First mowing of the year!

[Junkman]

Andy.. It looks great and considering the problems that you have had in the past, it looks like you are winning the battle of "Andy vs. Mother Nature".
Willows might be dirty trees, but one mature Willow tree can soak up 400 gallons of water a day, and in Andy's situation, he needs all the water removal help that he can get. My side lawn is so flooded that this morning my wife said that there was a family of ducks swimming in the large puddle. I intend to put drains into my lawn this summer when everything dries out so I can carry the water to another location. The dog doesn't appreciate the ducks at all!

 

[AndyM]

Junkman,
I've got a long way to go with my yard project. We decided with limited funds (we're not going the loan route for home improvements), we're going to work on the front yard this year. My main concern is the area between my driveway and my neighbor's driveway, from the house to the road. This is the area everyone sees pictures of always. The area on the other side of my driveway towards the other side property line will be worked on next year, and the 500 feet behind the house will come the year after, since no one really sees it anyway. Besides, I've got about 50 feet of dry, well graded area behind the back of the house to enjoy before it gets soggy. My other neighbor's yard looked the same at one time, but says it took him 10 years to dry it up!

The willow tree helps my water problem, so I've decided it's going to stay, no matter how much of a mess it makes. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Do ducks mate for life? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif I was wondering if the ducks in my "pond" this year are the same ones that were there last year, or do they pick their mates and landing spots randomly, and therefore these are different ducks?


By the way, Junkman, thanks for the words of encouragement. I get down in the dumps sometimes because I don't make as much progress as I would like as quickly as possible, and I have to remind myself that Lake Milton wasn't built in a day! (Actually, it was built between 1910 and 1913) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[srs]

TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING, AT EVERY STEP OF THE PROCESS, AT EVERY ANGLE, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT WILL BE COVERED LATER ON!

Thanks for the explanation. I do remember the 'little pond' you had in the front yard. Looks much better now, that's for sure. When I built my house I borrowed a video camera and recorded all the wiring, switches, light fixtures, plumbing, gas lines, etc. before the insulation and drywall went up. I also took photos, along with measurements of all underground utilities. Without the photos you won't remember where they are years down the road. I keep all of the photos in a little photo album. Again thanks.

 

[Junkman]

I think that this is my 21st year in this house and I am still working on getting things done. My wife has a never ending list of things to do and I tell her that if I don't finish them before I die, then it will be something for her next husband to look forward to. If you don't get too ambitious in any one project, then you can finish it and move onto the next. If you get bogged down on one project, it never gets completed and you become frustrated with the lack of progress. Last night I planted 3 large trees and I have 2 8' trees to move next fall. I am still working on clearing land that is eventually going to be part of the lawn area and I hope to complete that within the next 5 years. Two years ago, I got the pilings in for the deck addition and last year I completed the framing. This year I will put the deck boards down. I am not certain if it well be completed with the railings this year, but it is on the schedule. By the time that everything is done, it will be time to sell and move to a warmer climate. Besides, once you finish one project, the wife will have another one for you to start. I know because she just came up with a whole new set of "ideas" for me last night. This is about the time that I turn off my non existent hearing aid. What did you say, I can't hear you!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Rowski]

Pete your not going to believe... this I saw a guy in Montgmery mowing his lawn/field last week.

BTW... My ground was white this morning.

 

[frank_f15]

always nice to have something to do, i have a to do list that never ends, keeps me young /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif dose not mean they are all going to get done, but i aways have somthing to go.

 

[Boondox]

Yeah, we had some white stuff the other day and sure enough, one of the ewes was in labor...outside the shelter!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Pete

 

[SteveH_CT]

Junkman - are you sure of that number? 400 gallons is a lot of water... even so, 1/2 that would help me with our water problems. I may have to start planting willows all over our yard. We border wetlands - and I suspect the builder took a little advantage of the easement.

 

[BillG_in_TX]

I mowed last weekend for the first time this year at my in-laws place in Marble Falls.

 

[_RaT_]

Andy, kind of hard to relate, I've been mowing since about Feb. Your place looks great. Amazing what you can do with a tractor, even the smaller ones.