Settling In

With the move to the new church, Epworth United Methodist Church, and new home a couple of months under the belt, this past week and a half has given me the first real time to do much work in our new yard.  This also gives me a chance to update my blog which has been neglected this summer.  Yet before I show you the landscape, let me share one of my other hobbies with you, my 62 VW Karmann Ghia.  This picture shows the car beside our new home.  They look like they belong in the Italian country side.

It is hard to believe that when we started working on this car a little less than 10 years ago, it had been sitting in the pasture for years as a chicken coupe.  I just love this picture of the ghia.

Now to the work at hand.  We are a long way from putting in new roses.  That will get started in September.  For now I have been cleaning out some of the overgrowth in the yard.  This Friday we began chipping branches from the dozen 3-6" round trees that had grown up in fence lines and flowerbeds while also trimming up some of the bushes and lower limbs on the trees in front.  Thomas, my happy helper, is feeling triumphant in his work.  The two small trees behind him stayed keeping the total number of trees on the lot at a dozen while still bringing in some needed sunlight. 

After referencing the manual, we were ready to get busy chipping.

A chipper is a great way to get rid unwanted trimmings while also providing good matter for a compost pile.  You should really know that it can be a real workout.

After all was said and done, we ended up with a nice start to the compost pile which will provide a nice soil amendment for the flowerbeds in the spring.  When some lawn clippings and other yard waste is worked in as well, it should really start cooking.  For now it is about 8' x 8' and 2' tall.  Angie was a big help in this project, but she is unseen as she was the photographer. 

Now that the yard is looking better and the beds are shaping up, I can start figuring out what I will move and where roses will go.  This summer has been so very busy with the new church.  It has been great but I have missed the physical exertion and pleasure of being in the yard.  While exhausting, it is also refreshing.  I don't know who said it, but I have always been fond of the saying, "When the body is most in motion the mind is most at ease."  That being said, I think I'm ready for a nap on this Sunday afternoon with my body, mind and spirit each feeling at ease.