If we were having coffee, I’d suggest we sit outside. If you bring a jacket, it’s warm enough to enjoy the sunshine. I’d show you my lawn, which isn’t much to look at right now. I don’t use herbicides or pesticides, so the lawn is mostly au natural weeds, moss and clover. At least it’s green.

But I have plans.

My ultimate goal is to do away with most of the lawn. I’ve planted some native species of shrubs that I’m hoping will take hold and help block the view of the six foot high concrete wall that runs along two sides of my yard.

Don’t get me wrong… I love the wall. I value my privacy very highly. I just don’t enjoy looking at the wall. I’m hoping the native plants will thrive and spread (in a semi-controlled manner). Right now that seems like a very long-range plan. When I ordered the plants at a County Soil and Water Conservation District sale, I envisioned getting a heavy flat of green, jaunty little bushes full of life and vibrancy. Okay, maybe a bit unrealistic given it was February.

What I found waiting for me on pick-up day was a little handful of twigs with a few straggly roots attached. Really?!? I paid money for this?? I could have gotten its equivalent by plucking sticks out of my rain gutter!

Nonetheless, I stuck the little twigs in the ground and hoped for the best. Now, a month and a half later, they are actually sprouting a bit of green. So I have hope.

Another part of the plan for this year is to lay out walkways using wood chips over cardboard. I had some wood chips delivered back in November, and the pile has been sitting just outside of my concrete wall since then. The neighbor kids used it to slide down in the snow, and I’ve had two individuals come by and offer to take the chips off my hands. I would rather they take the neighbor kids, but that’s another story.

Anyway, it’s time to take Chules on a walk, and then take inventory of my kitchen remodel project. It would be great to be done with that project by the end of this month. Maybe I’ll make that a goal.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week!

#WeekendCoffeeShare is graciously hosted by Emily at NerdintheBrain.com.