Just don't throw them at the windows.

We made a ladder-golf set! It was stinkingly easy. And kind of fun; like k'nex for adults. We used the great instructions found here, and have enjoyed many a game thus far. In the making:

Bits and pieces (= fun.)

Ta-da!

The "bolos" or whatever you call them (nunchucks?) are made out of nylon rope and two golf balls. Drilling a hole in the golf balls was a potential problem; the instructions use a drill press (we just bought a lawn mower--we don't have a drill press). The Mr. gave it a try with his hand-held drill, which, but for the added risk of drilling through a finger, worked pretty well. Then you throw the nunchuck-things at the ladders and try to get them wrapped around the rungs. It's fun. Honest. So after he set out to make these things, we've been seeing ready-made sets everywhere; however, we still have yet to see one that's cheaper than this was to make...

Farming the Back Yard

Okay, other folks would call it "gardening." A couple of weekends ago the Mr. set out to tame a very overgrown pre-existing garden plot in our new back yard. It was already fenced off (and protected from the munching of larger animals by chicken wire):

The above was after a good bit of heavy weeding. And de-snaking. Yes. Snakes. That's when I went inside and said, "Tell me when to come take another picture. I'll be buying stilts off the internet." Here's part of the ridicumongus pile of weeds he pulled out of it (by the end it was about five feet in diameter and came up past my knees):

Tilled up, and ready for topsoil:

Note the monstrous rosemary bush in the bottom right. Other survivors of neglect included some chives and a spearmint plant. And... planted!

Because I'm twelve years old, I found the following hilarious. He mixed this into the topsoil before spreading it:

"We are Number 1 in the Number 2 Business."

And, voila! He was able to cram tomatoes, okra, several kinds of pepper, some cucumbers, some squash, and others into that space, and so far they seem to be doing pretty well. We also planted a nice little herb garden in an existing window-box-like planter on one of the fence walls in the back yard. It's going to be nice to read "fresh [insert name of herb]" in a recipe, and not roll my eyes. I don't know about you folk, but buying anything like that fresh at a grocery store in these parts adds up fast, so I never do. Ha, dried Basil. Ha.

Fwoing!

That's the sound Spring makes in these parts. I swear, one day there was nothing. The next day:

"Laaaaaaa!"

The Captain is pleased.

And some lovely roses (as for caring for these.. help?):

NEW HOBBY.

Half in. Half out. Leaves my options open.

Update-o-rama, part II: the New Lights

Weee! On a roll. I can't remember if I've already mentioned it or not, but we had some lovely eighties-ariffic outdoor lights in the back and side yards; two over the patio and one to light Captain Muddypaws' egress. I'll let them speak for themselves:

Okay, so not horrible, you know? But they didn't match anything else on the exterior of the house, anywhere. There are some great light fixtures elsewhere (on the front porch and the screen porch)--beautiful craftsman-like, marbled-glass things. Then there were these. There's something kind of "ice cream parlor" about them. So, we found some great little replacements at Home Depot. The Mr. and his father put them up the same weekend the floors went in. And, "ta-daaaa:"

They're a little smaller, overall, than the old fixtures, but they put out the same amount (if not more) light--the clear glass is better for the patio than the white-glazed globes that used to be there. It's a small thing, but it makes a significant difference. AND, since we've been painting and staining a bunch stuff on the patio after dark (more on that later!), we've really appreciated them.

GRASS = AWESOME.

Ommm, nom nom nom nom. [HORK].