I am a retired 44-year veteran of the Real Estate Assessment field. As with real estate assessing and how it applies to real estate taxes, one can make many acquaintances, but not many real friends. It was a great career choice.
It has been nearly 10 years since I reclaimed my home and my real passions within my home. I enjoy it more each day and tip my hat to those who I left behind.
Each day I try to stretch myself with the use of my computer as it relates to this site and using it to print out labels for quilts for trying to incorporate photos into my sewing. Life is so full and I know that I have room for more.
Last night the outside temps were great and the best part, there were no bugs. Dennis and I sat on the patio after dark and watched the parade of semis going north, semis going south – all past our home. The light show of various configurations on the tractors and trailers were almost better than the yearly parade our community puts on. This will be nightly venue until sometime in July.
What a great season here on Stauffer Avenue. The vegetables are up and I mentioned to Dennis that I can’t wait for a fresh salad. He reminded me that the packages of seeds stated anywhere from 52 to 67 days to maturity. Bummer.
Last fall we went to the farm fertilizer plant and got the good stuff for the lawns. My brother swears by it and I can tell you, our lawns have never looked better. As luck would have it there was some left over and Dennis went over the flower gardens before the weather got cold last fall. I will tell you there are some awesome looking perennials out there.
In the past years I would be sad when one morning I would go for my morning walk with coffee in hand and see the hostas had been some bug’s snack. This year I am keeping my sprayer ready with Bug Be Gone and I hope I can keep ahead of the little buggers and they will have to get their daily food allotment elsewhere.
Alright, I will admit, I have one sprayer with Bug Be Gone, one with Weed Be Gone, and the third with Round Up. I know what many of you are thinking . . . “chemicals!” So be it. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink and I don’t use hair spray. I do have a very healthy life as the spraying is not done 24/7. In fact, the fumes of all the semi trucks going past our home as we are on a detour route is far more damaging. I think my little acre here on Stauffer Avenue and the enjoyment we get from having a sweet inviting home for the two of us speaks volumes. To each their own.
I’ll take the multiple rains. I most likely will look good with muddy web feet. They will go great with my dirty fingernails. The volunteer trees are easy to pull up when the ground is as wet as it has been. And then . . . low and behold two small Japanese Ferns were spotted making their way to be respected among the Hosta. Sweet, just plain sweet.
Dennis and his Sears mower finishing the far east lawn.
Several weeks ago I had posted that Dennis’ Sears riding mower had bonked out on him. As it was, he didn’t take it to Fleet and Farm, but rather to a fellow out in the township that repairs, trades and sells small equipment. As Dennis is all about keeping the acre tidy, he also took along a blade for a 4-wheeler that was no longer on our property. If we don’t use it or need it, why keep it around? It didn’t take Charlie long to see what the problem was on the mower and then Dennis was put to the challenge of the waiting game.
The mower came back this last mid week and the smile on Dennis’ face was from ear to ear. Charlie traded even up on the blade for the repair of the mower. This would not have had the same great result if Fleet and Farm had been used. Of course,what better day to try out the repaired rider mower than today . . . like in . . . as soon as the dew was off the grass. My pusher mower was gassed up and pointed in the right direction, ready for me to get my gardening shoes on.
The view from the east and the goal
is to be on that patio adjacent to the porch
as soon as the last blade of grass is cut.
Well, my goodness, here it is at 3:30 in the afternoon, the yards look wonderful, and we are showered up and ready to enjoy the remainder of the day. It was a good several hour workout for both of us and the satisfaction of a sweet-looking acre on Stauffer Avenue is priceless. We are back on track with repaired equipment.
For as long as I can remember, keeping up a yard has been a very rewarding part of my life. The flowers and shrubs give the home definition and also a glimpse of our personalities. If I thought I was diligent about yard work,I don’t hold a candle to Dennis’ enthusiasm. We don’t make it drudgery. As soon as spring allows, both Dennis and I are outside enjoying either the front patio or the back patio depending, on which has the nicest breeze fluttering through the Maple tree. Oh yes, life is sweet.
The battery operated clock/radio was given to me in
1986 and is still a staple in our home. The Westclock of Dennis’
is from the 1960s — and keeps on ticking. Priceless!
Bearded Iris – that is. Nothing like the first one of the season.
A very inviting hideaway for birds that need a great home.
Next door Jan and I trade thoughts and ideas across the white picket fence. It could be solutions to city projects or which plant needs to be added to our gardens. We both have had some garden challenges due to squirrels that love to get into the freshly turned-over dirt. Do they have a regard for the fact that we turned over the dirt to plant a beautiful flower? Not so much. We keep trying and I think in the end we persevere as we know where to get more plants. Bare spots are not very desirable.
This morning I had to grab a photo of Jan’s Columbines that just encase the area on the East side of her home. The combination of the Columbines and the wonderful woodland birdhouse just make it a remarkable site to enjoy. Jan has shared seeds from these favorites and this morning when I walked to the east gardens I did see that in the future our yard will enjoy these timeless favorites.
• Huge detour of Minnesota Highway 60 . . . 24/7 . . . all traffic is going past our home for several months. Reminder: Do not plan on backing out of the driveway without looking, looking, looking.
• Neighbors huge Cottonwood tree is shedding cotton like crazy. Reminder: Don’t breathe through your mouth.
• It’s the worst first day of mosquitoes. Reminder: Garden while wearing clothing that is buttoned to the hilt.
The blessing is that all of the above mentioned items are not permanent situations.
Days when I was in grade school Dad would take us fishing. Sunny days with a pail of worms and cane pools that were longer than could be handed readily. Days when I was in grade school my sister and I would walk the oat fields pulling mustard and weed plants from the crop. Sunny days with no gloves and no hats. Days when my sister and I would be stacking alfalfa bales five high on the hay racks as the acres were harvested three times a year. Sunny breezy days that brought sore backs and sore knees as we bounced the bales off of the knees to get them stacked higher. These are just a smattering of days that have made sweet memories of my childhood.
Those were the days that now bring me to regularly visit the dermatologist in Mankato doing checks and balances for skin cancer. My family in the 1940s and 1950s had never heard of sunscreen. I do remember some sunburns when I was much younger that hurt so much that sleep was impossible. In my youth, I don’t remember anyone wearing sunglasses in the bright sun. I do remember getting too much sun off of the reflection of a lake while fishing that made my eyes hurt when I tried to sleep.
So life goes. Every action has a reaction and I am very thankful that there are checks and balances to safe guard me . . . as long as I care enough to seek them out.
