I Cannot Use A Weed Eater OR It's Alive!!

My yard in Center Point during a rain

Lilies planted in my yard at Center Point

     A weed eater weighs from 12 pounds to 25 pound, anyone should be able to use it, right, even kids. That is so very wrong! My brother gave me his old electric one 16 years ago. All I had to do was plug it in and press the button. First off I envisioned the wire cutting off my legs right above the ankles. Then I am supposed to cut it just right, so I spend my time raising and lowering because I can't control it at the right level. Oh and I don't want to talk about changing the wire (I never was able to change the wire, it kept coming off) so I threw it down, put the weed eater back into storage and used my lawnmower or pulled the weeds up by hand. 

     Last summer I bought a new Snapper, thinking surely there are new updates and it will be so much easier, especially if I buy a gas one! Well, In June of this year (I waited a year because I wanted time to think about it), I finally decided to try it. 

     I have decided it's alive, laying in storage waiting to attack me. Did you know you can't use the same gas for a weed eater that you use for your lawnmower or car? You gotta buy this small bottle of "something", then measure out exactly 1 gallon of gas ( you know how hard it is to find a useful container, I lost a good tea pitcher) and mix. Not only that, it weighed 30 pounds.

     I'm finished trying to use a weed eater! Anyone want to buy a barely used weed eater?

Retirement: I mowed My Yard, It Took Three Hours OR Out Of Shape!

My yard, August 2016

     Why do we let ourselves get out of shape? I know it's miserable! In the M. C Beaton books, Agatha Raisin, she's a single middle aged woman (50'ish), who has decided to retire. She does it in a big way; she moves from London to a small village, she pays a company to decorate her house with items she thinks will make her look good rather than stuff she likes (her first visitor says it looks like a showplace). She then buys exercise equipment to help her get into shape; indoor bicycle, a really fancy outdoor bike to ride around the country (she purchases a helmet, gloves, riding outfits, goggles, everything she feels will make her fit in(which really sets her apart).

     When, after a year of not doing my own yard work, I started back, in July of this year, it was rough! It was hot and humid; I only cut the lawn, none of that extra stuff, trimming bushes and weed eating (yeah like I'm going to weed eat, see It's Alive!). I had to take several breaks to cool off and drink water.  The first time it was exhausting, and this was just the front yard, it took me three hours and my yard isn't that big, see above picture.  I've improved since then, but it's still exhausting. When the weather cools off in the fall, I know a few bushes that are coming down!

     I'm also following Agatha Raisin's idea, setting up an exercise routine with my exercise (indoor) bike, it's too hot for riding outside. My sister-in-law has always been faithful about going to the gym and walking around the neighborhood; now I wish I had followed her example!

Won't be long till fall, then we'll have all those leaves, ugh!

Project-Tooth Fairy Pillow Book



Picture by Connie-Family Home and Life

     One of my favorite blogs is Connie from Arizona, Family Home and Life. If you have small children, you will love her post for today, "Tooth Fairy Pillow Book". A book for children to share their lost teeth with the Tooth Fairy.  Click on this link to see how to make one and to read Connie's post,

"Tooth Fairy Pillow Book".

What To Do With A White Peg Board!

Design Star-Episode 5

My kitchen is a long room with a sunroom or eating area at one end.  I don't really have a lot of storage space, so I usually keep my "good" pans I cook with the most sitting out on my stove.  I started watching Design Star this season and when I saw this project, I thought I can use this.  It won't be this huge, but it will be 4 feet by 4 feet, enough to hang a few items on. I think it's a neat idea!

To see more photos and videos, go to Design Star-Episode 5-Before and After pictures.