Lines and Circles

I have begun making my annual summer list of projects, both large and small. It has large things like "clean the garage" and small things like "pull weeds" and medium things like "prune pussywillow branches."

I've even started checking off some of those items. My shady corner in the backyard is now weed-free. I started with the tallest thistly-dandeliony things and worked down to weeds with yellow flowers disguised as octopi. I have no idea how the weeds became two feet tall or grew tendrils creeping into the mini-roses. Honest, I had it pretty well cleared out in early Spring! It is so bare after the snow melts that it is easy to see and attack the unwanted multitude. I can only guess that there were some seeds that germinated when my back was turned, or possibly some few uninvited guests were teensy and didn't get eliminated on my first pass. I'll admit that it's not perfect even now, but it's a lot better. I'm grateful for all the gloriosa daisies, feverfew, daylilies, sweet woodruff and violets that returned and shaded or choked out many of the intruders. It could have been a lot worse. This is only of the small items though.

The large items are not faring as well. Every time I begin on one of the major items, I get sidetracked. I'll head out to the garage to begin reorganizing so Kharma can eventually spend time without either endangering herself with bags of lawn fertilizer or making my gnash my teeth when I find chewed remnants of soccer gear. On my way out, I'll clean the coffee table and put another load of laundry in. I'll move two boxes into the car for transport to the SPCA Thrift Shop and find myself pruning the bearded iris that have finished blooming and watering the tomatoes. Then it's lunchtime and I never return to the garage.

Even worse, the list is not growing. I may need to have it surgically attached to my body so that every time I see a potential project as I cruise through the house, garden, or garage I can write it down. I know I'll never get lots accomplished unless I have possibilities written down. Lists keep me organized. They keep me focused. It worked last summer.

On the other hand, I have only two items on my daily do-it-for-myself list and I did them both today. I walked the trails for 45 minutes and it felt good. And I snacked on yummy strawberries and blueberries.

I also accomplished some training time with Kharma. She almost has the dead-dog pose down when I point my finger and say "bang!" Isn't that an awful trick to teach the cutest pup in the world?! Her new favorite toy is the box from my two-pack of Costco milk. I literally choked on my saliva when I looked up from weeding and saw her cavorting across the yard wearing it on her head. Oh my!