There are many folks who when faced with going on a trip get very organized. Not only do they carefully plan what they're taking with them and when to pack their suitcase, they also do the same with their home. I'm one of those people. You know. Every dish has to be clean, every bed made with fresh sheets, all the laundry washed and put away. I'm the same way with my outside space.

I've been telling my husband over the last few days that I'm going to mow the lawn this weekend. Of course after last weekend's visit from Hurricane Jeanne and the subsequent clean-up, there was no way we could safely mow and trim the lawn until everything had dried out and been put away. So as the week has worn on and thankfully no hurricanes loom on the horizon I've been planning what work I will accomplish in the yard. I kept thinking it was because of all the mess from Jeanne that I was so anxious to get outside but now I know that's not the whole truth. The real reason is because I'm going away.

Yes, going away yet again. I hate it but do it anyway. There are times when I am required to travel for my job. The week coming is no exception. I will be away from home the entire week, the thought of which drives me crazy. Hence the need to have everything in order and all the ducks lined up (only figuratively speaking) before I step on the plane. So my list of things to accomplish before Monday is to visit my parents (they get nervous when I go out of town), mow and trim the lawn, pull a few weeds, trim anything getting a little overgrown, do the laundry and put fresh sheets on the bed. My husband will appreciate that although he's a huge night owl and will most likely spend many of the nights I'm away sleeping on the couch accompanied by our little guys. But when he wakes himself off the sofa long enough to climb up the stairs at 3 AM, he will smell the fresh aroma of clean sheets as he drifts back to sleep. Better than the doggie odor he'll wake up with in the morning as Duncan joins him on my side of the bed. But that's another story. Anyway everything will be tidy in my mind and I'll look even that much more forward to coming home where I belong. Happy Gardening.