Fun In The Sun
Before
After
After from the roof
(Click any thumbnail to see a full size version)
The previous owners of this house weren't the best landscapers and were, for the most part, pretty damn lazy regarding their yard. Back in May, right before I came down with pneumonia, Amy and I de-weeded the first half of the backyard, taking at least 8 hours and three trips to the King County Waste Transfer Station. We had planned on doing the other side (which we don't see everyday) the week after but my illness canceled those plans. When I was finally able to return to work, I just got busy and we both forgot about the outta control weeds over there.
On Friday, Amy was chatting with our neighbor (who we found out is an undercover State Patrol Officer) and he asked if we could help us with our weed problem. Some thistle weeds were 8-10 feet tall in some areas and were growing over into his yard. Pretty damn embarassing. So despite temps in the mid 90's this weekend, Amy and I resolved to clear that side up.
The first hour was brutal, the weed wacker was completely ineffective and the only tools I had were some sharp, 12" shears which dad bought me when he visited in May and a shovel. I quickly learned that it was far faster to just have me "swing for the fences" with the shovel which would cleanly cut most of the brush. There was just too much though and it would have taken me days to do it like that. So I decided to throw some money at the problem as usual.
We hauled ass to Sunbelt Rentals and rented a 11 HP Honda Billygoat Brush Cutter and had some fun. The thing was a goddam monster. I'm a cyclist and I don't have muscles above my belt! It was loads of fun getting it off the pickup truck and in the backyard. I had such a problem controlling it that it slipped once, rolled back and popped me in the ribs. It nocked the wind out of me and I'm almost positive I cracked a rib. Pretty deep gash too. But man, could that thing mow! It made the super dense brush seem like sod grass and in less than 45 minutes, I was done. Sore as hell, but done.
The neighbor was impressed and offered me a beer. Now we just gotta get the debris in the trashcans and till the ground next weekend. I should have waited until Dad had come out again
:).
August 14th, 2005 - 22:05
you should have. Dad would have done the whole thing for you too! Didn’t you know that Dad loves to do that kinda of stuff now. He spends the whole weekend mowing the grass, plus takes a half day on Wednesday, cuts out of work early in Thursday and half day Fridays, all to mow his acrage! He loves it so much that doing all of that is not sufficent and he wants to buy more land..so he can mow. Don’t get it, but from now on all my big yard work is going to wait for dad to come and visit me! :>)
Love ya and good job on the yard work!!
Kelly
August 15th, 2005 - 16:24
Yeah, I obviously didn’t get any of Dad’s genes cause I don’t like yard work and don’t have any financial cents, I mean sense. When are you going to put up some new pics of Kiersten and and happy entry?
August 15th, 2005 - 21:27
Hey, wasn’t that the piece of equipment that we tried to rent when we were there in May to get the job done and it was not available at any of the rental places – good job, it looks great!! Sorry you got a cracked rib though!
Speaking of ‘tall weeds’, our back meadow was sooo over grown UNTIL this past Thursday – I had the honors of ‘bush hogging’ it!! Problem is I’m only 5’2” and hard as I try, I can not push the clutch or the brake on the John Deere Tractor all the way in unless I am sitting on the edge of the seat (yes, I moved the seat as far forward as possible first), and yes it is very bouncy on the edge of the seat – anyway, JB says that I should downshift to about 15 rpms while making my turns at the end of the meadow – well, I DIDN’T it is full speed ahead for me cause the less I have to brake or use the clutch, the better – he said afterwards that I am ‘One Mad Momma’ on the tractor, but he admitted I did a ‘Damn good job’!! Jay is determined to make ‘a farmer’ out of me yet – I think NOT. You see I had an ulterior motive in conceding to ‘Bush Hog’, Jay agreed to take me ‘to town’ (oh, how I hate that term) to Homearama if I helped him with the ‘Farm Chores’!! It was worth it, we got some good ideas for our next house when we build again – soon!!
Love ya Nance