Lock-down Day 212

Mippies Outies! And that's the first thing I did this morning: open the sliding door to let mippies out!

Quarter to eleven and we've all had lots of fun! Oh, we annoyed mommy lots, too! But mostly, we've had fun! I tackled the back garden, as planned. I discovered some succulents I've never even seen before in the rock garden along one side there - but the whole bed is totally covered by some awful creeper! There are plenty of cactus varieties in that bed as well - I'm definitely looking forward to spending some quality time in there ... one of these days!

I did what I could, but the sun was catching up with me fast. I mostly pulled all the big stuff out. Funny thing about a rock garden: If it's green, it's a week! Ha Ha! It also has those grass things growing in there, which had covered the area around the tap in PE. Which has a kind of bulb. I pulled as much of it out, as I could - but I haven't found my gloves, yet, and the cacti have really long thorns! I'll need better equipment to work there. I will also need to cut off the dead bits off the plants in that bed.

I cleared weeds off the path and all those big thistles and things off the lawn, then set down to assemble the push mower! What had me stumped was: how do the handle bars fit to the mower? I just couldn't find any fastening mechanism! Turns out, you simply clip them in! And then I started mowing! What a breeze! Works like an absolute charm! First time I've mowed a lawn in ... oh, gosh, I'd have to say over 20 years?! Okay, so it was just a small patch - the big lawn is still out front, growing tall ... but, hey! I mowed my lawn!

I also placed the toy humming bird in the rock garden - mippies were intrigued! Yet, they left it alone! It's still going strong!

I've been thinking of leaving the lawn mowing for later, but when I look at the grass - how tall it already is in some patches? I don't know ... 

Well, I just mowed the partition outside my bedroom. Turns out that half of that shouldn't have anything growing on it anyway, as it is either cemented or bricked - I can't tell, yet. I want to clear it some day, and see what's under that. Oh, and this property has several partitions - with fencing and gates put up, like the partition outside my bedroom. There's a gate if you come from the washroom (there's a pathway between the house and the neighbour's wall), and then a fence running from the front patio for a couple of meters, when it turns towards the neighbour's wall. There's another gate outside the patio - with a mechanism that can only be reached from inside the partition, as it's behind the corner. And it swings closed - doesn't stay open. So, when I took the cut grass to where I'm starting a compost heap, when I came back, I had to walk back to the garage, walk across the patio and climb over the wall! Silly!

Then, at the back, when you come out of the washroom, there is another fence and a gate leading to the back garden (which I worked today). There are two more fenced in partitions on the far left (looking from the house), one with a dog house and the other ... just grass with a paved area.

One thing I must say, though: when I first looked at the garden where I lived before, I really struggled to see any potential! There were trees everywhere - three very large trees, spaced so that there really isn't room for more trees. And he center area, behind the bench, was all covered in those red flowers. The ONLY place I could do anything was along the fence and behind the carport. And I had no freedom to design where I want to walk - those red flowers blocked all options. So I'd always have to walk around, along the fence. I tried many times to come up with some idea how to turn that into something pleasant - flowers and herbs, with vegetables as well, where I'd enjoy strolling, or sitting with a chair and a book - or just sitting and enjoying the garden ... and I've always come up empty. I'm pretty sure that, if I had seen the place - not just the photos, but actually been there - I would never have moved there. But on the whole, I'm glad for the experience! It makes me appreciate this place far more than I would have, had I moved here directly from PE!

For starters, having had a landlord, who has no problem with his place falling apart, as long as he gets his rent - I wanted a landlord who cares to maintain his place. Which I had. Only, he went totally overboard - not just maintaining, but dictating life-style. So, now I'm quite okay with a landlord who doesn't really seem to maintain - I'll make my own arrangements for those things I want done.

Anyway, on with the motley! I've started tackling the garage - what a mess! Those guys? Seriously? I thought I had seen the worst with those loafers in PE - but what I'm seeing in the garage now? I'm just shaking my head and trying to keep my temper! Someone who can not even pack boxes? I mean - who in his right mind puts a heavy box filled with books ON TOP of a light box, marked 'fragile'? Yeah, I know ... 

