August 10, 2019

I'm a multi-tasking genius...until I'm not.

As today dawned overcast and not too hot (yet), I decided this would be the perfect morning to attack the two, neglected beds that run along the back of the house.  And considering they are both in the shade in the morning, I determined that this absolutely needed to be done.  Particularly, since the last two weekends were spent out of town and nothing had been done.

I informed The Husband of my plan as he was walking out the door - why he hates for me to work in the yard is beyond me; possibly because he's afraid he may come home to find me laid out in yard with heat stroke.  At any rate, when he tried to talk me out of it I explained that I only meant to spend a couple of hours on it and call it a day.

Famous last words.

So he left, shaking his head and muttering under his breath, while I started the Roomba so at least the vacuuming would be done while I busy out in the yard.  Look at me...a multi-tasking genius!

As it often happens when I'm working in the yard, I lose all track of time and the task that I thought would take only a small amount of time turns out to be bigger task than I had first anticipated.

All in all, a good majority of the beds weren't too terribly bad considering I haven't looked at them or touched them since we moved in.  Until...

I do NOT have a pointy head - that's the
phone's shadow - it took me far too long
to figure that out!

I reached the end of this bed, where whatever these bushes are vexed me to no end.  Why?  Because, apparently, if these bushes aren't kept pruned it sends out runners.  Runners with very large and very deep roots.  And I wonder why my elbow is throbbing - possibly removing said runners?

In the midst of removing runners, I heard something in the house and assumed it was The Husband.  But when I looked around the corner, his car was not in the driveway.  I shrugged it off and went back to yanking and pruning.

Eventually, I needed a break.  I grabbed some water and headed for the back porch.  As I was sitting there, I heard movement in the house again.  I stood up and looked in the window - nothing.  And then I heard it again.  I couldn't figure out how someone had gotten into the house because I closed the garage door knowing I would not have it in full view while working.

I grabbed my phone, ready to hit 911 and opened the back door with my heart in my throat, fully prepared to run if I saw someone and what did I see?  The stupid Roomba STILL doing its business a full three and half hours after I started it.  I had completely forgot about my multi-tasking genius.  Why the thing was still going actually offended me, the floors weren't THAT dirty.

After about four hours - two more than I had intended - The Husband came home (probably because he had called and I didn't hear the phone) to make sure I was still alive.

There is still more to be done - but not weeding.  The mondo (?) grass needs dividing, the day lilies not only need dividing, but I need to find something to replace them as I am so over them.  They start out okay and I don't hate them but around this time of the summer they start looking so ratty that I loathe them.  There is still mulch to be purchased and applied.

On the plus side?  Not many blackberry shoots were out today (knock wood).  But I did find some lamb's ear popping up on the farthest point in the yard from where I removed the original ones. *sigh*

If it's not blackberry shoots, it's lamb's ear, or runners, or morning glories.  In other words, yard work is never done.  Kinda like housework and laundry.


6 comments:

  1. I wonder what your rhoomba was doing all that time. Just having fun? Using up excess energy? Glad to know you're all right, though. :-)

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  2. I am not at all into yard work and plants. I have enough trouble keeping up with what is inside the house. I thought for sure your roomba was pulling down curtains or causing some other mayhem. Ha!

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  3. I think we share DNA, seriously. LOL.

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  4. Oh, I'm totally with you on this. I start off just weeding a couple of beds and then hours later I'm still puttering around the yard. Also, I love my roomba because I can do anything at all and the vacuuming gets done! Magic. I have had the roomba not be able to find its base and essentially it will just keep going until it dies. Like, easily three hours! But it does feel a bit weird...

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  5. My dear partner brought a vaccuum robot with him as well, and offered all the glories of it’s existence. But.. as a person being at home during the day time when that dang thing is working, it mostly just tries to suck up your toes and buzz and hum for HOURS instead of me just shoving the vaccuum cleaner around for 10 minutes and doing the same job but honestly, a lot better. So.. They offend me to. I relate.

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  6. I admire that you were able to put in that much time. I'm only able to do about an hour right now with this darn heat/humidity/sun. It's a great feeling when you get so much accomplished though. Good for you!

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