Archenesis

As a kid, dandelions were awesome. What could possibly be cooler than a weed that has a bright yellow flower and those white fuzzy things, that you could blow into the wind? The obvious answer: there are ALOT of things that are much, much cooler.

If I have to be judged by others on a superficial basis, I hope I am judged by the following criteria, in this order:


1. How cool my clothes are
2. How far I can run
3. My yard

Dandelions are really getting in the way of my upstanding status on the third item. If you would have asked me last year, "Do you have a nemesis or archenemy?" I would answer with one word, and one word alone: THISTLES.

If you haven't had the pleasure, thistles are hardy weeds with sharp spines, deep roots and a serious attitude problem. Our garden was overtaken by these when we moved in, which means I spend many long hours in the garden, pulling them by hand and filling many yard waste bags with their rotting carcasses. It was terrible, and I grew to hate the spiny, unaturally hardy mutant weeds so much that I began to feel nothing could be worse than their existance.





When the spring season finally arrived, I realized that while thistles are painful to glove-less hands and annoying, dandelions just make the yard look like I've given up. Today was the day I would prove that I didn't give up, as I donned my faded Xavier t-shirt, pink sweat pants and a 1.33 gallon jug of weed-b-gone, I was going to show those dandelions who is the boss of whom.

It started off well, spraying into the wind and pelting those enemy weeds with my poison. Then, like a light from heaven, I had an epiphany. I looked left, I looked right. What did I see?

It seems, flying in the face of conventional wisdom, our neighbors are actually growing crops of dandelions in their yards. Has there been a change to the term "cash crop" that I'm not aware of?!? I'm not one to give up, but I give up. There's always next year, right?

Projects: the glue that holds Spring together

Spring is upon us, which reminds me of how different life is when you're a homeowner. I remember the days of wishing I could paint the walls "any color I want" but never thinking through the intensity of the painting process. Then again, I am the one who painted my bedroom twice in a 2-month span.

Being a homeowner means that at any given moment, there's alway something around the house that could use your attention. I find myself saying crazy things like, "I wish I didn't have to [insert social event/committment here] because I'd really like to [insert project involving the pulling or weeds or sanding and painting of wood] !" Though, it is important to remember the difference between projects--not all are created equal.

First, there are projects that must be done, like clockwork, whether you like it or not. Items in this category include vacuuming twice weekly to rid your carpet of the rediculous amounts of dog hair gathered there, as referenced by our little angel, Rudi,

dusting, cleaning toilets and mowing the lawn. Also, cleaning all items that are dog hair magnets, like countertops and hardwood floors. On a side note, I have yet to figure out how our dog still has any hair left, what with the insane amounts of hair falling out off her body and all. Too bad I haven't mastered the art of knitting; we'd all have dog hair sweaters and matching scarves by now.


Then, there's the projects that are forced upon you, like when your insurance company informs you that you have 30 days to put a new roof on your house or your policy will be dropped, much like a large sack of potatoes.

Finally, my favorite projects would be the ones that you put upon yourself. Part of you thinks you can do it in a day or two, and perhaps a small part enjoys the self-torture. None the less, these are the projects that take the longest, what with only having to answer to yourself and all. Items in this category include ripping your bathroom down to the studs, (yes, that is what one of our bathrooms looks like currently) putting up drywall in the garage and thinking a small hand shovel is enough to pull out a deeply-rooted shrub. I will only take credit for the last project, as will my sore lower back and muddy shoes. Stump grinder, anyone?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go buy a larger shovel and some asprin.

And so it begins

Hey, remember when I had my Livejournal? Wasn't that fun, interesting and stimulating to your mind? Well, that thing died a long time ago, but I've decided to continue the tradition with a blog instead. I also may have borrowed the idea from my brother who recently started a blog about the recent addition to his family. Either way, here I am.

I'm just a born and raised city girl living in the cornfields of Ohio, living the dream. Dream that consists of cornfields, skunk smells and a pack of deer living in a fenced pen across the street. Why do deer live in a fenced pen? I don't know, but that's what the binoculars we got for Christmas are for. Some would say Cincinnati isn't the "city" persay, but it might as well be NYC when you live in rural farm country. I don't make it back to visit as often as I'd like, so this is a way for you to stalk me without actually stalking me.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy the adventures of life in the country. For now, I leave you with the awesome view of the sunset from our front porch.