Yard Project

Someone told us that owning a house is a marathon, not a sprint. There's always another project or a way to fix up the house. I never appreciated how nice my parent's house was when I was growing up or how much time and effort it took to keep it clean and organized (especially with six kids running around!).

We've only been in the house for six months and we've:

-done a ton of little projects around the house (especially Jake and his dad for the first week we moved in).

-replaced or installed (since they were gone when we bought the house) most major appliances (water heater, fridge, stove, microwave, washer, dryer, etc.)

-installed all new shower fixtures in two bathrooms, and put in a new sink and vanity in the third.

But by far, the biggest project so far has been the yard. It has taken more time and more money than we thought, and we haven't even planted anything! (That's going to be in another month or two!) We've learned about getting bids on jobs & hiring contractors.

We're so happy with the new yard! It's great to have the hardscape done and to have a safe place for Sophia to play. We love the granite that was behind the bushes. The yard is sunnier and seems so much bigger. We're looking forward to selecting and planting the plants in the next few months...

So here's the pictures of the project:

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BEFORE: Crazy shrubs. Dangerous gravel. Cracked, oddly shaped patio. Weird planter with dying palms. Trees on slope that are in bad shape and/or too close to the house.

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PHASE ONE: Removal of old patio and gravel. Install first parts of drains and sprinkler system. Begin building retaining wall.

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PHASE TWO: Wall done (including part in side yard for clothesline). Ground leveled and prepped for concrete.

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PHASE THREE: Concrete poured. Sprinklers installed. Drainage system done. Sod installed. Fruit trees pruned.