topic Re: Making changes in my life in Among Friends

Making changes in my life

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:51:54 GMT

So, I've decided not to worry about my yard anymore - usually I am out weekly mowing my acre of land. No one else in my neighborhood really takes care of their yard weekly - so now I'm thinking - what am I worried about? So it's been 2 weeks since I mowed - yes, I have those tall things that shoot up from the clover all over my yard - is it bothering me? Not really. I'm deciding to blend in with my surroundings - taking life a little easier - kicking back and enjoying life instead of spending my life outside to please who? - only me. Life's too short to stress keeping things looking perfect. My mom, before she died, said she regretted spending so much time keeping the house spotless - said she should have been enjoying her life instead. Yesterday would have been her 101st birthday - yesterday I decided I'm taking her advice.

Re: Making changes in my life

Puppy Lips — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 17:56:30 GMT

Good for you! I know I spend too much time doing stupid things that don't matter in the long run. I need to get out more and expand my horizons a bit and get involved in some community activities.

Re: Making changes in my life

software — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:00:34 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
So, I've decided not to worry about my yard anymore - usually I am out weekly mowing my acre of land. No one else in my neighborhood really takes care of their yard weekly - so now I'm thinking - what am I worried about? So it's been 2 weeks since I mowed - yes, I have those tall things that shoot up from the clover all over my yard - is it bothering me? Not really. I'm deciding to blend in with my surroundings - taking life a little easier - kicking back and enjoying life instead of spending my life outside to please who? - only me. Life's too short to stress keeping things looking perfect. My mom, before she died, said she regretted spending so much time keeping the house spotless - said she should have been enjoying her life instead. Yesterday would have been her 101st birthday - yesterday I decided I'm taking her advice.

I have about 3/4 of an acre and I quit obsessing also. After my hubby died, I tried to keep up and it was ridiculous. My job keeps me away from home at least 11 hours a day.

I do go out there and chop down the tall stuff! I can't stand to see those tall weeks. But in my yard, if it's not cut, it gets over-run with Virginia creeper and all types of poison ivy, all of which I'm allergic to. So I do have to go out there and do some tending, but not like I used to or certainly not like he did.

Re: Making changes in my life

GCR18 — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:02:16 GMT

You could take it one step further and hire it out, then you can totally let go. Congratulations on your new life.

Re: Making changes in my life

qualitygal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:07:35 GMT

@hoosieroriginal, about two weeks ago I told my husband he should just let 1/2 of our back yard grow. He has a riding lawn mower so mostly I think he just likes riding around on it.

But I think you're right.

Re: Making changes in my life

AKgirl2 — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:12:18 GMT

@hoosieroriginal ~ I think it's a good thing, taking your mom's advice, bet she's smiling about that too! As far as cutting the grass, it gets done sooner or later... 🙆🏻 yay for you! After a few years I hired a lawn service, which was one of the best investments I ever made.

Re: Making changes in my life

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:11:49 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
@hoosieroriginal, about two weeks ago I told my husband he should just let 1/2 of our back yard grow. He has a riding lawn mower so mostly I think he just likes riding around on it.

But I think you're right.

@qualitygal- my front yard has a huge side yard (not in front of the house) which has a ton of trees, which in the fall keep me busy all fall mowing/mulching/raking. I'm thinking about letting that side yard go natural, let the leaves fall and let them mulch themselves all winter long. Just keep the front of my house mowed and taken care of.

Re: Making changes in my life

qualitygal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:16:49 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@qualitygal wrote:
@hoosieroriginal, about two weeks ago I told my husband he should just let 1/2 of our back yard grow. He has a riding lawn mower so mostly I think he just likes riding around on it.

But I think you're right.
@qualitygal- my front yard has a huge side yard (not in front of the house) which has a ton of trees, which in the fall keep me busy all fall mowing/mulching/raking. I'm thinking about letting that side yard go natural, let the leaves fall and let them mulch themselves all winter long. Just keep the front of my house mowed and taken care of.

Go for it. If it bothers you at some point, maybe you can get a young relative to help out. They need some $$ I'll bet.

Re: Making changes in my life

1jenniferjuniper — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:17:28 GMT

@hoosieroriginal wrote:
@qualitygal wrote:
@hoosieroriginal, about two weeks ago I told my husband he should just let 1/2 of our back yard grow. He has a riding lawn mower so mostly I think he just likes riding around on it.

