I don’t know about y’all, but we had a BEAUTIFUL weekend here in Northwest Arkansas. The housework would just have to wait because ‘Not No Way! Not No How!’ was I going to stay inside and not take care of a couple of things that needed to be done and enjoy the outdoors.
With that being said, the hubster was a bit put out that I wouldn’t shelve everything and just go do whatever he wanted to do. Let me set the record straight – that always means fishing. So, I struck a deal with him. I said, “Help me install the new microwave and then we’ll take the old, dead hot water heater (that has been in my garage since March) and the dead microwave to the dump. After that is taken care of, I’ll be happy to go do ‘whatever’ (aka fishing). He agreed and we took care of the appliances on Saturday morning, then to the dump and then over to the Kings River (again). It was beautiful and he caught several fish (again).
If the water was a bit warmer, I would have gone swimming.
Sunday Morning – yard work!
Welcome to my backyard!
I had several shrubs that needed a good pruning and weeds that needed pulling. A patio that needed sweeping and grass that needed mowing. And, if I get out there early enough the sun filters through the trees and it is quite comfortable (temperature wise).
I love the shade in my yard.
When we moved into this house three years ago this week, the flower beds in these photos were void of any plants and full of rocks. Yep. Rocks! I guess the previous owner didn’t enjoy gardening or yard work. So, two summers ago I shoveled all the rocks out of these beds. I had enough to build a boat pad in the backyard for the hubster, but that was another project. We brought in more top soil. Filled the beds and purchased a few plants. Mostly, we were gifted plants by family members who A) were ripping out plants they no longer wanted or B) they needed to divide some plants. See all the ‘monkey grass’. Original plants came from my grandparent’s home in Louisiana over 20 years ago. My mother planted it in her yard and after 20 years of growth, she has enough to landscape several yards. We dug some up and now I have enough growth to start dividing it, replanting it and sharing it with others. (note – best to divide monkey grass in the fall). When I shoveled all the rock out of the beds I found several Hosta plants that were planted, but the poor things couldn’t push their way through all the rocks piled on top of them. I saved them and now I have several Hosta plants growing in my flower beds. Hosta is the perfect shade plant and grows well in my yard as the beds around the house are mostly shaded. I also have a few ferns gifted by family / friends and a few plants purchased from the local Wal-Marts.
See how far my yard goes back. Dog heaven.
I have three dogs. The big, white Alaskan Malamute is Gus. Jack and Rylee are my sibling labs. You can only imagine the poop patrol I have to do in this yard. 
With three dogs, I have to landscape for dogs. They do have areas they have destroyed the grass and that just comes with the territory of owning dogs. I have plans to make ‘trails’ where they run so it will look like a nice path rather than destroyed grassy areas. That’s if I can get anyone to help me.
Most of the time, if I start working – the boys will eventually come outside and help me. Mostly because if I’m to tired from yard work – I won’t cook for them. I figure it is a fair trade.
See the base of the tree. Dog area. I need to build a flower bed around it.
I guess these three are worth it. Just look at the way they posed for the photograph. Well -Rylee and Jack posed. Gus just ignored me because I wouldn’t let him go inside. What a priss!
Hope you had some beautiful weather in your neck-of-the-woods. I’m going to enjoy these cool mornings on my patio while I can. The summer heat will soon be here. Y’all have a great Monday! I’m going to round up some Tylenol for my sore muscles and get to work.
Later Taters!
