My hands are sore this morning, and I slept late. Both conditions are probably related to one event: yesterday I mowed the yard. Well, not the whole thing, but a lot of it. It was getting out of control. And I have a confession to make: this is the first time since we've lived here (13 years now) that I've ever mowed the yard. I was nervous about even trying, wondering whether I could get the mower running or not.
Walt usually does the job. But I didn't want him to have to go out and mow as soon as he gets back from the U.S., all jet-lagged and everything. It only took an hour, but both my hands are sore from holding onto the lawnmower's handle (le guidon in French). It looks like the one on this web page. There is no padding of any kind.
You have to squeeze two fairly thin metal bars — one keeps the motor running and the other keeps the front wheels of the mower turning — so that they are pressed up against the mower's main handle, which is made of metal tubing of a larger diameter. Anyway, that's not clear, but the result is that my hands hurt. I'm really a greenhorn, I guess.
Here's a peek inside the greenhouse tent, which has been a great success so far. I'm thinking getting a real greenhouse out there might be a good idea and worth the investment. The seedlings look great, and are much bigger and sturdier than they would have been without the tent. It's still cold outside early in the morning, with temperatures in the 40s in ºF (9.6ºC right now). It was colder yesterday and the day before.
Red Russian Kale
Last week was the rainy one. That's why the grass grew so high, and why the greenhouse was a good thing to have. Yesterday was a holiday, so according to local ordinances we are not allowed to work with noisy power tools that might disturb out neighbors except between 10 a.m. and noon. Afternoons are off limits. The same is true of Sundays, but Sunday everything was too wet for mowing because of a heavy dew. And rain was predicted for yesterday afternoon, but it never materialized.
Tomato seedlings
As you can see, the only plants I've set out in the garden are a few collard greens that overwintered in the garden. I'm not sure they are going to be productive. I could probably set out some kale at this point, but I think it'll be better to wait for warmer morning temperatures before setting out tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant.
P.S. Truckers are blocking roads around several cities this morning, but not around Paris. Truck drivers are unhappy because the new labor legislation would reduce the amount of overtime pay they get. Train and metro strikes are scheduled to begin later today and are reconductibles, which means they might continue until the end of the week. The labor unions will decide day by day whether to ask workers to stay out on strike or go back to work.
Great job for a novice!
ReplyDeleteAny idea if there will be an airline bus that Walt can take either to Orly or to Montparnasse? Will they be on strike also?
I really don't know. All bets are off. Walt says the 1 p.m. Paris –> Blois train is supposed to be running tomorrow, and he's going to try to get that one. If there's no RER, he can take a taxi to Austerlitz. I'll just have to stay by the phone and see what develops.
DeleteIf it's any consolation, the yard looks lovely, lush and spotless.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between Russian and regular kale?
Those little tomatoes have me dreaming about beefstakes to come this summer with a little olive oil and salt.
I'll let you know what the two kales are like, how they compare, later when I harvest some. I'm not growing any regular "curly" kale this summer, just Red Russian and Dinosaur.
DeleteRed Russian tastes quite sweet compared with curly Kale... Nero (or Dinosaur) is more like a regular kale for flavour...
DeleteRed Russian kale at the size Ken has at the moment is one of the new "superfoods" and is beginning to appear in winter salad selections along with rocket....the two go very well together!! Dino is the most expensive commercial cabbage family member...every leaf has to be hand picked!!
The greatest advantage, though, is that unlike curleykale....these two only need a light wash as dusty grit doesn't get trapped.
The only drawback is Dino's attractiveness to whitefly....but you are going to eat it cooked, so rinsing well in HOT water isn't a problem!! And I mean hot... Almost boiling....
Both varieties, cooked, are superb cold....dressed with a mix of sesame oil and light soy sauce...S&P to taste....as are Collard greens....oh, and Chard!
I suppose that should be beefsteaks...lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about those tomatoes too, no matter how you spell the word. They are some old seeds I must have brought back from N.C. and they have sprouted and grown well.
DeleteI was thinking about the mowing restrictions as well....they were lively around my village yesterday, which was glorious after a week of rain. Sunday, too (also a no-mow day). The town buzzed as everybody finally got out to tackle their lawns.
ReplyDeleteI have only two neighbors who might possibly be disturbed by the noise, but neither came over to complain LOL. They must also be aware that the weather has been conducive to tall growth but not to mowing. We have that two-hour morning window in which we can do loud yard work on Sunday and holiday mornings.
