Well, yesterday being the first really nice day since last fall, I got
serious in the garden. After, that is, taking care of a chore left from the
water in basement from the rain last week.

So, DD and I rinsed out the shop vac and left it to dry and grabbed the
electric hedge trimmer to cut back the big grasses. Works a treat every time
and I bless the husband for the extra long extension cord. I then turn my
attention to a juniper I've allowed to get out of hand and too close to the
house. It is 15 years old and quite slow and dense growing. And the needles
are very sharp and never really fall off. Hey - the shop vac could deal
with those needles and I can see where to prune. Grab the vac and lay the
hose down and hit the switch. It doesn't seem to be doing a thing. Thing
worked great on the hard floor, but doesn't seem to want to pick up the
needles. Sigh. There are a few bits in the tank, but not worth the effort.
So I go to clean up the shop vac one more time and let it dry.

What's with the hose - it weighs a TON. I look in and there is a wad of
needles. GREAT, how am I going to get them out. I try blasting them out with
a hose. I can't find anything quite long enough to poke them out from
"behind". Nothing works

So, with a 6 foot garden stake, pointy end down the hose, I stand on the
retaining wall with the hose and shake, rattle and roll and finally, many
minutes later, out pops a dense little cylinder of needles - 8 inches long.
OK - clean up again, dispose of all the branches to the woodpile and try
some where else in the garden. After all, there is LOTS of garden to clean
up even ignoring the spots that still squish. And I don't want to look at
the juniper again for a few days.


So, off to the long bed with lots of easy work to do. I easily fill up my
three big collapsible barrels three or four times with leaves and such. I've
gotten the iris bed done, the bed just down the hill from it, the upper
section of the long bed and started the bed with my crab apple in it. Good
progress and I've had a few water breaks and pbj rollup. Sitting on the deck
with a book is a good break too.

SO, phone rings, DH after dropping DS off at a friend's house, has gone off
to hang with one of his buddies. DD is playing next door. COOL, maybe the
boys are staying north. NO - we've been invited to visit with DS's buddy's
folks (nice people) and bring DD to play with their DD. OK - get DD home,
shove her in a shower and put the tools away. My turn for the shower. Look
at the condition of my knees and hands - time for the heavy hitters in the
shower. Grab my salt scrub and lather it onto my arms.

OH - PAIN, ouch, ouch. The juniper (remember the juniper) has left its usual
gift of million of little cuts....
Salt - open cuts, WHAT WAS I THINKING!

Thank goodness for beer......