Things That Wouldn’t Get Built Without My Mom: Fences, Pergolas, Houses

There are a lot of times when I start a big project on my own and then at some point–usually when I find myself wedged between a large piece of lumber and my garage, flailing around helplessly and hoping a neighbor will come to my rescue– I decide that things might go a little more smoothly if I have a little help. In those instances, the first person I call?

Mom and Hatchet

The woman with the hatchet.

I’m pretty sure (judging by the fact that she dressed me in pink saddle shoes when I was a kid) that my mother thought birthing a daughter would mean things like shopping and pedicures and not building pergolas. She also probably never suspected she’d get to dress up miniature donkeys on a regular basis..

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So I’m going to say it all balanced out for her in the long run.

My mom is without fail my staunchest supporter. She’s the first person to volunteer to help me move, to help me set hundred-pound pieces of flagstone for a patio,  to spend her summer break painting my house, and to immediately and continuously pray for me when I have a crazy moment and decide to buy a 150 year old farmhouse while sitting at a bar on a random Monday night.

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So when she said she wanted to come up and relax at the Liberty House for Mother’s Day, I had a great plan. It included mimosas:

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My new favorite breakfast– open faced egg-on-a-muffin (recipe here):
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And a dressed up fruit salad (plain greek yogurt, honey, cinnamon, cardamom… awesome over any type of fruit):
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Of course when we were done with breakfast, what did she want to do for her relaxing day at the Liberty House?

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That’s right. Drink mimosas and weed my garden. (Hey, who am I to argue?)

I’ve been putting in a good hour or two per day just trying to get my acres of jungle under control with the mower, weed whacker, weed spray, bug spray, and various clippers, snippers, shovels, and saws. It’s fair to say I’m not winning that battle, but I haven’t given up yet.

So here’s to my mom, the wheelbarrow full of weeds we picked this weekend, and all of the other projects that wouldn’t have gotten done without her!

13 Responses

  1. What a nice mom! Kudos to both of you. 🙂

    My designer mom was always handy too and has gutted and redesigned a few of her homes along the way.

    When I had my first house (1906 shack really), she was instrumental in helping with all the jobs I didn’t really understand I needed to do. (Hey, it was a long time ago.) In retrospect, I think they encouraged me to buy that house so she and dad could laugh at me. You know, daughter of a designer and private cabinet manufacturer — I had NO idea of what was out there.

    Unlike you, I don’t think my parents ever expected me to be handy. Design my way out of a box, yes, but handy? No. Tools shiver when I’m around. I envy your skill. 🙂

    Happy belated mother’s day to your mom!

  2. It’s a surprise to me, I really didn’t think she liked to do any of that stuff but kudos to Mom for working at it. Mom’s mom

  3. Sometimes, if you are in the right frame of mind… Weeding can be very relaxing. Hope you both had a wonderful day.

    What I have learned about trying to keep up with my 3 acres is to get everything knocked down as best as possible now, in the spring before it really gets away from you. Whatever that takes. (I tried not using chemicals the first couple of years and couldn’t do it). And it makes the rest of the summer a little easier. I spend a good 30 hours/week outside working in April and May.

  4. I am a lucky girl, both my parents help me when I get into a project. Usually my mom gets flower bed duty, but she would tackle anything I asked! It’s just that she can recognize what is a weed and what is actually supposed to be a flower!

  5. You are blessed to have her! (But she only looks old enough to be your sister!)

  6. You’re mom looks like she’s about 25 years old, and she’s hot! I didn’t realize I was reading a blog written by a 6 year old.

  7. Kristin – thank you for the kind words. I feel like I don’t help enough….but I know we will get a lot done this coming weekend!
    🙂

  8. It never ceases to amaze me a mother’s support and dedication to her children’s crazy decisions.

    Also, your mom looks amazing in the picture with the donkey. She looks about 30 in it!

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