Our Pretty Pink Peonies

My grandma used to say, “You have to sing for your supper.” She didn’t mean I had to literally sing for her in order to get something to eat. What she meant was, nothing comes for free…you have to work for it. My sweet husband is very tolerant of my escapades, from gallivanting around the country alone with the camper to ripping out the bedroom and building twin beds five days before a trip in said camper. He rarely ever asks me to do something. He doesn’t have to. I know what needs to be done and I know when it’s my turn to do it. 

Peonies

Mr. FixIt’s buddy was in town yesterday and needed a little help with something so after breakfast, I kissed him goodbye and told him to have fun. Now, when we mow, I do the big area on the tractor and he uses the push mower in the fenced area around the pool. One may think that isn’t equitable, but my sweetheart suffers from a bad back and it’s all he can do to mow that piece of ground. His back was really bothering him when we mowed early this week and he couldn’t finish the back corner.

Kitty Beans

He would never, ever ask me to do that on top of what I’d already done. But, I know when it’s time to pick up the slack. I’m leaving next week to camp with my bestie Gail and leaving him here on his own. As soon as he left yesterday, I went out and mowed the rest of the lawn. As I was surveying my handy work, I realized the peonies needed to be tied up because rain was coming. If the blossoms hit the ground, they’re gone in a heartbeat. I went in the house for kitchen twine and the scissors and tied them. Then I figured since I was at it, I’d best go out front and tie those peonies up as well. They are about a week behind the back ones, but they’ll need tying soon so I might as well do it while I have the tools and the time.

Before

Once that was finished, I got the loppers out and started cutting back the vegetation that grows on the back fence. There is about a six foot space between the fence and the wall of the pole building. Sumac grows there like crazy along with slippery elm saplings, the occasional maple tree, and a boatload of wild grape and honeysuckle vines that weave it all together into and unruly mat of madness. Every couple of years, we have to really get in there and cut it all out. I am committed to spraying the whole area with a solution of white vinegar, salt, and Dawn dish soap to kill it all back in the spring so we don’t have to keep doing this.

After

I started losing steam along about 5:00. I knew it was going to rain at around 6:00 and I wanted to get all those branches and vines hauled out to the burn pile before Mr. FixIt got home. It isn’t completely finished because I didn’t get the rake out for the little bits, but it’s done enough for now. As soon as I walked in the door, the rain started pouring. Good timing! A welcome shower and time in front of the fan to cool down was the perfect end to a good day’s work.

🌸☀️🌸

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”

Proverbs 12:11 NIV