Who invented grass? Wow! It is something to dig up when you want to put in something
Holy Pants tackle Heavy Sod
more interesting. Even big environmentalists are tempted to “RoundUp” it. This month I have devoted to preparing the entry way by discouraging the grass with newspaper and grass clippings, placing stepping stones, buying stepable herbs, digging up the grass/sod, and setting the stones and herbs. As Jen said of TRX exercise, “This is hard.” Whew! Mighty Mouse is at it, again.
The weather has been perfect – cool, cloudy and sometimes a bit of rain after planting the herbs. But, they are growing in their pots faster than I can get things ready. Sunday, Rich helped break the rest of the sod and I did “RoundUp” the bare spot. Tomorrow I will put the rest of the stepping stones in and put the herbs around them. I plan to insert the black strips around the edge so the grass does not overwhelm the herbs. Tina P. consulted on the placement of the stones. “Look to the negative spaces.”
First four stepping stones with stepable herbs in between.
The other huge project we are tackling is installing a wood stove. While professionals will do the door and wood stove and pipe insert, we are taking off the wall, digging out rock for door access. Next winter we will be toasty downstairs.
1080 Labyrinth 
Mannie,
I am so enjoying this. Both the project and the narrative of it. Fighting grass is one of my burdens as well. My “overused” wrist, damaged from years of weeding and carrying around heavy textbooks plays out fast–I can use the tiling spade to let me penetrate a smaller area with foot etc. But, alas, we too sometimes resort to roundup when we just can’t do any more and we care enough to keep whatever noxious presence off what we are trying to grow. Do be sure you let it get out of the soil before you try to plant something precious–regardless of what they say, I’m sure we lost a few things we really cared about that way.
On another note, new owner of your old house mowed the bank. Oh the sadness of it, and the needless work they have made for themselves.
Thanks, Clarice for this note. I wish the guy who bought the house had let me know about his mowing. I would have rescued more plants. Alas. Thanks for the tips of spraying. We are way careful. Plants have a hard enough time as it is surviving. manny