About Time

I started cleaning up my yard this spring and I discovered exactly how big it is.

I've lived here for 5 years, now and I'm just now realizing that there is a pretty big space behind the shed!

Strange? Yes. But let me tell you why it has taken this long. The people who owned this home before our landlords did not really care much about the property. The front was so overgrown that almost no sunlight made it through the big bay windows in the living room. Our dear landlords purchased this house and we moved in less than 24 hours after their closing. No kidding! Even they didn't realize at first that the shed was on the property.

This place has a pretty square back yard, bordered by bushes on two sides and the shed at the back. To one side, past the raised bed which holds some thorny plants that insist on grabbing at my children when they run by, there's what appears to be a brush pile. At least that's what I assumed when we moved in, so I've just been throwing odd branches and plant life that way for the past 5 years. At my gentle prodding, our landlord has asked a crew to come in and clean up that area this weekend. So I've been cleaning out other areas and throwing more brush on the pile, hoping to clear away as much as possible.

In so doing, I've discovered that there is a very nice rock border all around the property. There is a lovely rock retaining wall with steps cut through it so you can get up to the shed (this I knew about already!). And there is a triangle of space behind the shed, difficult to see for all the overgrowth, which also needs to be cleared out.

My first thought when I saw it today? "What a perfect place to raise some chickens!"

I don't think I'm meant for this suburban life. I'm quite certain the landlords would never allow chickens, we have a picky neighbor who would complain in an instant and I have no idea if my town would even permit us to have a few hens. But it would be oh, so grand to sink my teeth into a little farm life.

Jennie, I'm thinking about you!