This past Saturday was one of the most satisfying Saturdays in recent memory. I was able to sleep in until 7:30, make a fresh batch of coffee, and sit and relax while I adjusted to being awake. Steph made waffles while Noah and I had a chance to spend a little time together (we don't very often get to spend mornings together). After breakfast, Steph and Noah left for a Pampered Chef party and then down to Albany for a bridal shower. I had the whole day to myself -- whatever was I going to do?
The morning started out rather gray and foggy, but I knew I had lots of yard-work to do -- and I wasn't going to be deterred from my mission. By the time I headed out to get a few supplies from the hardware store, the sun was just beginning to peak out from behind the haze. The depressing gray was giving way to life-giving sunshine as I backed my pickup into the driveway -- I was pumped and ready to roll.
First on the agenda was pulling weeds. I normally spray weeds, but decided that there were so few this year that it wasn't worth doing the mixing. Of course there were more little weed starts than I realized, but since they hadn't had a chance to establish deep roots, they popped out of the ground very easily.
After weeding came edging. Thanks to the late-fall edging I had done, the early-spring job wasn't too tough. Still, it is amazing how much the grass was creeping out for this time of year.
A quick run with the lawn mower came next - the grass was quite dry.
Pressure washing the sidewalks and the back patio was next. I had already pressure washed the driveway on Thursday, but ran out of daylight after work. It's kind of fun watching the thin layer of slime peel off of the concrete with each pass of the wand. Steph says it is like using an ultra-sonic scaler (for cleaning teeth) but on a much larger scale.
With all the big jobs done, I had just enough time left for a little sweeping, webstering (de-spider webbing), and tree trimming.
It's amazing how even on a small city lot, all these jobs add up. I headed into town for supplies at 10:30 AM and by the time I put the pressure washer away it was 4:30 PM (with a short break in there to scarf down some grub).
After everything was put away, I went in, took a shower, and relaxed in the living room with the dogs. I really do detest yard-work, yet at the end of the day, I felt really good about what I had accomplished. I'm sure there were plenty of other fun things I could have been doing all day, but none of them would have given me the same feeling of satisfaction. I must be getting old or something…
Posted by jethro at March 7, 2005 08:04 AM | TrackBackI feel exactly the same way about yardwork. I have always hated it...but now when I do it I feel like I've accomplished so much - and my yard looks good, too!
Good for you!
Detailing my car gives me that feeling as well - but I am a freak because I like to detail my car.
Posted by: Denise at March 7, 2005 04:48 PMYard work is just one of those things that will bite you in the butt if you put it off. If I wait until April or May to wash my pickup it really won't be much more difficult of a job than if I wash is this week. But, if I were to put off my spring yard work chores until April or May, the difficulty of the tasks would multiply many times over.
The feeling of satisfaction comes from several different factors. If I just get out there and do the work, I won't feel guilty about playing when I should of been working, and I won't have to try to get things done in between April thunder showers.
One big factor for me in recent years is the desire to have a well kept yard. I don't really want to spend every waking hour aerating, fertilizing, edging, and mowing my lawn; but I do want it to look nice. I also don't need a fresh coat of bark dust on my flower beds at all times, but I do want them to be free of weeds.
Having the place in good shape in early March is just going to make things easier to maintain once springtime really does come around.
Posted by: Jethro at March 7, 2005 09:01 PM