappoint.

Comfy spot at the end of the day in my reclining lazy boy

Do you have a lazy boy that brings comfort at the end of a long day? How many summer projects do you have lined up?

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of Bison

I’ve been taking field trips with the Senior Center for a while with my neighbor, Shirlee and sometimes by myself. The one I took a few weeks ago was to Jackson Bottoms Wetlands Wildlife Preserve followed by visit to a Bison Ranch.

Our little bus and driver.

It’s good to see that seniors, no matter our physical limitations, have not given up on experiencing life. Some of us were in only slightly better shape and health than others but we each enjoyed something of the day.

Several were hanging back from the wind and chill

I would never know about these places nor get to see them other than going with our little shuttle bus from the Senior Center. Getting to know more of my community is important to me since I’m not native to the area. We always have a stop for lunch and it’s a good chance to visit with people I would not otherwise meet.

Acres of water and grassland. Wildlife was hiding that day.

Lots of young people learning about our nature preserves too.

One of many Mason bee stations on the preserve

Lots of marsh land but the inhabitants were hiding. A bit camera shy

I have never seen a tree with these pretty blooms

Lots of waterways though the preserve

Can you see the bird feeders in the left corner. Well hidden.

First part of the trail through the preserve

There have been several trips I have not had time to write about yet but we’ll catch up soon, I hope. This trip was extra interesting as I love all animals but Bison are almost like dinosaurs. They have been walking this earth about that long and have adapted to their environment since then. According to our hostess, the Bison has reduced its size as its environment reduced. These animals were stunning to see but we were kept at a good distance. They are not cuddly animals that allow petting. They can be quite dangerous if you get to close and especially in calf season. Bison herds will surround the calves until they are mature. Our hostess had a large number of stitches in her leg to prove it.

Bits of bright but no fuzzies or flutterbys

Our hostess had so much to say about the Bison that I just couldn’t remember everything. Next time, I’ll bring a notebook or a tape recorder.

Another pretty find on mt walk around the preserve.

These were raised primarily for their meat which is supposed to be more nutritious than beef. Also because of the limited availability, more expensive. But they are majestic animals and it’s sad to see them dwindling because there is no room for them to roam. Boy, do I know how they feel. Those big guys have knocked down every tree in their enclosure scratching against them. That’s some muscle

Resting around the calf. Only one this spring

For a number of years there were Bison on a ranch near my home in the mountains of Arizona. They were a gimmick to bring attention to new summer homes for Phoenix/Tucson snowbirds. By the time I moved away, the Bison were gone too. Not sure why. Maybe they went in search of greener pastures. There numbers are finally coming back up but who knows for how long.

What animals do you find fascinating in our ever declining animal world? Any interesting field trips on your list?

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself

In Search of that Grinder

You have my apologies. “What for, you ask?” I can’t seem to find the grinder that has ground my work here to a halt. What does it look like and where is it hiding?

Is the grinder in this load of laundry waiting to be finished?

In trying to keep up with blogs I follow, I am sadly ground down as well. I’m outnumbered and you have so many wonderful posts I want to read. Nothing else is getting done. My energy has waned and the cogs in my brain are slipping.

Is it in the pile of laundry waiting?

You’ll usually find me spinning in circles trying to figure out what needs to be done next. There are four quilt tops on my machine in different states of readiness for me to sandwich and quilt. No small task in there. Yesterday, I tried to seal the wood on a plant pot holder I had out front last summer to gray the wood. I dumped an entire can of sealer on the porch when I lost my balance trying to move it. Fortunately, I managed to contain the spill enough to finish the job.

Room is smaller than the work to do in it. Could the grinder be in there?

My daughter needed my help with her move and that has taken more chunks of time. Friendships need nurturing and groups for handwork and quilting are vital to my mental health. It all takes time and energy.

Helping my daughter with the move. Several days of packing here.

There are things I want to write about, but don’t, so I write nothing. There is a battle waging internally about what should be done about this.

Could the grinder be in this box of photos to be gone through?

Of the 250 people who follow my blog, the most that read it are less than 30. I follow less than 50 because I want to read the blogs I follow. They have become very dear to me and it would be like losing friends. I cannot bear to part with friends.

Could all these books waiting to be read be hiding the grinder?

Maybe the grinder is hiding here in all the yard work waiting for me to do.

Where do I need to go to find that grinder? How do you manage not to come to a grinding halt?

From my heart to yours,
Marlene Herself