Knocking down the list…

If you know anything about me, you know I have a constant to do list.  I always have projects and lists of projects that I need to get done.  I, of course, have list to made for this summer.  One of my first projects for the summer was to finally get the sidewalk and front flower bed problem fixed.  When we removed the extraneous door several years ago we were left with a sidewalk to no where.  Last year when we put on the new deck, we finally removed part of that sidewalk.

After we put on the new deck, the other sidewalk did not match the walk way either.  So we had MORE concrete to tear out.  I was also left with unkempt flower beds and missing grass and extra rock.

All winter long we walked on pieces of wood in order to stay out of the mud on our way to our beautiful new deck.  The whole place was embarrassing to even look at, let alone call “home.”

Well,  I have made some progress…

I removed the sidewalks and all the rocks, and let me tell you…. Swinging a railway sledge awakens muscles that you forget you have.  Then I had to bring in dirt to make the water flow away from the house, because we have so many water issues.

Then I was able to put in the flower beds, and I was able to save the perennials that came from my grandma.  I still have her periwinkle vine, Asiatic lilies, mums, and hollyhocks, and I am thrilled that they have a nice place to be now.  New grass had to be planted and then, a new sidewalk.

We didn’t have a lot of money for this project, and I wanted something with a little character. I opted for pavers.  Pavers are a totally new thing for me, and there was some learning, but we got it done.  My dad helped a lot of course!

Now, I have some landscaping to get working on to make the rest of the deck look presentable.

The way I see it, in another ten years, this place might look half way decent.  Just maybe!