Ingenuity for the win with a side of critter curbuffle

Farm chores. Farm chores. (Sing it like Wayne’s World.)

It was time to teach the girls hard work.

I donned a bathing suit and shorts because Mama didn’t want weird tan lines. The girls dressed up too. Skirts, sparkles and flip flops for the win. (Think Fancy Nancy, if you’ve ever read those books.)

Fancy Nancy herself

Who doesn't wear a bathing suit for yard work?

My goal was to trim the hedges.

I felt like a bad mama jamma as I used the power tools. But with great power comes great  mess – specifically, with the leaves.

The girls and I went to the barn to look for a wheelbarrow. Shelves and shelves of tools, but no wheelbarrow. Isn’t the wheelbarrow the emblem of quaint family farming?

I racked my brain but couldn’t think of a solution, apart from hoping the leaves would just blow away. Then Madi said, “Let’s use this.”

All crinkled up and in the corner was an old trash bag. It had a small hole in it, but we were able to put all the twigs and branches in it. I was so proud of her for her problem solving techniques especially when I was getting ready to give up.

Smart, hard working girls

During the farm chores – but after Madi used her smarts – something happened.

While I was minding my business and trimming trees, something furry flew out of the hedge.

“I just decapitated a mouse,” was my first thought.

I looked closer.

Yep, it looked like a dead mouse.

But then, its leg started twitching. I screamed, but Madi started putting gloves on and said she would handle it. She’s five… my five-year-old was going to handle a headless mouse like a boss.

I kiboshed that. All of a sudden, the mouse got up and started walking around. I guess I didn’t kill it. Just stunned it. Whew!

He escaped death this time!

Michael came over and then informed me it wasn’t a mouse at all. It was a vole. Excuse me. Guess I will get to know all my rodents living out there.

Learning about the critter.

Another crisis adverted. And we managed to get a ton done. Mowing, hedge trimming and mulch laid!

Putting the girls to work.

Such amazing flowers.

There are so many roses on the property.

These smelled great.

It was so hot.

After dealing with the vole. I was done trimming bushes. Photo by Abby Ryals.