I’m still here.

04/03/2024 It’s sure been a while. I’m adjusting to living where pollen rules the world. I’ve never seen pollen like this before. Miraculously, my allergies are not affected by it, but I’m in the minority.

Bill and Highway were here in the middle of March for 2 weeks. The first time I took Highway out to the fields to walk he was gagging and reverse sneezing so much that I took him back to the house. I started him on allergy meds and they helped him a lot. His one nostril is totally clogged and he blows out big snots. It’s really gross.

Bill’s visit was to do a few little things and to redo the guest bath. It was the original vanity and the floor was original too and it was horrible. Bill has never done LVP before so it was a learning curve but he figured it out.

He also installed a new fan in the master bedroom. The original one was in there and still running but man, it was ugly.

Last year I hired a guy to come every 2 weeks and mow. It was $55/ visit. I decided I wanted to do it myself. The yard is over 1/2 acre, which isn’t a huge deal breaker for a push mower, except when it’s 98 degrees and 147 % humidity. I bought a riding mower, an electric weedeater and a shop vac that is also a blower. I’m all set.

Before I bought the mower, I was complaining to my neighbor Joyce that I couldn’t find the dog poop because my grass was too long. She had her husband come mow it for me. I made them a pan of lasagna for mowing. She said he really really liked it. I’m happy I can mow when I want to.

I had a guy come and dig out some old boxwood in the front garden and then Bill cleaned it up some more. I was itching to plant. We got 2 yards of compost and spread that while he was here but the 2+ yards of mulch didn’t get spread. I bought 20 plants and dug holes for all of them. My friend Margy came and helped me. We planted everything. And then we mulched. At least a dozen loads of mulch were put in the wheelbarrow and then spread. It was back-breaking work, especially for an old lady like me. I was D E A D that evening. After I showered I could hardly move. I’m going to put the mulch on thicker this weekend.

It looks so much better. There is an area between the sidewalk and the house, 2′ wide where I plan to plant some phlox, thyme, sweet woodruff (if I can find it), and some sedums. Pics next blog.

As I said, the pollen was next level. It took me most of one afternoon to scrub the back porch. I got it all cleaned up and spent Sunday reading out there.

This definitely isn’t where I want to stay forever but it was a good choice as far as neighborhoods go. It’s quiet, the houses aren’t very close and there is nobody behind me, it’s all fields. The dogs and I take advantage of having that. They love their afternoon walks.

I’ve watched some good movies and series lately. Poor Things was great, so was Boys in the Boat. The Tourist, season 1 was excellent. Season 2, not so much. True Detective season 1 and 4, are really good. I just finished Apples Never Fall. That was a great series.

I really don’t have much else to rattle on about so I’m going to wrap this up and go watch Oppenheimer.

Enjoy this wonderful weather. XO