Labor of Love

We came from the desert. Watching Daddy mow is a complete novelty. 

The before.....

Kinda hard to tell but the stuff in the front is knee high and the stuff behind the tree is waist high.....some spots even taller than waist.

And so it begins...

Poor mailbox...next project. It'll be repaired and have new barn red side walls and a white roof so the new boards don't stand out. 

Making some progress. We have now figured out the last time anybody did anything to the yard was years and years ago when his mom last lived here. We found the remains and patterns of old flowerbeds and long lost perennials. I think the job just seemed overwhelming to depressed landlord. Despite his promises to mow we found it hasn't been mowed in years. Old brake pads, glass bottles, all sorts of metals that could not have been mowed over....rusted and sticking out of ground for some time now. So far landlord hasn't said anything about it at all. I think he actually likes it but he's too embarrassed to say it. he's not evicting us and he's smiling a little more these days. So far our yard endeavors are stopping neighborhood traffic. I can't figure out if they're trying to get a glimpse of the freak show in action, if they're trying to see the house for the first time in years...or if they're just in awe  that somebody is actually working on it and showing some love.

After growing impatient for the mower to get here I went ahead and set out in my jungle conquering expeditions. As I pruned, chainsawed, and dug....this little species of reptile wonder decided to show up. As I cut away at leafy undergrowth knuckles brushed up against something that wasn't of the leafy texture. Somehow over the years we managed to learn to live in peaceful existence with rattlesnakes. They rattle their warnings and you respect their power. These snakes, however, do not warn and just show up. And apparently, according to the NC State Cooperative Extension...they like to strike. Not so cool.

"Copperheads bite more people in most years than any other U.S. species, but they also have the mildest venom. The exciting news (at least for the researchers) is that the copperhead is different from the others. Most copperheads tested have struck out immediately when they felt threatened.

This behavior explains why more people receive legitimate snakebites from copperheads than from any other species of venomous snake in North America. Still to be investigated is another aspect of copperhead bites: many are not serious enough to require more than minor medical treatment. This may be so, not only because the venom of a copperhead is significantly less potent than that of rattlesnakes or cottonmouths, but also because they seldom inject much venom.

The copperhead's initial threat display is to strike. It lashes out at an enemy as a warning. If the enemy is close enough, the fangs may penetrate the skin. However, because this is a threat display, not an attempt to kill, the snake injects little venom. A copperhead has no intention of wasting valuable venom if it can scare away the menace with a minor bite."

Keep in mind, however, that even a non-fatal bite needs medical attention, is extremely painful, and may cause extensive scarring and loss of use. Don't take chances-- avoid these snakes."

Making the 1st haul off the property. Let it be known that if all other able bodied people leave property and power cord to chainsaw will not reach desired project one should probably overcome impatience of self and just go get both cord and saw. Wrapping one's body monkey style around a dead tree limb and shaking with your entire body weight is not entirely recommended....as both body and dead tree, in its entirety, will come crashing down in a not so entirely gentle manner. So....if you're gonna climb trees.....stick to the living ones.

 Clean laundry makes for good toddler lounge chairs.

7:26am. .96 cents watercolor paint. They did this for hours. 

Her greeting committee after returning home from spending a night at her best friend's. 

Real men wear pink hearts.

It's been 14 years since we've had a paci baby! Of all the ones to like it he's the one that doesn't need it. I don't think we could've had a more content, happy, sweet little guy. But...he sure does think it's a fun sucker!

 Little dark...but cute!

They made it up there on their own. They seem to enjoy their new little perch on top of the world.