Spring has officially arrived, and with it comes the urge to tame the wild jungle that is my yard. The weeds are thriving, the flower beds are plotting against me, and the grass? Well, let’s just say it has ambitions far beyond what I can handle.

But as chaotic as my week has been, nothing compares to Uncle R’s latest adventure: a DIY lawn care project that turned into something straight out of a sitcom. More on that in a minute—first, let’s talk about what’s been keeping me busy this week.

This Week in the wilderness

Every spring, I have a brief moment where I convince myself I have a green thumb. This week, I attempted to channel that energy into getting my outdoor space under control.

• Attempted to weed the flower beds. I got through about half before realizing the weeds were winning and questioning all my life choices.
• Bought new plants. Whether they survive is another story entirely.
• Spring cleaning. I started strong, got distracted by old photo albums, and now my house looks half-clean, half-disaster zone.
• Tried a new recipe. It looked questionable, but tasted amazing, so I’ll call it a win.

Somehow, despite my best efforts, my to-do list keeps getting longer instead of shorter. But at least I haven’t lost any more tulips to Uncle R’s “landscaping” this week.

Speaking of Uncle R…

Life at Shady Pines free range seniors

The trouble started when Uncle R decided his grass needed a little extra help. Apparently, he had been watching home improvement shows and got it in his head that he could single-handedly revive the lawn.

Instead of consulting an expert (or even, you know, Google), he took the “more is better” approach—meaning he overseeded, over-fertilized, and over-watered all in the span of a single afternoon.

By day two, the yard looked like a swamp because the sprinklers had been running non-stop. By day three, patches of bright green grass were sprouting in random places, giving the whole thing a strange, patchwork effect.

I asked him what exactly he was trying to achieve, and he just shrugged and said, “I thought it’d grow faster this way.”

To top it off, Ma—who has exactly zero patience for these kinds of projects—walked outside, surveyed the mess, and sighed, “Well, at least it’s not on fire.”

The jury’s still out on whether the lawn will recover or fully revolt, but Uncle R insists that by next month, it will be “the best grass on the block.” We shall see.

Hot Flashes & More the joys of midlife

Midlife is full of little surprises, and by surprises, I mean daily reminders that my body is staging a quiet rebellion.

🔥 Woke up with a sore back for no reason. Just living my life and somehow pulled something.
🔥 Realized I now get excited about cleaning products. I bought a new mop and was genuinely thrilled.
🔥 Tried to multitask and forgot what I was doing. Twice.
🔥 Had a full conversation about the weather and enjoyed it. This is who I am now.

Also, sleep? Overrated. My body now thinks 3 a.m. is a great time to contemplate life choices and recall embarrassing moments from 20 years ago.

The only good part? I’ve stopped caring about the small stuff. If my body wants to be unpredictable, fine. I’ll just roll with it—or at least try to without pulling another muscle.

What’s Cooking for dinner tonight

I started meal planning to help me in the grocery store a little more. We shop monthly and well lets be honest sometimes I don’t buy enough of something or I buy too much of something else. So, I thought I would share what our dinner plans are for next week and see what you think.

1. Monday: Chicken and Dumplings with Steamed Green Beans
2. Tuesday: Chili with Cornbread
3. Wednesday: Baked Ziti with Caesar Salad
4. Thursday: Jambalaya with Andouille Sausage and Shrimp
5. Friday: Herb-Crusted Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce and Wild Rice
6. Saturday: Grilled Chicken Salads with Dinner Rolls
7. Sunday: Roast Leg of Lamb, Mashed Potatoes, Honey-Glazed Carrots, and Chocolate Mousse

A Moment of peace and quiet

After a week filled with lawn drama and midlife realizations, I needed a little reset.

So, one afternoon, I made myself a cup of tea, sat outside (on the least swampy part of the yard), and just breathed.

No phone, no noise, just a few quiet moments to soak in the fresh air and pretend I have my life together.

Of course, my peaceful moment ended when I spotted Uncle R eyeing a bag of grass seed like he was ready to start round two. But for those few minutes? Pure bliss.

Storied Conversation a little book chat

Did you know I write more than one blog? Well I do and here are a few highlights from Storied Conversation. Please note that clicking any of the links below will take you away from Rita Reviews. I just wanted to let you know but please click away and give these blogs some love as well. You never know what you may find.

Final Thoughts: Lawn Chaos, Midlife Laughter, and Finding the Little Joys

This week has taught me a few things:

🌱 If Uncle R ever offers to “fix” your yard, decline politely.
🔥 Midlife is a wild ride, but at least it’s entertaining.
☀ A quiet moment outside can be just as refreshing as a full day off.

As for the lawn? It’s anyone’s guess whether it’ll turn out beautiful or become a cautionary tale. Either way, I’m sure there will be more adventures to come.

Until next time, friends!

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