by 
Good grief, after last Friday night’s pleasant one inch rain, you can actually see the weeds growing. It wasn’t long ago at dinner with the neighbors I commented on how I remembered fondly when the place was green, back in the day. Well, it’s green now and looks very nice but it isn’t just the grass that’s growing. Most of the rest of the neighborhood seems to be at peace with the weeds taking over. Those that do seem to want to rein them in simply keep them mowed down. That’s better than letting them go to seed, of course, but it isn’t very aesthetically appealing. I spray a couple of gallons of Weed Be Gone mix most evenings knowing that if I do that while the weeds are small that will go a long way in helping me ultimately control them. I say control, not eliminate. That’s impossible.
One particularly difficult area to deal with is the northeast lane next to the easement between the houses along there and my fence. It is weed-prone in no small part because the people living in the houses don’t worry much about the easement and the weeds there do go to seed. Out sight, out of mind I suppose. I spray the easement as much as can reach but I don’t have a gate I can go through to actually get back there. Maybe I should build one. I sort of resent having to mess with it at all but I know no one else it going to worry about it and it’s probably easier in the long run just to take care of it myself.
Several mornings this week I was out about sunup to burn purslane. Just when I think I’m getting it under control I find or someone points out to me another infested area. The rain really makes that stuff grow. Fortunately it also greens up the grass so I can use my weed burner without burning the place down.
Chris made a small cage to house the new guineas in guinea tower. They are big enough to not require the heat lamp and he and Joyce need the box in the shop they are in for the chicks. The cage keeps the young guineas protected from the big guineas until they are big enough to hold their own. This morning on my way back from burning some purslane I passed guinea tower and heard the plaintive calling of the young guineas. Chris had let the big guineas out and I guess the little ones had gotten attached to them in one night. They sounded like they felt abandoned.
K, A & R left for Dallas Tuesday to spend some time with the folk down there. Jill and her girls will drive back with them Sunday and spend several weeks here. Let the good times roll.