Turkey Tracks: June 15, 2013
I Mowed the Lawn Today
In 47 years of marriage, I never mowed the lawn.
I think John tried once to show me how back on Van Buren Street in Falls Church, Virginia. But I could not start our big heavy mower, and I already had so many other things to do in and for the house and gardens, that I never pursued it.
Besides, John liked mowing the lawn. There was something peaceful about it for him.
I can’t imagine why–as it’s one of my least favorite things to do in this world.
Oh, I like the way it all looks when it’s done. Just the way I like the way the laundry looks when it’s all folded and ready to be put away. Or, the kitchen when it’s all clean. It’s not that I mind the work. I like to work. I just don’t like mowing the lawn.
I’ll weed all day. But mowing? Not a chance.
Still, I do a good job. See?
That hill you see really slopes, and it’s murder to mow. Perhaps that’s why I don’t like mowing. Or it’s about juggling the electric mower we got me last summer when it became clear John could no longer mow and the long power cord. The mower is light and efficient; negotiating the cord is irritating, though I’m getting better and better at it.
It’s not a huge yard, and except for this hill, it’s flat up top and down below.
I trim up the bits along the edges by hand–right now that seems easier than using a string cutter. They don’t work so well along fence lines anyway, and it’s just another thing to plug in that makes a lot of noise.
That’s a big lilac at the foot of the stairs. It perfumes the whole yard.
That’s a row of raspberries along the front edge, backed by bayberry and rugosa roses and more lilacs. The wonderful David Hannan came and mulched the raspberries for me and weeded and edged the bed. What a HUGE help that was.
I wanted to get pictures of the new chickens for you, but they hid in the coop away from the mower. Rosie, the remaining Copper Black Maran came and visited with me. She’s the sole survivor of the fox attack in early spring:
She’s so pretty.
I miss her Cowboy fellow. I bet she does too.
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