I managed to get myself out mowing today. No, not my own lawn. I have not mowed that for 2 years now. I don't actually have a lawn. Just a jumble of rose bushes, a bit of grass that the chickens keep chewed down, apple trees, blackberry bushes and raspberry canes. Somewhere under the jumble of trees and bushes is a small pond that I put in a few years ago. I don't have time to deal with my own lawn because I am always working on someone elses.

Close to 15 years ago my husband bought a lawncare business from an older gentleman. A few customers came along with that business. Eight years ago my husband had problems with his spine (3 operations in less than 3 years) and since we had just bought a commercial grade mower, I had to take over the business...or we would lose it. I started adding customers almost immediately. When I had 19 (Including 2 good sized cemetaries and 2 small ones) my husband told me I wouldn't be able to keep up if I added any more. I continued adding and now have somewhere around 40.

I mow from May until October although last year I mowed in November for someone who wasn't a regular customer but insisted that his lawn needed mowing although I tried to talk him out of it since I didn't want it to winter kill. Three days after I mowed his lawn we had a snow storm. The lawn survived but didn't look as good as it has other years.

I only spent 4 hours mowing and trimming today. During the busy times I often spend 10 to 12 hours working each day. Six days a week. Since it is only for a short time, I don't mind the long days.

I worked in one of the larger Cemetaries today. You might think that hours spent alone, mowing and trimming would be boring. It isn't. I have a radio in my hearing protection, so I can listen to the radio or my mp3 player. Also, this cemetary is out of the way and I get to see a bit of "wildlife". Today I saw a Pheasant. He kept hiding behind a bush before he finally got too scared and took off running for safer, quieter ground. At one time, a flock of seagulls flew over. You generally see one or two at a time, but seldom see 50 or more flying over in a flock. They must have seen something that interested them. Some days I have watched momma Pheasants with their babies. Last time I mowed there I saw 9 little pheasants and their mom. They were not even really scared and didn't really want to listen to momma when she called them. At other times I have seen eagles flying low overhead. What beautiful birds. After seeing one up close and personal (I transported one to the mainland once for Natural Resources after it had been shot in the wing...but thats another story) I can truly understand the size of those birds. Until then, I knew they were big, but didn't have first hand knowledge.

On the way home, I stopped into another customers house. She didn't need her lawn mowed but since she is elderly, I just wanted to stop in and see how she is doing. I worry about her as she lives alone. I let her know that I was just checking up on her and would mow the lawn later on if it needs it. I have a few elderly customers that I enjoy stopping in and chatting with every now and then.


I am all over the place with this blog...maybe I will eventually be able to focus on one specific thing and write about it. Until that time, I hope whoever might read this will bear with me.