Grass, SUP, Plants and More Forms to Fill Out

Ho Hum, it's back to being uncomfortably warm.  It's not like Phoenix, but warm enough.  We're feeling somewhat enervated by the afternoons.  I think there's too much staying in the house.  The grass is really taking it in the head in the western side of the yard.  Parts are now bare dirt.  We had thought to get a cultivator for in the fall, but the dirt is hard and full of grass roots, and those things are really designed for dirt that has been worked into some degree of softness.  Perhaps we'll see if we can pay someone to come and do it for us.  I think the root cause of the grass problem, is that when they landscaped the yard, they did not put in enough dirt.  It's aggravating, we're supposed to have a good green monoculture out there.

There has been riding to the lake.  Yesterday we learned of the existence of inflatable stand up paddle boards.  Who knew?  We've seen the kayaks, but not the SUPs.  The woman foreground is running her battery powered air compressor.  I was impressed by the volume of the noise that thing made.  However, it's better than a floor pump.    Notice the absolute cuteness of her dog off to the right.  He does have a life jacket.  Then in the distance, we see a fishing SUP.  He has a cooler to sit on, a net, and a bucket for any fish he might catch.  

Next door there is what appears to be a member of the hibiscus family.  It's bushier than the Rose of Sharon.  He cuts it to the ground in the fall and then it regrows and is now blooming.

I think this is a blackberry.  Seattle and environs has been over run by blackberries and morning glory.  We don't like to see these next to our yard, they're evil.

For those of you who want to travel from Europe to here, or in the other direction, here is more news you can use.  Apparently the bureaucrats on both sides of the pond have been busy with more things to pay for and fill out.

Other than this paltry offer, I have shockingly few things to report.