The Weekend
This weekend was the usual busy time. I realized with cross season fast approaching I needed to finish what I could with my yard landscaping project. It had been weeks since I had done anything and I really didn't want to continue with big dirt and mud patches in the yard. I was thinking our yard was looking worse than the student rentals in our neighborhood!
The one thing that I wanted to get done before I planted anything was the removal of the last shrub stump that I hadn't dug out. Over the last couple of years I have ripped out two hedges, 3 medium sized shrubs and 1 huge shrub. I had removed all of the roots and stumps except for one. I had dug some on the last stump but I had a lot to do so Saturday morning I got out my shovel and axe and went to work.
It was a miserable job especially with the heat and humidity but I was determined. I was digging and digging and then chopping at the roots with the axe. I have to say that little progress was being made but I kept plugging away it. Then the axe broke. I took a good swing and the blade went into the root and when I went to pull it out the blade stayed and the handle snapped off. That was the final straw (I had previously snapped two shovels doing this project).
I was hot, after hours of work the stump was no where near even moving so I made the decision that I would just landscape around the stump. My yard is already starting to look more respectable and may eventually not long like one of the run down student rental houses in my 'hood.
Here's a shot of the 4 barberry bushes that I planted that will one day grow big enough to camouflage the ugly concrete foundation of our porch.
Here is the start of the flower garden that I intend to put in the front yard. There used to be a hedge in this spot so I started here as it was already turning from a dirt patch to a weed patch. The great part is that I used cocoa mulch so our yard has a pleasant smell of chocolate now.
The rest of the weekend was boring and uneventful. Grocery shopping, laundry. I got out for a ride on Sunday and tried doing a couple of sub-threshold intervals that were on my schedule at this time last year. That sucked but I toughed it out as I realize that cross is fast approaching. I also have been working on UCI race stuff as I want to open registration soon. Right now I'm trying to line up the rest of our sponsors. Know a company that really wants to sponsor a cool event, then let me know. I have to pay our $1,500 UCI fee this week so money is on the mind.
The one thing that I wanted to get done before I planted anything was the removal of the last shrub stump that I hadn't dug out. Over the last couple of years I have ripped out two hedges, 3 medium sized shrubs and 1 huge shrub. I had removed all of the roots and stumps except for one. I had dug some on the last stump but I had a lot to do so Saturday morning I got out my shovel and axe and went to work.
It was a miserable job especially with the heat and humidity but I was determined. I was digging and digging and then chopping at the roots with the axe. I have to say that little progress was being made but I kept plugging away it. Then the axe broke. I took a good swing and the blade went into the root and when I went to pull it out the blade stayed and the handle snapped off. That was the final straw (I had previously snapped two shovels doing this project).
I was hot, after hours of work the stump was no where near even moving so I made the decision that I would just landscape around the stump. My yard is already starting to look more respectable and may eventually not long like one of the run down student rental houses in my 'hood.
Here's a shot of the 4 barberry bushes that I planted that will one day grow big enough to camouflage the ugly concrete foundation of our porch.
Here is the start of the flower garden that I intend to put in the front yard. There used to be a hedge in this spot so I started here as it was already turning from a dirt patch to a weed patch. The great part is that I used cocoa mulch so our yard has a pleasant smell of chocolate now.
The rest of the weekend was boring and uneventful. Grocery shopping, laundry. I got out for a ride on Sunday and tried doing a couple of sub-threshold intervals that were on my schedule at this time last year. That sucked but I toughed it out as I realize that cross is fast approaching. I also have been working on UCI race stuff as I want to open registration soon. Right now I'm trying to line up the rest of our sponsors. Know a company that really wants to sponsor a cool event, then let me know. I have to pay our $1,500 UCI fee this week so money is on the mind.
posted by MadCross at 8:10 AM
1 Comments:
Blast it out!
Post a Comment
<< Home