Sunday, June 1, 2025

๐ŸŒฟ Rake It Till You Make It: My First Day in PaPa's Landscaping Empire ๐ŸŒฟ

Let’s set the scene: a sunny Saturday morning, birds chirping, grass glistening with dew, and me—armed with a frappuccino, acrylic nails, and the full confidence of someone who has never operated a lawnmower—about to start my first day working with PaPa in his landscaping business.

He calls it “Whistle While You Work Landscaping.” I quickly learned that the only thing whistling was the wind past my ears as I desperately tried to outrun a rogue tiller. Don't ask; for the love of God, don't ask!! ๐Ÿ™ˆ๐Ÿ™‰๐Ÿ™Š

PaPa, a.k.a. The Sodfather ๐Ÿ˜, has been in the landscaping game since before mulch came in bags. He’s 67 years old, wears cargo shorts year-round, and refers to weed whackers like they’re medieval battle axes. When I asked what my first job was, he handed me a pair of gloves that looked like they’d survived a turf war and said, “We’re starting with edging.”

I thought “edging” was something people paid extra for at salons. Turns out it’s just making the lawn look like it got a fresh haircut. My idea of precision is currently shading the darkened areas around facial features in art—not shaping turf with the intensity of a man sculpting the Sistine chapel of lawns.

Here are some highlights from Day One on Team PaPa:

1. The Shovel Incident
I mistook a spade for a decorative piece. Apparently, when I held it like a microphone and pretended to sing a song from Magic 107.9, PaPa likely reconsidered bringing me along. ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฟ‍♀️๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฟ‍♀️

2. Mulch Madness
Mulch smells like the forest’s armpit. I would likely spill an entire wheelbarrow of it trying to take a selfie or walk without tripping over ghost holes like my Uncle Cai Cai (the shade๐Ÿ˜.) PaPa didn’t say a word—just sighed the long, slow sigh of a man who’s seen too much.๐Ÿ˜น

3. The Hydration Debate
PaPa drinks coffee from a thermos that looks like it fought in Vietnam. I brought Sparkling Ice and Gatorade. We stared at each other like two species discovering each other for the first time. “That’s not hydration,” he said. “That’s a frog’s snatchety tongue fluid.” Excuse me, huh? ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฟ‍♀️๐Ÿ˜น๐Ÿคฃ

4. Lawnmower Lessons
He told me to always “mow in straight lines.” I think I might end up creating a crop circle. Someone on the next block is going to come running, asking if aliens landed. PaPa will likely joke, “Yep, and they brought their teenager.” ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฟ‍♀️ It be your own family, guys...

Despite the chaos, something amazing happened.

I got sunburned in weird places. I broke a nail. I now know the difference between fescue and Bermuda grass (honestly, not sure this will ever come up at Starbucks) because TeTe called and warned me about the time PaPa almost killed her while working with him in his landscaping business. But I also saw PaPa in his element—hands in the dirt, smiling at the sight of a well-trimmed hedge like it was a newborn baby.

He told me stories about how he started this business with a $10 mower and a dream; about customers he’s had for decades; about the time he mowed a yard with a giant gash cut in his shin and a toothache because “a man’s gotta mow.”

And me? I sweated, I learned, I laughed, and yes, I cried a little when a spider crawled up my shoe. But I got a hug at the end of the day and a promise of more Starbucks and gift cards which, for a 17-year-old, is the ultimate payment.

Would I do it again? Ask me after I scrub this mulch out of my sneakers.

But for now, I’ll say this: working with PaPa in the landscaping biz wasn’t what I expected. It was better. Dirtier, sweatier, more spider-filled—but better.

Next weekend, I’ll be back. Hopefully with bug spray and more sunblock too. 

Sunday, May 11, 2025

Mila Turns 17 (๐ŸŽ‰ but ๐Ÿ˜ฑ)






Well, you guys, it happened. Mila turned 17 years young. Sigh. 

Alright, here we go...

For Mila's 17th birthday this year, she decided she wanted to go horseback riding which I thought was super dope. After researching, we chose Cedar Ridge Equestrian Center. If you've never been horseback riding and have always wanted to try it, you cannot find a better facility. Their staff members are are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and accommodating. From the smiles during the lessons to the begging and pleading from the children to return the next day, I can safely say this was a slam dunk! 


Cousin Levi excitedly feeding one of the horses. He did such a great job riding today! 


Levi was patiently awaiting his turn to ride the pony after Nia. Little sister Nia was up first.


~°~Le Birthdae Girl~°~


Aaaaaaand they're off! Mila's friends had never ridden horses beforehand.


Nia was super excited, yet super nervous. But once big sis MiMi showed her the ropes...


... she was ready to take on any challenge! ๐Ÿ˜ค๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿฟ


Even Ryan enjoyed himself as a first timer!


Cousin Levi waves to his proud dad Uncle Cai Cai as he rides past on his own like a big kid! ๐Ÿฅน


::Quick Side Bar for these Cutie Pies!! ๐Ÿด ๐ŸŽ::


 

:: So stinkin' cute, aren't they????::



The birthday girl, always clowning like her PaPa ๐Ÿคฃ๐Ÿคช


Little sis Fiona was a natural, and she looked like she's been riding for years! 


The dynamic duo. Side note: I just realized they are wearing matching shoes.๐Ÿฅน I'm not crying; you're crying. 


Friend Calynn was also a first time rider and had a blast too!


By the end, friend Hazel was a pro!


These two ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿฉถ.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and most importantly the birthday girl. And now she wants a horse๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฟ‍♀️. I promise, no good deed goes unpunished.๐Ÿคท๐Ÿฟ‍♀️๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿฟ‍♀️๐Ÿคช

Happy 17th Birthday, sweet babygirl. We love you ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿฟ much!๐Ÿฉถ