Well, it was a fairly productive weekend.

1. I did somehow manage to get up early-ish and dig the bed along the side of the garage. All the daylilies are packed in black plastic bags and will become compost.
2. Most of the plants my TL gave me are planted in one of the front “hell beds.” Need to decide what to do/where to stick the lilies-of-the-valley tomorrow after work. Probably the shadier bed on the other side.
3. All the tools and trash and things were put away just before the lawn guys came to mow.
4. Napped most of afternoon and evening. Back sore. Naps important.
5. Met with Sue of The Rain Garden Network and Gary of the Village of Hoffman Estates engineering deparment to discuss rain garden in the low spot in the back yard. Got tentative go-ahead from “the Village.” Got somewhat reluctant go-ahead from “the Hubby” at least to investigate cost.
6. Passed along bad news from “the Village” to “the Hubby” that we’ve got drainage issues all around the foundation. Most of the solutions involve dirt and angling it away and down from the foundation. One solution (rather urgent) may involve re-grading the front yart. Joy.
7. Found out that my inept digging on Saturday results in some of the minor drainage problems pointed out by Gary as an extra bonus to his consultation about the rain garden. Have to fix the slope on the bed I just dug (and rake the dirt out of the lawn that Gary kicked over to show the slope needed).
8. Bought a Neil Gaiman book Friday night, finished it Saturday morning – need more very soon, but not too soon. Had several disturbing nightmares.

I spent way, way too long in bed yesterday – I was tired, then felt the need to just lie there and mope. My back was killing me this morning as a consequence. It’s loosened up and is no longer very painful, but making sudden moves forces me to make those middle-aged groaning sounds (which lead inevitably to the kind of groaning sounds truly elderly people make when getting up, but don’t rush me). It was too cold and windy to do much outside other than stand around and talk to people about elevation and drainage. Fascinating subject, drainage. The next time I buy a house, it won’t be at the bottom of a 1% slope.

Oh, and there’s evidently something not quite right with the way our sump-pump discharges, according to the Village. He handed me a schematic showing me the way it ought to have been done. Very confusing. Probably very expensive. The rain garden project won’t get going until at least late June or July… depending on costs and whatnot. I’m ready to go for it but have to rein in and be wary of busting the budget.

And all because I wanted to put a rain garden in the low spot in the back yard that gets all puddly and squelchy after a couple of rainy days.

Great weekend. Oy. However, we leave for vacation next Saturday and will be on the road for 2 weeks.

I’m hoping to blog some from the road, but David warns me it might not be feasible. We’ll see.