More work in the Yard

SUNDAY: Up the hill to church with Terry and Caroline coming with us. Then home for a nap. Later in the afternoon we cooked some more potatoes and added to the potato soup from the other night. I also baked some chocolate cake in a cup. We were having such a good time talking we forgot to go to the Ice Cream social up at the Activities Center. Darn! And I wanted to hear the lecture on all the snakes, spiders and scorpions in the area. I still don't know what kind of snake was in our garage.

I guess the lecture went on for about 2 hours and was very good. Main point – you won't die – so relax. Yeah! Right!

Looks like my little snake is a good snake. I think he is the flat one out on the road in front of our house. Somebody ran over him.

MONDAY: I went up to Park Beautification for about an hour. Ron and Terry & Caroline stayed home. After I got home I got the water pick out and started working on the little mesquite tree near the back driveway.

Terry and Caroline had been out looking at lots again and when they came home, he hooked his pickup to the tree but it still wouldn't come out. I guess they have a tap root that goes to china.

So we gave up for a while until Ron sharpens the ax for me cut off the tap root.

Terry and Caroline hooked up their 5th wheel and headed for home. We sure enjoyed having them here – I hope they find a lot.

TUESDAY: I was determined to get the tree out. Ron had sharpened the ax and it only took a few blow to cut the tap root. But it still wouldn't come out. I turned the Rhino around and pulled the other way and lo and behold – there were two tap roots. About 6 blows later the 2nd one bit the dust. I pulled the little tree around to the end of the house and I will cut it up later.

I took the Rhino and the water pick around to the front driveway and pulled out the small agave that I wanted gone there. There are some cacti beds there to burn – but some time in the future.

WEDNESDAY: My goal today was to trim two palo verde trees and two agave. I only got the two agave and one palo verde tree done. But they do look nice. I can drive the Rhino under the other agave tree so I now have access to about 75% of the yard with the Rhino. That will help me a lot so I don't have to carry things when I work in the yard.

Ron is getting better each day. Mornings are the hardest to get moving – but a pain pill and a hot shower sure help. He feels pretty good in the afternoon = but I still don't want him to do stuff. Bending hurts a lot and he is a bit unsteady on his feet – but he is a good supervisor.

He says he feels bad that he can't help me work in the yard – I told him I like to do it myself (and by myself) so no one tells me how to do it.

THURSDAY: Today was agave pulling day. First I cut up the branches from the palo verde trees and got them in the trailer. Then Ron found me another length of hose and I started pulling agave. I would put the tow strap around them and then use the water pick to under mine all the roots. The put the Rhino in 4-wheel drive and give it the gas.

I had a bit of trouble with one of them as I pulled the top off. But I was able to water pick around it and then use the shovel a bit. I got the strap dirty when I hooked it under the roots but it came out.

FRIDAY: Clean up day. I stacked all the bigger branches for future fire wood, filled all the holes where the agave were and raked the yard. It looks pretty good. Ron helped by putting away the tools for me. I'm quitting on the yard work for the next week as tomorrow starts Wood Carver's Week here. So we will sit with our friends and carve for a week. My back is thinking this is a pretty good idea.

The other thing we did today was to go up the hill to the church for a “Jamaican Me Crazy” dinner. We had such a good time. We wore some of the clothes we got on our cruise years ago in Jamaica. The dinner was good and the entertainment was fun.

The best part was - - - wait for it - - - I DROVE UP YARNELL HILL AND BACK HOME!!! It isn't nearly as scary to drive it as it is to be a passenger. I don't think that hill will ever be a problem for me again.

SATURDAY: Wood Carver's Week. First of all we went to breakfast at the Activities Center. Green pancakes and sausage for St. Patrick’s Day. Then we wandered around talking to friends until it was time to register. Then we came back and rested and sorted out our bark to see what we would carve. I think Ron is going to make a face in his – maybe an Native American or many a Wood Sprite. I want to find a piece to do a light house.

We went back at 5 for the Welcoming Dinner. Attendance is down but a lot of old friends are there. We will have a great time, I'm sure.

Anyway that is the way our lives have been going. Hope you and yours are well and happy. ENJOY!!

Mar 18, 2012

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