Posts by Liz

Lily of the Valley: Continuity

Happy Happy Birthday to my Mama this day!

And it is a bit fitting that this day, there is a strong breeze from the southwest.

A breeze that is bringing the scent of Lily of the Valley into the house.

Fitting because my Mama’s Mama had a Lily of the Valley patch on the path to her back door – the door we used. The scent of Lily of the Valley takes me back to that house, to that path and to my Grandma Ruthie…my Mama’s Mama.

Grandma Ruthie’s birthday is also in May: May 5. I thought of her that day when the Lily of the Valley were just sticking up their heads.

But, today…on my Mama’s birthday, they are in full bloom and full scent.

Continuity.

Lily of the Valley.

The little green mowing machine

The mower arrived Friday.

Saturday…grumbling a little, I opened the box.

Might as well charge the batteries.

And roll the thing out of the box.

I took the manual in the house.

It looks like a toy.

Much of it is plastic.

It reminds me of those kid toys with the “popcorn” top.

BUT…this lever…ONE lever that moves the mowing deck from low to high. I messed with that. SO much fun and so easy compared to my gas mower with spring loaded thingies on EACH wheel. They were difficult to adjust. They made me say bad words. Not this lever – EASY! Partly because of all of that plastic toy-like structure. The mower is very light.

And it has a push button start. No full arm pull.

So, maybe I will never LOVE mowing but I might dislike it a bit less.

I went out late morning today. Both batteries were fully charged. I thought I’d test the starting.

It started.

With a push of the button. (***there are safety features which include a key and a sequence with a bailer bar)

So.

I had my mowing boots on.

For safety.

I decided to at least take a pass at the high grass and see how she did.

Yes, I’m sure it is a she.

And then I decided to just mow the section where the garden used to be. It is the only part of the yard where the grass grows fairly well as it gets sun and is a bit removed from so many trees.

She mows well and quietly and no vibration. My hands did not fall “asleep” and my elbow was not irritated.

I think the little green mowing machine and I might get along.

The good, the bad, the ugly, the cute and the “not today”!

We’ve been having our typical mid to late May pseudo Summer.

Bear and I walked on the road which is a continuation of the Road Home – across the highway.

70 something, breezy, beautiful…

To the northwest, Big Mountain ski runs.

To the West-Southwest, Blacktail mountain ski runs.

We have been walking away from home, because of the bad and ugly…

Not to worry, this particular bad and ugly is trapped between the window and the screen. But it is bad because it WAS in the house.

Just 1 of 5 trapping venues in the yard.

The traps are getting about 100 yellow jackets each day. It is a bit horrifying.

Before today, except for the 2 early emergents in April, I have not had any in the house. But today: 5!

I’ve been keeping Auggie in except for early morning and early evening and a midafternoon time when things seem quiet. He’s doing fairly well with the plan but is not 100% happy.

We might run away from home!

Bear, Auggie and I went out briefly about 3:00. There seemed to be a lull in activity. The photo above is Auggie mid dirt bath. That’s the cute!

This is the “not today”. I succumbed. I’m not sure it was a good idea, but it is here. I have no intention of running it around the yard, though – not with the buzzy-flying-stinging things out there also!

No, not today!

The army has nothing on us…

The U.S. Army slogan – or at least it was: “We get more done by 9 a.m. than most people do all day”.

Here at la Casa Summers, we are NOT most people.

Plus, at Latitude 48 North, sunrise is now before 6:00 a.m. It is light by 5:00 a.m. The birdies are singing about 4:45.

I’ve always been a morning person, but in the summer I get going even earlier. Auggie is right with this program as he’s ready to go as soon as he hears the birds!

Bear has no objections either.

Wild strawberry on this morning (Wednesday).

Sticky shooting star – not many of these in my woods and it is always fun to find one!

Auggie, in the morning sunshine…looking very serious!

Auggie’s legs are fluffy down to the “knee” and then the hair is short to his feet. I laugh every time he trots ahead of me as with his tail in the air: his fluffy behind and upper legs with the close haired lower legs – it makes him look like he’s wearing pantaloons.

Bear’s turn to be serious and he did it very well. A herd of 6-8 deer ran near the west property line and out onto the state land. I asked Bear to “Leave it”. He didn’t want to, but he did. Good Boy!

Meanwhile that boule was baking, the dough for the tortillas was resting and post walk the tortillas were made as well as my breakfast of a fresh tortilla stuffed with black beans and cheddar – topped with tomatillo salsa and a side of fresh pineapple.

It was 8:09.

I ate my breakfast at the island in morning sunshine and was at my desk by 8:30 a.m.

Bear and Auggie were having morning naps.

The army has nothing on us!

Out and about this morning

The herbies don’t look to be coming back.

This weekend I may get some starter herbs and get things going on the front porch. It might freeze again and it might snow again but all should be well on the front porch with a helper cover up for a hard freeze warning.

The lilacs…

Mini wood violets…

And the lupins are coming on!!

The rhubarb is close – I might get enough for my favorite rhubarb chutney this weekend. Vidalia onions are in the market and a caramelized onion pizza with a bit of rhubarb chutney just might be on the Memorial weekend menu :) !

Lily of the valley are close to blooming also.

The boys. The wet grass. The TALL wet grass…

Several weeks ago, I was looking at the mower and thinking about how I would start it and not tweak my arm (the right arm with the tennis elbow). My arm is doing much better and I don’t want to set things back. As it happened, Amazon had a lightning deal on a battery mower. No pulling to start it – you push a button.

I didn’t buy on the lightning deal, but it got me thinking and I did some research on the battery mowers. I was in Home Depot looking at them and there was a man looking at the same gas mower I have. I didn’t spend much time thinking…I asked him if he was interested in a 7 years old version. We agreed on price. He picked up the mower that afternoon.

So, I’ve been holding on hoping for another lightning deal. And then last week the vet visits with Bear. I used my mower money for the vet. Oh, darn. I think we’ll enjoy the tall grass!

***In case I’ve never mentioned…I really DISLIKE mowing…I mean really. And I probably only have to mow 8-12 times before things get dry enough that the grass doesn’t need mowing. Mowing wimp – that’s what I am!