I am, by nature, many things...

....and it is clear today, that 'gardener' is nowhere on that list.

Ouch. Can I just say that? Ouch. Everything hurts. My butt hurts....not there, sickos, my butt muscles. You know, the ones you never use unless you bend over and haul things repeatedly? And since I've learned to walk upright, I haven't spent a whole helluva lotta time bending and picking. Until today.

Hubs was away this weekend (well, not all weekend - just 24 hours, but it still seemed like a really, really, really long time) at his friend Taco's stag. The boys went up to Casino Rama to see the fights, and stayed at the delightful EconoLodge in Orillia. Stunning accommodations, I'm sure. I tell you all this because it means two things - 1) I had to sleep in this house alone for the first time since we moved here, and 2) I got to spend the day today with my fabulous sister in law; gardener extraordinaire and my own personal landscaping guru.

Number one there wasn't so fun...or was it? Don't get me wrong, I love cuddling with my Hubby, but he snores. Like nothing else you've ever heard before in your entire life. And he needs to have the fan on when he sleeps. And he always falls asleep before turning the television off. And to make all these matters worse - he ALWAYS falls asleep before I do. Leaving me to contend with the noise from the fan and to pry the remote from his killer grip (even while sleeping he's got that GI Joe kung fu thing goin' on), and try to fall asleep with him sleeping in my ear.

So last night I had the bed to myself, no fan on, I turned the tv off when I was ready to sleep....and it was so quiet. Completely quiet. Weird, but dang....I done passed out right quick. And all the sudden it was morning. Who knew? I still missed him, especially when I woke up and he wasn't there (sniff) but alas...I survived.

Then my guru showed up at my door, and it was time to get moving. You see, when we bought our house, it was a complete blank slate from a landscaping perspective and I knew that someday, I wanted to add some garden elements to the front and backyards. I just didn't want to have to do all the work...enter my fab sister in law!

She has a huge spread up in the country and a gazillion gardens - plus the know how to make the whole damned project work, and the willingness to actually do it, so she was instantly hired! Like that was a huge decision to make. Duh.

So off we go to the nursery, she the wise elder, me the wide-eyed toddler, blinking furiously at the dazzling array of colours and plants...and price tags! Trees ain't cheap, yo! Alas, the two we want for our wee garden shan't break the bank but wowie...pretty gardens cost some serious Benjamins! Can't wait to see how this all turns out.

A few hours of butt-breaking labour later, the bed is cut out, the sod has been lifted, and we have the makings of a lovely garden. And a huge pit of mud, 'cause it rained twice while we were trying to get the danged thing dug out. FU mother nature. Oh well, at least our grass got a good sprinkling and I didn't have to stand there with the flippin hose.

So as soon as Big Brother is over, I'm going to haul my sore butt up to our huge tub and take a bubble bath. Then I'll hop into bed and cuddle with my hubby, and sooner or later I'll manage to fall asleep over the din of the fan and the tv. Ah, life as it should be. It's good to have him home.

Now, if only I can get him to spring for a butt massage....

And that's your daily dash. How's your diva doin'?