Southern Illinois summer settles over Irvington heavy and loud, cicadas going in the trees and the Washington County fields standing perfectly still in the heat. MJ Mowing works the early hours before the day turns, cutting lawns on a set rotation so nothing gets away from anybody. Trimming runs along the fences and around the mailbox posts, and the borders of the walks and drives are cut back sharp. When the season turns and the leaves come down, the same yards get cleared off clean again. There is a plain pleasure in a mowed yard set against all that open farmland — it says somebody is home and paying attention.