The Backyard, Day 1 AKA The Next Big Project

Ok.  So we are a little bit crazy.  I'll admit it.  We start projects decently well, but don't always finish them before starting another.  Ain't it always the way?  Well, we decided we were tired of having a back yard that looked pretty horrible.  We wanted the kids to be able to play back there (instead of the front yard) and we came into a little extra cash, so what better place to put it than sink it right into the back yard?  Perhaps literally. This moved to the top of our priority list of things to do around the house because the weather is sorta being good for working outside, as well as needing time for the grass to grow.  

This area at the top of the yard has been home to the previous home owners makeshift garage, as well as to our dump pile.  This is one of the main reasons I don't let the kids play back there.  It is unsafe.  So we decided we wanted someone to come out with a bulldozer of sorts and scrape the top couple inches off.  And yes, we have burnt some lawn debris there recently.

We also decided it was time to do something about these sheds.  There are three (a smaller one is hidden behind the truck).  We have no need for three.  We don't really even need one, but since they were there, we DID fill them with stuff (of course).  Step one on day one was to empty them.  We found someone who said he could grade the yard, take down a few trees, fill in a few holes, and move one shed while getting rid of the other two.  And get this:  He was going to do it for cheaper than if we did it ourselves!!!!  Score!  And we would have to do less work!  Score again!

One other thing we decided to do was to put in a few french drains around the house to aid in drainage.  We started with this area up here after lunch (the first half of the day being cleaning out the storage sheds and two, count them two! trips to the dump).

It took us about 10 minutes to say "well this sucks!"  Digging trenches is just not the funnest thing I have ever done!  I looked at hubby and said, "I am going to get the trencher".  So I drove down to the local Dee-Pot to rent their 4 inch trencher, and hubby agrees that it may just be the best decision we have ever made.  

This was a Friday, hubby actually took the day off to work for me :)  By now, the girls were home from school and more than willing to supervise.

Sometimes the right equipment can make AAAAAAALLLLLL the difference in the world.  I rented the machine for 4 hours, and returned it with more than 2 left.  That includes driving to and from my house, digging all the trenches, and washing all the dirt/mud off.

It was fantastic.  Many hands make light work, but a machine is always faster :)  Just more expensive than manual labor....  Still, best money we ever spent on the back yard!  

And we ended the first day on a high note, having done what we had set aside for that day, and not killing ourselves in the process.

And thus day 1 ended in success.