“Remoted” – Day 476 (Monday)

The much improved warmer weather inspired yard work throughout the day. There were episodes of weeding and the hacking of the unwieldy rose bush that was hanging into the yard and creeping through the picket fence, and the rhododendron with branches grown against the house and starting to block the porch windows. Even the overgrown bleeding heart that had sprawled itself halfway across the front stairs got a trim. The trimming occurred before the yard waste was picked up and the barrel was stuffed full with branches and pulled weeds. Once emptied, the weeding began all over again. The barrel does not sit empty for very long.

Back at the table again.

At 3:00, the yard was mowed in what turned out to be a personal best time at a miraculous 20 minutes. It’s amazing how efficient it can be when the mower starts right away and keeps running. The afternoon and evening air was scented with fresh cut grass out back, and the bitter scent of whatever the heck scrubby, scrappy weed grows out front. The dogs stayed inside while I mowed, which may have been a contributing factor to why it went so quickly. 

The deck umbrella, finally installed back in the holder at the table since the pre-Memorial Day painting project, was opened and time was spent reading in the shade it cast. The weather was pleasant and the book is poignant and the experience of reading on the deck was idyllic until suddenly it wasn’t. The proximity of my deck to the neighbor’s driveway made me feel awkward when the new neighbors returned with a carload of stuff to our shared driveway. The edge of my deck sits on the property line, and they were barely three feet away as they unloaded things into the back yard. I have several times imagined installing some sort of privacy screen, and then regretted not doing it. Each time it was considered, it was dismissed when realizing it is one more thing for me to take care of.

Their neighboring yard is now dotted with a several large, empty cardboard boxes, a rolled-up tarp, a tot sized basketball hoop, and other toys appropriately sized for a puny human who has not yet been spotted. While I’m sure the wee one will be a delight, I really miss the dogs that lived there until a week ago.