Perilous Work

I've got another six weeks or so of yard work before the weather really changes and I can hang up my gloves and bucket for the year. I'm trying hard to get the yard in order before that time.

Yesterday I corralled Ray (son) to help me work on the rock wall. I don't like to do the wall because there are a gazillion snails (I stopped counting at 25 the other day), and of course, the spiders. They just love those rock crevices.

I asked Ray to do the top part of the wall. I told him it is a lot easier for him to climb up and down than it is for me, which is very true. I did not mention to him the other reason: the spiders up there are bigger and more aggressive. I think they've worked their way to the top, so to speak. He rolled his eyes, but climbed right up and got to work.

About 45 minutes later I heard gasp. I looked up and Ray said, "Two very large spiders just rushed me." (I must admit to being relieved it was him and not me - for me it would not have been a mere gasp). Then he looked to his right, and scrambled down the wall. "Another one right by my face!" (Now I was really glad it was him and not me - I'm still here to tell about it.)

About five minutes later he announced he was done for the day (who can blame him?). As he left he said, "If only we could start a war between the spiders and the snails, maybe they would decimate each other."

A mighty fine plan.