Today was Thayer’s day off so he began some yard work that he’s been wanting to do for several years.  We have a little over an acre lot, but only about 1/2 of it is cleared.  So, he wants to push back the forest!  It is hard work and goes pretty slow, but you can certainly see his progress.  Of course, he is burning the trees and brush he cuts down, so I’m sure the neighbors are about as thrilled as I am with the smell and ashes everywhere.

Since it was such a great day, I helped him outside after I got home from school.  The back yard had to be cut one more time and since our lovely dog is such a slob, you have to pick up all the stuff (pots, wood, etc.)  he has chewed and left everywhere before you can do it.

Then, we took the net off the trampoline.  I know, I know…safety.  But, the net was dry-rotted and you can’t buy just a net.  So, the padding is still around the springs and we’ll watch them more carefully.  But it looks so much better than the net hanging down all the way around.

Now that we have installed an electric fence (to keep the dog in our chain link fence!), we were able to remove all the rocks, landscape timbers, chicken wire and any number of other items (including the dog house) that we had used to block all of Noche’s holes.  It looks a million times better!  I had to load up Thayer’s truck with the rocks to drive them back down to the drain 2 houses down where we “borrowed” them.  While I was moving the rocks, I was so thrilled (yeah, right!) to discover a tiny snake that had started hibernating until I disturbed him and 2 black widow spiders.  I despise both, so Thayer had to come to my rescue twice while I was running and screaming.

My arms and back are aching, but I do love to see how much better things look.  Since we were so busy in March and April opening the new church building, we missed doing several projects outside that really needed attention.  I still have one more thing to accomplish…Thayer trimmed the bushes in the front, but the “monkey grass” I planted three years ago has gotten too big and needs to be trimmed and separated.  I had meant to do it in the spring.   Oh well, it will still be there towmorrow…or in a few more weeks when my  mom comes to visit.