Sunday, June 24, 2007

Sunday Afternoon

I am SO proud of myself this weekend. Yesterday, Saturday, my husband, The Mr., had to work. This past week for him has been VERY busy - a few 7-6PM days, with one 7-9PM day! And then he had to work 7-2 on Saturday. Soooooo - as I was sitting on the porch Friday evening, I noticed how messy and overgrown parts of the backyard looked. I also saw that the bird feeders needed to be cleaned, and our everpresent morning glory vine that threatens to take over the neighborhood, had to be cut back again. I decided I'd get up early Saturday morning and start working. I weed wacked and trimmed bushes in the back yard. I bagged up old trimmings from a few weeks ago and put all the garbage bags out - about 9 bags. I hacked some more morning glory vine back and I spray cleaned the bird feeders with the hose and left them to dry in the sun.

Now for the big surprise for my husband. I never mow the lawn - he does that. I've only mowed twice before in my life. I got out the lawn mower and proceeded to mow the back yard. I wasn't sure I could get the thing started, but I did. And off we went. When that was done, it was 91 degrees out, and I stopped for lots of water and a sit down. I'm overweight and out of shape and 51 years old - I didn't want to have a heart attack - that wouldn't have been a good surprise for The Mr. to come home to!!

Next, with the back yard done, I tackled the indoors, vacuuming, straightening, shaking out rugs and quilts (my 4 cats get lots of cat hair on everything) and started the laundry. I also stripped and changed the bedsheets. By now my back was killing me and I was very tired - BUT I still had the desire to finish everything.

I put away the lawn equipment, except for the mower. I turned it back on and pushed it to the front yard, which is much smaller - and proceeded to finished mowing the front yard. By then, I was truly exhausted. I just finished up trimming the grass right around the trunks of our two trees with scissors - and I went inside and took a long, cool shower.

I took some grapefruit juice and selzer water (my favorite drink), added a little bit of salt, took a potassium pill and some calcium/magnesium pills - and I felt much better.

I then refilled the bird feeders and looked around - the lawn was done and looked so neat and pretty, and the house was quiet and cool and clean. Now I was excited - it was about 1:30 - soon my husband would be home.

When he pulled in the driveway and saw all the work I had done, he was so happy and relieved that he didn't have to do it! I got lots of thanks and a very happy husband. However, I found out one thing - there is a lever on the lawn mower that when you press it to the handle, it makes the lawn mower self-propelled. I had forgotten that part, and I had done both the back and front yard without the self-propel feature. No WONDER I was tired!! The Mr. thought that part was kind of funny, but he was also concerned at the effort I had made unnecessarily. Live and learn, I guess.

Today, since all our chores were finished, The Mr. and I had a leisurely breakfast and then drove to a nearby mitigation site, where the following pictures were taken:
All the tiny fish looked like the fish at the top of the picture. Then there was this one black and white speckled fish - wonder if someone emptied out their acquarium.....


Next, I tried to capture these two white butterflies while they were flying and fluttering around each other - it didn't come out too good, but you get the gist....


These are fish eggs on a branch under the clear water.

This dragonfly was holding on for dear life....

More dragonflies:




And last but not least - some flowers:

6 comments:

pissed off patricia said...

I just loved your story and I used to do the same thing. My husband would come home on Friday night to find that all his weekend chores were done for him via "moi". Isn't it fun to surprise someone we love like that?

You have some lovely pics here. A hard yard worker who is good with a camera.... GOOD FOR YOU!

Susan Humeston said...

It IS so much fun to surprise someone with something you know they'll love. Thanks about the pictures.

pissed off patricia said...

You're welcome!

pissed off patricia said...

Oh, one more thing.... I'm in Florida too. I'm on the Treasure Coast.

Angie B. said...

I love days when I can get myself in gear and work all day like that. It feels so good to have it done. Unfortunately, I don't feel industrious most days. I've come a long way from my hard-working ancestors.

Good job.

Susan Humeston said...

Patricia: I get the "coasts" confused - is that the Naples area? I'll have to Google it and see what I get. In any case - welcome to a fellow Floridian!

Angie: I don't do things like this very often either. I'm much more of a couch potato usually.....