Yard

Today is my day off ad it ended up being an “in the yard day.”  Our place really needed it.  The front yard was overgrown to billio.
But both Merril and I are over putting in big time.  We are willing to do stuff, but not put in long hours in the yard.  We really feel it if we do that.  To that end we employed someone yesterday to do weeding and get an area presentable.  It was a father and son at a very reasonable rate.  I actually think that is great.  The dad was willing to work, and the son was learning the value of hard work and money.
But the reviews were not very good.  So Merril and I committed to three hours to check them out.  They were keen and initially ticked all the right boxes.  They were polite and responded quickly to texts.  I was disappointed initially though when they were late and could only do an hour and a half before it got too dark to work.
The dad said on more than one occasion how quick he was.  It was true.  He was.  But he was not quick and meticulous.  He offered to come back the next day and for a price do the whole area.  I said I would not make a decision until I saw it the next day.
I have made the decision and am doing stuff myself.  That does not mean I would not employ him or recommend him.  I would.  For general clean ups but not for jobs involving rare or much-loved plants.
So today I put in about four hours and will do more tomorrow.
We will be collecting mulch on the weekend and hope to smother weeds (we will clear areas and then apply the mulch.  I am told that works when heaps of mulch is applied.  I am going to give it a go.
Our aim is to make our front yard more a forest then a jungle.  We like a portion of it, and we have hope.  It is just cutting down on the amount of work needed.
I knew it was time to give it away when my hands started cramping.  I have noticed that happens more regularly since the stroke plus I am getting old.  Actually I realize I am not old enough to have a fourth covid shot.  It was great to realize there is something I am not old enough for.  They sure are becoming less.
So I spent the day weeding and thinning growth out.  The place is looking way better than it did, but there is still a ways to go.  We hope that in the future our front yard requires minor maintenance once every so often, rather than major work regularly.