As my mower gently sweeps

I think I live on one of the smallest lots of land in Phillips County. Looking at an overhead image of Malta, there are others about the same size as mine, but none smaller.

When I first moved into my house near the elementary school, then new neighbor Trevor told me as much. He said that my family’s new tiny house was on just half of a lot while his was a full lot. I didn’t care – nor do I care – know, but I got to thinking about the size of my living arrangements last week when I went to mow my yard.

You see, because I have no shed (yet) last year I decided I would just mow my lawn with a weed eater (because it was more weeds than grass…kind of still is.) Well, a summer of spending hours with the weed eater vibrating the fillings loose in my mouth forced me into a different arrangement with the lawn care this year.

Earlier this summer, I had a brilliant idea. I went over to Trevor’s house and made him a deal. I’d mow his (larger) lot with his mower and in exchange for my efforts I would then use his mower on my dinky spot. This plan worked like a charm for a good month until recently I went to start the mower and the cord came out completely in my hand. I got our yards mowed, but that was it for Trevor’s mower (we are still in the process of fixing the machine and by “we” I told him I would pay for the repair.)

In the meantime, down one mower, my yard started looking like the Amazon in no time (my wife waters the place with no thoughts of not having a mower, I was in favor of covering the lot in rocks, bark, jalopies, whatever.) In a pinch I ordered a lawnmower that runs on rechargeable batteries (like a power drill.) When said mower arrived, it had no batteries, but rather has to be plugged into a power supply.

There I was last week with this tiny mower, plugged into the wall, feeling like a complete idiot. This thing is so small that it looks like I am vacuuming my yard instead of mowing it. After I finished vacuuming (and moping the sidewalk …when in Rome, eh?) I took a look at my handy work and my jungle was back to a manageable weed patch.

The best part about the electric lawnmower?

The ease in which I found my way home when I was done.

Have a great week at the Fair.