Saturday, February 19, 2011

Landscaping is finally done. Whew!

New fountain in back patio

New patio fountain
Front yard with rip rap added

Front yard with rip rap added
Back yard before

Back yard after
Back yard before

Back yard after
Back yard before

Back yard after

Mark and I finally finished ALL the landscaping, both front and back yards.  It was a labor (and I do mean LABOR) of love but we are very pleased with the results!  Today it is raining in the Valley so we are taking the day off and going to a movie today!
                                     

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Quick update

I have zero pictures and zero videos :-( but just wanted to add a quick update to what Mark and I have been up to lately.  We are still working our butts off, this time in the back yard.   We originally were just going to add more landscape rock to the area but after more thought we decided we didn't really like the color of the rock, thus we decided to remove it, all of it.....another big task!  I have lost count as to the number of times we have been to the city dump and scooped rock and dirt off of his truck.  Visiting the dump has almost become comical and we stay in good spirits laughing on our way to this uninviting place.  :-)  We hauled the last load today and are celebrating by going out for dinner tonight.  The area looks really good, level and ready for some brand new rock and a new color scheme.  That will happen on Wednesday with our "hired" helpers! 

We won't know WHAT to do with ourselves after this project is finished.  Perhaps we can golf, go to movies, hike, golf, visit the zoo, golf....the list could be endless.  Ha!  Mark did say he thinks I will just think of something else for us to tackle but I am thinking he needs to really enjoy the rest of his winter.  I agree with my husband. 

Well, hope this finds everyone surviving their winter.  I won't even tell you how nice it is here this week.  It is why we bought this place.  :-) 

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

10 ton of rock, all by shovel!!!

Our rock for the front yard was delivered this morning at 7 a.m. and by 11:00 it was all spread and nicely raked.  We did hire a very nice guy and gal to help us or Mark and I would have spent several days doing this labor.  We are really happy with the results and really pooped!   Before and after pictures below.

We are in a three day cold snap so we covered all our plants and bushes last night, even the new palm tree.  It has only been in the ground a few days and we feared the frost would kill it.  In fact, everything in the front is less than a week in the ground so our lawn looked like a Halloween decoration after all the wrapping.  We will have to do the same tonight and tomorrow night and then it gets back to normal.  We are going to the Phoenix Open on Saturday and it is supposed to be sunny and 72 which is just about perfect.  I hate to complain about the weather when my children are sitting in a blizzard.  Megan said Peoria could get up to 20" last night but I don't think it got there.   With that huge amount what's an inch or two less.  :-(  Long winter for the folks back home.

This video is for Drew.  He loves dump trucks so I know he will like this movie! 

                                            Before:  Front yard
                                            After:  Front yard
                                              Before:
                                              After:
                                             Before:
                                             After:
                                            Frost protection last night: