Well. this has been interesting.

Over the past week I noticed how terrible my yard is looking. Now, my dh always kept the yard looking good. The lawn mowed, the weeds "eaten", the leaves raked, rose bushes trimmed.. you know, all that stuff that makes a huge difference between a trashy yard and a nice manicured yard.

When I noticed how  the lawn was in need of maintanance, I felt badly knowing that my dh would have NEVER let it look like that when he was alive.  And, me being me, I decided to make things right. Without help.. without a clue as to what I getting myself into!

So, here is a list of things I have learned over the weekend:

While the kids go-kart does NOT like it's gas mixed with oil,  the weed-eater DOES. It is important to keep these two facts straight and also to keep the mixed gas in a seperate, properly labeled gas can.

The riding lawnmower does NOT come with power steering.

Do NOT wear cheap thin gloves when trimming rose bushes. You know those expensive thick leather gloves that your dh wants?? and you balk at dishing out the bucks to buy them because you know there are gloves that cost a third that amount??? Well... buy them!! (TRUST me on this one, he NEEDS them no matter what the price)

I've learned that on all those Saturdays when dh was outside most of the day, and when he finally came in and I would ask him what was he doing out there so long, and he would answer "working"... well.. he really WAS.

I've learned that the "OFF" setting on a spreader really means  "Open valve and let all the pesticide pour out onto the ground"  (groan!)

I've learned that raking leaves is a full body workout. Forget going to the gym. Just get a rake, a GOOD pair of gloves and a wheel-barrel, and get to work. You'll be burning off those abs in no time.

Oh... I've learned that wheel-barrels are HEAVY!!  (and I mean when they are empty...  @@)

Weedeaters are a pain in the neck but worth it.. as long as you don't get too close to anything you want to keep growing. I've learned that this is one thing that takes practice before getting around those rose bushes.. unless you WANT to cut them all down to ground level.....  :-/

I've learned that there are muscles in my body that I had no idea even existed. I learned this because they are all sore!

There are lessons that I still need to learn.. like how to change the string-thingy in the weed-eater..  But for now,  the yard is looking pretty nice and I am going to take a few days to recover. Maybe it will rain this weekend  so I can go to the mall.  ;-)