Yard work

Yesterday Rick and I practiced Bikram yard work.  This is where you go out in the blazing heat and proceed to sweat out any and all moisture in your body.   

We actually got an early start to avoid the worst of the heat and to avoid setting Placer County ablaze.  There are all kinds of dire warnings posted about weed whacking and mowing early in the day to avoid sparks setting off fires. 

I was worried about ticks.  Not sparks.  And certainly not snakes like the one Rick found and very carefully put up in a tree out of harm's way.  Gah!  No one told me about snakes!

You can see the palais and the flat area in front of it where we will eventually have a fenced in vegetable and flower garden.  The first picture was taken from our deck and the second one just below the deck from the lawn.

When we had the goats they kept the weeds under control.  But since they aren't here anymore (they are retired and living up in Auburn) it's up to us to keep things whacked.  Up until yesterday "Us" meant Rick.  But I volunteered to help so we set out early with the weed whackers.  I managed to take out part of the fence and break about fifty of the plastic strings that do the whacking but we eventually got it done. 

Sure looks dry, doesn't it?  It's too expensive (not to mention wasteful) to water all of the property so we keep this section looking rather natural.  

I wish I had a before picture.  It sure was weedy.  I covered myself almost completely.  I had on leggings tucked into socks tucked into boots and a long-sleeve shirt on.  I managed to stay tick-free but not burr-free.  I include this picture as proof that I was actually out there working and not just standing on the deck offering up helpful suggestions (which is my preferred way of helping).