ROBIEWANKENOBIE

i live between two houses. the one on the left (facing the street) belongs to a gentleman who does absolutely everything, and i swear he does it all at the same time. he handrafted wooden cabinets for the kitchen, he shoots skeet, he works 90 hours a day, and in his spare time he mows the lawn of the woman across the street (she had a stroke, and he and her next door neighbor make sure that she is well taken care of in that respect). when i was pregnant? i NEVER mowed the yard. he would sneak in and do it when i was sleeping, or out of the house. oh, and he also takes in/feeds the strays in the neighborhood, and has them all spayed or neutered. honestly? who can live up to his example?

on the other side us lives a woman who works third shift, and has all sorts of medical issues. her lawn? notsotidy. she's nice, though, and would send easter baskets for the kids when they were littler. still? not a lawn maven.

and here i am. sandwiched between the most cared for lawn in the neighborhood, and the least. i may not be able to get the toys down from the gutters, but i try to get to the lawn after the gentleman on the left, but before the woman on our right. daggum it, but she beat me to the punch yesterday while we fooled around with car tomfoolery and such.

so, today, i returned from the coffee shop, did not pass go, did not change out of uniform, but grabbed the mower and had at it. even though there are a few stray blades...it is MUCH better. i feel MUCH better. and, i'm sure, my much maligned and neglected lawn is feeling better.

this afternoon we will get our ghetto on with a flower bed vegetable garden in the FRONT OF THE HOUSE. yegads! i'm sure that it would just waste away in the back yard, and this way the plants will get the full attention that they deserve. there will be sunflowers, tomatoes, and an assortment of other goodies gifted to us by the lovely and my skeptical father. also exciting? my lemon thyme and lavendar made it through the winter. this means that i will declare the garden a success. because? at least two things are THRIVING in my garden. so, it might be cheating a bit...but right here and now i'm going to declare that it totally counts.

lawn mowed? check. ghetto garden on its way.