More Landscaping

Yesterday I also watched the guys do tons of work. :)  Carson and Grandpa worked the loader to bring dirt from the driveway to the pool gap.  Like we previously decided, there won't be a pool there for some time, so filling it in and reducing the marsh seemed like a good idea.

Dirt-filled semi-circle.

A funny moment with Cole.  He had gotten into the cozy coupe and then slipped on the seat and got stuck.  He didn't fuss for a few minutes, so I snapped a picture.  After Aaron and I giggled at Cole's situation, he must have figured out that he couldn't get out, and started struggling.  So I helped him out.

Part of cleaning up included clearing out the garden.  The tomatoes are inside, but the cucumbers, strawberries, peppers and squash got to be razed and burned.  I'm not sure yet what to do with the soil left in the buckets.  I'm thinking about putting the garden down where all the dirt is going now, next year.  Not sure yet.  The buckets were really easy to maintain, but there were some things I wanted more of, like green beans and strawberries.  I'll think on it a couple of months.  If we don't put a garden there, we'll brick some of it up and put in a firepit.  Which also has it's draw...

Anyway, Cole helped me 'clean' out the garden.

...and watched enviously while Carson got to do the big work with the big boys.

Landscaping in Progress!

Last Friday and Saturday, Aaron's parents came and helped, working several hours each day to get our garden/lawn look better and get it low-maintenance for future years.  We also had the missionaries and our home teachers help on each day.  It was a lot, A LOT of work!  I felt bad that much of my 'work' was staying inside and keeping kids out of mischief, but I did get out some; at least to take some pictures.  Here are some 'before-and-after' pictures!

Aaron worked hard to dig a trench, bury the downspout runoff pipe, and fill it back in.  This was huge!

No pipes laying all over!  Thanks to some extra dirt, some landscaping fabric and a layer of mulch, not to mentions some grass seed, this is looking much better, with even more promises of improvement!

This west side of the house was my worst nightmare!  Thistles and spiders abounded and it took all I had to help MomB through it!

It's actually done all the way down, but when I took the pictures, it was still getting there.  But it's obvious how much better it is!

These two piles of dirt and mulch contributed much to our landscaping!  We really appreciate Mom and Dad B getting this for us so we could beautify our home!  The dirt and mulch did, however leave big footprints - the driveway was a disaster!

Three days after the piles were gone, I finally got the driveway power-washed so that we can park and walk without getting muddy and splintery.

Last year, when Aaron was spraying everything-killer over the weeds, he mistook my peonies for weeds.  Aaargh!  They rallied and have made a slight appearance this year, even if it's later and shorter.  Hoping for more pretty flowers next season!