Tag Archives: lawn care

Weekend Coffee Share 4/16/17

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If we were having coffee, I’d tell you I’m boycotting my kitchen today. It has nothing to do with not wanting to cook a nice Easter dinner for family. I boycott that scenario every year. No, today I’m avoiding the kitchen because I’m frustrated with my DIY kitchen remodel project. But I don’t even want to think about that, so instead I’ll tell you about my yard.

As you see by the photos, I have lots of dandelions. Lush, healthy, organically grown, beautiful dandelions. I took the photo of my front lawn through my living room window. The neighbors don’t seem to appreciate my weeds as they have a habit of becoming everyone’s weeds when their seeds blow. So I thought it might not go over well if I am observed in my yard proudly photographing this year’s bumper crop.

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I still have a ways to go on the whole not-caring-what-other-people-think thing. I suppose on the flip side, it could be seen as a not-being-a-good-neighbor thing to let my weeds grow and spread to the others’ chemically-induced pristine lawns. But we all have our neighborly vices. Screaming kids, barking dogs, loud parties, random rusting appliances abandoned in the front yard… and wayward weeds.

Anyway… what I was going to tell you before I got sidetracked with broken appliance yard decor is that today I came across a recipe for dandelion jelly! I’m kinda stoked to try it, but my stove is still unavailable, what with the whole kitchen remodel thing that I’m not talking about today. I’m thinking maybe if I pick the blossoms and show up at a neighbor’s door with all the ingredients, perhaps they’ll see that weeds aren’t all bad, and they’ll welcome me inside to make the jelly in their kitchen.

Or they might just scream, “Run! It’s that weird weed woman!” and slam the door in my face.

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Maybe I should just go out and mow the lawn, sending all my beautiful weeds to mulch heaven. I’ll ponder that idea while we enjoy the rest of our coffee. It feels like a good day to sit back and relax, admire my flowers, and let the lawn, the kitchen remodel and myself have a pleasant day of rest.

For all who celebrate Easter, I send wishes for a happy, blessed day.

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

Weekend Coffee Share 4/2/17

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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!

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

Weekend Coffee Share 4/30/16

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If we were having coffee, I’d offer you some cold brew, a cold coffee concentrate that is intended to be diluted 4 to 1 with water. I drink mine straight. And then have the jitters all day. Good stuff!

I’d tell you that it’s the final day of the A to Z blogging challenge that I’ve been participating in on my other blog, Glass Manifestations. Frankly, I’m feeling a bit “blogged out” for the moment. Or maybe it’s more of an overall creativity tank. So maybe I’ll take a bit of a break from blogging and let the tank refill.

Or maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow with more creative ideas than you can shake a stick at. Maybe I’ll write a blog about the origins and meaning of the phrase “more than you can shake a stick at.” Hmmm.

If we were having coffee, I’d show off my yard as you came in the house. It’s very green and lush right now. With clover, that is, not grass. The beautiful yellow flowers (dandelions) have now turned to beautiful white puff balls (seed heads) that will soon be propagating a whole new batch of pretty yellow flowers.

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I can feel the glares emanating from my neighbors as they watch the uninhibited progression of a yard run amok. Maybe I’ll work on getting it under better control this week. Glaring neighbors can be such a nuisance.

That being said, I’d better go find the lawn mower now. Thanks for stopping by for coffee, and watch your step as you proceed through the jungle… er, I mean the yard. Feel free to pick some flowers on your way out.