The Best (and Worst) of

I was out watering plants, and a couple things popped into my head.

First, why do plastic pots have rims tat fold over onto themselves, creating a little hidden gap underneath the edge of the pot? This is prime spider territory (mainly see: black widow), and I maintain the very irrational fear that spiders are hunting me. [Aside: Why I maintain this menagerie of potted plants you ask? Last year I went hog wild and ordered lots o'plants from the internet. They arrived. I stared blankly at them and asked, "Uhhh....where do I put them now?" Knowing we were going to move sooner or later or that I had "big plans" for the old backyard if we stayed, I decided to put all of them (40+) in plastic pots. Fast forward. We decided to move, and hooray the pots were allowed to come with me! So now I am finding the perfect location to put these bad boys, slowly, as the yard's characteristics reveal themselves.] Back to the plastic pots with rims. Bad plastic pots. 0.5/4 stars stars.

Second, I have never had any luck with hose nozzles. Within months, they begin to leak. Yes, I abuse them (think me chucking the end of the hose all about onto the lawn and concrete), but even the ones I try *really* hard to keep nice still leak. Bad hose nozzle. If anyone has a recommendation of a good nozzle with a hand trigger, I'm listening. 1/4 stars.

My Stanley rubber coated gloves are the best. They fit well, keep my hands clean and dry, and ask for nothing in return. (Unlike the hose nozzle, I can fling these all about without repercussions). I wear these suckers out too. Every trip to Home Depot/Lowe's I pick up a pair. There they sit on the glove rack, in all their glory, calling to me as I envision my side veggie garden and all the wonderful things I can do with the gloves and the dirt. Good gloves. 3.5/4 stars.

And the best thing I have come across recently:

My Ludell mini pick axe (not real picture, but you get the idea). Oh my god. I wish I would have found this thing years ago. When I saw it on the shelf, I about died. It was the perfect size for my small 5'2" frame, and just the right weight. Then my husband shatters the beautiful moment by asking, "Does that come in 'man size'?"

I have been able to dig holes in Folsom's rocky dirt about 20x quicker than with a trowel alone. (Remember all those pots that need to be emptied??) Hooray for the mini pick axe tool thing! 4/4 stars.