Yardwork - or something like that...

Our sweet neighbor lady rents an aerator every year for one full day and lets anyone in the neighborhood use it for free.  She said this is her gift to the neighborhood.  So last year the week we bought the house was the week she rented it and that is how we met Jane.  I got the pleasure of handling that beast last year since the Husband was steadily working on the fence with his dad.  So this year I was hoping he could do it, but no such luck - hubs had to work the 'Chain Gang' at the football game.  (I'm not really sure if that is the official title for the guys who keep track of the first down with flag things connected by the chains or if that is just what the husband calls it!)  Anywho, that left me to get it done on Friday night.  So at 6:30 I headed out to mow and aerate the yard - great arm workout by the way!  I decided to knock down the mower since we won't be able to mow for a few weeks, then realized I should probably bag it - no problem.  It's a new mower and things work a little differently than our last one but how hard can it be??  I hook on the bag no issues then get started, the first few sweeps no issues, then I started noticing grass flying up - that's odd.  I keep going since I just started the bag can't be full.  It gets worse, after about half the lawn I realize my 'white' shirt is now a pastel green.  I stop empty the bag and mess with it for a little while and nothing looks wrong, so I try it again.  Same thing!  I was quickly running out of daylight so I put some sunglasses on and just went with it.  At one point I'm pretty sure it looked like I was in a grass storm with the amount of grass being spewed at me.  Oh well, it got done!  
Next was the aerator.  This bad boy is extremely heavy and wonky - our yard isn't very level to begin with, but man I do NOT remember it being this bad last year!!  At one point I got to the curb and apparently I held the gas a little too long as the whole machine lurched forward as it hit the cement.  I was holding on for dear life thinking please don't fall, please don't fall, please don't fall I can't afford to buy you!!!  So what did it do? It toppled over on its side... all the while a couple was walking across the street just staring - Not offering to help or anything - just watching me struggle.  It's cool, I got it.  So I straighten it back out and then I see this big brick piece of metal on the ground - at this point I'm just angry thinking Oh great, I not only look like an idiot, I look like an idiot and I am the proud new owner of a an aerator.  Awesome - what I've always wanted.  So I attempt to pick up said metal brick and quickly realize this thing weighs close to 50 lbs.  So lets tack on wimpy to that idiot who owns the aerator.  So I reset and chuck it on the top of the machine so I can take it to the garage to take a better look at it - keep in mind it is dusk now, so I really can't see much at this point.  Unfortunately for me, we have a STEEP driveway - yeah you know where this is going...  So I know it's going to be heavy d/t the weight of that stupid brick, thus I give it a pretty good push trying to get it up the drive - it doesn't budge.  So then I really give it my all and I get it over the lip of the curb then I'm stopped dead in my tracks.  So I keep pushing trying to get at different angles to get my best leverage and I'm really not getting anywhere.  Meanwhile that couple that was walking - REALLY slow - keep looking back at me to see if I get anywhere.  Still haven't asked if I need any help - finally I waved and said HI - well that gave them a little hop their step as they turned away and speed walked away.  I'm pretty sure at one point I was nearly horizontal to the driveway as cars slowed to watch if  I would make it.  Well good news neighbors - I made it!  Turns out that metal brick thing was just a weight to make sure the machine punctures the ground and it just slides in the front all nice and neat - yeah I didn't need to push it all the way back to the garage GREAT.  So I got back to it as I was quickly loosing daylight.  I finished the rest of the front yard without too many issues.
The next moring the Husband did got up early to finish the backyard.  I was laying in bed and it sounded like someone kept reving the engine on something.  So I peek out the window and see the Husband with a look of dismay on his face as he is practically sprinting behind the aerator.  So I grab some shoes and head out to see if he wants some pointers ;)  First thing he says is this thing is really hard to turn and it goes really fast!  I chuckle to myself thinking of last nights events.  I then gave him a quick run down - he was leaving the tines (part of machine making holes) down each time he tried to turn  - aka Impossible to turn.  Don't worry folks he was a little embarrassed when I had to tell him how to work it, but at that point in time he had no knowledge of Friday nights events :)  Now he does.  
Needless to say after Friday night I was done with weekend yardwork!  The Husband and a friend however rented a Verta-Cutter for the lawn also.  This machine cuts lines in the yard kinda like plowing fields.  We had a huge HUGE section of the backyard that was gross buffalo grass so he killed all that and 'plowed the fields' to get it ready for seeding.  

(Don't worry - that last one isn't B's poo - it's the result of the aerator!)

I spent Saturday sewing!  I've been trying to get these done for a week or two now, I just keep getting side tracked or else my machine wasn't working.  Now we just need some pumpkins and we are ready for Halloween.

I also checked out the progress of the Garden.  I have to say we've been neglectant gardener's lately!  However we still have some decent yield.  Tomatoes are still very VERY green :(  Everything else though is doing alright!

Two things I DON'T recommend

Holes dug by Miss B...

Letting your broccoli flower... who knew!