For the seven years we have been in our home, we have "put off" a backyard project. We knew it would be expensive and the yard actually did not look as bad as it did. But over time, the appearance got worse, the grass we had back there had turned to mostly weeds, and the Georgia clay dust was taking over. Plus, we had a burning desire for the ability to open that back patio door and let the kids run free in a safe, wide open sort of environment. Lastly, our ultimate goal, to go along with our homeschooling, is to install a separate house in Spring 2009, a school house in the backyard, and the backyard makeover was the first part of that goal. So, we are excited.
The square in the middle of the weeds was a barked area where the kids had a huge Little Tykes play ground set. The workers had to clear the entire yard.
Quadson takes one last dirty walk on the hill. He would get out there and dig and dig for fossils. He loved it and was a little sad when we explained that he would no longer have dirt to play in.
Even as the workers dug out the place where the new retaining wall would go, Quadson had to get out in the dirt.
The project took 4 days with 3 workers. There was a different piece of equipment out there everyday. A crane tractor.
The work involved with this wall was major. There is so much going on behind it, in the way of intricate support and drainage, the average person would not know it.
A bobcat.
AHHH! Grass!!
We can not wait until it all grows in and gets all thick and green. There was a half pallet left after the whole area was covered that Monique and I added to the first level of the wall. This level was intended to be all dirt for planting, gardening, etc., but we just could not see letting that 1/2 pallet of sod go to waste.
The kids are loving that first level and the outcome of their yard, in general.
So the sod, the two-level retaining wall with steps, and the pinestraw added to our hill is just a masterpiece to us from what we had. We are sure to spend many hours out here over the summer months.
Leslie Mykael is a fashionista. While Quadson was quite content having breakfast out on the patio in his night clothes, she had to wear one of her better dresses, a Donna Karan, no less, to frolic around in. On the kids' recent Friday stay at my parents, she just had to wear all pink, in addition to a bracelet, necklace and some lipstick. When she had the choice in Target between a fun pink jellyfish type of ball, she repeated, "No daddy, shoes, shoes, shoes." She picked out a white leather flip-flop type sandal adorned with white flowers and diamonds. She loves shoes that go through her toes and she prefer they go through, next to her second toe, not the big toe. When we got to the check out register, she threw the shoes on the belt and told the cashier, "Buy!"
The square in the middle of the weeds was a barked area where the kids had a huge Little Tykes play ground set. The workers had to clear the entire yard.
Quadson takes one last dirty walk on the hill. He would get out there and dig and dig for fossils. He loved it and was a little sad when we explained that he would no longer have dirt to play in.
Even as the workers dug out the place where the new retaining wall would go, Quadson had to get out in the dirt.
The project took 4 days with 3 workers. There was a different piece of equipment out there everyday. A crane tractor.
The work involved with this wall was major. There is so much going on behind it, in the way of intricate support and drainage, the average person would not know it.
A bobcat.
AHHH! Grass!!
We can not wait until it all grows in and gets all thick and green. There was a half pallet left after the whole area was covered that Monique and I added to the first level of the wall. This level was intended to be all dirt for planting, gardening, etc., but we just could not see letting that 1/2 pallet of sod go to waste.
The kids are loving that first level and the outcome of their yard, in general.So the sod, the two-level retaining wall with steps, and the pinestraw added to our hill is just a masterpiece to us from what we had. We are sure to spend many hours out here over the summer months.Leslie Mykael is a fashionista. While Quadson was quite content having breakfast out on the patio in his night clothes, she had to wear one of her better dresses, a Donna Karan, no less, to frolic around in. On the kids' recent Friday stay at my parents, she just had to wear all pink, in addition to a bracelet, necklace and some lipstick. When she had the choice in Target between a fun pink jellyfish type of ball, she repeated, "No daddy, shoes, shoes, shoes." She picked out a white leather flip-flop type sandal adorned with white flowers and diamonds. She loves shoes that go through her toes and she prefer they go through, next to her second toe, not the big toe. When we got to the check out register, she threw the shoes on the belt and told the cashier, "Buy!"
Quadson just runs back and forth, back and forth. He loves the new space.
Leslie tries to play DJ as we play a few jams out in our new back yard.