I meant to pull the car just outside the garage, but as the sun is blazing down, I decided to park it under the carport, in the shade. And do you know what? When I went to move the car, I saw all my things still on the car roof! My lunch box, my work coffee cup, my mask (scarf) and my jacket! I had unpacked everything from the boot - but left everything else on the roof of the car, after I got out!

It's half past one, and I really shouldn't sit down to take a break. I fear that, if I stop with the garage work, I won't start again ... And I'm still pulling the boxes out from where they had left them - some of which I absolutely have to unpack right away. And not 'take the box to the lounge and unpack', but unpack where it stands, take an armful out of the box, walk to the lounge, find space, repeat. Can't move half the boxes - they'll just fall apart if I try!

Just past three and I give up! I'm totally knackered! My back is sore, I'm tired, my feet hurt, and I feel like I'm covered in a layer of sweat! I'm leaving the car outside tonight - maybe even the rest of the week. Unless I find more energy tomorrow to carry on in the garage - the car will be parked outside next week. I've also brought in quite a couple of boxes to unpack - like my kitchen scale, and such. I think tomorrow I'll work on the most important thing for the immediate future: figuring out how to cut the tobacco now that I roll my cigarettes. I can't afford to keep buying cigarettes.

I've just turned on the geyser, I really want a shower! I've already fried my steak, as I was hungry - and shared with Ziva and Mewthos!

Mewthos has discovered a new game: Hide and seek! He goes and hides somewhere in the house, then mewls for me to come look for him! First time he was sitting in the bath! Ha Ha! New home, new games, eh?

Oh, and Ziva? That cute little eeu eeu mip? Long gone! She now has an almost as annoying You! You! mip as Mewthos! She is very insistent and demanding! Especially when she wants attention when I'm on the toilet.

That's much better! A nice refreshing shower! I didn't wait very long, so it wasn't very hot - I'm hot enough after the work today, no need for hot water!

Half past five. I've taken my work pants inside just in time! I heard a bit of thunder and brought them in - they were finally dry. A few minutes later some rain came down. Not much, but some! I've gone through the blueberries, one by one, picking only the good ones for freezing. I tried cleaning the white speck off one and eating it - yuk! I ended up throwing away almost a quarter! Ah well. Got plenty for milk shake! Then I cleaned the strawberries - lovely big ones! Haven't seen those in ages! Better luck with those! Also in the freezer getting ready for milk shake.

Mippies were a little disappointed that I had closed all exits already - they would have liked to go for their pre-evening walk. But with the weather turning, I'd rather have them inside. And there's also that other cat outside. He (or she) came to my back door, hissing at mippies! Mippies came running back inside when that cat appeared. I saw it first on my second visit - the manager said that nobody around here has a cat, yet it looks well fed. It's a black and white cat. Saw it strolling along the house a few minutes ago ... 

I must say, that looking out at the back garden, with the lawn I just mowed myself? Cool! And that bed, the rock garden, looks much better as well. I also swept the walk ways afterwards - and a few minutes after that, Janey threw up on the back patio! Ha Ha! No worries, though!

I've put a few leaves into water to wash - tobacco leaves. I'll take them out, one by one, to dry tomorrow, then I'll experiment with how best to cut them. What I've done lately is to roll them into a sausage and try to cut thin strips off - I don't think they are thin enough, though. The cigarettes just drop loads of embers and I have to re-light for every single puff! Somewhat frustrating. I've tried cutting the strips with scissors afterwards, but still the same. So, tomorrow I want to try using my half-moon blade, but instead of cross-cutting (turning them 90 degrees, then chopping the strips into small bits), I want to try keeping strips.

It's been a busy day. Tomorrow, my priority is to continue processing the produce and get enough cigarettes ready for the week. 

I've taken a muscle relaxant and something for my headache. Feeling better already, I'm sure I'll sleep well tonight.