Record breaking heat--for a day

Yesterday it was 85 in Columbus--broke a record for that date. Today it's 74 early a.m., but will cool this afternoon with the rain. After a week of warm weather in California--we are prepared! I went to the coffee shop this morning with no jacket!

I'm trying to work up to 2 miles a day on my daily walk--but so far, have only managed one, with some bicycle (indoor) time later in the day. The yards this time of year in Arlington are such a mess. My husband blames lack of winter clean up, but some of the homes I pass have had messy side yards since I started walking in the area when sidewalks were installed in 2009. If the home owner can't see it because of the bushes, it isn't cleaned up. Weeds, grass clippings, plastic bottles and bags--it shows a lack of respect for home ownership (maybe they are renters?) and the neighbors, as well as the environment. There are people in this world who think it's others responsibility, or they wear blinders when pulling out of the drive-way.

And the barking dogs? They look just plain lonely to me, whether it's the black lab behind the fence which gets the little yappy indoor dust-mop types going in the near-by houses, or the big old hounds, owners need to take those doggies out for a good run several times a day. Don't buy a little pup that will grow large if you don't intend to take care of its needs for exercise.

We found 2 golf balls on our evening walk yesterday. Our neighbor says she finds more in the spring than the fall, because the golfers are out of practice. We're going to pay for some clean up and repair--big time. The previous owner had a new sidewalk installed of some kind of slate or flagstone and all the mortor has deteriorated and the stone is chipping off in layers. This might be a good material for a warm climate, but not the freezing and thawing of our area where salt is put down periodically. About 5 years ago we had it repaired, but it will probably need to be ripped out and done over with a simple concrete walk, stamped with broadcast color. Also, the previous homeowner had the back patio landscaped, and it was over done, much is now overgrown or has died, so that will be about $500 to clean up and replant more modestly. Even in a condo, you are responsible for the areas nearest your home (about 20 ft.) so we actually have more plants than we had on Abington Rd. for 34 years.

I don't have a green thumb, and my husband reserves his energy for the lake house, so it will have to come out of retirement funds. Who knew we saved and sacrificed in our younger years so we could have a decent patio garden?

This walk used to look like this, but is now broken and cracked.