DeleteWell, your efforts are certainly paying off, with a lush, green, well-manicured yard :)
ReplyDeleteI hope Walt's return isn't too perturbé ;)
Pour le retour... eh bien, on verra ça demain.
DeletePour le retour... eh bien, on verra ça demain.
DeleteKen, it isn't because you are a "greenhorn"....
ReplyDeleteOur pushme-pullyou mower is the same and it gets me every time....
Hate it with a vengeance!!
But...
What you've done looks neat.....
Walt says walking along behind the self-propelled mower is good exercise. It's not as easy as it looks when he does it, however.
DeleteThe yard looks beautiful. Walt will be pleased to see it. Next time wear gloves. I need them for most yard work now- my skin used to be tougher, but it's tender now. BTW I love looking in your little green house.
ReplyDeleteGloves! Good thought. There are only about two dozen pairs of them down in the utility room. I need to get a clue.
DeleteGloves! Good thought. There are only about two dozen pairs of them down in the utility room. I need to get a clue.
DeleteThe garden looks gorgeous and when anyone looks at it or comments, I would proudly announce to one and all for at least a few weeks that You Mowed That Yard, of course it looks good !! :)
ReplyDeleteI lived in a house in the country in NY. We had a "riding lawnmower" ... that thing scared the bejeezus out of me .. I was sure it would throw me off and chop me up. So I hired someone. It would be much more satisfying to do it yourself.
This morning I was thinking that maybe we should look into buying a small riding mower. But maybe not.
DeleteMy husband loved the lawn mower ... but he was a NYCity boy ... riding a lawnmower was like being in DisneyWorld lol
DeleteSympathy on the mowing. I've mowed our hanky yard only a few times, when Tony was on his bike trip across the country. A kind soul loaned me an itty-bitty electric mower for the job. As for kale, I agree with DelaForge: dino kale is beloved by aphids, whitefly, and inchworms. The pests seem to stay off the Russian and curly kale.
ReplyDeleteDinosaur kale is an experiment. This may be the first and last time I grow it. As you know, I'm really partial to collard greens, though I like chard too.
DeleteBack in SF, Walt went to Home Depot or somewhere to buy a tiny push mower to use on our handkerchief-size plot of weeds out back. "Oh, you're teaching your little boy to use a lawnmower" the sales clerk said to him.
It's weird that my comment says I'm anonymous.
DeleteI'm wondering if Google is not more interested in robot cars than maintaining blogger?
DeleteBlogger is free. I guess you get what you pay for. Wonder why Apple doesn't have a blogging application? Maybe they could make some money.
Delete"Oh, you're teaching your little boy to use a lawnmower"
DeleteHa! Bet no one says that any more. I think we're the only people within miles that maintain our own yard (it shows).
The yard looks wonderful, and the seedlings are very impressive. I, too, was going to suggest gloves next time you mow, if there is a next time.
ReplyDeleteHappily, I live where the HOA takes care of such things. Which sort of makes up for having to deal with an HOA, an organization that people love to hate.
We came across a demonstration of some kind in Tours yesterday but didn't know what it was about. Maybe it was the truck drivers. I felt sorry for the people who were being turned back by police to let it all pass. I couldn't help wondering how many of them had travelled a hundred kilometres to get to an important appointment, wedding, funeral or train to Paris for the holiday of a lifetime, and would now miss it
ReplyDeleteThe difference between American English and English English sometimes tickles me and "mowing the yard" is one expression that always does it. For me the yard has always been the area made of concrete, gravel or tarmac outside the back of the house!
People in France are used to these strikes and other disruptions. It's part of the culture, and adds some suspense and excitement to life. Going out onto the streets is always an adventure, whether you are demonstrating or trying to get somewhere.
DeleteAs for yard, in AE we have rail yards, lumber yards, courtyards, stock yards, school yards, prison yards, and navy yards, none of which are necessarily green... and we have nice green back yards and front yards. I think Australians have yards in the same sense of the word. I guess I say "mowing the yard" instead of "mowing the grass" because what we have is not strictly grass or lawn. It's more prairie land with a big variety of plants and wildflowers growing on it. And the gravel, asphalt, or paved space is called not the yard but the driveway.
On the other hand, the BE use of "garden" can be confusing. Does it mean your flower garden? Not exactly. Your vegetable garden? No. In AE, when we say garden, we generally mean vegetable garden. Garden-grown tomatoes, for example. And that's to-MAY-toes. For us, gardens are smaller than yards, except big public gardens. Two (or three, or more) countries divided by a common language.