But I think you're right.
@qualitygal- my front yard has a huge side yard (not in front of the house) which has a ton of trees, which in the fall keep me busy all fall mowing/mulching/raking. I'm thinking about letting that side yard go natural, let the leaves fall and let them mulch themselves all winter long. Just keep the front of my house mowed and taken care of.

Time to invest in a gardener

Re: Making changes in my life

pennstatediva — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:21:25 GMT

Good for you!!! I started paying less and less attention to my house, inside and out, a couple of years ago. And, things are just fine, and I'm happier!!!

Re: Making changes in my life

goldensrbest — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:26:18 GMT

I am glad for you ,because that makes you happy ,now tell me how you did that, my yard gets on my nerves, i went from living in a nice neighorhood, had a lovely home ,to living in the country, and a man with a tractor mows my yard, grass is every where.

Re: Making changes in my life

chrystaltree — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:33:43 GMT

That's good. Hubby and felt the same way after our girls finished college and went out on their own. That big axx house with all that land was a perfect home to raise children in but it took a lot of work. It took a lot of our time. We were only 50 but we decided to sell it and downsize. We're still doing the happy dance over that decision! Our home was in a nice town and lovely neighborhood, not doing the upkeep and not taking care of the grounds would not have been an option for us. If we wanted to stay in the house, we would have paid someone to do the yard work...and everything else that robbed us of our time.

Re: Making changes in my life

ScrapHappy — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:30:37 GMT

It would take my husband almost an entire day to cut and trim our front and back yard. It makes it even more difficult because it's not flat. We just moved to the Southeast last summer and it gets brutally hot. It's just too much on him anymore. I used to help with the trimming but it got too much for me as well. We hired a lawn maintenance company. So glad we did. Instead of working all weekends maintaining the lawn, we now have more quality family time.

Re: Making changes in my life

muttmom — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:36:24 GMT

Everyone is different but I hate to look at an unmowed lawn. We hired a service that comes once a week. In our subdivion we have 3/4 of an acre property. If we didn't mow we'd here about it.

Re: Making changes in my life

chrystaltree — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 18:59:19 GMT

@muttmom wrote:
Everyone is different but I hate to look at an unmowed lawn. We hired a service that comes once a week. In our subdivion we have 3/4 of an acre property. If we didn't mow we'd here about it.

That's what I was thinking...the neighbors would have thing or two to say about THAT...lol

Re: Making changes in my life

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 19:34:10 GMT

@muttmom wrote:
Everyone is different but I hate to look at an unmowed lawn. We hired a service that comes once a week. In our subdivion we have 3/4 of an acre property. If we didn't mow we'd here about it.

@muttmom - I'm getting really used to it and if I hear one word from a neighbor - I'll have something to tell them about their yard and then I'll wait another month to mow mine. I live out in the country and people around here just don't bother like they used to, my neighborhood is older people and I think they are where I am. Tired of mowing every week. Life's too short.

Re: Making changes in my life

cotton4me — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 19:37:36 GMT

Many places are going natural and letting grassy areas become meadows for the wildlife. It provides food and shelter for them. Where I used to work, they decided to only mow small areas and let the rest of it become meadows. They placed signs in various areas stating, “Meadow Restoration Project”. Our county is doing the same thing with park areas, leaving much of it un-mowed, also with signs stating they wouldn’t be mowing because they were restoring the meadows. It's a positive for the environment.

Re: Making changes in my life

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 20:16:40 GMT

@cotton4me wrote:
Many places are going natural and letting grassy areas become meadows for the wildlife. It provides food and shelter for them. Where I used to work, they decided to only mow small areas and let the rest of it become meadows. They placed signs in various areas stating, “Meadow Restoration Project”. Our county is doing the same thing with park areas, leaving much of it un-mowed, also with signs stating they wouldn’t be mowing because they were restoring the meadows. It's a positive for the environment.

@cotton4me - Thank you - my land will now become a meadow! Down the street from me there is a wooded area - large $500,000 homes. But they havefall leaves and big broken branches all year round in their yards and they just leave them there. I asked once why they didn't pick up all the dead wood and they said they leave their land as it is - doesn't seem to bother them. I've decided to become one of them.

Re: Making changes in my life

cotton4me — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:36:59 GMT

Re: Making changes in my life

ECBG — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:51:44 GMT

Here's where you'll find me!