Clover is Green Despite No Rain

My grass is like straw but the clover is thriving. I have been working nonstop outside since I hired a painter to power wash and paint my house. I found him through my handyman who will be doing any wood repair. He stopped by on Tuesday afternoon to do a few chores like chainsawing some weed trees and wisteria and several other chores I couldn't do myself. I mentioned I had interviewed 6 painters and still hadn't found one. He said he knew one he had been working with for 3 years. I called him right away and he came Wednesday morning, gave me a quote and I hired him. Since then I have been working outside nonstop getting ready and I have moved mountains. He's coming to start the power washing tomorrow at 8am and I couldn't be happier. xo

Mowed Yesterday, Just in Time!

Yesterday. Back yard with blooming Wisteria. The red showing through is my barn garage. It was a perfect day, not too hot, but the grass was still wet from a Monday night rain. I waited until mid afternoon to start so it wasn't that much of a problem for my walk-behind mulching mower. Early spring grass is always the easiest mowing of the year.

Today. This is a view from the sliding glass door where the new acquisition with 16 drawers lives in my mom's old sitting room. I bought a John Deere used riding mower from a neighbor this year to do the rest of my property all the way down to the way back. I have to wait for another lesson from my neighbor so I know exactly how to operate it because it isn't like my last one. I had a large John Deere at my two previous homes but this one is much smaller and I think it's going to be perfect.

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North Side Photo of My Yard

I mowed day before yesterday and took this photo from the North side of my cottage. The white clapboard you see on the far left is the side of my cottage with no windows. The headboard of my bed is pushed against this wall. The two windows in this room overlook the front and the back. The sky was overcast in the back but the sun was shining in the front as you can see from the shadows. I was determined to beat the rain.

I mowed the front late in the afternoon yesterday and it rained overnight, as predicted. So far I am keeping up with lawn maintenance and still enjoying the exercise. 

I downloaded TUBI from the App Store on my phone and iPad. It is also available on a computer here: https://tubitv.com/ Tubi is a free streaming service with movies and tv shows. There are commercials but they are only 15 seconds in length and do not interfere with the shows or movies at all. I have been watching Season 19 of Midsomer Murders, the last PBS season with the original DCI Barnaby. Season 20 with his replacement isn't available yet. I have watch several good movies too but I honestly cannot remember the names. I watch a movie every day and can recommend ENCHANTED APRIL and MRS. PALFREY AT THE CLAREMONT. Quite accidentally, both of these movies had Joan Plowright. and now I must look for more of her movies. Her body of work is incredible. Those were offered on HOOPLA through my public library. 

It is a dreary day today with rain on and off, perfect for watching 2 movies. xo

Lady's Mantle and Before Weeding Grape Hyacinths

Lady's mantle is lovely this time of year and especially with raindrops. The scalloped edges look as if they were cut with the pinking shears and they catch the droplets too.

This is a before photo of the edging I did by hand on my hands and knees with clippers that operate like big scissors. My poor grape hyacinths were in danger of getting choked out. It looks a lot better now and I will put down fresh woodchips around the two shrubs that no longer have leaves underneath to hold in the moisture. A hired landscaper would have whacked everything down to the bare earth in no time but I like my way better and it took hours. 

I baked sourdough oatmeal bread today and it it's delicious. I will post a photo and the recipe tomorrow. xo

Snowdrops are So Delightful

This photo doesn't begin to capture the true beauty of a clump of snowdrops along my walk and almost against the foundation at my front door but it will have to suffice. I moved a few more clumps I found in the woods to different locations in the front and back yards. I cannot ever remember doing so much gardening so early in the year and I'm loving it. Hooray for mild winters. All of my snowdrops are the result of just a few clumps I brought from my last house. They are trouble free and they multiply like crazy. The bulbs are very tiny and it is hard to weed around them later in the year without pulling up a few so I try to dump the weeds in certain spots in the woods so I can dig them up again a few years later after the clumps become sizable.

Take care, try to stay healthy, and wash your hands often. The only thing I have stocked up on so far is Bathroom Tissue. I went to Costco yesterday and there was none...the shelves were bare. I went immediately to Wegmans and got what I needed and then some to store away. It's my favorite brand anyway. No panic buying there....yet. xo

Robert Frost Quote about April

This quote describes an April Day perfectly. via

Yesterday afternoon I did a first mowing of a large portion of my rear property. I did not do a fall cleanup and my walk-behind mower did a fine job of cleaning up the overgrowth and crunching the leaves the wind didn't blow away. When my Robins return, they will love it. The deer are mad at me and are staying way back where the high field growth is and more long shoots of spring grasses. This is fine with me! It felt good to be outside and the weather was ideal for just a fleece. Today it cold again and rather gloomy with showers coming later. I wanted to do the front today but I need more gasoline and I am too lazy to rush out and refill my cans before the rain starts. It will just have to wait for the next nice day. I want to go over the front before the wild violets come up.

Happy Friday -- have a great weekend. xo