When its spring and the sun shines, but the temperature is moderate, I wonder why everyone doesn't move to Tennessee and then I remember August. I also like to yank weeds out of the yard. I'm not above using a little Roundup on spots that are difficult and painful to weed completely, like the cracks in the sidewalk in front of our house, but in the yard I prefer to dig the suckers out.

Over the last few years I've waged a successful campaign against dandelions and wild onions. The onions are gone and though the dandelions will always be with us, their numbers are vastly reduced.

The next task in the weed war will be violets, though their numbers frankly make me want to cry and I'm never sure if I'm even pulling enough to keep up with their replacement rate.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying yanking this year's crop of dandelions out and I must admit to a certain sadness on days like today when I could only find one in the entire yard, front or back. If this keeps up, I might have to start weeding the neighbor's yard to assuage my dandelion blood lust.