And We're Back!

Dios mio; has it really been almost a month since my last post?! Sorry about that!

I'd like to tell you it's because Sherman has so dazzled us with his perfect behavior, that he hasn't uprooted any plants or shredded any toys or done anything else horrific, that I've had no blog-worthy stories to share. I'd also like to tell you we won the lottery...

Truth is we got busy with yard projects and then decided to throw a barbecue/birthday bash for my visiting aunt &mdash which meant kicking our garden projects into high gear.

Our new flowerbeds were in, as you faithful readers already know, but they looked naked and sad with just dirt and few plants stuck here and there (although we'd added more since these early July photos):
So we (Cary) ordered two units of bark dust for us (me) to spread. Turns out Mr. Six-Months-Post-Back-Surgery isn't up to shoveling anything or moving the wheelbarrow. How convenient.

To be honest, I'd expected I'd be spreading the bark solo &mdash but I didn't know I'd be doing it during a triple-digit, week-long heatwave. Most days I stuck it out until noon, but during the worst days I only made it until 9:00 or 9:30 before scurrying back into the AC.

Cary announced one morning it was expected to reach 108 (what?!) and could be the hottest day in the Willamette Valley. Ever. We decided one day we'd be telling young'uns about how it was 120 back in Aught Nine but we were still outside workin', consarnit, 'cause folks had a work ethic back in those days....

Anywho, it took longer than expected, but I finally conquered the mini-mountain of mulch and had the flowerbeds looking a bit more like actual, tended beds:
We're hoping to finish the top of this trellis this week, as well as plant still more shrubs and vines. (Darn you, Lowe's and your irresistible clearance prices!) The paths of dead grass aren't especially appealing, but I think moving loads of gravel by hand can wait until the cooler Fall months....