So attractive, right? I should be ashamed to even post this picture.
That's the view from the door leading out of the laundry room. The building you see there which needs massive wood replacement (as does the whole house) is the old kitchen, which was my writing room for quite awhile but is now Glen's office. And that ancient picket fence just needs to go. We discuss this often.
That unattractive strip of dirt and overgrown iron plants as well as overgrown border grass is part of the old kitchen garden which I bitch about all the time because I've let it go to hell and it, like all the rest of the yard, is filled with ALL the invasive plants and for the past few months, every time I looked out at that view, I felt terrible about all the glory bower and other plants that I haven't even identified, just running amok. And it drove me crazy and I vowed, every time I saw it (at least three times a day), that I would do something about it.
So today I waited until it got to the apex of the heat index (that's probably an incorrectly written sentence in every way but, whatever) and put my long overalls on and got the garden cart and a shovel and the trowel and the old canning kettle that I throw weeds in and I cleaned out as much of the area as I could before passing out.
And that wasn't much.
But at least I got some of it.
I am going to get some help with this yard. Perhaps that'll happen when we get back from North Carolina. I can't believe it but we're leaving on Wednesday, taking our time, and arriving on Thursday. I'm not feeling as anxious as I usually do about a pending trip because we've done this one so many times we practically know each and every turn in the road, as well as good places to stop and pee.
I am very excited to see Jessie and Vergil and August and Levon. I am sure that August and Levon have both grown at least a foot. I wonder how soon it will be that every one of my grandchildren is taller than I am. Two down, three to go.
Meanwhile, I am trying to get things done that need doing before we leave. Today I made up the bed with clean sheets in the guest room for Mark, house-sitter extraordinaire. I've made sure that I have plenty of all my medications and will get those organized. I need to go to the library and return books and get new books. I haven't yet figured out what book I'll be reading to Glen on our trip. This is tradition. So I need to do that.
Of course I have to pack and I am grateful that this year I will have a few more options in that department. Some months ago I ordered a brand new, not from e-bay, linen dress. When it arrived, it was a tad too small and I didn't feel comfortable in it but knowing that I was about to ask my doctor to prescribe one of the GLP-1's, I did not send it back and now it fits quite well, is a lovely shade of blue, has deep pockets, and could hardly be more comfortable. It was a little too long and I had hoped to get that taken care of today. I did not finish the task but I have it all ready to sew the hem now.
I just checked the weather for Black Mountain for next week and it would appear that it's going to rain every day. Oh well. La-di-dah. At least it's only going to be in the eighties and not the nineties. What a relief that will be.
"Why anyone comes here to read the ridiculously boring shit I write about is beyond me..." Back again. I guess I must be a masochist!
ReplyDeleteall I can say is........your *shit* is NEVER boring in the least!
ReplyDeleteSusan M
You're real. You write beautifully.
ReplyDeleteShit is badly written, badly spelled and with poor grammar. Your writing is eloquent and elegant.
ReplyDeleteShit is also those damn invasive plants.
Clearing invasives is a big job. The deep roots are tough to remove. The cleared space looks good and well prepared for something new. Over the years, I've reduced garden space by having a patio installed and it has worked well.
ReplyDeleteWindex for spot removal is new to me. I'll try it on the next stain before I call Stanley Steamer.
80 degrees in NC sounds pretty wonderful.
The blue of that dress is a crowd pleaser for sure, You just can not go wrong with that shade. So pleased that it fits you well, having ditched - what- about 18 pounds! Excellent! By the way I think i forgot to comment on Maggie's new lower half- Stunning! Get that girl a wheel Chair.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm just used to coming in here or some such thing ..
ReplyDeleteBlack Mountain already? Have you met Blogger Barbara who lives there? She's lovely.
I hate cleaning upholstery, so always made sure couch cushions had removeable washable covers. Now that it's just me and no room at all for a couch, my tv recliners are leather and so is my computer chair.
ReplyDeleteI'd be really worried about so much rotting wood on a house. Damp equals mould and that's a very bad thing for me, I am so allergic.
Forgot to say how pretty that blue is on the dress and to have a great time at Black Mountain.
ReplyDeleteI just love reading your " shit", please keep going!
ReplyDeletePS We shall be seeing the grands today...not seen 12 yr old George for ages, and I think he will probably now be taller than me! ( and maybe taller than his 15 yr old sister...she won't like that !!)
ReplyDeleteI love the way you write and how you tell a story. Nothing boring about your shit! I think I mentioned I was taller than my grandmother when I was 10. And there’s no one in my family with Mr. Moon’s height genes.
ReplyDeleteI just know that would I be living in the climate you describe, my yard would just turn into a jungle and I would not care. How you can put on a pair of overalls and work, past apex or not whatever, is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe journey!
We used clear Windex as the cleaner (mixed with water) in one of those rented carpet cleaning machines. Worked GREAT.
ReplyDeleteour last untamed garden spot became a certified butterfly habitat bc the only thing that would grow well was the damn milkweed. maggie is pure JOY as a mermaid and I hope your road trip is easy travels <3 xxalainaxx
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to try windex on the stains on my couches, thanks to Mr. Moon:)
ReplyDeleteHow has Vergil's family done since the hurricane last year? Obviously the roads have been cleared.
I'm glad you're getting someone to help with the garden, sometimes we need help. As for that picket fence, it looks like it just needs some good kicks to knock it over. Might be theraputic. Just saying.
My friend and I are leaving on Thursday for our road trip. She tells me that her husband would never stop to look at anything, my husband is the opposite. Obviously we will be stopping to see everything, especially waterfalls.
Hope you had a good day sweetie.