I had a therapy session last night. A therapy session of the free variety. It's when I get on the mower, earphones + ipod and take off across the fields. As my neighbor says of me, who noticed my penchant for mowing grass, "that woman can really lay down some grass."
And last night could not have been a more beautiful night to be out there. The clouds, the colors of the sky, working and racing the setting sun, hoping to get it all done before dark.
I know it sounds silly but there is so much I love about being on the mower. The immediate satisfaction of seeing the grass trimmed and tidy, the accomplishment unfolding before my eyes.
The watching of my family through the veil of good music in my ears. Happily muffling the whining, or the bickering and only seeing the play and the running and the laying down in the grass and the network of farm animals trailing around the field behind them.
I'm learning to cherish these moments on the mower (that's obvious, isn't it?) because someone else in this family has finally become old enough (and trustworthy enough) to share the "duties" with me. There's some competition over who gets the job.
But I'm not ready to pass over the reigns just yet….
….Here's hoping you find your own moments to "lay it down" today as well….
I had a therapy session last night. A therapy session of the free variety. It's when I get on the mower, earphones + ipod and take off across the fields. As my neighbor says of me, who noticed my penchant for mowing grass, "that woman can really lay down some grass."
And last night could not have been a more beautiful night to be out there. The clouds, the colors of the sky, working and racing the setting sun, hoping to get it all done before dark.
I know it sounds silly but there is so much I love about being on the mower. The immediate satisfaction of seeing the grass trimmed and tidy, the accomplishment unfolding before my eyes.
The watching of my family through the veil of good music in my ears. Happily muffling the whining, or the bickering and only seeing the play and the running and the laying down in the grass and the network of farm animals trailing around the field behind them.
I'm learning to cherish these moments on the mower (that's obvious, isn't it?) because someone else in this family has finally become old enough (and trustworthy enough) to share the "duties" with me. There's some competition over who gets the job.
But I'm not ready to pass over the reigns just yet….
….Here's hoping you find your own moments to "lay it down" today as well….
Lovely photos. And I know what you mean – there really is something very satisfying about mowing the grass.
mmmm good. i need to look around my life & see where is my place that i’m laying down the grass & really sink myself into it.
ive never mowed in my life. i can compare this to my riding in the car by myself. it never happens so when it does, i’m truly at peace.
ive been reading your site for well over 4 or 5 years now. i have son born around the time your third was born. i’ve just never commented. i love your pictures and the way you write.
xo.
molly, that photo, third from the bottom…what is that? is that from your phone? it’s stunning!these are all so good, really. and i love the description-like watching your family to a soundtrack of your own choosing instead of theirs. xo.
I started mowing a really large yard when the children were 5 and 1 years of age !
I loved it!
It continued to be “my” job (through several moves and several mowers)until they were off at college.
The solitude and self satisfaction, it has everything!Do not ever give it up !
Fight for your right to mow! Love it. I lay it down by weeding, since my husband has already claimed the lawn. 🙂
i love the notion of “sinking yourself into it…” so well expressed.
thank you rachael….and yes, a quiet car is lovely. (on those rare occasions when i visited the midwife w/o my children, it was so relaxing to make the drive all alone.)
yes, my phone! i kind of hated to take photos with my phone, but i don’t think dan would understand my need to mow and stop and take pictures with my D40. 🙂 I had to sneak them in w/ my phone.
I think I need that on a tshirt! 😉
Oh girl…mine is weeding. Love pulling those weeds out of the vegetable beds and with each one I feel like I get rid of a bit of the stress from the week. Love this!
I still remember fondly when I was allowed to first mow the lawn. I still love doing it. I love the precision of the rows and the quiet that the loud mower provides. Thanks for sharing this reflection.
I love mowing the lawn too! It is a great form of relaxation & instant satisfaction.
I never let me sweetie touch the lawn. In fact, when we moved into the big house and I began to mow the lawn one of the neighbor ladies stopped by & requested that I stop mowing the lawn because it made them look bad. Ha!
Also, lovely photos.
never heard anyone word mowing like that…lol…I like it.
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I hear you on the mowing… even though I am always trying to make the “yard” smaller and the mower is always kinda broken… it is peaceful and gives a nice opportunity to SEE out… my husband wants to but a reel mower and a bigger tractor and do it that way, but I’d MISS that time on the mower…
i love these mow-ments! (groan?) they are rare and so restorative.
This made me want to mow lawn!!!
this sings to me! when we lived at our other house that was on just over an acre (probably not that much compared to your property) my favorite thing to do was to mow! the riding mower was mine and i would totally zen out, watching the late afternoon sky do its magic. i get what you are writing about!
i love that quote about mowing, laying it down. farm-funny and poetic all at once. lovely. just found your blog via soulemama – I like it!
I really enjoyed this post. Not because I’m insanely allergic to grass, but because it was simply lovely. Yup. I liked this one.