Our Lives....documented

The yard is very very bare right now. Joyce (PJ's mom) trimmed up the trees and cut back the bushes. The family that lived here before us, just threw a bunch of plants and bushes together it made NO sense at all. Everyone said it was a jumbled mess of bushes and plants. Anyways, this area here, along the back of the yard will all have fresh bark and plants. We planted some lavendar (my absolute favorite smell!) and some bulbs (lillies of course) and there were already some Iris there. We have a butterfly plant that needs to be taken out of it's pathetic pot (it came with the house). I am going to get some plants from my family this weekend. I'm very excited to get the yard in tip-top shape.

We moved Makena's swingset up to the top of the yard where the previous owners had leveled out one small area. We recently killed off the growing grass there and need to burn it out. I will also be planting some bamboo and taller shrubs and trees for added privacy

We are going to remove the playhouse and keep the swingset. Along the north fence (shown below) we are going to install some tall shrubs and bushes along w/ bark.

Here is a general idea of what it will look like when we have some GREEN in the yard *yayy* I can hardly wait until it's all green like this. We will plant boxwood hedges along the back side of the retaining wall. They will be kept low but will provide a slight barrier for 'kidlets' to keep from going to close to the wall or going over (especially on Makena's Jeep).

We plan to install shutters on all the windows (including the back). On the new deck PJ is going to build a bench that opens up. Half of it will be a storage bench for Makena's outside toys(balls/bubbles etc..) and the other half will hold an ice chest. It will be built along the deck railing. The grill will go against the house on the deck. I'm thinking a couple of chaise lounges will look nice on the deck :) All of the retaining wall areas will be capped off and you won't be able to see the backs of them.

Here is the new deck. PJ, Cory & Joyce built this on Independence Day! In the photo PJ is working on a planter box for me. There is a small area that can use a planter in that corner by where PJ is working. On the left side of the deck there will be a small bench/sitting area.