My thumb is not green. I love plants and lovely flower ornamented yards but I'm not one to get everything to bloom and blossom. But I try.
This year I face my yard work alone. As long as Kris, my son lived here, he took care of the mowing. Now that he's moved out, although he's offered to mow, I've elected to attempt the yard project myself. I don't mind. After working inside all day, I welcome the opportunity to spend some time outdoors with the breeze blowing in my hair.
My poor yard, neglected for years except the grass cutting. I've thumbed through Garden magazines looking for ideas that will fit into my budget to bring life to such a sad plot of dirt. The magazines mention natural trouble spots as “character”. Well, my yard has plenty of character! Tree stumps and roots above ground, nothing flat, all hills and bumps. Some places, grass refuses to grow, other places, it's too thick.
Taking it one area at a time, I've raked away the winter's leaves and mown the tender grass shooting up from below. Sticks, limbs and twigs all gather on my yard. I look up and see so much more to be done and feel defeat already. Then I remind myself that I will take back my yard from Mother Nature, one inch at a time!
I make flower beds between the roots where it's too rough to mow. Will these seeds ever come up and become beautiful flowers? Well, at least it's not over grown with weeds any longer. I strategically place potted plants and yard ornaments on the stumps, using them as outdoor tables.
Killed 2 young snakes and one more got away. I hate snakes. Around here most are bad boys. Cotton mouths, water moccasins, or copper heads. My two ponds and the watershed next door make my living area very accessible to such fellows. There are also the nonpoisonous ones, garden snakes, black racers, etc. I hate them all! They love to hide under the leaves I rake, or around any little thing in the yard. God's Grace gives me the strength and courage to work in my yard with these varmints about.
This year I think every mole in the county has come to dig under my grass. There are so many holes from moles, frogs and / or snakes. I shutter at what might come out as my mower pushes on.
Yes, push mower is my tool. Since I need to lose several excess pounds, I prefer the push mower. Besides, a riding mower does not work well on this bumpy ridge of a yard of mine. Kris used a riding mower but he also left the trouble spots to grow weeds.
Each afternoon I rake, mow, plant, and play in my yard. Some areas got away from me, grass growing too fast up from within the unraked leaves. I give up raking and just push mow over leaves, grass, etc watching to see what shows up beneath after the mower chops. One snake lost his head. He was such a young thing. Not much longer than 12 inches and no bigger than a pencil.
Course, I have company outdoors. Mr. Meow, a stray cat, showed up back in the winter and decided to stay. He's a loving cat with a very loud voice (thus his name). He earns his keep by killing mice, moles and even an occasional small snake (Yea!). I rake leaves; he jumps in the middle of the pile and rolls around. I can't help but laugh. He rubs up against everything in a loving caress. He's knocked over clay flower pots, breaking them, moved lawn chairs and small tables with his loving caresses and now his blonde tail has a streak of green on it where he rubbed up against a post I'd just spray painted green. Even though he has a bowl full of meow mix, he loves to catch his own meals. It's a common sight to see his “catch” in his mouth as he sprints across the yard.
I walk out on my back deck to enjoy my morning coffee. I hear the Birds singing in the nearby woods. It's peaceful. Mr. Meow shows up to “love” my ankles. I look out over the root bordered flower beds with the flower seeds still hiding beneath the dirt. The lawn covered with my leaf mulch from yesterday's mowing. The wind chimes tinkling in the slight breeze. It's a beautiful Saturday morning. I am reminded of the statement, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” Both children grown and 2 failed relationships under my belt leave me here to enjoy this alone. Oh, there are hopes and dreams on the horizon. A blossoming new relationship (this time, blessed by God) with great promise of a future. However, I've learned the hard way that life is better lived enjoying each day even if dreams are not fulfilled yet. Sitting here on my back deck, listening to the birds, wind chimes, Mr. Meow, and watching the squirrels play in the trees, I realize some would consider this peaceful setting their dream destination.
I think I'll sit here and enjoy it a few minutes more.
Whew! I take a break from more mowing. I just mowed that area 4 days ago (!) I don't mind. Lose another pound maybe? Besides, I need to get it mowed before the Thunder storms hit this evening (according to the weatherman).
As I mow, it hits me like a ton of bricks! My yard is just like me, filled with imperfections. The tree stumps and roots remind me of scars from previous chapters of life. And of course, Satan is always near, maybe slithering under leaves or anywhere. As I mow I think about the story Jesus told his disciples the night before he was crucified. “I am the vine, My Father is the vine dresser.” I see the similarity in my yard (me) and God being the care taker of the yard, tending it, mowing, nurturing the trouble areas to bring out the “character” in my flaws.
My yard, like me is so pitiful, full of problem areas and scars. But with each whisk of the yard broom or the mower, the yard begins to take shape. As I tend my lawn, pouring out my sweat and effort I see how God has nurtured my life when I let him. How he takes the scars of my life and plants blessings to bloom out of them into a thing of beauty. How He increases my territory just as my mower increases the size of my yard with each push and even whacking off Satan's head as we go (Yea!). How He prepares me for the upcoming storms.
My life is filled with friends like Mr. Meow, the playful squirrels, and the singing birds. Course; there are also the wasps and the moles that make life aggravating.
“Thank you Lord for this day and for the insights you've given me here in my imperfect yard. Thanks for tending my imperfect life, showering it with blessings and bringing forth bits of beauty from such a tattered bit you have to work with.”
Now, back to mowing.
