Tuesday, July 1, 2008

A patio improvement project.....


My back is breaking and I'm covered in mosquito bites, but dang! I have to say, for the first time in a couple of years, our patio looks good. I guess if there's an upside to our cottage being flooded, it's that our backyard has gotten some much needed attention. On normal summer weekends, I can push those awful weeds to the back of my mind and head out to the lake, but of course, this summer is different.

I grew a HIBISCUS! Unbelieveable...so unlike me!

Gardening is one of my least favorite things to do. I just don't have the passion and/or drive to go out and dig in the dirt....honestly, I'd rather unload the dishwasher fifteen times and fold never-ending whites than weed a flowerbed or prune a hedge. However, push has come to shove these past few weekends spent around the DamFam homestead. Even I couldn't stare at the weeds any longer, and really, it was getting a little bit embarrassing, having the only house in the neighborhood whose flowerpots were still filled with petrified evergreens and dogwood twigs leftover from the Holidays. We're having company the next two weekends and the thought of entertaining in my jungle of a backyard was just too horrifying. Something had to be done!


Daylillies....

Lucky for me my neighbor Carrie is a total natural in the garden. One afternoon last week, she came over with a six pack of beer and her giant bag '0 gardening tricks and whipped me in to shape. Actually, it was kind of fun! We had a good time visiting, and I was in total awe of the way she took charge of my weed-ridden flower beds and post-Christmas pots.

Homemade pesto is in my future....

Now, one week later, I'm totally hooked. The pots we planted last week are blooming like crazy and my herb garden has really taken off. Over the past seven days I've become the weed police, weilding my Roundup and showing no mercy to these relentless thistles that seem to pop up out of no where!


A new chair & candleholder, both from The Bullseye Boutique (uh, that would be Target!)

So, there's not much food related content here this evening, but watch for a post on tonight's dinner tomorrow sometime. It was sooooo good, but I'm just too bloomin' tired to write about it just now. I'm bushed (my apologies for that sad little bit of gardening humor)!!

9 comments:

Prudy said...

I'm jealous. Your herb garden and back patio look like something out of a mag. Does your neighbor ever head to the southwest? I could use some help.:)

Leah said...

Prudy, that is so nice of you to say but believe me, the only magazine my yard would be included in is "Garden Disasters!" I do love my new Target chairs tho'...yah gotta love the clearance aisle!

Aggie said...

I amd loving your patio improvements! Your flowers and basil are beautiful!

Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...

I hear ya on the yard work.....I HATE IT. I love plants/flowers but I dont' like to weed/water/prune etc. I need to get me one of them there mexican illegal americans on the corner that looks for work everyday. I have a crawl space under my house that I could keep him in.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Your patio looks like a relaxing retreat.

Vicarious Foodie said...

That looks so nice and inviting! I really envy your lovely outdoor space.

One day, I'll get out of this apartment. *Sigh.*

Megan said...

I am laughing out loud at "the Bullseye Boutique" seriously, that is hysterical I am definitely going to use that one! I have been painting all weekend....not cooking and was thinking about posting about my non-food related activities as well.

Arlene Delloro said...

Where do you stay on LBK? I have a place there for the past 16 years. Where did you eat?

Leah said...

Hi Arlene -- thanks for stopping by my blog. We stayed at the Long Boat Key Club and ate at the restaurants on St. Armands -- there was a really good Italian place with a balcony upstairs, and then a good seafood place too. Also hit Ben & Jerry's several times!