Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Zen Of Weeding

I don't know what happened. Maybe it was the hot, dry summer last year, followed by a long cold winter with tons of snow, but our lawn is a mess, with lots of bare patches to really make it attractive.

We also live in an area where cosmetic pesticides (as in, weed control for the lawn) are banned. That means the weeds are having a field day.

So I've been going out every morning to pull weeds. At first, I was grumbling. I am no gardener, and weed-pulling is rather like vacuuming to me -- there's always more and places you missed.

However, as I was sitting on the dew-damp lawn at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, with the silence broken only by the birds singing, it suddenly dawned on me that I should embrace the weeding.

After all, I grumble all winter about being cooped up inside. I really moaned and groaned this year. So what if gardening is like housework outdoors to me? The key word shouldn't be "housework" -- it should be "outdoors".

Yep, I had a nature-induced epiphany, and I've been not just tolerating, but enjoying, the weeding ever since.

What about you? Are there jobs you hate/hated, but have come to enjoy?

7 comments:

squiresj said...

I just wanted to stop by and say "Hi" and let you know I still am coming to website. I loved your article about the weeds. I am having problems with my garden and grass as we've had an abundance of rain. Then it gets hot and you wouldn't know it rains. But I need everything I can grow. You asked what one hated to do that they found a fun way to do it.
I hate dishes. But I find since I cannot stand to do them all, I do a sink full. I let them drain while I work on computer. Then when computer runs like a snail, I do another sink full. Work on computer - over and over until they are done. It keeps me from being mad at computer and I get the dishes done.

Louisa Cornell said...

I am with you on the dishes, squiresj. I HATE them and as I live alone I can go a while without doing them, but then I can't stand the clutter so I do them. Now weeding is another matter entirely. I can work out LOTS of frustration on weeds. And as I have five acres I can work out my frustrations and several other people's as well.

A little bird told me revisions are my friend so I am going to try and adopt a better attitude about those. That's kind of like weeding, isn't it?

Kimber Chin said...

Ironing.
Don't like it (especially the hubby's shirts) and I tend to save it up for a big ironing day per month. I put on the music, place an extra thick mini carpet under my feet, and dance around while ironing (can't watch tv while ironing - that is a guaranteed way to burn shirts).

Louisa Cornell said...

Ouch on the burnt shirts, kimber! But I feel you on saving the ironing up before finally getting to it. I hate it. Do you see a pattern here? I am NOT the housekeeping type. If I am lucky my 14 year old niece comes to visit when it is time to do ironing. She loves it. Like you, she irons to music.

Margaret Moore said...

What is this "ironing" of which you speak?

I avoid that like the plague. No 100% cotton for me, thank you very much!

Scrubbing floors is another "ugh" task. If only I could train the cats to do it....

Anonymous said...

I actually like weeding the yard. But hate hate hate mopping! There is nothing worse. Although ironing is up there too! lol!

Louisa Cornell said...

Margaret if you ever figure out how to train the cats to scrub the floors PLEASE let me know! I have four completely worthless felines who NEED a hobby other than wolfing down food, annoying the chihuahua, and sleeping for long stretches on my bed under the AC!!

Now mopping I don't mind as much. I get into the Zen of it and usually do it to music.