I like my yard. I love driving up to my house and seeing the grass cut and trimmed. I like the three big Maple trees in the front that truly tower over the house and almost entirely shade the front lawn. I like to mow my yard and see the tracks the mower leaves behind. My back yard is equally shaded with two Maples of our own and about 4 or 5 overhanging branches from the trees of our neighbors behind us. I have three forsithia bushes and a lilac as well as honeysuckle growing up along the fence in the back. I have numerous other bushes that I have no idea what they are but they keep the yard looking lively and healthy. My dad planted a little Dogwood tree as well. It's only about 4 feet tall right now but its leaves are green and healthy and it looks like it will be a great little tree. Dad planted it last fall after Owen was born. Sort of as a gift to the little guy.

The yard isn't the only thing I like about this place but it's one of the things I feel somewhat proud of when it's all trimmed and green. I enjoy working in my yard because it rewards me daily. Even on rainy days when I don't leave the house at all except to go to the mail box I love watching the wind move the branches and the rain pound through the leaves. Our Maples are "Silver Maples", just before a storm comes the wind turns the leaves over to reveal a pale green that looks silver from a distance. I do like "Sugar Maples" with all their color in the Fall a little better, but I will not complain about my stately trees. I can lie on my couch and look out the picture window and see nothing but green from all the trees in our neighborhood.

There's something about that outdoor green that makes me feel healthy. I hope that as time goes on I can spend more time outside as Owen grows and more children come along. I want my kids to spend time outside working, playing and learning. I'd like to grow things, plant seeds and harvest them. I'll need a bigger yard for all of this but that will come in time.

This has been my way of talking myself into getting up off my desk chair, out of the air-conditioning and into the heat to mow my yard.