A Damper

I've been saying for a while now that I am going to change my shopping day to Thursday in a probably vain attempt to avoid the madhouse that is Walmart on a Friday.  So it was today, as well.  I'd planned on going into town after work, but the minute I got into my car it started raining.  

That kind of put a damper on my plans.  It was raining hard, too, not just a little sprinkle, so I changed my mind and came on home.  As soon as I got home, it stopped.  

I took it as a sign.  

The downside to even that little bit of rain is that all the red clay in my back yard is now slicker'n snot.  Since it's supposed to rain off and on all weekend and through next week as well, I made myself a path out of the old stepping stones left by the previous owner.  

 Until the landscaper can get here and finish up, this will help keep me from busting my hiney every time I go out into the back yard.  I wish I had one more because that last one isn't quite close enough to the grass for me to step that far.  

I'll go out maybe tomorrow and see if I can find a chunk of concrete from that old fire pit that used to be behind the fence.  If there's one flat enough, I can make myself another step.  

Speaking of, the landscaper sent me a message this morning saying he hasn't forgotten about me.  His truck is broken down and as soon as he gets it fixed, he'll come take care of my yard.   Of course, now we'll have to wait until it dries out again...

At this rate, it might be July or August before we can get it done. 

Oh, and I'm thinking about buying a roto-tiller.   I'm thinking that I can till up the garden spot and mix the red clay with the regular dirt underneath it.  That way, maybe it won't be so slick every time it rains  At least I hope it won't.  It's going to be a multi- year project and I don't want to fall and kill myself before I get it done.  I'm thinking of putting either stepping stones or pea gravel between the beds.  I don't know which yet, and I might put down some pine straw until I decide.  

Also, if I till it several times, it'll level the spot out, probably even better than the landscaper can with his big machine.  

That being said, I looked at some roto tillers online, and they aren't very expensive.  The only question is, will I use it enough to justify spending the money?  The answer is, maybe.  

And finally, I took my first little basil harvest this afternoon.  I hadn't intended to, but I noticed some of the plants were flopping over.  I know they say don't cut the stems, but I did.  I thought if I cut the stems just above the first little branches, they'll get bushier, but won't put such a strain on the upper stems.  We'll see. 

Probably this weekend, I'll try to fit my remaining basil plants into the other planter.  It doesn't get full sun, but they need to be in something besides those little pots.  

Well, will you look at that?  I ended up writing a pretty decent post for a day when I had nothing to say.