Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Yard Work is HARD Work

This weekend just totally flew by! Yesterday, we finally took down the Halloween decorations. So sad, we love those! And I decided a couple weeks ago that I wanted winter grass. We've never done it before and I always think "why? bermuda stays green a little longer. what's the big deal?" but then I always see all the beautiful lush green grass everyone else has while our Bermuda has died. So, this time I want to have the gorgeous velvet green front yard. Well, we decided to wait til after Halloween (after we take down the deco's because we didn't want them to get wet with all the watering you have to do). Anyway, we spent a lot of time yesterday working on the yard. I helped mow half the yard, but the mower kept messing up, so Ben took over. But I did help rake most of the yard. Whew! That is lots of work, and I got 2 beautiful little blisters on my hand. Ooops, guess I should've gotten some gloves out. We spread the seed and started to layout the fertilizer when we ran out very quickly. We had to go back to Home Depot to buy more fertilizer, which it was close to the time the kids would be home, so we waited and got to drag all the kids with us. As we got the stuff we needed, I decided it would look nice if we did the backyard, too. We had to pick up all the miscellaneous kid toys in the backyard and move their playhouse, but we got it done. Now comes the hard part...watering. We don't have a sprinkler system, so we just use hoses w/ sprinklers attached. It's so fun watering one area, then turn it off, move it, turn it back on, and so forth. Also, now for the next couple weeks, we get to send the dogs to our pool area so they don't tear up our germinating back yard. ha ha. Like that's gonna be easy. Just last night while Ben was pulling weeds in the pool area, the kids kept letting the dogs into the backyard, then yelling at them to get back in the house. So, we'll see how it goes. I just thought the kids and dogs would like some nice soft grass to play in. Instead of the dirt in the backyard.

Well, I'm just glad the hard part is over, now I just get to water (w/ hoses & sprinklers, plus use the sprayer to reach the corners the sprinkler doesn't wet) in 10 min increments 3-4 times per day until the grass is growing. Good times!
We barely got done and cleaned up in time for FHE. And sweet Felicia has had fun being in charge last week and this week. Felicia had a lesson prepared from young girl achievement, so she gave us that fun lesson last week. I helped her put together a game. We all had fun and she was so cute as the little leader. Especially when the kids were moving around and talking (that's how most of our FHE's are), she would put on her serious face and warn them that they were about to miss out on the treat if they couldn't be quiet. And then she also said "Now, not another peep from you!" My parents were over for the fun FHE, too, and all us adults couldn't stop laughing. She was too cute! So, she wanted to be in charge this week, too. She found a lesson w/ an activity and put it all together by herself. She did an excellent job! I saw her notes and they were pretty good (and funny). She had written down what she was going to "tell us" and her "questions" and "answers." She reminds me so much of ME at that age, well the being organized & in charge part. ha ha.


This morning, when I had to let the dogs outside, I had to get ready to corral them into the pool area. So, since they hate getting wet, I turned on the sprinkler out there first and opened the pool gate. I had to open the backdoor and quickly usher them into the pool area. They ran in happily, but quickly turned to look at me as if to say, "what are we doing in here?" Then the kids couldn't eat their breakfast because they were mesmerized at the funniness (is that a word?) of the dogs. One of the dogs had her butt up in the air and leaned over to get a drink from the pool. The kids couldn't stop laughing. ha ha. So, I quickly got them a big bowl of water to fix the problem. Ok, now the kids can finish eating and get ready for school. Hopefully the grass will come in nice and will be worth all the hard work (and money)!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I totally know how you feel. We don't have sprinklers either, so I am doing the whole watering thing by hand also. Unfortunately sometimes I forget when i turn the stuff on, and today I totally flooded our yard. Luckily it is dry now so Jon never has to know!

My hubby left a message for your hubby on the XBOX, so if he is wondering who it is, now he knows!

Supercool Hotmama said...

I love a winter lawn, but last year I put it in too late, so it didn't really work. this year, I decided it just wasn't worth the trouble, but I'll probably be sad when I see everyone else's beautiful soft grass.

Tangie Baxter said...

Holy moly you are so dedicated! I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end! You go girl! I'll just stare at my nice an hideous desert landscaping and try to be thankful that at least I'm not shepherding the dog! ;0)

Anonymous said...

I would be lying if I said I knew what you went through. We have synlawn in our back yard, It's green 365 days a year :) Your's will be so much softer and lush though.

Jen Shumway said...

You will love your grass. My front yard is beautiful my backyard still is patchy. I will try Rachelle aain. Does she work?

Jen Shumway said...

I got a hold of Rachelle how does next Wednesday work for you? Around 11:00

jenny said...

I feel your pain with yardwork and hand made sprinklers. Sadly, my husband isn't as anal about the yard as me, so I have mowed and edged it for the past 6 years. Don't get me wrong I actually enjoy it, but it's a lot of work. And don't get me started on the watering. Good luck and I hope you guys have lushes grass very soon!

Funny about the dogs.