Was very busy outside yesterday -- we want to get the peach tree we bought on Saturday into the ground, but our "orchard" is still claimed by the wild woods of New Hampshire.
For those of you who don't live here, understand that New Hampshire's wild areas are amazing in their growth. Things grow here, fast and thick. We have an area just past our neighbor's house that the first builder who owned the property had cut a road into (without permission...) and when we moved in, you could actually see a couple miles over to another neighborhood. It's been just over ten years now, and the growth is so thick and the trees so tall you wouldn't know anyone had every cut a swath through there.
So tackling the woods isn't for the faint of heart.
What we started with:
I know, I know ... it doesn't look all that tough. It's what lurks beneath that gets you: blueberry bushes (I'm pretty sure their roots go to China), mountain laurel, grass, tree roots (including a stump from a small Sassafras tree that DD kept whittling at and sniffing -- it smells like a mix between root beer and mint -- YUM) and rocks (NH grows the BEST rocks).
We worked for nearly three hours (and surprisingly only harvested two big rocks!) and still didn't get it done. It *looks* done, but again it's what you don't see that matters... there are still a ton of blueberry bush roots in there -- and they'll grow and take over if we don't get them out. Even so, it was gratifying to see what we'd done -- a plot about 3' x 3':
We also found DD's little woods garden (underneath leaves and full of weeds, which we cleared out). She has the only lupine that we've been able to grow:
We had to stop because I twisted my knee badly enough I could barely walk (I don't have good knees to start with, and my right knee has been giving my trouble of late) while getting this rock out of the ground:
The knee is still achy this morning, but I'm still going to take our walk and then work some more in the woods today. So there.
We have some more flowers blooming as well. I can't begin to tell you what they are (anyone? anyone?) even though I planted the purple ones as bulbs last year and SHOULD remember. :::shrugs::: They're pretty, and they know what they are, so that's all that matters.
And behold my pink daffodil:
IRL that ruffle looks more melon orange than pink. I'm a little disappointed. Too bad we can't Photoshop life.
How was your Monday?
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You Should Play the Trumpet |
 You are a natural leader. You have a very dominant and strong personality. Working with others suits you. As long as you're in charge, that is! You are aggressive and strong in your approach to most things. You feel like no one is as competent as you are, and you rarely make mistakes. The limelight is where you feel most comfortable - and you'll take risks to get some extra attention. You definitely would bring your own flavor to any music you were a part of. Even if it means being a little loud and obnoxious. Your dominant personality characteristic: you're a showoff Your secondary personality characteristic: you like to be in charge of other people |
Hmmm... about 80% right (although, as a side note, I played the flute).
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7 comments:
My mom's yard is the same. She loves to garden, but its getting too much for her. We help when we can. Last year we cleaned out a section of her woods to open her back yard up and that was a lot of hard work. Junipers are extremely difficult to remove.
Next project-prepping the garden.
Can't help you on that purple flower though. Sorry.
You did a lot in the three hours that you worked on your garden. Take care of those knees.
You Should Play the Harp
You are a sensitive soul, with a great admiration for beauty.
You definitely have what it takes to make beautiful music, but most instruments are too harsh for you.
You are subtle, shy, and even a bit spoiled. You're very picky about most aspects of your life.
It's just your style to play an eccentric, hard to transport instrument like the harp that few people consider.
Overall, you have the relaxed demeanor of a leisurely upper class person, and your music would reflect that.
Your calm yet soulful harp playing would be sure to help people forget their troubles for a while.
Your dominant personality characteristic: your zen-ness
Your secondary personality characteristic: your quiet independence
It's 75% accurate and I played the clarinet.
Have a good Tuesday.
Take care of the knees. Don't push it. Wouldn't want you crippled.
In fact I do play the piano and have since I was a child.
You Should Play the Piano
You are a true music aficionado who loves many musical style and eras.
You find music to be an escape. And you'd like to be relaxed and comfortable when you're making it.
You're very innovative, and you have a unique way of knowing what may sound beautiful.
There's a strong possibility that you could compose some of your own work songs quite easily.
While you have a lot of creative energy, you are also serious and conscientious.
Your musical talent needs time, practice, and lots of privacy to flourish.
Your dominant personality characteristic: your painstaking attention to detail
Your secondary personality characteristic: your natural tendency to be whimsical
Bummer on the knee.
You gotta go slow on that treacherous ground. I had good knees and look what happened to me.
Good job on the clearing. I should let you borrow Iko for a while--I'll have to post a picture of the rocks he dug up from his dog run. He gives new meaning to the term rockhound.
Love the flower pics!!!
I KNOW about blueberry roots and rocks. Oy! Things are looking great there. I have been WAAAAY slowed down by the reaction and meds, but should be out there as soon as this next rainy spell passes.
Wow, Marianne. I thought I'd had an active day but feel like a slug compared to you.
Could the flower be periwinkles?
http://neighborhoodnature.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/apr6-09-periwinkle01.jpg
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