Back to Top

round here


A quiet sun-shiny Saturday evening and I’ve been writing a list of things I tend to avoid at all cost until the very last possible moment. I tend not to write lists because, actually, they get way out of hand…like this one, but on the short list of things I avoid at all cost until the very last possible moment are:

1) The gym
2) Letting my mother know anything about:
• My work
• This website
• My finances
• My plans
• My children’s plans
• Anything personal actually
3) Car repair
4) Mowing the lawn
5) Caffeine


Take mowing the lawn for example. I live in this lovely little neighbourhood which looks like something out of The Truman Show and a lawn is…well…expected. I don’t have a problem with lawns, lawns are fine, the only part of the lawn that I don’t really do is the grass part. Here, in the Pacific Northwest, it’s absolutely impossible to have a grassy lawn unless you use all sorts of chemical warfare. I walk past someone’s perfect grassy lawn and cross over to the other side of the road because I’m worried that I’ll breathe in the intense poisons radiating from those perfect 2” green spikes.

I do green though.

The way I see it, if it’s green and gets mowed, it’s lawn!

But the neighbours drop hints of good lawn service people and every week there are companies leaving me pamphlets or knocking on the door to try to get me on their weed and feed schemes.

For example, this afternoon’s convo:
“Hello Mrs Homeowner, did you know you have weeds in your lawn? Look, there’s creeping buttercup and dandelions and plantain.”
“Ms… Yes, actually…and gentian and violets and forget-me-nots. ”
“You need to have our services and get rid of those weeds for a maximum of $45 bi-weekly, (plus tax)”
“I like the weeds and I go out of my way to plant more; I actually planted those violets right there. But thanks for stopping by.”

Problem solved.

Not quite. Mom was here and overheard. Actually, mom was here and ran towards the front door first to make sure she had her share of the conversation.
End result: problem solved but a bit more stress avoiding mom getting up in my business.

This week, before I mowed the lawn, I sat down in it for a while and watched the bees getting drunk on the buttercups in the lawn and I had a little conversation with them and explained that I was very sorry but we are all living in this ‘hood and perhaps they could go visit the rhodos and irises for a while. Then I picked handfuls of buttercups and put them in vases in the house and also on the patio table so the bees could have their flowers for an extra day or two.

Mom thought the buttercup vases were absolutely charming and asked for some of the flowers to take home.


Top on my other list, the list of things I need at all cost, (but that’s for a different post), is “PEACE”. Just one quiet day of solitude would be fine. When was the last time? I’m not sure.
Made this quiet little video to look at and remind myself that I must find more peace. It’s here for you too: round here

Hope you like it. Do you have a list of things you avoid at all cost untill the last possible moment? Tell me.

Comments: 20

  • June 9, 2012
    reply

    used to live in seattle, i was just thinking of buttercups the other day, nice post.

  • June 9, 2012
    reply

    I love violets and try to let them grow freely. I love buttercups and forget-me-nots, too, though we don’t get wild ones growing in our lawn…if we did, I’d leave them be. And we wouldn’t consider doing the chemicals, either. We’re slowly converting as much lawn as possible over to hostas.

    Moles are our biggest lawn problem right now…that, and the fact that the mower breaks down at least twice per summer. Speaking of which…did you know that grass is healthier when it’s a little longer? Crabgrass is healthier at shorter lengths, so if you keep your lawn too short, crabgrass tends to take over… It’s a good excuse to not mow as often! And then your buttercups can grow, and you can have more gorgeous bouquets!

  • Barbara Morrison

    June 10, 2012
    reply

    Lovely! I like weeds too and the photo of your buttercups is gorgeous.

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    I used to mow the lawn, but finally broke down and hired someone to do it. As my son gets older and requires less grassy space, we’re taking out the sod and putting in ground cover. What do I avoid and put off? Housecleaning, going to the doctor, etudes, writing queries (if I could just submit my manuscript with a note that said “read this” I would). I used to be quite compulsive about things. My family is still getting used to the “can’t do that I’m writing” statement.

  • robert

    June 10, 2012
    reply

    vacuuming
    dusting
    cutting toenails
    getting out of bed
    resisting making crude double entenders
    resisting dancing in shops to the music .(with clovey)
    driving safely or slowly
    prudence
    conceptions of immediacy
    torpor
    malignancy
    showing impatience at illogicness
    lists.

    XXX

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    car repairs I get, but CAFFIENE? are you crazy?

    I love weeds too, but we’re lucky here, no one complains. and moss is our biggest problem. I’m going to pick me some buttercups and put them in vases tomorrow, little bowls of sunshine.

    as for what I avoid…you may not want to get me started…

    1. doing the dishes
    2. putting away the laundry (no problem doing and folding it, tho’)
    3. filling gas in the car.
    4. cleaning the refrigerator
    5. making phone calls.

    in general, I’m a procrastinator. even when I’m writing something that I love to write, I wait til the deadline is looming. I’m not actually sure why that is. there’s something I love about the pressure.

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    Great post, Veronica. I like your definition of a lawn and would define mine the same way!

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    Ha! Your mother and my mother must be sisters 🙂

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    Nice blog write.
    My additions:
    (I have good intentions to get these things done
    in a timely manner, but something keeps me from
    achieving that.)
    -cleaning the bathrooms
    -cooking
    -anything involving crowds
    -anything I have to do because I should do.

  • June 10, 2012
    reply

    Love this post. We do green. Wild, uncontrolled-growth-after-rain green. You can watch our grass grow. We prefer a cottage garden look, as in untamed. As for lists, hate to live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.

Post a Reply to Esther Bradley-DeTally cancel reply