Not a Saturday in the Park

But it was hotter than the 4th of July. Way hotter.

Remember a few months ago, I blogged about these water oaks we had in the front yard. Well, we finally got the stumps removed. Jeff covered the holes and then the yard looked like this.

Jeff ordered two pallets of Bermuda sod and Ross drove to the Farmer's Market early Saturday morning and picked them up.

In 1995, Jeff and I together put out seven pallets of sod. We remember it very, very well. I don't think I've ever been as tired. Laying sod is very hard work. But that was seven pallets. This was only two.
But Jeff was also 15 years younger then. Bless that hardworking man's heart. He worked himself to exhaustion Saturday laying those two pallets of sod.

Oh, he had help.

Ross helped him out quite a bit, and I think Jeff would agree that he couldn't have done it without his help.

And when Cam got home from working at his hunting club, he also helped.

Smokey observed as if she knew there was something happening to her new favorite place to wallow. She also was sure to give it a bit of personal fertilization.

Even with the extra help, my poor hubby was whipped. It was just too much to accomplish in one day. In our nearly 23 years of wedded bliss, I've never seen him so tired. We had dinner reservations with Ronnie, Nan and a few other friends. We couldn't even make dinner. He'd get up to get ready and I'd walk back through the room and he'd be back on the bed again. I really think he had heat exhaustion. I don't know what the heat index was on Saturday, but I do know that it was HOT.

After working for several hours and just giving completely out, this is what was left from the two pallets of sod.

And this is how the yard looks now.

Not quite ready for yard of the month, but it's well on the way. Because of the way our yard slopes, getting grass to grow has been a work in progress for 15 years.

It looks a lot better and after vacation, we want to fill in the island with mulch or straw. The grass will spread and hopefully, by next summer Jeff can practice his putting on that beautiful grass.

He did recover by yesterday. It was scary for a little while. I was worried he had had a heat stroke or something. And as a matter of fact, he felt well enough to finish putting out the last little bit of the sod yesterday.

If you've ever laid sod, then you know it's hard work and you don't forget it. I don't think Jeff will be putting out any more for a while. Maybe ever.

While you're probably thinking that I was out by the pool, chillaxing with a cold drink in my hand, shouting instructions, you couldn't be further from the truth. I knew my limitations and honestly, putting out sod is a man's work. I did do their laundry afterwards though. I only had to run the clothes through the washer three times to get them even remotely clean. Jeff soaked through two shirts and two pair of shorts. It was some nasty laundry.

Back to my chillaxing. Here's a glimpse of what I did.

Pulled weeds. (No picture.)

Removed dead leaves and blooms off my flowers and cleaned the flower pots on the front porch.

Washed the rocking chairs and porch railing with bleach.

Made 458 (exaggeration, but that's what it felt like) trips up and down the basement steps.

Put my 4th of July wreath on the door, which required two of the 458 trips up and down the steps.

Cleaned out and filled up the hummingbird feeder.

Repotted some flowers that, even after repotting, look like they may still die.

Brushed enough fur off of Smokey to cover another cat.

Which then caused me to have to sweep the porch, which caused me to step in a pile of bird poop. And if you've never been privy to the smell of bird poop, consider yourself lucky. Trust me, it's one of the worst smells I've ever smelled.

I made a trip to Wal-Mart to get a new flag.

I don't like a faded flag. I feel that if I'm gonna fly one, it should always look its best; bright, proud and strong.

So yes, friends, a Saturday in the park it was not. But it was a whole bunch of stuff that needed doing and we did it. Even if it did almost kill my dear husband.

Till next time...