Peevish Pen

Ruminations on reading, writing, genealogy and family history, rural living, retirement, aging—and sometimes cats.

© 2006-2023 All rights reserved

My Photo
Name:
Location: Rural Virginia, United States

I'm an elderly retired teacher who writes. Among my books are Ferradiddledumday (Appalachian version of the Rumpelstiltskin story), Stuck (middle grade paranormal novel), Patches on the Same Quilt (novel set in Franklin County, VA), Them That Go (an Appalachian novel), Miracle of the Concrete Jesus & Other Stories, and several Kindle ebooks.

Thursday, June 09, 2016

Overgrown

"Nature abhors a vacuum," the saying (attributed to Aristotle) goes. From my viewpoint, nature seems to want to fill in any empty spaces it finds. At least, that's what's happening around here.

We've had a hot rainy spring, so everything growable grew. I've had more health problems than usual, so I couldn't keep the flowerbeds in line the weeds whacked back, or the shrubbery trimmed. Here's what the front looks like:


The boxwoods are blocking the lower half of the windows. It's hard to see out. You can't even see the front porch.
 



The hemlocks should be narrower and pointy. Not round blobs.


In back, the patio is hidden by assorted vegetation.


Most of the deck is still visible, though.

 

But the steps leading from the  bottom driveway to the deck have vanished. You can see part of the handrail below.
 

The flowerbed beside the upper driveway is way overgrown. Even the big rock is partly covered. 


It's difficult to tell what's what.


At the end of the bottom driveway is the old gazebo, but can't see it for the overgrowth.


The dark area leads to its entrance. 


Beyond the old gazebo is what used to be my kale and mustard patch, but it got away from me. I'm letting it reseed itself before I chop back all the overgrown plants. 

 

Grapevines have covered the pergola in the lower yard, but you can see a bit of one of the benches at the right. 


 On the road, where the upper driveway begins, the mailbox and paperbox have all but disappeared.


There are more than two big rocks here, but some have been hidden.


You can barely see the really big rock on the other side of the driveway.


The gazebo beside the upper driveway is all but hidden. Seven years ago, this space was bare.


The brick walkway is covered in weeds.


Even from the side it's hard to tell the gazebo is there.


Eventually, I'll feel well enough to get the place looking civilized again. But it'll take a while.

~

Labels:

1 Comments:

Blogger CountryDew said...

It is tough when your health declines and you can't take care of things. I have turned most of my flowerbeds into yard. I hope you are doing better and continue to heal.

11:16 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home