A Tale of Whoa

The nice weather persisted through Thursday and a lot got done since the last post. I shouldn't bore you gentle readers with a litany of accomplishments, but hey. I run the show -- so I'm listing. ;-)

Shredded leaves were dug into the last section of the garden ring. All the rest of the leaves (those that were down - still more to come) were collected/shredded and used to mulch all the gardens around the house as well as overflow piled up for Spring use on the ring. All of the compost bins were emptied and shoveled into trash bins so it's ready for use in Spring. The asparagus bed is mulched and a winter compost bed started, ready to chow down on all those kitchen scraps. I took a whole day to plant about 225 bulbs and rhizomes, lots along the ring and the rest in the general area of the back yard to let the eye flow into the new bed. Finally, all the garden/deck furniture has been piled away into the shed, the fountains taken down, cleaned and stored. Actually, the place is looking pretty bleak right now.

A really big bleak came 2 days ago. Most of the seasonal stuff was done, but leaves keep falling and grass keeps growing. Even though the temps have plunged from daytime highs of 60s to 30s, the grass and leaves still need attention. So I bundled myself up and went after the trees that insist on waiting until nasty weather to drop their leaves. I revved up my trusty mowed and took off. I got the leaves up from under 2 trees and headed for a 3rd, confident that I could keep things under control until snow shuts down the gardens. I was moving right along, and then, wasn't.

Wha...? The engine was running. The blades were spinning. But the wheels weren't turning. Whoa? Woe! Not to mention wail and gnashing of teeth. I let loose a few choice Klingon expletives as I pushed the darn thing all the way back to the garage. Where it sat. Where it still sits. Where it will sit until the repair people can work me into their busy schedule. ARRRRRGH!

Sure, sure, I should feel good about having gotten as much done as I did before the tractor quit. But try telling a firefighter that he did a good job and almost got the fire out! *sniffle* *sob* I just hate it when something doesn't get done, when projects are left hanging, when I've somehow been thwarted in my attempts to manage the forces of nature, control space and time, and plan for world domination! Whoohaha. *pant* *pant* Hmmm. Someone needs a time out!

Oh well, until the mower is repaired, when I look outside I'll force myself not to see the shaggy lawn and mounting leaves but instead envision a Spring filled with drifts of yellow daffs, creamy jonquils and purple iris. Early blooms for early pollinators with promise of more to come. I'll remain calm, and think positive thoughts about a 'quick, easy & cheap' fix for the tractor. As a backup plan, I'm gonna beef up my command of some really expressive Klingon phraseology. K'plah!

More garden buzz soon!