Before the plumbing fiasco, I've been dreaming of, and implemening a potager (poh-ta-zhay) garden in our backyard. Starting around the 1st week of April, I decided that we really didn't need grass in the backyard! Why would we?
I somehow stumbled on a very darling type of garden that is quite common in Italy & France. It is a potager garden, also known as a kitchen garden. It is a symmetrical garden, that is decorative & functional. It is typically a combination of veggies and flowers w/ ornamental elements. Ahhhh, sounds just right. :o) So off we go on a new project! We don't ever do any home improvement, so no time like the present to start! (that is Larry you hear having a conniption) is that spelled right?
I started by drawing out my plans (see I do plan in advance!), and then started, well, getting rid of all the grass! What a job that is! fyi: grass/sod is heavy! It might have something to do with the EXCESSIVE amount of moisture in the ground!!!! Anyway, I measured out the paths and started shoveling...... and shoveling...... and shoveling.......oh man, that is a killer on the back! by the end of the week, I decided a sod cutter is really a better solution, what could be so hard? The guy at United Rentals said, "oh it'll take ya 15 minutes with a yard that small, No problem." Sounds good, and I'm there renting it. I should have got a clue when they had to load it into the truck with a forklift (too heavy for the workers to lift!) So Larry brings it home and heads off to a lunch meeting (it's a workday ya' know) he'll be back in an hour or so to pick it up & take it back.
Couple problems......the 350lb machine is a beast that goes one way & one way only. Forward. So, how does one turn corners and such? hmmmm......how does one go on uneven ground with already cut out paths, with a 3-4 inch drop off? hmmm....well a whole lot of muscle & tugging, pulling, wiggling, shaking, etc..etc... Welp......, 20 minutes later, it looks like I'm about done! yippee! Wow, that was fast!
So, I maneuver the 'beast' back to the driveway & start to remove the cut sod (much lighter this time) and throw it in the massive sod pile..... uh-oh............It looks like I basically just made some nice stripes, sort of, like every other one, one stripe of grass, one stripe of dirt, one stripe of grass, one stripe of dirt...... oops......what to do? It will be next to impossible to drag that beast back to the backyard, what do I do? ??.............. Well, I call my sweet husband and say, "honey, is there any way you would " take a couple minutes after your lunch & just real quickly get the little areas I missed? so we don't have to rent it again? please.." Sure he says, "ok." So he comes back from lunch, changes out of his work clothes & does the quick 2 minute job. uh...... ok..... maybe it took him a little longer, eek, I'm sweatin' it feeling very guilty, as his lunch "hour" turns into 3 hours! (It wasn't 4 was it honey?) he might say it was. So he finished it and back to work he goes. He really did do such a better job than me, since he is so strong & all! ;o)
Thanks honey. .... what a wonderful husband! That was the beginning & since then we've come quite aways & are on the home stretch. see pic's. I'm expecting to be finished by the end of this next Saturday. (shhh..... Larry might not know this.) I do realize I might get slowed up with the little plumbing leak we are dealing with. :0) I know all of you men out there are sighing heavily, and wondering "where did she get that from?" Dad, was it from you or mom? :o) hee, hee, hee.
OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL DEPENDENT ON IT NOT SNOWING ANYMORE!!!
I somehow stumbled on a very darling type of garden that is quite common in Italy & France. It is a potager garden, also known as a kitchen garden. It is a symmetrical garden, that is decorative & functional. It is typically a combination of veggies and flowers w/ ornamental elements. Ahhhh, sounds just right. :o) So off we go on a new project! We don't ever do any home improvement, so no time like the present to start! (that is Larry you hear having a conniption) is that spelled right?
I started by drawing out my plans (see I do plan in advance!), and then started, well, getting rid of all the grass! What a job that is! fyi: grass/sod is heavy! It might have something to do with the EXCESSIVE amount of moisture in the ground!!!! Anyway, I measured out the paths and started shoveling...... and shoveling...... and shoveling.......oh man, that is a killer on the back! by the end of the week, I decided a sod cutter is really a better solution, what could be so hard? The guy at United Rentals said, "oh it'll take ya 15 minutes with a yard that small, No problem." Sounds good, and I'm there renting it. I should have got a clue when they had to load it into the truck with a forklift (too heavy for the workers to lift!) So Larry brings it home and heads off to a lunch meeting (it's a workday ya' know) he'll be back in an hour or so to pick it up & take it back.
Couple problems......the 350lb machine is a beast that goes one way & one way only. Forward. So, how does one turn corners and such? hmmmm......how does one go on uneven ground with already cut out paths, with a 3-4 inch drop off? hmmm....well a whole lot of muscle & tugging, pulling, wiggling, shaking, etc..etc... Welp......, 20 minutes later, it looks like I'm about done! yippee! Wow, that was fast!
So, I maneuver the 'beast' back to the driveway & start to remove the cut sod (much lighter this time) and throw it in the massive sod pile..... uh-oh............It looks like I basically just made some nice stripes, sort of, like every other one, one stripe of grass, one stripe of dirt, one stripe of grass, one stripe of dirt...... oops......what to do? It will be next to impossible to drag that beast back to the backyard, what do I do? ??.............. Well, I call my sweet husband and say, "honey, is there any way you would " take a couple minutes after your lunch & just real quickly get the little areas I missed? so we don't have to rent it again? please.." Sure he says, "ok." So he comes back from lunch, changes out of his work clothes & does the quick 2 minute job. uh...... ok..... maybe it took him a little longer, eek, I'm sweatin' it feeling very guilty, as his lunch "hour" turns into 3 hours! (It wasn't 4 was it honey?) he might say it was. So he finished it and back to work he goes. He really did do such a better job than me, since he is so strong & all! ;o)
Thanks honey. .... what a wonderful husband! That was the beginning & since then we've come quite aways & are on the home stretch. see pic's. I'm expecting to be finished by the end of this next Saturday. (shhh..... Larry might not know this.) I do realize I might get slowed up with the little plumbing leak we are dealing with. :0) I know all of you men out there are sighing heavily, and wondering "where did she get that from?" Dad, was it from you or mom? :o) hee, hee, hee.
OF COURSE, THIS IS ALL DEPENDENT ON IT NOT SNOWING ANYMORE!!!
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