Almost!

Almost done! I need to add some dirt and grass seed around the edge and I want to add flagstone around the edge of the pit and garden area to cover up the holes. Haven't used it yet. Waiting for the rain to stop so I can break it in.

Project Number 5,247

Last year, Joe dug a fire pit in the side yard area. He lined it with rocks, and it looked really nice. I should have left it alone! I thought it would be nice to have a designated area to put chairs so they wouldn't have to be moved every time Joe mowed. See, I was really looking out for him.

I rented a sod remover, which was a lot of fun. Then I had a friend come over with a bobcat to level the area off and dig it a little deeper. (Should have skipped the sod remover and just went with the bobcat.) Anyway, I decided to border the area with cement blocks. I picked the blocks because they are cheap and also because that is what I made my raised garden beds from.

5 days later and about 3000 lbs, this is what it looks like.



I have a vision of the finished product (kind of). I pretty much winged it as I went. I probably should have drawn up some plans, but a true artist creates as the spirit moves them. There will be pea gravel around the pit area and I'm putting a garden area at one end.

I'll show you the finished product as soon as I am done. Joe says no more projects! I haven't told him about the building plans I have for a cute little garden cottage. I'll wait a few weeks to spring that on him.

Spring Chores

I know, I've been slacking again. I've been a busy girl lately trying to clean up old man winter's mess. Gettin the old homestead ready for sunny weather. Of course I can't just do the essentials. I have to go a little over the top. I decided to plant a vegetable garden this year, so I made a raised bed garden using cement cinder blocks (since treated wood is toxic) and so far I've brought in a yard and a 1/2 of garden soil. That translates into over 5,000 lbs. of material that I have lifted in the last 3 days. I still have to get another truck load of dirt and another of mulch. Mulch doesn't weigh as much per shovel full, but I ALWAYS get poison ivy when I work with it. As I was lifting the cement blocks (76 total) one by one and putting them into place, I had to ask Joe: "Who's idea was this anyway?" He is very quick to point out that I bring this on all by myself. If it was up to him though the yard would look like a jungle. I told him since he wasn't helping, then he couldn't have any of my bountiful harvest. He can't have any of the vegetables either. I have to go now. I have to get started on the gazebo for the chicken pen.