The Yard Summer 2012

The couple that lived here before us built the house. When they sold it to us almost 3 years ago they were in their mid-60s. As they told all the neighbors at the time. "We like our yard to look natural." By that they meant we put stuff in the ground but we don't take care of it. 

I spent the whole weekend digging up old mulch. By old I mean it was beautiful compost on top of a weed barrier. When we bought the place they had just thrown down a thin layer or mulch. The plants were so over grown they were hiding all the rocks. The plant on the left of the picture is actually lavender, but it appears to have only been trimmed 3 times in it's life. Once when the house went up for sale (so it wasn't covering the walkway), once when we moved in (because it was 2.5 times the size it is now), and once this weekend. The poor lavender is all woody. I am hoping I can save it. 

While I was clearing the old mulch we found an opening in the weed barrier for a plant. We were talking about what to put in it. An hour later our neighbor walks over with a container full of day lilies. We have great neighbors. 

Husband got a ridding mower this weekend too. Now the lawn only takes 1-1.5 hours to mow instead of 4-6 hours. I hate that is is gas powered, but saving an average of 3-5 hours every other weekend it awesome. 

Hopefully I can finish the bottom of this hill this week and get some more blueberries in soon. Then weed the walkway all before the end of June. 

I have been going back and forth on having another child. Yes, that would be 4. This is what I have always wanted, but not sure what my body can handle. I am 32 years old....not 26 like when I had my first. My body still hasn't bounced back from the last pregnancy and it is not for lack of trying.
26 wow....it seems like yesterday, but yet I have come so far since then. Now I feel old....

Back to my point. I was confused on #4 until someone said...."In 10 years will you regret having a 4th?" The answer was so clear to me. Sure I may have challenges in the next 2 years that I am afraid to face, but 10 years from now I would never regret it.

Later that day I had my women's circle. On the way home I was thinking about having a 4th. As I turned onto our street an own flew across the front of my car (at a barely safe distance.) I knew this immediately as some kind of sign. I just wasn't sure until I really thought about it.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, M, I was also worried. I was scared for her and I. At one point I had a very vivid dream. I was driving down the road (same car) and I narrowly missed a big beautiful black horse. My daughter was born healthy and without complications. (In fact she was the only one born that night who wasn't a c-section.)

I don't fully get the symbolism. Why is the horse and one is the owl?? Hopefully some day I will be able to see the connection more clearly, but for now I will take what I can get.

So here is to the past 6+ years of being pregnant and nursing (non-stop) and to the next 2 or 3. Cheers!

(Now to get on with the baby making part......) :D