Never Enough Time

This is a painting on a piece of wood that I did a few years ago. It was a Christmas present for my husband. It is our house taken from a photograph. He was picking out some wood at a store and I saw this slice of wood and had the man slip it into the truck, so hubby wouldn't see it. I managed to paint it and really surprise him. We hung it at the garage entrance to our house. Most people enter the house by this doorway. I thought it needed some sprucing up. I painted birds and vines over the doorway. I'll have to look up that picture and put it on here.

While the carpets were being cleaned...I worked outside a bit. We had trimmed the River Birch and left the branches lying...too tired to take them to the back yesterday. We have 3/4 acre of lawn...the house is right up to the front of it (a typical development arrangement) and the lawn goes all the way back, sloping down to woods. It isn't broken up by gardens...just a doggie fence, so when I go to work in the woods, or take things to the back...it is a long walk. If I were younger, I would put some gardens in. My flowers are mainly around the perimeter of the house. There is no shed, to keep tools in. I have a plastic container to keep some tools in back there, but invariably the one I want is in the garage....so I walk the lawn to get a trowel or whatever. The yard slopes up to the house, so I get a good workout gardening. That is why I have chairs placed to rest on. My hubby has bad knees, so he doesn't help much in the walking. He does ride the tractor and pitches in when he is asked.He can fix anything and always finds something to repair. I have always gardened pretty much on my own. My first husband didn't have any interest in it, so I am used to doing it my way. I hate to ask for help anyway. Sometimes I will jerry rig something and he will say, "Why didn't you ask me for help?" I like to be independent. Only one of my neighbor women gardens. She doesn't help with mowing. She says, "If I do it, I will always have to do it," so I'm the only one working out there. Sometimes one of them will come over and sit on my strategically placed chairs and visit while I work. I guess I'm just tired right now and wish that I could do so much more than I am able. I used to be able to get up in the morning and be out almost before the sun was up ...work till noon, fix lunch and be back out in the afternoon. Sometimes going out after supper to finish up. I would fall into bed...so tired, but a good tired. I still do a lot of work and I always sleep well at night. It's just the best life...working in your yard and making it your own.

Balisha