Scaryland is becoming Tolerableland

Just for you Morgan :)

Our backyard used to be not-so-affectionately called "Scaryland." It was scary. It really is still pretty scary, but I've slowly been able to envision it become tolerable, so I guess I'm going to have to call it such.

We started out with overgrown plants/trees/bushes/you name it. We had wood decking, scary stairs, a scary hill with scary creatures burrowing into the side of it. We had smushy, muddy grass. 32 oleanders. 5 fruit trees. I could go on and on, but I would bore you to death.

We decided that if we're going to stay here a while, our kids needed somewhere safe to play, and since people drive 75 miles an hour up and down my street, the front yard won't be an option until they're old enough to understand to not play in traffic.

I've been documenting the progress by taking pictures often. My husband has been documenting it with a calculator and a red pen and lots of subtractions and deductions. Every now and then we look at each other with this sort of "Why did we do this?" kind of look and then choose not to talk about it in hopes that things will work out fine and we won't be sent to debtors' prison in the process.

So here is the progression so far. We're so close to the actual building up part of the yard being done, I can taste it. No really -- the wafting in of dust through my open windows and up into my throat and nasal passages is a constant reminder that these a-holes better get this project done soon or I am going to make them come in with some Swiffers and an air purifying machine.

From the beginning to today:

This was after the 32 oldeanders were removed, along with many other bushes and plants. We had no access to be able to take this picture prior to those oleanders being taken out. This was actually taken last summer, after those things were all removed, but before we decided to spend the kids' inheritance on retaining walls.


And how things have slowly changed since then:

After removal:


First retaining wall is built and filled:


Second one is built:


Second one is filled and third one is started:


Third one is built. It is not filled yet, but it will be in about a week.


From a different view, same progression:








Once that third and final retainer is dry, it will be filled up to make the dirt level. We will gain a lot of square footage to our yard. The part that we're getting hosed on, however, is that this process has eaten up so much more of our budget than we thought it would, once it's built up and ready to be landscaped, our landscaping is going to pale in comparison to what we originally wanted. Live and learn. We will be doing a lot of it ourselves, but the retaining walls were not something we were willing to attempt.

So, that's that! Now Morgan, tell Blake to book your tickets to come visit us later this summer and we can sit in the middle of the dirt on a blanket and have a picnic together! :)