Summer Yardwork

Well, hello! I'm pretty sure we're the only ones who read this thing but I want a record of all we've done to the house.  I suspect someday, I'll just make a book of this blog which will sit on a table to collect dust.  So, here's the latest.  We STILL do not have approval from the fire marshall to move on the house addition, we decided to put our focus on the yard.

PROJECT 1

Move the maple tree. 

The thing had tripled its size in the last year.  Originally, we were going to transplant it but then we decided to pull it with Eric's Land Cruiser.  If the roots came up with it, we'd transplant it.  They didn't.

Since Project 2 is to level the round in the middle of the yard, we transplanted that rhody instead.  We planted this rhody when we first moved in and found out we were pregnant.  It's my favorite.  It's still a baby but just like my baby, it grows a little bit every year.

PROJECT 2

Removing the round from the middle of the yard.

I've spent the past four years, weeding this thing out every spring.  Each time, Eric reminds me that we could flatten it out but I was pretty attached to the area.  I don't know why so don't try to figure that one out.  Tonight, we tackled the round (it's that overgrown thing in the middle of the yard).  If you look closely, you can see the maple tree in the lower right corner - yea, I'd say it grew a bit!

Eric removed the rocks a few weeks ago and we've slowly removed the other plants to different areas in the yard.  The peonies are the only things remaining because I won't move them while they are blooming.  When we do move them, they will go under the lilac trees. 

Isn't Alexander so cute working with his daddy?  I love it.

It's going to be terrific for Alexander and his friends to have that crazy round gone.  It was a nice effect to the yard but it was SO MUCH work to keep the weeds under control. 

Up behind the shed, we will make a little sports court for him and if all goes as I plan it, our house will be the place the kids want to hang out...

Update

Remodel Update: 
Eric called our architect today.   It's been almost two months since we finished the driveway.  Ideally, we would like to break ground this spring.  Oh, wait.  It is spring (although the way it keeps raining, pushing it off to summer might actually be ok).  Nothing can be done until we know whether or not the fire marshall is going to approve the changes or ask for something more.

We've done our part.  And, we are happy to report, our architect actually did his part.  He submitted everything two weeks ago and is in a holding pattern. 

Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully we will hear from the fire marshall in the next week.  Our architect is making a follow-up call tomorrow so keep your fingers crossed we have good news soon!

Love, Us 3

Three Months Later...

The view from our front door has gone from this...

Nov' 10

TO THIS!

Feb ' 11

SO MUCH PARKING! 

Tim and Roger came by for the last time yesterday.  They leveled everything and spread a deep layer of gravel.



Now, we wait.

We wait to find out if the changes are good enough for the Fire Marshall.

If all goes well, we'll break ground on the addition this spring!

Keep your fingers crossed.

Love, Us 3

HoHo Papa's House

Today, Eric sent Tim to my folks house to work.  Since there is nothing he can do at our place (thankyouverymuchgascompany), we knew there was plenty to be done at HoHo Papa's house.

For those of you who hadn't heard, in the past two weeks, my parents had two trees (including the GINORMOUS 120 year old cedar tree) removed from the front the house and had the stumps ground down.  They also had Tim dump three loads of dirt from our yard into their yard.

So, what did Tim do today? 

He removed all the rocks that were in the yard (my parents haven't had a grass lawn for 15? 10? years) and scraped them to the side.  When I arrived today, this is what I saw: 



Standing in garage



Standing on street

Within minutes of my arrival, the decision was made to bring in three loads of topsoil.  

Alexander has a bad cold but he had an awesome front row seat to the show.

Finally, the topsoil was spread and the yard has doubled in size.  The far tree line is the neighbors property line but it had always been obscured by the giant cedar tree. 
I don't have any final pictures from the street because it was pouring when they finished and I needed to get a sick boy home.

Imagine it with grass, a few plants and it will only be a matter of time before the neighbors start asking my folks when they are moving.

PS.  They aren't.

Drainage

In order to keep the driveway clear of standing water, Eric asked Tim to put in drainage pipe on the western edge of the driveway. 

150 feet of drainage pipe.

I like this next picture because it gives perspective of how wide the driveway has become.

A dumptruck and a digger.  Side by side.  With room to spare.

The gas company surveyor has visited and we have an appointment on Monday for them to bury the gas line deeper in the ground.  Once that happens, Tim will finish leveling and graveling the top. 

Phase One of the remodel will be complete!

Digging in the Driveway

Is it a landing strip?  A parking lot?  A new street?

No.  It's our driveway!

Before it all began

Looking toward the road, house is at your back



Standing on road, looking toward the house



 Mid Progress (about a week ago)

Standing on road, last set of trees being removed

The Current View

Standing on street, looking towards house, all trees have been removed.

The top third of the driveway remains to be widened.  Dirt has been dumped at Michelle's parents house and in our yard, where it will wait for summer projects.

I bet if you need dirt, we can find it for you.

Us 3

Funny

So, I call the tree guy last week to take out four more trees.

"Hi Pete, this is Eric (Lastname)."
"Oh hi Eric, don't tell me you have more trees you want me to cut down."
"Yea..."
"I'll be over in 30 minutes to take a look at what ones you want down."

I guess there is a good benefit to being a repeat customer.