Join Me in Snarkville

Oh yes, today’s installment is brought to you by the letter q* and the on going theme in our house….”It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

*A direct result of WAY too much Sesame Street.First up, I offer you this.

Good Idea: We have spoken often of the much promised and horribly absent gardener. So, a few weeks ago, Prince and I were sitting at dinner and we were talking about the horrible state of our yard. I stood up and called the landlords and offered them a deal…a simple refund of a portion of our rent for the months we have gone without (to allow us to get the yard cleaned up) and a monthly deduction. And wouldn’t you know it, they took the deal.

Bad Outcome: We actually have to do work on the yard. In addition, we have tons of ideas but keep in mind, “We just rent here.”

Next up, but on the same theme:

Good Idea: Since every-time we go to clean up/cut down the yard, we fill our yard waste container in about 30 minutes, we got to thinking about how we could actually make progress. The ideas were plentiful:

1. Take the overflow to the dump. (Except that involves both going to the dump and putting dirty stuff in our car.)
2. Hire a gardener to fix it all and cart it away. (While appealing to me, it is not appealing to our budget.)
3. Purchase a chipper/shredder to reduce the volume and perhaps attempt a compast heap.

On the day (the day, people, who would have guessed) we were having this conversation (yet again), we get a flyer in the mail from our friendly overpriced garbage company offering stackable compost bins for cheap. Ok, it appears we have a good plan.

We went to the local home improvement store and promptly purchased a chipper/shredder (an electric one that is smaller and quieter). We got the compost bin on Friday. Duke went down for a nap (as we have NO intention of running the chipper with Duke outside with us) and we began to cut down the backyard.

We worked and worked until we were pooped. With all the blooming and growing this season, the pollen was horrible and both Prince and I were sniffling. We chipped, we shredded, we cut back easily what would have been TWO yard waste containers full of stuff, yet we barely got one tray of our new compost heap filled. I watered it. I mixed in the green and brown stuff per the instructions. We made a small dent, we have lots more to do, but it will take time.

Bad Outcome:

Every other time we have gone to clean something out of the yard, we’d work until the yard waste container is full. In general it meant we were in the elements playing with nature for about 30 minutes maybe an hour if we really smooshed the stuff down in the pail.

At the current rate of chipped stuff to yard waste (note, not everything can go into the new composter), we may never fill the yard waste container again. We took HUGE piles of stuff and chipped and shredded it down to next to nothing. Seriously folks, I’m going to be forced to spend much more time outside to make it look like I’ve worked at all.

BUT, I’m doing good. Look at me, I’m finally joining in with my wacked out neighbors — this east coast girl now has a compost heap.

And finally, does anyone remember the sconce light of death? Given the date of the post, we have been able to go about 6 months with a light in that spot. Hmmm. Anyone want to take a guess what light just burned out? Go ahead, guess, I dare you.

Anyone also want to guess who isn’t really thrilled with getting back up on the ladder and fixing it? I wonder how much it cost me to hire a day laborer to change a lightbulb — think I have to offer hazard pay?