Trying to Think Positive Thoughts About Summer

I hate summer. Wow, that wasn't very positive....it just came out.

But yeah, I really do hate it. I hate the HOT weather, I hate the bugs, I hate spontaneously combusting when I get in my car.

I don't see how it's possible for anyone who has grown up in the great state of Alabama to like this mutiny. Life would be so much better with a pool. Jason, are you reading this?

I'm trying so very hard to enjoy tolerate this summer because I am 20 pounds lighter than last summer and my skin no longer has it's vampirish hypersensitivity to sunlight.

In the spirit of being tan(ner), thin(ner), and surviving this summer, I thought I'd share a few positive thoughts about summer this year.



Summer means Barons games!


Summer brings new growth.

Like my new tomatoes!


And my gigantic blueberry!


And my wonderful gardenias!


And my knockout roses!

But...summer also brings loss....

Like the loss of Joe's second tooth!


Seems like just yesterday he was growing those teeth.

I'm determined to make this summer a great one. I still hate the heat so if you have a pool.......want to be friends?

Please?

A Cat in the Hat Kind of Problem

I was done with my class,
I was finally through.
And I said, "How I wish
I had something to do!"

My homework was done.
My husband was out.
This would be fun,
There was no one about.

So I did the only thing I could think of to do:
Dig!
Dig!
Dig!
Dig!
Weeds that were small
And weeds that were big!

I dug weeds from the yard
With a vengeance quite rare.
My back was on fire
But I didn't care

I pulled weeds 'til my hands
Were calloused and sore,
Then I sat on the ground
And I pulled them some more!

My yard was then free
Of those nasty old weeds.
The problem was now
That they covered the street!

How does one rid
Oneself of street weeds?
Will a cat in a hat
come and handle the deed?

The answer is NO!
There's no magic cat
To whisk them away
With a tip of his hat.

The task must be handled
Quite quickly you see
Or you'll be in hot water
With the housing committee.

So I set to work sweeping.
No need for that cat
To get rid of the street weeds
In five minutes flat.

No more weeds in the yard.
No more weeds in the street.
It was a tough, but not
Insurmountable feat.

The next time you find
Yourself in a fix,
You know that you won't
Need a cat or his tricks!

Just do it yourself
You'll be fine, You will see.
You don't want to anger
The Housing committee!

The Everlasting Flowerbed Saga

Jason, Big Joe, Little Joe and I have been diligently working in the yard for four solid days now. It all began with the front flower bed. I am convinced that when we bought the house last year, D.R. Horton gave us (and everyone else on our street) what I affectionately call "The Poverty Package" for landscaping. Now, bear in mind our poor plants have been pretty much neglected for the past year anyway so that all adds up to some pretty sad flowerbeds. Well, the stars have finally aligned and we have managed to have enough time, money, and help all at the same time to give our landscaping an amazing facelift...Joan Rivers style! Here are some before pictures of what we had to work with. Click any of the pictures to enlarge them.Have you ever seen gray pine straw? I have!

*hangs head* How embarrassing!

Notice the moldish-weeds that even roundup can't kill....This is a "rock patch" in the back yard that I turned into a beautiful bulb patch.
That beautiful rock patch again. Joe and I scooped these rocks out by hand.

Now for the progress. We started at 3pm on Sunday and finished around 6pm on Wednesday. We have moved 2 tons of rocks. Yes, that's 4,000 pounds of rocks if you trust the math of the English major! Even after that many rocks, I didn't break a single nail! WOW! Here are some pictures of the work in progress.

Lots and LOTS of rocks!Hard at Work!

After 4 days, 2 tons of rocks, 3 truckloads of mulch, about 30 plants and an embarrassing amount of money spent, I am so proud to say we have the most awesome yard in the neighborhood...or at least on our street! Here are the after pictures.

This is our bulb patch after. It has 3 colors of tulips and daffodils.
Here is where we created a flowerbed where there once was none.
These gardenias will be blooming soon.I think it looks so good!
And finally, another impromptu bed with our new patio furniture.
I am so proud of all our hard work. You really have to see it to appreciate it so come on by sometime!