I love and hate weed whacking.

I love how it looks, but I hate doing it.

Today, I did it.

My arms are still vibrating.  I can barely type.  I feel like Wylie Coyote after he got thwacked by the anvil – my whole body is buzzing, and not in a good way…

After all that… I barely made a dent in what needs to be done!  But, the part I did do, looks much better.  Yay!

GRASS?  THERE’S GRASS AT THE NEW PLACE?

I know, right?!  All the photos I’ve shared with you of the new place makes it look barren and brown or like a muddy moonscape.

Well, after all the torrential rain, and rain and rain… the grass (and other plants I cannot identify) have been growing their little hearts out.  Up UP UPPPP!   Yes, they were able to grow ad infinitum because it just kept raining.  Between the rain and the mud, no one could do any yard work.

But, yesterday and today, I could hear the low hums of mowers, tractors and plows all over the place.  Oh yeah, and me, the only worker with a tiny, itty bitty weed whacker.  I could almost hear Mother Nature chuckling at me.

I’LL JUST DO IT MYSELF THEN.

We had guests last weekend and I was totally embarrassed that the grass was so long.  Everything was still pretty wet so I don’t think the guests cared, but I did.

Being the new kid in town, I didn’t have a lead on a weed whacking guy.  So, I called a few that had put up cards at the local feed stores… but they were all so instantly busy that they gave me (a new customer) a date sometime in the next millennium.   Hmmmm.  I guess I’ll do it myself then.

AFTER ALL, I HAVE A NEW WEED WHACKER…!

When I moved here in July (dry, barren time), I purchased a battery powered weed whacker so I could tidy up around here.  I had NO IDEA the amount of foliage that would reappear come Spring!  I should have bought a riding mower or a baler or an army of sheep.  Truly, this ridge must receive every kind of seed known to these parts.  I am astounded by the density and coverage of whatever is growing around here.  Much thicker and healthier than in Grass Valley.

Anyway, my weed whacker is perfect for me (the only improvement would be the weight) because it dies out just about when I do.  Then, I plug in the battery, go inside and vomit (just kidding but not really – I feel like an oversprung Slinky when I’m done) and then come back out just about when we have both recharged.

I AM NO BOTANIST.

I could only identify about 4% of what I was whacking… I had never seen these types of plants (weeds?) previously.

I’m figuring they are mostly weeds because the entire place was covered in RoundUp when we purchased in July.  Weeds are the first to repopulate sick soil because weeds need less…

Anyway, the vet identified one plant and told me it was ‘an incredible feed for cows’ but would ‘founder a horse in a day’.  Yay.

Then there was a very reedy/woody plant with a big, floppy leaf.  Those thwacked me a few times good.  I like a plant that talks back…

IN THE END, I SHOULD JUST GET A SOLAR POWERED TEMPORARY ELECTRIC FENCE AND LET THE HORSES DO IT.

I looked at my work and realized that the horses do a much better job.

So, my next idea is to purchase a really good, temporary/portable solar powered fence so I could cordon off an area that needs mowing and put BG or Finn or Gwen in there to do the job for me.

Any suggestions for the best/easiest to assemble portable electric fencing system?

AFTER ALL THAT… I DECIDED TO GROOM AND UNVIBRATE MYSELF.  FINN WAS VERY WILLING TO HELP ME.

I decided to decompress by grooming one of my mudballs.  Finn was at the fence – waiting – so I chose him.

He was very happy to have a nice rubdown in the shade.  He kept nuzzling me and pointing to the itchy spots.  This time of year, with the new warmer weather and all of the winter hair still on board, he was ITCHY.

At one point, he fell asleep.  But when I fumbled for my camera, he woke up… sleepy eyed.

MARCH BUCKET FUND HORSE, SWAYZE, NEEDS SURGERY TO SURVIVE.  His Drop in the Bucket Fund (story here) only needs $970 to give him his lifesaving surgery!  Just a few drops will add up!  Thank you in advance!

Do you have Starbucks money to donate to this very handsome gelding?  He has fought so hard to live!  Thank you!!  Make a 100% tax deductible donation here!